Kato 4-8-8-4 Big Boy

[genemaddox]

Has anybody heard anything about the Kato Big Boy that is supposed to come out sometime this year?
gene maddox

[wcfn100]

I heard they could've tooled 3 diesels instead. 

I wouldn't expect this year since Kato hasn't even announced it and has had plenty of opportunity to do so the last few weeks.  I've never taken an interest in the Big Boy previously, but a Kato version just might get me.

Jason

[peteski]

I heard they could've tooled 3 diesels instead. 

I wouldn't expect this year since Kato hasn't even announced it and has had plenty of opportunity to do so the last few weeks.  I've never taken an interest in the Big Boy previously, but a Kato version just might get me.

Jason

Just keep in mind that while the loco will likely run like a fine Swiss Japanese watch, the amount of added-on detail will likely be much lower than Athearn, or brass models.  Still, I love Katos.

[CBQ Fan]

If they build it I will buy one.

[Nato]

            If they do just the modern 4014 they already have the modern oil tender from the 844 which would save them some tooling, even though the Big Boy/Challenger tenders have slight differences. The 4014 is currently using the tender that was the 3985 tender from what I have heard. If Kato wanted to do model additional big Boys' then they would have to do a coal tender as the modern oil bunker on their tender is not removeable. Nate Goodman (Nato).

[EspeeGoldenState]

I heard they could've tooled 3 diesels instead. 

I wouldn't expect this year since Kato hasn't even announced it and has had plenty of opportunity to do so the last few weeks.  I've never taken an interest in the Big Boy previously, but a Kato version just might get me.

Jason

Define announcing? At the NSE Manufacturers breakfast in 2019 isn't announcing?

We are 35 days in to 2021 and the only thing pinpointed for release was "Around 2021".

Kato hasn't ever seemed to formally announce any of the things they have done until well into the R&D stages. Think about the UP 844, formally announced in 6-7/2014, and shipped in 11/2014. So about 4 months time. I'm sure the Big Boy isn't much different.

Chris

[wcfn100]

Define announcing?

announcing == formally announced

Jason

[CBQ Fan]

I wonder if they will produce two versions of it.  One with an original tender and accurate for when it was in service. You could have a couple of road names. Then offer an excursion version with the challenger tender. Tooling an extra tender wouldn’t be a huge stretch.  You would have three distinct offering that way.