Hope it's not a belated April Fool's joke.

The following item appears in the "News & Products" section of the June 2006 Model Railroader:

Kato to increase model availability

Kato USA, Inc., manufacturer of HO and N scale locomotives and freight cars, announced that it's shifting away from limited-run models in an effort to make its models more readily available.
"We're going to treat our products like catalog items" said Leon Waldack of Kato USA, Inc. "For example the first two runs of the N scale Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Super Chief sold out, so we're releasing a third run in June. The new models will have the same stock numbers, but they'll have different road numbers". The firm plans to reissue other models as orders dictate.

Can the above be true??? If so, it is certainly a "sea change", as Kato was possibly the worst for the time between reruns in the past. mg: :cat:

 

I read it, as well.
I was equally interested in the Bachmann-Model Power lawsuit stuff.

 

I had recently suggested a re-run of the C&O F7 (N scale) via their new model suggestion form at their website. Maybe that's something else they'll follow through with.

 

That is a welcome announcement as Kato has been criticized for it's limited production runs in the past.

Stay cool and run steam........

 

I certainly hope it is true! Kato makes a great product, the big issue is availability. And if true, could this mean some upcoming reruns of long lost models like the SD45, C30-7, etc...? Be still my heart... hope it's not a hoax!

 

Is this any different from the ConCor rerun of Zephyr trains? Kato must be missing out on sales of hot items. It can only be good to run more units with new numbers. The collectors will be happy as long as Kato dosen't flood the market.

In the same issue, Atlas ad states that their models are built to order. We're supposed to trust them to do a quality product when announced? Seems to me they should have a steady supply of standard items, like freight cars, Classic loco lines, etc. I hope they will re-run the Shay.

 

Well if you look at the quick turn around on the SD40-2. They have just delivered the BN and CN (IC repaint) versions and are now releasing ATSF / BNSF versions so this could well be true. They seem to have altered their business model.

 

I think this is a good thing. A while back, I said Kato should release an add on set for the SC so that people could model the Winter 1953-54 consist. While I didnt really think of re-releasing the entire set, this could be a good thing for the die-hard Santa Fe guys.

I could also used a few more sets of the NS coalporters.

The only down side I see to this is with the extra money Kato spends on multiple runs, we will see more incomplete sets like the GN empire builder wanabe train. Or there will be more time between new announcements.:sad:

 

And please Kato, make undecorated model available individually rather than in sets.

Cheers
David

 

Seems to me like Kato USA might be gaining a voice in what's produced. I certainly hope so.

 

I read it too and hope Kato will do improved re-runs of their early models.
Cheers,

 

The number of quality N scale manufaturers is growing. If Kato doesn't increase quantities to satisfy demand, their competitors will.

Collecting is half the fun for me but to think my collection should be worth big bucks some day just isn't in the picture. If it were, it means I'm spending too much on trains.