will a kato e8/9a emd shell fits on a emd 7a kato?

[medvedyt]

was wondering if the kato chassis end 7 and 8/9 share the same size that permit to fit and swap.

i got a non dcc via rail kato that i want to put on a prefit dcc chassis i was thinking to do that on e7 one.

thank you.

[Ike the BN Freak]

All of the Kato E8/9s are DCC ready

[peteski]

Yes, Kato E9, E8 and E7 all use the same mechanism, and it is DCC-ready.  You can swap the shells between them all.

Here is some useful info:  http://spookshow.net/loco/katoe8a.html
If you are not familiar with Spookshow's N scale Locomotive Encyclopedia, I highly recommend you keep it as a source of useful information.
http://spookshow.net/locos.html
He also has other reference materials.
http://spookshow.net/index.html

[medvedyt]

yes thank you very much. Mark works is helping a lot but i thought that with that bieng an older 1993 version it was not dcc ready. never assume. saving me time and hassle. thank you so much.

[peteski]

You're welcome.  Marks reviews also  describe if there are changes in the mechanism design, and what those changes are.  If Mark's review does not show any changes for that mechanism/chassis, then it is the same from the first model release to the newest he reviewed.

I would not really call these exactly DCC-ready.  While there are multiple DCC decoders which replace the Kato light PC board, you will have to insulate the motor leads from contacting the power pickup strips on the sides of the chassis.  As I see it that is not 100% DCC-ready.    But it is still a fairly easy DCC installation.

[nightmare0331]

A quick clarification here:

The Kato E5, E7, E8 and E9 all share the same frames and are all dcc friendly.

there are light board/light pipe differences between the E8/9, E5 and E7 so it's not always a dead swap without either swapping the light board over or modifying.  The E7's use a SMLED that is set further back as opposed to a 3mm LED that the E8/9 uses.  The E5 also uses a 3mm led, however it extends further forward.

So...depending on what way you go, you may need to swap out the light board, or if you're already installing dcc or dcc and sound, account for the differences in in light pipes.

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Hope this helps!

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

[Sokramiketes]

It occurs to me that this might be why the nose of the E5 looks stretched.  They had to fit the existing mechanism instead of tooling a new frame. 

[peteski]

It occurs to me that this might be why the nose of the E5 looks stretched.  They had to fit the existing mechanism instead of tooling a new frame.

I always thought the longer nose was a feature of the E5.  It is supposed to be the same length as the other E-units?

[Sokramiketes]

I always thought the longer nose was a feature of the E5.  It is supposed to be the same length as the other E-units?

Longer and slanted yes, but as long as tooled by Kato?  Maybe.  @wcfn100 and I think it's a little long toothed. 

[peteski]

Longer and slanted yes, but as long as tooled by Kato?  Maybe.  @wcfn100 and I think it's a little long toothed.

I see.  Wouldn't be a first time some manufacturer bent the rules a bit.
Unlike the old stretched Atlas Geeps riding on Kato RS-3 chassis, I don't find the E5 objectionable. But I'm not an E5 expert.