Kato N Scale ALC-42 "Charger" (official announcement coming soon!)

[peteski]

Thanks, saw your video on another forum. Glad Kato went with their standard narrow-body loco lightboard/decoder form factor rather than a proprietary design, so we don't have to wait for a drop-in. I'm also hoping to wire in LEDs for the flashing ditchlights/red marker lights. Is there ample room for a keep-alive?

There is pretty much zero "air" space inside the entire model.  I have never seen such close fit of the chassis inside a shell.  Which means they maximized the model's weight.  One of the reasons is that this loco has a shell with a double roof. There is some "air space" between the roof parts, but it is not a usable space.  The light conduits have very unusual (but not surprising for Kato) design.  They look like they are designed for separate ditch lights, but in the current iteration, the the headlight conduit illumination is diverted to the ditch light conduits.  Same goes for the number board light conduits.

[spookshow]

Still waiting for the decoder equipped chargers 

-Mark

[peteski]

Still waiting for the decoder equipped chargers 

-Mark

I assisted my friend on 2 ESU LokSound installs.  DIY! 
Will Kato use ESU decoders or another brand?

[Jbub]

I assisted my friend on 2 ESU LokSound installs.  DIY! 
Will Kato use ESU decoders or another brand?

Kato is using a Soundtraxx decoder for the Big Boy from the factory. Kelley Duford did a bunch of ALC42 Charger ESU sound installs for Lombard Hobbies and they are available now.

[peteski]

Kato is using a Soundtraxx decoder for the Big Boy from the factory. Kelley Duford did a bunch of ALC42 Charger ESU sound installs for Lombard Hobbies and they are available now.

Yes, Kelly is a fan of ESU, and back when he worked at Kato, he did the (semi-official?) ESU decoder installs for their models. I suspect that he was involved in getting ESU to produce the plug-n-play decoders to fit Kato models.

Kato USA is not the same it was few years back.  Too bad they didn't stay with ESU for their decoders.  I have Athearn Big Boy and Challengers with Soundtraxx decoders, They are ok, but they are not ESU.   Do we know what sound decoders Kato will put in their ALC-42s?

[mu26aeh]

It says Soundtraxx on their website

https://katousa.com/alc-42-charger/

[spookshow]

I assisted my friend on 2 ESU LokSound installs.  DIY!

That won't really help me review the model that Kato is selling.

-Mark

[martin station]

Mark,
  Did you have any issues removing the shell? For me this was not an easy task, I even ended up breaking the bottom portion right at the fuel tank. Thankfully it snapped back together well and I was able to use Tamiya super thin cement to repair it. I called Kato to see I they were stocking that part yet, they are not, and the gentleman I spoke with said that he even broke a few of the lower frame covers trying to remove the shells.
Ralph

[peteski]

Mark,
  Did you have any issues removing the shell? For me this was not an easy task, I even ended up breaking the bottom portion right at the fuel tank. Thankfully it snapped back together well and I was able to use Tamiya super thin cement to repair it. I called Kato to see I they were stocking that part yet, they are not, and the gentleman I spoke with said that he even broke a few of the lower frame covers trying to remove the shells.
Ralph

Well, because of the plastic perimeter "frame" piece it is a bit more challenging that other Kato locos, but I  had no problems.  I used to use toothpicks to unlock the 2 latches, but now I found a better way. #18 darning needles.  I should post details on how to take this model apart to prevent more accidents.

[spookshow]

No issues for me, mainly because I don't have one yet 

-Mark

[martin station]

Well, because of the plastic perimeter "frame" piece it is a bit more challenging that other Kato locos, but I  had no problems.  I used to use toothpicks to unlock the 2 latches, but now I found a better way. #18 darning needles.  I should post details on how to take this model apart to prevent more accidents.

 That would be great if you did Pete. I used toothpicks also but next time I'll keep the darning needles in mind. I saw one Youtube video where someone opened his by pushing down on steps on the back and it seemed to work well for him. The lower plastic frame cover seems softer than most Kato plastics. Otherwise the locomotive looks and runs great.
  Thanks, Ralph

[Dwight in Toronto]

When you use the last “snap-off” blade from an Olfa cutter, there is always a derelict section of, oh, maybe 4 or 5 unused blade segments still within the Olfa handle.  I save these, and use them for all kinds of things. 

For example, I find that using two such blades, carefully slipping them between frame and shell on each side of a locomotive, can often help ease the body upwards and away.