If Kato really wanted to maximize returns from the BL tooling, they would release some of the 10-6 and 4-4-2 sleepers separately. There are at least a dozen names for each type of car yet to be used, so a pair of 4-packs, for example, of both types of cars could be made and still leave enough unique names remaining for a second run of the BL set.
If Kato really wanted to maximize returns, they should have choose a different train. I can't believe after 9 years, I still only own one passenger set. Jason
I got a better one for you. I have been in the hobby for over 30 years and STILL dont have a passenger train. The reason why? No one has made the Empire Builder or the NCL yet. Ryan
30 years is a lot of modelling practice time wasted. You could have used that time to hand build your NCL and Empire Builder! In other news, Kato has the production Heritage ACe's already in America as evidenced in their newest video advert regarding the HO P42: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MacUY1_YjeU Anyone think FVM is going to throw in the towel on their ACe project?
I've been in the hobby over 30 years too, but Kato has only been making these sets for 9. And my pool of passenger trains is much broader than just two. I would have bit at any Rocket, Hiawatha, 400 or GN Train (The Gopher or Badger would be very cool). I'd even buy another CB&Q if it was a Morning or Afternoon Zephyr. I would have bought an NCL up to 5 years ago, but that's past. edit: I take that back about the NCL, I would get one to run a combined EB/NCL with CBQ power. Jason
Expand that to include PRR-lettered pool sleepers painted in MoPac Eagle, UP yellow, and Pennsy colors with L&N markings. Plus whatever other PRR pool sleepers were painted in other RR's colors. Then even people who don't model Pennsy could still have a PRR car or two in their non-PPR prototypically-correct passenger consists.
Something I have been wondering about since I saw this thread last weekend. Would Kato consider 'recalling' all unsold sets from dealers and distributors and rename/renumber and repackage those sets as a 2nd run? First... it would essentially eliminate any 'glut' of unsold units... Second... Kato would know exactly how many units were sold and could tailor other releases to the KNOWN numbers sold. I'm not sure what the cost would be to Kato to have the product returned and reworked though. It might just be cheaper for them to wait for confirmation of a sell-out before scheduling a new run. I'd like them to have a policy of recalling items they overproduced and haven't sold in 5 years. It would make the originally produced run scarce and more valuable... and the following run might just be a short run that would sell out fast too. Any thoughts on this?
It would be cheaper to make new sets ans set on the glut of the old stuff. They are not in the business of making things collectable, they are trying to sell as many as they can. The only thing that makes things collectable is if there is more demand than supply. If there is more demand than supply, you misjudged your selling potential and left money on the table. It was either priced to cheap or you didn't make enough.
Yeah but 10 years I was on a modeling hiatis. During that 10 years I was more concentrated on the 3Hs; Hooch, Hooters, and Horsepower.
If only we could take back that time and money wasted, we could own real railroads instead of models of them.
hey i'm new to n scale and just found kato products. wow is all I can say. what is cola, right now I own complete super chief, complete morn day w/gs4 and e8, 3 p40 and a ¤¤¤¤load of amfleet. BL next coming this week. Other than gs4 (easier getting ¤¤¤¤ing plutonium) Trainland in New York has a huge stock everything kato and mail order too boot. In a couple of months if there is a kato passenger line I dont own....I will '
I'd buy another COLA to run eastbound to meet my westbound COLA in Weber Canyon...one with an Armour Yellow Pennsy sleeper in the consist, and the other with a two-tone gray B&O sleeper...yeah Cheerio! Bob Gilmore
If only... I've never really wasted money on the 3H's and I still don't have enough for the railroad. If I was an insanely wealthy billionaire, or I knew one personally, I would rebuild the Milwaukee as my own private line. At the very least, though, Kato could finally come through on another rumour and finally give us a nice Little Joe.
COLA is the City of Los Angeles. As for NP NCL or GN Empire Builder, I'd rather get a 1955 Empire Builder. Being I could also use half the cars to make a BN executive train. Only NCL car was the diner I believe.
I've seen references to alternating NYC and PRR through sleepers on the COLA, but not B&O. What was the time period for the B&O through cars, and did they run in place of or in addition to the NYC and PRR cars?
Obviously, a day late and dollar short. B U T !! Oh ..well...(I'm going to say it anyway)...hell! Another rumor bloomer. I have nothing from Kato that confirms that. Period. What I have tells me Kato is alive (don't you dare insinuate differently to a retired mortician) and has some good products headed our way. Now knock it off, I said with a stern and partial grin. Unless you have proof positive. I want to see the proof. Yes, I'd like to see more American style equipment from the 40's 50's and even 60's. A UP, FEF or a Santa Fe, Northern would be nice.
