Kato P42 #11

[M and K Fan]

Need to know if the Kato P42 #11,  Kato part 176-6001 is a phase II or III.
Many thanks,
Edd

[nscaler711]

Phase III

[peteski]

This is an interesting question.  Phase II was introduced in 1974 and phase III in 1976.  P40 and later p42 locos did not come in until 1992.
The initial livery to me seems like a combination of Phase II and III schemes, likely unique just to P42s.

Phase II had wide red/blue stripes and very thin white stripes in the center and on the outside of the band.
Phase III had even bands of all 3 colors with no outer white stripes.

The Kato  P42 has wide color stripes and very thin outer white stries, but the center white stripe is much wider than Phase II. Where the band wraps onto the nose and get thinner, the color bands get narrower which the white center band remaining the same width, with the very narrow white stripes remaining on the outside edges of the band. That looks more like Phase III, with a touch of Phase II remaining.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amtrak_paint_schemes


1993 Photo.

The only P42s painted in true Phase II and III schemes were the special heritage units:


Phase II


Phase III

[tehachapifan]

This is an interesting question.  Phase II was introduced in 1974 and phase III in 1976.  P40 and later p42 locos did not come in until 1992.
The initial livery to me seems like a combination of Phase II and III schemes, likely unique just to P42s.

Phase II had wide red/blue stripes and very thin white stripes in the center and on the outside of the band.
Phase III had even bands of all 3 colors with no outer white stripes.

The Kato  P42 has wide color stripes and very thin outer white stries, but the center white stripe is much wider than Phase II. Where the band wraps onto the nose and get thinner, the color bands get narrower which the white center band remaining the same width, with the very narrow white stripes remaining on the outside edges of the band. That looks more like Phase III, with a touch of Phase II remaining.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amtrak_paint_schemes


1993 Photo.

The only P42s painted in true Phase II and III schemes were the special heritage units:


Phase II


Phase III

The earliest incarnation of the phase III scheme on the P42's (they may have been calling them P40's or AMD 103's then) also had what was supposed to be a fade effect with the striping toward the rear of the loco. I've heard this fade effect was somehow supposed to look like the end of a ribbon fluttering in the wind, but ended up just looking like there was grime above the rear intakes (as can be seen in your 1993 photo).

[peteski]

You are correct Russ.  I have a brass model of the AMD 103 with the "fade" paint scheme. 



I the "fade"scheme  was only used on the AMD-103s, while the Kato model depicts a P42 without the fade effect.

[Point353]

Need to know if the Kato P42 #11,  Kato part 176-6001 is a phase II or III.
Many thanks,
Edd

Phase III (as delivered) according to a "wayback machine" capture of the Kato USA website from 2002.