Kato has posted more info, looks pretty impressive... www.katousa.com Highlights, for me... Well cars: -made out of metal (they had to) -comes with six individually numbered containers (!!!) -prototypical size wheels (a first on an n-scale well car!) No mention of etched metal walkways though...hmmm sd40-2: -deck mounted ditchlights
-prototypical size wheels (a first on an n-scale well car!) Name the N-scale well cars that do not have prototypical size wheels...
DI maxi-stack III (AFAIK) Walthers 5-unit Thrall Most articulated joints on prototype well cars (such as those above) sit on a truck with 38 inch wheels, instead of the 33 inch wheels found on the ends (and on most freight trucks). That difference (admittedly barely visible in n-scale) has not been represented on any n-scale well-car models that I know of. Prototypical look of wheels is a weak point in general in n-scale, IMO...
Did you notice the much more impressive part? The model is of a 53' well car! Never been done before. Spring loaded couplers, Cinches up on the straights, stretches apart on sharp curves!!! It comes with six BNSF 53' containers!!!!! Unique numbers on the containers no less!
I was just mentioning the new information, but I agree. Hmmm, do you know something I don't? Are you just inferring this? The Kato info refers to "Kinematic trucks", but doesn't go into detail. ...but yes, I'm intrigued that they are hyping this feature, and very curious to see what "Kinematic trucks" actually are. Previous intermodal models have compromised prototypical appearance (IMO) for compatability with ordinary n-scale freight trucks. It will be cool to see custom trucks like on the prototype.
