We are planning a vacation to Japan this Fall and my one requisite is to visit Kato Japan at their Hobby Center in Tokyo. While snooping around yesterday to figure out location, opening times, etc. I stumbled upon a special event they are having. A two-day event to assemble your own Big Boy to take home! Includes "special tweezers" (hmmm, what is this for?) for assembly and a factory tour of where it is made. You will be guided by the factory manager on how to assemble it. Not cheap (110,000 Yen which is about $788 USD but you get a $400 loco to take home) for the event but oh boy the total immersive experience! (You may have to tell your browser to translate to English) https://www.hobbycenterkato.com/news-1/挑戦者求む！bigboy組立道場！
Very cool! For that price I'd do that experience all day long (and you probably will). Do you get a full warranty with self assembled loco?
Heck ya I would! Unfortunately the two sessions start at the end of this month into July and we won't be there until the Fall, maybe. As for the warranty, well you built it so you have to file a claim and send it to yourself.
A bit off topic, but I just read that the UP used eBay to auction two tickets for a July 3rd cab ride on the 4014, with the funds to benefit the Union Pacific Railroad Museum. Someone bid $21,000 and won the rides, but then couldn't pay and admitted entering the bid as a joke. UP is to try again, though I'm not sure if it'll be through eBay. I wonder why the UP didn't contact the second highest bidder to see it through?
Just wonder what kind of tweezers they furnish- Wonder if they will service a pair in the parts section.
Never mind the "special tweezers", I'd need one of those gizmos to have a half a chance at a successful assembly.
Yep ....... proceed to the nearest mirror and state the problem ....... LOL ! Seriously though I'd think Kato would make sure it goes together pretty good. Maybe electrical wires will be already soldered as a drop in piece
How much of the body of the Big Boy hangs over the inside edge of a 9 3/4 radius curve? Just being silly, just that sort of mood.......
So it seems the Big Boy needs big curved radii. I would guess 28 inch radius would make it look more at home.....
28 inch radius? Hmmmmmm...56 inch diameter on a horseshoe or return loop at the end of a layout. Now I can see lazy 28 inch + radius curves on a somewhat long straight run of track. My 13 and 15 radius return horseshoes work just fine. If cars hanging over the track or track bed bothered me the solution is easy. Just don't look at the trains when they are turning around to go back the other way...LOL .
I *think* Kato said 11" minimum radius but not 100% sure. I remember reading this waaaay back when it was announced they are going to do a Big Boy.
Well, if the layout is still under construction, have a hill, or bluff, or industry in the middle of all hairpin curves, to block the direct view, and have some generous entry and exit spirals so the visible parts of the curves have larger radii.
If necessary, the hand that's not holding the throttle can block my view... Oh, wait, I'd have to put my drink down!
