From the other posts above, its the Kato fans that are wrong and it also looks to me like Kato also missed the darker gray (maybe black) last roof section and also the chrome below and above the two middle side windows.
Well, I'm glad I'm not dying to own a model of this loco. It would be a tough choice. Personally I would buy the Kato and fix the details that bothered me. The big swaying points are the ditchlights and DCC. Also the quality of the tooling on the Kato (e.g. the doors on the hood) is finer, and I have always felt that this sort of thing makes a major difference in whether it looks real. This combined with the thinner paint job (which is also more prototypically correct in its details) puts the Kato on top. While there may be more details to "fix" on the Kato, they are easy to fix (with the exception of the wrong number of steps). On the Athearn, the side cab windows look wrong, and the numberboard holders on the rear end shouldn't be there. Personally I think the Athearn fans are too rounded; Kato made them too tall, so neither maker really got these correct. The Kato wheels look much better, kudos to Kato for making excellent loco wheels on their recent releases. None of this is to say that I won't buy a flared-radiator UP SD70M from Athearn when they come out, as long as someone sells them at a good discount. Here's a wider angle photo that shows the black-painted fans on the fresh paint job. If you're going to weather your Kato, however, this really doesn't matter. http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=145874
If somebody want to measure it... a prototype Q fan is 7 3/4" tall at the outer rim edge, and 10 1/2" tall at the center of the fan... or scaled down, .0484375" and .065625" respectively.
Thanks for the head on comparison Dave. I've got my BLMA details here awaiting my Kato's arrival. The working ditch lights seal the deal. I ran some AC's today with working ditch lights and they look so great! Just got to decide whether to replace the Kato fans or not...??? Thanks again!
Kato has always left the fuel tank and the trucks a lighter gray? I guess they just think no one will notice or that we are so happy Mr. Kato blessed us with another loco that we don't care? My first task with any Kato SP loco is to paint the underside to match the correct upper color. It is a cheap short cut, like not painting the handrails white or adding sunshades. No wonder Atlas is having such success, huh? I love Kato but believe they could joint the crowd now producing better body shell detail. Of course I'll trade ditch lights and ease of decoder installation any day. So I guess its a tie? While I am on the soapbox, why doesn't Atlas redesign the light board so it fits easily and stays tight like Kato? I have never had to fool with a Kato decoder install for hours on end to get it to work properly. If Atlas would have changed their design when I started to convert to DCC I would have more hair! Doc
Dave, Thank you very much for your KATO/Athearn comparaison. It really helps to make one's mind! Now I am really happy to have reserved my 2 Katos SD70M in SP scheme, and I am now eager to get them. I will retire my Athearn's sooner than expected!
I spent some time modifying the Kato unit - lowered nose grab irons, painted nose door window, ditchlight brackets red as per prototype, handrail ends white, and the headlight housing metal. I'm even happier w/ my Kato now !
That really looks nice:thumbs_up: I just ordered one unit from Feather River late yesterday. MY LHS has a "pair" on order, but hasn't received them yet. With all the "short run", "not everyone will get one" threads and rumours, he isn't even sure if they will come in.mg: He's always been able to fill my Kato needs, but things just aren't as certain this time. After reading this thread, seeing pics, and finding out that the chassis is the same as the "older" SD70's, I thought that I would "grab" at least one. If my LHS comes through, then I'll have an extra to either renumber or eBay.:lightbulb: Thanks to all for the time spent doing these comparisons PS, my first experience working with Chuck at Feather River was a pleasant suprise. Great attitude, took time to BS about the hobby, and I felt like he loves what he does. A refresing change compared to many folks that I've dealt with in my lifetime. THANKS Chuck
Hey DocGeoff... When I asked Kato why they don't paint the fuel tank, trucks, handrails, plows, etc, they said the color the plastic is cast in is "close enough" to the proper color. Then when I asked them why they would intentionally paint the entire shell in what would have to be the wrong color, they refused to comment further. They wouldn't supply me with any paint either. Guess how many Kato anything I've purchased since!
Just curious......are the trucks like the other SD70**** or are they the new and "improved" trucks like on the SD40-2 locos?
Jerry - here you go! (cross posted from the SP Moment thread...). Matt - I'm not sure about the trucks, I'm assuming they are the old style as the rest of the mech is...
I like the Kato units better, because the DCC ready mech, great smooth running chassis, ditch lights, much better detail on some areas (Cab windows, rad grilles, etc). But to me the big plus is that the shell is not glued together & can be dissasembled for weathering & detailing. Most of the other issues I can live with, I just hope the next run will be the UP units.
Dave, Thanks for your great shot. The lattest modifications you did on your new KATO SD70M are worth the try, least to say. How did you deal with shortening the cab handrails? Jean-Edouard
I will know next week which I'm going to be getting. Great thread love all the photos of the models and the actual locos. verse
I bought the two Kato models. I think they are better than the Athearn version which I also have. However, not typical to Kato is both units run different speeds on DC.
The Kato snow plow appears to be the correct size, looking at proto photos. The Athearn plow is too small.
