So I cancelled just the CB&Q Red nose version I got before it shipped when I found this SET that included the matching cars for about $60 more when I didn't have to pay tax and the shipping was less. What's really weird is I sent them an email to verify that is was indeed DCC Equipped as it states in the Title and Description and today after it shipped I get an email saying that it is not. But I don't think the person responded really knew or checked the correct item I bought. So I am hoping it is as described! It should be right? I'll find out when I get it? Title: Kato N 106090-DCC Chicago Burlington and Quincy EMD E5A and Silver Streak Zephyr 6-Unit Set (DCC Equipped) Description on their site: "To call the "Silver Streak Zephyr" famous before its time would be to do the all-corrugated, slick stainless steel train a disservice. Named after a movie of the same name which featured the CB&Q's distinctive corrugated equipment, the "Silver Streak Zephyr" and its specially built EMD E5A unit "Silver Bullet" was a short distance luxury train that operated between Lincoln, Nebraska and Kansas City with stops in Omaha and St. Joseph. Like the train it pulled, the EMD E5A was a unique piece of equipment - specially built just for the CB&Q so that they could have a locomotive which matched their Budd built corrugated cars, the EMD E5A was wrapped in shining stainless steel and ribbed with corrugated fluting that gave the CB&Q's trains an unmatched streamlined look. Features: Locomotive: Equipped with a mix of body and truck mounted KATO magnetic knuckle couplers Locomotive: Directional Golden White LED headlights and illuminated preprinted numberboards Locomotive: DDC Decoder Equipped Cars: Smooth rolling blackened metal wheels with all-wheel electrical pickup Cars: Ability to be lit with optional 11-211/212 Version 2 LED Interior lighting kits Cars: Illuminated marker lights on tail car SKU: KAT-106090-DCC" So I think I am good? Anyone have this set?
I agree, they are suppose to as this is what was bought: 1 × Kato N 106090-DCC Chicago Burlington and Quincy EMD E5A and Silver Streak Zephyr 6-Unit Set (DCC Equipped) Here's hoping? I think I will get the correct item! Also, it is in UPS tracking now and due here Friday October 29th. I'm excited to get this DCC Equipped locomotive and car set and ready to buy the lighting kit for the rolling stock. What's funny is it will probably almost wrap around my small 2' x 4' layout, but I am gonna add the other 2' x 4' section up for an L to run it! My very first NEW DCC locomotive and I get to try a Kato also! I've come a long way thanks to the Swap Meet starting with Bachmann F7's, And then Atlas U25B's, adding Intermountain FT A&B both powered ( my favorite locomotive set by far and livery? ), and now a shot at a Brand New Kato complete set. Exciting times for me. BTW, I always forget if they are called liveries or themes, or cars, or rolling stock, or etc... I get terms in railroading messed up all the time Are they wheels or trucks, or...
Man this locomotive is amazing so far. Have a few places where I have to swap out some track in a curve, but it makes one 11" radius curve fine and I just need to adjust the other to match it cause of some derailing. I'll figure it out eventually and you have to remember none of my track is tacked down yet cause I am still in the mock-up stag. It's heavy like my Intermountain FT A&B units, which I like a lot. have to program it with my simple Bachmann EZ Command Control, which I love for now. If I stay more focused on the layout like I have the past year, I'll eventually, maybe, get a NCE Powercab I think it is called? Just maybe. And I haven't even added the other cars yet. Alright time to go see if I can fix my second 11" radius curve, Pretty sure I can. I'll make a video when I can? Raining here in the South so a great time to play with trains!
She runs excellent considering I don't have any track with roadbed, and nailed or glued in place. I'm still having to replace some troubled track and switches, but that true of anyone that doesn't have completely new track, even Kato track I will say and I knew this when I bought it. I will use just the locomotive more than I will the entire 6 car set together. I ran it with just some generic rolling stock last night, and it's sweet. Not prototypical, but I don't care. I was originally just gonna buy the locomotive only, till I ran across the better deal with the set. Now to go replace an old switch I have acting up. BTW, what's up with the NOT putting the PIN's on the couplers before shipping the set? Curious if my eye's can add those even with a magnifying glass? And doesn't matter if we don't use the magnets and such, right? I also thought the Zephyr rolling stock would be heavier, but I guess not. For sure buying the light kit down the road.
Yeah, those tight curves are not the best stage for showing long passenger equipment. Will look better if viewed closer to eye level, rather than from above. But the train gets through the curves just fine! Even the "almost an S curve" with a short straight in between went well. I've not heard of a rule of thumb for how long such straights should be, but it is likely relative to the longest equipment to roll over them. But in compact layouts, we all make compromises. Roll 'em if ya got 'em!
Yeah it for sure looks better eye level I agree. Finally found the right speed for it not to derail, made around the track about 20 times, considering all my stuff still in mock-up stage. When the light hits a certain way you can see the two tone on the cars too. It's awesome. And each car having it's own name and such is really cool! Not that I can see them most of the time with my eyes Daytime, better lighting, and closeup video. It's cool when it goes around and shows back up in the background at the end of the road.
Especially the shot of the train passing in the background, lends depth to the scene. Brighter lights should allow the camera lens to stop down (reduce aperture), increasing depth of field and keeping both foreground and background in focus. Although, manually shifting focus (if possible) to the background can foretell the shift in scene from foreground to background, so the viewer anticipates something is going to happen. I'm no videographer (a retired electrical engineer), but I have friends in theatre and video production, and I pick up on their conversations... Have you thought about decorating the inside of the edge board like an old board fence, or sideways corrugated steel panels, etc.? And that fallen tree could be a scene of its own, by adding some dirt, etc. for the root ball, with a ragged hole in the earth from which it was ripped. Its own little story with in a story. Nice work! *I have all these ideas for other peoples layouts, while mine barely gets off the ground!
Yeah I just take quick videos with my iPhone for now, nothing special about them, that's for sure. But I also like the background scene when the Zephyr is passing. Maybe I can work on the photography down the road. And the edge board was just added quickly, will have to think about it in the future? Yeah if I barely bump the layout or breath heavy stuff falls. like trees for now I can't wait to get the light kit for it. Have to watch some more installation videos on YT for it. I bet it looks awesome with every car lit up? In person at least, not sure how it will photograph?
