Atlas has a pre-order link to a release of SD45s on their website. I accessed it once but now the link doesn't work. Has anyone else seen this? Curious how this came about since Kato and Bachmann have already made these in the past.
I have 2 non-DCC ready versions from Kato years ago, really hard to justify the expense for new ones, but happy to see BN and D&RGW. Edit: the D&RGW prototypes had high-mounted brake cylinders; these models seems to have (hard to identify) low-mounted cylinders.
That's great news for us Frisco guys, too, as SLSF also used the L Window configuration on their SD45s. Now, Atlas just needs to offer up the SLSF paint scheme!! -Mike
For some reason, I cannot even get their home page to open. Weird. Oh well. Probably nothing I can use.
I received an email from them in the Atlas Insiders Mailing announcements and was able to access it from their website although it loaded slowly probably due to so many accessing their site. $169.95 dcc ready with a NMRA 21 pin plug for DCC and $269.95 DCC/sound with Soundtraxx Tsunami decoder. Also with the SP L shaped window and they are doing the NW 1776 bicentennial loco. Doing the high short hood is fantastic and maybe Southern will be in the next run! Ralph
Bachmann hasn't released any SDs for quite a while and neither has Kato.....and neither has done any high-hoods. Bachmann units were typical Bachmann quality wise.....I have 2 that run and 2 that don't. And they never released anything in a roadname I as interested in. Hopefully Atlas will get to Milwaukee Road at some point.
If they do, I would bet it will likely be in the late "Billboard" scheme. Of no interest for many, as it comes at the end of electrification. The plain orange/black era lasted from 1952 until 1973, when the first BB's began arriving. This plain scheme covers most of the GE's, all the SD45, many of their SD40-2, all GP40, etc. So they really need to release in plain, and let people add BB decals if they are late era modelers. Going the opposite way, the buyer needing to remove factory lettering is a complete purchase discouraging PITA. Bleh.
Hard to say.......they did both schemes in SD7s. The nice (I guess?) thing about Atlas is they keep rotating........Kato did 1 run of Milwaukee Road and never went back.......Bachmann NEVER did any Milwaukee Road in ANYTHING, even though almost everything they've produced could have been......maybe not a perfect match, but they've done 44ton, RS3, SD40, SD45, S2, S4, F7, 2-8-0, 2-6-2, 0-6-0, 4-6-4, 2-6-6-2, 4-8-4,4-6-0, and probably a few more I'm forgetting, and not a single Milwaukee unit.
I'm just waiting for Kato to release more SD45s. I have a sum total of two previous units (the DRGW releases). I would welcome either more DRGW road numbers, BN units or original scheme ATSF. I never liked the "warbonnet" freight schemes.
I only managed to score one of the Kato versions back in the day. Modeling modern day, I'd have to hold out for the hopefully future releases in rent-a-wreck schemes. Fingers crossed However, I really like that N&W Bicentennial unit.
I was really surprised by the Atlas announcement. If anyone else was to bring out another SD45, I would have thought it would have been ScaleTraines. I too wish Kato would release more SD45s but who knows how long it will be before that happens again? I would also be very happy to see some SD40s also, maybe update both of these with snowplows and mu hoses too. And like BNSF FAN, lease locomotives would be great because they are a "one size fits all" that anyone could use. I also wish Kato would have updated their GP50. Ralph
Yes, I too really like the NW Bicentennial and am also looking forward to seeing late Southern's with plows at both ends and duel horns. I also think it would be really cool to see some Clinchfield units and see Model Railroader resurrect their ground braking Clinchfield RR in N scale as another project railroad. Ralph
Thanks, I missed that. But being a big Kato fan I hope that Atlas releasing these doesn't keep Kato from bringing them back at some point. Ralph
Okay, this is the first I have heard of Atlas doing a SD45. So, when is the expected release date, estimated pricing, etc.
