Kato Pacific Surfliners

[OrangeAnon]

Are you here from /n/?

I recognize that you're referring to an image board, but which one I have no clue. Is someone there using a similar name?

[tehachapifan]

Anyone find an expected delivery date for these?

[OrangeAnon]

A video from Kato released 2 days ago says January.

[Missaberoad]

What an odd place for a horn... Definitly a California thing, wouldn't last long up here. 

[GhengisKong]

I recognize that you're referring to an image board, but which one I have no clue. Is someone there using a similar name?

Not that I'm aware, but using the term 'Anon' in your name had me wondering if you hailed from one of the "chans". Nothing wrong with that as I lurk from time to time.

[OrangeAnon]

Not that I'm aware, but using the term 'Anon' in your name had me wondering if you hailed from one of the "chans". Nothing wrong with that as I lurk from time to time.

Ah, yes. Though it's pretty ancient history to me now, the name does have it's heritage in that corner of the internet.

[MetroRedLine]

SURF'S UP, DUDES!!!

They're here...

Just ordered my 8-car + Charger set from Lombard today.

BTW, if you're getting a Surfliner set and run DCC and want push-pull operation (with cab car headlights), make sure to also buy the Kato 29-352 tail light decoder.

[EspeeGoldenState]

Seen the set at Midwest Model RR today on the t-trak layout as I picked up a couple online orders. I just turned around and walked out. I have both sets on order from two others sources as I like to spread the love. It definitely looked good.

Has anyone got a set and compared the Kato Amtrak Deep Blue to the Athearn Deep Blue on the F59PHI?

[MetroRedLine]

Seen the set at Midwest Model RR today on the t-trak layout as I picked up a couple online orders. I just turned around and walked out. I have both sets on order from two others sources as I like to spread the love. It definitely looked good.

Has anyone got a set and compared the Kato Amtrak Deep Blue to the Athearn Deep Blue on the F59PHI?

I'll find out soon as I already have an Athearn F59PHI ready to go with DCC and lights. I'll be setting aside the SC-44 for a while and do the DCC install later on. Even though I'm current-day Modern Era, the Surfliner just looks better with the F59PHI.

[OrangeAnon]

Assuming that:

• Rapido Proto Paints are as accurate as they say
• Kato has an accurate match as well
• The Metra repaints are supposed to be the same Deep Blue

I have low confidence that Athearn has ever had a blue that will match the Kato cars.



The cars in this photo are 3D prints from Baldylox Designs; no longer available. I painted them not with the Rapido paint, but Vallejo French Blue, which I find is a perfect match to the Rapido Deep Blue.
The F59 on the left is from an earlier run than the one on the right; couldn't tell you the years, got both on ebay.

[ATSF_Ron]

I just got an email notification that both my sets shipped!  With luck, they should be here Friday or Saturday.  Will post pics as soon as I can.

[tehachapifan]

I also built (or was building when the Kato announcement happened ) a set of the Baldylox cars and, when researching a blue paint for them, I discovered that there was a lot of variation with the prototype itself. I poured thru tons of online photos and, IIRC, the F59PHI blue was a little different from the cars. Especially on the earlier F59's. Then, the Superliners that were painted into Surfliner colors looked a little more purple and then the Chargers were even more purple than that. Some of this may have been fading and oxidation but it seemed like the colors must've been off the start with. They also have or had a couple repainted(?) Surfliner cars that were painted into an extremely dark blue that didn't match anything.

I know that colors are hard to judge in photos and thru a computer screen, but the color blue on my Surfliners looks spot on to the Blue OrangeAnon used in the above photo, but I mixed my own with Tamiya paints. I'm really interested to see if these will match reasonably well with the Kato cars in both paint and appearance. I just got a shipping notification that mine are on the way as well. It looks like Kato did the same car number and name on two cars that I built in one of the sets (8 piece I think/hope). I'm hoping they're not in the set I got (4 and 4)!

[OrangeAnon]

By some huge stroke of luck, none of the cars I did were duplicated by Kato; when I get my shipment, I'll have three full trains worth of Surfliner cars! Although, I did do all 3 of the Grove cars myself, so those will be duplicates... can't win 'em all.

[tehachapifan]

By some huge stroke of luck, none of the cars I did were duplicated by Kato; when I get my shipment, I'll have three full trains worth of Surfliner cars! Although, I did do all 3 of the Grove cars myself, so those will be duplicates... can't win 'em all.

I did 2 Grove cars as well; the 34967 (sycamore Grove) and 34960 (Sequoia Grove). I will be getting the 34951 (Redwood Grove) with the Kato set so that works out well! I wonder if they picked up on the subtle difference on both sides of the 34951, with the placement of the narrow white stripe below the blue band. I'm guessing probably not.

After further research, I think all my other cars are OK too. There would've been 1 additional duplicate if I ordered the 8-unit set (6803/McArthur Park) but I think I'm free and clear of any duplication with the 4 unit base and 4 unit add-on sets. My current Baldylox cars that are painted and decaled are; 6900 (Point Buchon), 6803 (McArthur Park) and 6411 (Pismo Beach). I have a Coach/Cafe still awaiting paint.

I never wanted more than one Surfliner train, but I never figured we would get one RTR (especially from Kato)! Here's my current (custom and unfinished) roster...











I see one of the print supports made it into these photos. Those things fly everyhere!

[ATSF_Ron]

Those look great! The paint color looks spot on to me. Nice work 👍🏻