New run Kato NW-2.

[spookshow]

At least for me, it'll be worth picking one up just to see how they did the sound install.

-Mark

[nightmare0331]

Wish they did more roads. For the sound units, is Kelley Duford doing the work?

Nope.  I left Kato 3 years ago for other opportunities that presented themselves in the industry.

I am curious how the redesigned mechanism turns out, because the original design had lots of issues, most of all that idler gear slipping on the shaft.  It was somewhat corrected with a revised design to that gear/shaft later on, but I never felt that was a good overall permanant fix.  Couple that with the model just being loud.  It sort of reminded me of the clunky tank drives on old HO brass locomotives.  In *theory* it was so the unit could be geared so it operated slower.  I'd hazard somehow a coreless motor will be crammed in there.  Maybe a bit more space for a speaker housing or something, but if it's listed as still taking the TCS K3D3, mounting points for the board would still be the same.

I'm also curious on what sound decoder and how they plan on installing it.  While I've seen LokSound installed in the NW2 before, it's a...very custom install, so its not really suitable for scaling.

They have a few competent people over there, so I'm sure they'll figure it out. 

Enjoy!

Kelley.
www.dufordmodelworks.com
www.facebook.com/dufordmodelworks

[wcfn100]

I called Kato to ask what was going on with the mechanism and they told me it is the same as previous releases.


Jason

[peteski]

Oh well, they did just copy the old description from the original run. 

[u18b]

.
If the old flawed mechanism did not have sound....

And the new ones do have sound....

Then a new frame is a "new mechanism" even if it is the same flawed mechanism with extra cut outs in the metal.

But I hope they really do correct the design flaw.

And I agree with Chris.   I have long thought a knurled shaft would solve this.
Like this pin from a brass KMT SD40-2.

[jwaldo]

If the mechanism is the same, I wonder where the speaker will go? Presumably if they haven't opened up space in the nose or fuel tank it'll have to go in the cab area. But having a properly open cab not packed with weights, speakers, light blocking, etc. is one of the coolest things about the original Kato NW2 design in my opinion.

I've got my fingers crossed, but seeing what the inside of the Kato Big Boy looks like has me worried.

[peteski]

If the mechanism is the same, I wonder where the speaker will go? Presumably if they haven't opened up space in the nose or fuel tank it'll have to go in the cab area. But having a properly open cab not packed with weights, speakers, light blocking, etc. is one of the coolest things about the original Kato NW2 design in my opinion.

I've got my fingers crossed, but seeing what the inside of the Kato Big Boy looks like has me worried.

Yes, Atlas S2 with factory installed sound has the speaker in the cab. That's the most logical place for a largest speaker with an enclosure in that type of a switcher.

[NorsemanJack]

I called Kato to ask what was going on with the mechanism and they told me it is the same as previous releases.


Jason

Thanks for the info.  I'm hoping to see a stream of releases/re-releases of these.  They are really cool, and I only bought CB&Q during the previous releases.  I'll be a buyer of the BNx2, UP, ATSF this time.  Hopefully the NP, SP and MilwRd make reappearances some day.

[NorsemanJack]

It looks like Kato removed the reference to a new mechanism from their webpage.

[peteski]

It looks like Kato removed the reference to a new mechanism from their webpage.

Hmmm . . . someone's reading Railwire?   
Too bad. For a moment I thought they really did come up with a new mechanism.

[NorsemanJack]

Hmmm . . . someone's reading Railwire?   
Too bad. For a moment I thought they really did come up with a new mechanism.

More likely the phone call reported a few posts up.

[peteski]

More likely the phone call reported a few posts up.

Sounds reasonable.

[Ngineer]

but if it's listed as still taking the TCS K3D3, mounting points for the board would still be the same.

The TCS K3D3 does push the first exhaust stack upward to the point where it falls off. Very frustrating.

Cheers

Javier

[peteski]

The TCS K3D3 does push the first exhaust stack upward to the point where it falls off. Very frustrating.

Cheers

Javier

Would trimming the post on the exhaust stack (inserted into the shell) to be flush with the inner shell surface solve the problem? You might also have to glue it to the shell so it doesn't pop out.

[Ngineer]

Would trimming the post on the exhaust stack (inserted into the shell) to be flush with the inner shell surface solve the problem? You might also have to glue it to the shell so it doesn't pop out.

You are right. That is the only way to solve the problem.

Thanks.

Javier