Kato NYC 20th Centurty Limited - PWRS, official announcement soonish?

[thomasjmdavis]

Although I don't know if Atlas has the tooling, LL did make them:
http://spookshow.net/loco/lle678.html

 

I can attest that the Life Like exist (albeit long out of production)- I have 3 of them.  And the nose is improved from the one on the LL E8 (at least to my eye). They look pretty good for locomotives I picked up on clearance for $25 each.  Overall, I think they look pretty good.  And with that 1/4 ton of metal lumps sitting on the old plastic LL chassis, they can move a passenger train. 

And I needed small number boards, so I was all set.

On the phase II window and louver alterations, from a quick glance through a couple books, it was more common than I thought. 

[wcfn100]

On the phase II window and louver alterations, from a quick glance through a couple books, it was more common than I thought.

Some phase 1 units were modified but still are not the same as the Kato units.  I don't think you'll find another road that matches the Kato.

Walther's made a Phase 2 E7 for their 1948 TCL too and as far as I see, they've never released another road name.

Jason

[CBQ Fan]

The lifelike E7/8/9 noses are really bad. Yuck.

[squirrelhunter]

Some phase 1 units were modified but still are not the same as the Kato units.  I don't think you'll find another road that matches the Kato.

Walther's made a Phase 2 E7 for their 1948 TCL too and as far as I see, they've never released another road name.

Jason

I've found at least an ad for a Walthers Phase 2 E7 in C&O as well.

The big differences are the grill/louvers on the body are different and the phase 2 has only 3 windows on the side, not 5

[ncbqguy]

The Phase II E7 are about more screened vents, less engine room windows, and chicken wire instead of louvers. 
Phase I can have either small side number boards or large 45 degree.  Other options are single or dual HL, open (“freight’) or closed (“passenger’) pilot, Louvred / screened / or flat air compressor door,  and different steam generator options. 
These are things that should be tooled initially for a new model series but that isn’t the Kato Way so don’t expect releases of CB&Q, GN, WAB, PRR, etc. etc. in the future...each variation is a big project and requires a big hulabaloo to sell as tooling is involved for each combination of features.   That and the trend to only do engines tied in with train projects kills any chance of so many roads ever being seen....like B&M!!
Charlie Vlk

[peteski]

. . .
  That and the trend to only do engines tied in with train projects kills any chance of so many roads ever being seen....like B&M!!
Charlie Vlk

 

[Point353]

That and the trend to only do engines tied in with train projects kills any chance of so many roads ever being seen....like B&M!!

So near ...



... yet so far.

[Wardie]

Looking at some internet photos, I need to check references for better side shots, it looks like Maine Central 710 and 711 might be phase II units. If that is the case a pair of Kato units is definitely coming to my paint shop.

[Mark5]

Regarding the SDP40F:

There is a "pointed nose" version and a "flat nose" version.

Kato has not done the more common flat nose version (maybe in the 2030 decade).

Mark

[SF Chief]

Thanks, all, for the clarification on Phase 2 E7.
Rick

[thomasjmdavis]

If the number in the artwork is correct for a phase 2 unit (4008, which was delivered in 1947 if my source is correct- http://www.trainweb.org/emdloco/nyc.htm ) that would seem to indicate that EMD adopted phase 2 in 1947, and that the E7s delivered 1947 through 1949 were phase 2 ( or is there a phase 3?).  Problem is that from the day they were delivered, it appears that a lot of roads' repair shops (and maybe EMD itself) mixed and matched side panels, added and subtracted windows and louvers, and there were several "custom" variations, and some got E8 parts later in life.
The NYC units certainly look like they would be good stand ins, even if not exactly correct, for a lot of the E7s out there.

[Sokramiketes]

I'm worried about low sales on this train, like the Broadway Limited.  I know a lot of people voted for it in the online poll, but looks like those same people are on Kato's Facebook page saying they thought they were voting for the earlier version with a streamlined Hudson.  Yikes.

I'll get one, because its a Kato Name Train set.  And I'll take all of those I can get and hope they continue to release big tooling like this.

But that lull after the Broadway Limited, where they seemed to be hesitant to do big tooling again, was painful.  And I'm afraid that's where North Coast Limited's and real Empire Builder thoughts go to die.

[CBQ Fan]

The Phase II E7 are about more screened vents, less engine room windows, and chicken wire instead of louvers. 
Phase I can have either small side number boards or large 45 degree.  Other options are single or dual HL, open (“freight’) or closed (“passenger’) pilot, Louvred / screened / or flat air compressor door,  and different steam generator options. 
These are things that should be tooled initially for a new model series but that isn’t the Kato Way so don’t expect releases of CB&Q, GN, WAB, PRR, etc. etc. in the future...each variation is a big project and requires a big hulabaloo to sell as tooling is involved for each combination of features.   That and the trend to only do engines tied in with train projects kills any chance of so many roads ever being seen....like B&M!!
Charlie Vlk

Most if not all the Kato passenger sets could be rereleased with E7 units.  With the mechanism already built it is just tooling up the different shell. Clearly these sets sell because they keep bringing them out on a regular basis. I think we can all agree that there are several more major releases that have yet to be done. And if the timing is right on the dates a lot of those cars could be combined into new Amtrak sets.

[thomasjmdavis]

Most if not all the Kato passenger sets could be rereleased with E7 units.  With the mechanism already built it is just tooling up the different shell. Clearly these sets sell because they keep bringing them out on a regular basis. I think we can all agree that there are several more major releases that have yet to be done. And if the timing is right on the dates a lot of those cars could be combined into new Amtrak sets.

Well, except AT&SF sets (ATSF owned no E7s of any phase). 
But now that they have the basic body for the E7, it would be logical for them to produce some future sets with those engines, albeit with road specific variations.  Those Great Northern units posted earlier in the thread come to mind.

[garethashenden]

What phase(s) are the Broadway Limited E7s?