KATO F2s -- are these new or re-issued new paints?

[Chris333]

I was gonna say. When I bought mine I made sure that the ones I bought had the right DB vents on top. So they have made them both ways before.

[jmlaboda]

Here is some evidence.

Thanks Wolf... my magazines are MIA and apparently were lost in the last move my family made a year ago this week.  I am puzzled because I knew I had them before the move...

[spookshow]

Here's a good chronological listing of Kato F3 releases -

http://www.amherst-depot.com/katof3.htm

Based on the eBay listing that Wolf linked, 176-051 had the old-style "three porthole" sides. Not sure which others might have had them as well.

Cheers,
-Mark

[spookshow]

Looks like new tooling. The ACL locomotive on the turn table does not have dynamic brakes same for the Rock Island unit. Plus- they all appear to have the small number boards (The F3's have the large 45 deg.) . They also have 3 porthole windows (The F3's have 2).

Again I will say that this is not new tooling, except for the roof which now provides for non-DB.  If I can find my late-1980s N-scale magazines I will scan the add and post it so those who do not know what is in N-scale's past will be educated.

I will say once again, when the F3s were offered they had two types, the Phase I F3s which had the small numberboards and three porthole windows and the Phase II which are the chicken wire units.  I just wish Spookshow had a photo of the earlier units so this can finally be shown but will try to find the ad...

I updated my Kato F3/F7 page with a picture of the three-porthole / small numberboard version.

Cheers,
-Mark