NMRA Convention News / Announcments?

[Paradise275]

u18b

Thanks for the link.
I guess there really was not too much to talk about.

Rick

[u18b]

The GP39-2 is plenty to talk about.   

Though Kato is now saying that the Oly Hi will be delayed until October.

[Paradise275]

But I like steam engines LOL

Rick

[chessie system fan]

Update time.   I double checked on the ore car, and the side ladders are apart of the body.  However only the inside half is attached.   The end ladders and ribs are a separate part.  I still think they would be easy to replace. 

It'll be a while before the next kato passenger train.   

And American Z is making the California zephyr.

[wcfn100]

Update time.   I double checked on the ore car, and the side ladders are apart of the body.  However only the inside half is attached.   The end ladders and ribs are a separate part.  I still think they would be easy to replace. 

It looks like the bodies on the ore cars sitting backwards on the under frame.  The brake cylinder should be on the same side of the car as the brake wheel with the cone of the cylinder pointing at the brake wheel end.

Might be a fun project except for the trucks.

Jason

[CBQ Fan]

The GP39-2 is plenty to talk about.   

Though Kato is now saying that the Oly Hi will be delayed until October.

GP-39 doesn't excite me too much. I am fine with the OH delay. With the fleet of S2's that just arrived and the pending arrival of rapido baggage cars I still want to squeeze in another California Zephyr to go with my red striped E5's already on order. An expensive August.

[wcfn100]

Agreed. Very coarse. I have whiplash from being yanked back to 1968.

Doesn't even look to be worth the effort to scrape everything off the tub to make a resin master. Given the poor effort here, you know a major proportion is going to be off. I guess if I want a fleet of these, best to scratch or 3D model if I can find plans.

I'd say that's best as I don't believe the UP cars are even tapered on the ends.


Jason

[u18b]

Paul at Kato said there was some minor problem with the paint scheme on the coaches. Remember the product samples were unpainted.

Anyway, they needed to make a change.

I'm also ok with the delay. I'd always rather a final product be as good as possible.

[u18b]

By the way. 

My eyesight is not what it used to be and the light was a bit dim at times. 

Anyway.... Aaron is the one who noticed the the Bachmann SD9 had non-channeled stanchions more like pipes.

Thus, their SD9 has SD7 handrails. 

It was interesting that the dynamic brakes were a separate casting.  So they must be planning variations.

In fact, I noticed that the rear exhaust stack was a separate part.
(I touched it and it tumbled into the shell---- oops!).

Anyway, why would the rear stack (not the front) be a separate piece. 

What would they possibly do different?

[basementcalling]

Phase 1 was RDG, D&H, about half of the ATSF units, amd one unit it think for Kennecott copper. Phase 1 units had spotting features like the early models of GP38, with a larger 2 panel radiatior being the easiest to notice.

Phase 2 was BN, ATSF's later units, the Kennecott Copper high cab units, and I think Phelps Dodge.

MKT was the only user of the Phase 3 units, which had he same spotting features as a GP49.

Did any of those make it into UP paint after they were bought out?

[C855B]

Did any of those make it into UP paint after they were bought out?

Yes. According to Don Strack, all were eventually repainted between 1988 and 1991. Deciphering the notes imply most were off the roster by 2002.

[chessie system fan]

For the SD9 with SD7 handrails,  I was chatting with a newer  fellow modeler and he mentioned that he was interested in it for the sound.  Mentioned the inaccuracies on the SD (7+9)/2=8 and he said he didn't care.  So I expect it will do very well.  You can expect more sound in atlas locomotives soon.

[Denver Road Doug]

Hasn't been much mention of Z-scale (unless I missed it?) but here is the AZL tally:

Locomotives:
-F7A & F7B
-GE ES44AC (released this Summer)
-Krauss-Maffei ML-4000 (Brass) (announced earlier, but will be shown for the first time today)
-N&W J Class Steam Locomotive (Brass)

Passenger Cars:
-The California Zephyr as a 11 car set. Our first name train!
-Lightweight smooth side RPO
-Lightweight smooth side Baggage
-Lightweight smooth side Coach
-Lightweight smooth side Diner
-Lightweight smooth side Dome
-Lightweight smooth side 6-6-4 Sleeper
-Lightweight smooth side 4-4-2 Sleeper
-Lightweight smooth side Observation (3 Versions)
-Heavyweight Combine

Freight Cars:
-Maxi-Stack I (5 cars with 2 x 40´ Containers each
-40´Outside Braced Box Car

Only items I'm interested in are the ES44's and the Maxi-I's, but it is very strong interest in both.  (well, until they decided not to do BNSF H2 on the ES44, but I digress...I did buy one Swoosh to support the cause.)

I did surmise that the passenger cars might translate into a UP Business Train eventually, so that might get the needle on the interest meter to twitch a little. 

[cjm413]

Did any of those make it into UP paint after they were bought out?

UP also picked up the units built for D&H after the lease to B&M expired

[Nick Lorusso]

Any word on the new Kato Steam?????