BNSF, That think looks mean to run on HO scale rails!!!!! Man, do you have an HO DD-40? By Athearn or the Bachmann one???? To compare them in size? I have 3 DD-40's by Athearn... So I know their length... That SD-90 looks like a long thing! I bet its close to the same size of the DD-40 if not the same length! And being Kato, I bet it runs sweeeeeeeeeeet! I like big power! With all my Articulated steamers.. Should know by now.. Hey thinking of it, I should be a UP fan! I like big power and so did the UP! But I've got B&O blood in these veins! Still to model one railroad (B&O, and predecessors) and collect another railroad isn't all that bad! Just for a change of color every now an again!
I wish there would have been at least one pic of the handrails in that other thread. I think thats probably the only real weakness on the model. After seeing that now i want one benjamin
Got mine today! Very nice indeed---as is usually the case with Kato the thing runs smooth and very quiet. It is quite a beast, but not as big as you might think. Referencing the photo above, the C44-9s measure up to the end of the last radiator intake on this thing, but that is including the stairways. Hey, John (EM1 7600) I went and visited the B&O RR museum two weeks ago. WHat a nice set up. I got to finally see the 2-6-6-6 in real life. What a monster! I think I was most overwhelmed by the Mikados and Berkshire---those things are sooo big. Big Al was long, but looked smaller because of the smaller driver size. I guess next year will be the time to be there since the anniversary will be celebrated. I hear steam from England and Germany as well as Japan will be attending! THey are restoring a number of the locos to run down the two mile track. BTW----CSX is footing the bill to make the track double along the way. Very nice. Now I have to find the Big Boy out in the Dallas.
BNSF, For some odd reason the SD-80's and SD-90's just sound big and bad. Big for size and bad for power! Haul anything! I don't know why they seem big, just just do, ya know its one of those type things, you actually have to have one in your hands to know and "experience" the size and all... As for Mt. Clare... Like it huh???? Lucky Texan! I haven't made it to Mt. Clare yet! Anyway, You weren't to far from a Big Boy when you were their! Another hour to hour and a half north to Scranton, PA "Steam Town" Sets one! And it was a straight shot north from Baltimore! [ 09 June 2002, 10:43: Message edited by: 7600EM_1 ]
I wouldn't count on any MAC-Hs any time soon from Kato. There are just too many differences between the two---they would have to make a whole new model! The front end, the access doors, inlets etc have differences. I would love it if they did, but I think we are much more likely to see in the 2nd run what they are now offering in the n-scale 2nd run. That NS version sure looks mean. EM1 7600: I will say this, compared to my kato SD40 that SD90 is huge! Fully one third again longer!!!!! Compared to the dash 9s everything from the end of the flares is longer. I wonder if Kato has gotten into a bad set of motors for the things because they are louder than my Atlas' locos! My first run C44 is ABSOLUTELY QUIET! Everything since then is a bit louder than an ATLAS and way louder than a P2K. I just wish P2K stuff would run at the same speeds as everyone elses stuff---I would only by their stuff if that was the case. I wonder about the SD60M from them---maybe they have rectified this?
There is also very few of the "H" model, and only two roads have them. With the SD9043MAC they can do new roads and paint schemes with the second run which is happening, at least in N scale.
BNSF, I have a total of 3 Atlas loco's and one Atlas body. I haven't got any thing made by Kato yet! But I will add to your comment to the P2K stuff. I have a few P2K diesels... And yes they are slightly slower, for instance I like to run my SD-7/9 P2K with my Spectrum GP-30, they run pretty good together, but sadly, the P2K is just slightly slower then the GP-30 and being that I have found that the SD-7/9 hasn't got any electronic restrickions, its in the truck gearing... So I've been doing some calculated design work on getting the right gearing to fit in it to make it come up to speed with the other diesels that I have... However, I know the first phase of P2K SD-60 had some nasty electronic restriction issues that is alot of work to get around it so the motor would get the dirrect effect of the power current from the rail and not go through the electronic plate to take voltage and amp from the motor and then run it through the lights after the motor got electric first... Then if that doesn't get it up to speed somewhat, then I would get into the truck gearing...Which can be hard if its different from all the rest of the P2K line.... Then you wouldn't be able to use the same type gearing I am going to once I have it prefected for in my SD-7/9, being its possible to be different.
It's in the gearing. P2k decided to use a different gear ratio on the SD60, in order to make it operate at lower speeds. Interesting idea, but unfortunately, this prevents it from being MU'ed with anything else but another P2k SD60. This isn't new for P2k; I bought their GP and SD9's, hoping to MU them like SP did on the long lumber drags they were known for. But the GP9 and SD9 have different gear ratios and didn't run too well together in tests at my club, so finding some way of safely MU'ing them will be a challenge. As for the SD60, the single undec unit I bought to detail and paint for NS, to use as run-through power with my Espee fleet, is now sitting in its box after some disappointing test runs at my club. I'll probably toss the drive and replace it with a chassis from OMI, or a RPP SD60 frame with Mashima/A-Line/Athearn components. Gotta use something that's compatible with the rest of my fleet. While P2k puts out a good product, I was a tad disappointed in the performance and detail issues on the SD60. Hopefully, they'll have a winner in the GP60....now that's a diesel I can use lots of!
The other side to it is that the SD60's actually run excellently! They will outpull anything on my roster, and I reckon run Kato-smooth...other than they won't MU with anything else they are great in the running department. I currently have an Oakway waiting for a cascade green SD60M, and a NS one that i'm not quite sure what to do with, but looks really cool!
Seeing this photo, now I really can't wait for the SD-80-MAC I have ordered!!! About MUing the P2K SD-60's, ask John(7600_EM1) about when I MUed my SD-60's on the station's layout!!! Ever think to see a freight headed by an SD-60 CSX Stealth and an EM-1???
I agree about the SD60s being great pullers. I love the detail they have and they are sooo smooth and quiet. I just wish that they would run at the same speed as the other manufacturer's producsts. What I never understood was the "prototypical speed" argument. If I want proto speed don't I just cut back on the power from the power pack? Duh! If P2K ran at the same speed than I would never buy another manufacturer. I wonder if I placed an E6 circuit board in an SD60---if that would increase the speed any because my P2K E6 goes like a rocket and is smooth and quiet. Now talking about the Kato SD90, I am dissappointed by the engine noise---just shouldn't be that noisy. One of my two is worse than the other, but after tightening the motor mounting screws it did better. But the 2nd run of the C44s were absolutely quiet! I think there is a change in the engines they are running in the things---they should switch back in my opinion. The wife thinks they sound more like diesels---maybe she is right!
There must be a conspiracy between Atlas and Kato to take money from my wallet. I just picked up my Conrail 80macs yesterday. Talk about sweet. A friend of mine had his running, really nice. As for the Atlas half, my hobby shop called and told me that the SD35's I reserved last October, finally came in. I am glad a put aside the money before I ordered.
