Another Athearn SD70M run announced

Just noticed on 4Nscale.com that Athearn has announced another run of SD70Ms. Personally, I'm interested in the all-maroon EMD lease scheme, to compliment the maroon/silver one that I have waiting for me at my LHS (they were fixtures on the I-5 corridor in the mid-90's). Also announced were UP flag/non-flares, BNSF H2 & Warbonnet, CN, ON, and more EMD maroon/silver, among others.

I like these. I've got several now, and they are great runners and pullers. Now I would most likely change my tune in a heartbeat if Kato DID announce them, but I'm satisfied w/ the Athearn's vs. no SD70M's at all

 

I dunno, Dave. After the latest run of SD40-2's, Kato is not on my "automatic buy" list anymore. They've joined Model Power - try it before you buy it. Their previous stuff was solid gold, the standard. Not saying they're bad by any stretch of the imagination - just not blind faith worthy anymore. I haven't tested an Athearn yet, so I can't say they're better, but the Kato part of the equation has taken a dip. Unfortunate, but what can you do?

 

William
I don't think Kato took a dip, just other manufactures just took over and left them behind. Intermountain with add on details on their F units, Precision with build in sound, Athearn with little details like painted cab and now nice running motors (as I noticed at the SD70M EMD leasing unit I bought).
Kato just did not improve as much the new players did.

 

The new run was announced on 8/15.

Interesting to note that our most fastidious customer called Tuesday night and in the conversation he indicated in his opinion these locos outclass the Katos by a wide margin. The paint, lettering and details were items that he specifically noted. To say the least I was floored as I thought he was a died in the wool Kato aficionado.

 

Roland, yes, I think you have a good point there. If the latest SD40-2's were announced in the early 80s they would have blown the competition away.

George that's interesting. I don't have an Athearn SD... yet, so that will be interesting to observe.

 

I'd like the Athearn units better if they weren't glued together, had better cab window glass, and were more consistent runners. I've seen some units that run ok on straight sections of track, but slow noticeably on any curves.

 

I have to agree about the Athearn units. Also, I didn't really like that when I opened the two Kato SD40-2's that I bought, that the trucks fell off them as I removed them from the box. Not something I would have expected from Kato.

 

I would like a few non-flared UP units, but have heard these really are not DCC drop in friendly. Is this true?

 

I totally agree, but I think I was pretty lucky, only one truck out of the two units I bought fell out. Also, I didn’t like the way the hand rails were all bent in..... :angry:

Over all, the SD40-2 was a real nice engine, and I especially love the lighted ditch lights!!! :thumbs_up: :thumbs_up: But I think Kato needs to retool their QC department!!!!!

 

Interesting thread. I "passed" on the first runs of the Athearns. Just my opinion, but the cab glass really turned me off. It just didn't do what looked like a pretty nice model justice.

The other "issues" for me are, like stated above, is the glue assembly, and the fact that Athearn doesn't offer "spare parts". Hopefully in time, Athearn can "get this together".

Now I'm a professed "KatoHolic", but as William posted, I'm not an "automatic buyer" for Kato anymore either. I got to "reassemble" 8 out of 20 Katos that had their trucks loose in the box.

This was a grreat chance to "see" how the new design worked, but I didn't buy any of my preordered units. Besides the loose trucks, the handrails were bent/warped/or whatever you want to say about them. I also wasn't impressed with the paint, and the various "shades" of yellow on the ATSF's. Disappointed to say the least.

Comparing the Kato paint to some Athearns, the Kato took a second place, a far second place.

Good comes from bad though. While I was there, I noticed and fell in love with the Atlas B23's and Dash8's. Great detail, paint, performance, and with no glue, nice looking cab windows, and the unit came "assembled" from the factory!

Bottom line, we're in good N scale times. More models, better detail and paint, and better model selection. It just took me a little time to get used to the fact that Kato wasn't "king" anymore.

Now if we could just have the Atlas/Athearn paint, and the "old time" Kato quality mecahnisms, there would be a hands down winning manufacturer:thumbs_up:

It'll be interesting to see how Athearn progresses, and how Kato evolves into the future with their paint/graphics. If they stand still, and continue the path that they have taken lately, I only see market share going down.

With a few small improvements, I see Athearn gaining market share, if the "HO" management listens and learns!

 

I think there's way too much Kato bashing in this thread...Just because they aren't doing things the way we've gotten used to doesn't mean they are doing badly.

If you've examined the SD40-2 mech carefully, you'll realize that they probably HAD to redesign the way it goes together, because the light pipe HAS to go right through the area where, in the old design, there would have been a screw holding the frame together. For all those who have been wondering why the totally different mech, I think this is the answer: Kato wanted to be the first to deliver to the market a non-wide cab unit with ditch lights. You can hardly blame them for that. I also don't think it's a bad thing that you no longer need a screwdriver to disassemble the unit, and that altogether there's fewer parts to lose.

As for the trucks requiring some assembly, I think that is a minor issue. Let me know if they fall out while the engine is running.

And as for appearance...The warped endrails are indeed a shame, but nothing new in N scale. And let's not forget to mention the ways in which Kato did its best so far. For the first time they got the correct color (blue) on Santa Fe walkways. And for the first time in the industry, they offered roadname-specific detailing!

 

This "KatoHolic" critizied Kato for steps that they took.............in reverse.

Yes they brought out a non wide cab unit with operating ditch lights, the correct walkway color for ATSF, and have some nice "detail specific" items. This is all good, but, trucks coming loose during shipping, and those handrails are not acceptable, especially from Kato.

Based on preproduction photos, I ordered a BUNCH of these units. I've always felt "safe" with prordering Katos, based on their past history and track record.

When at my LHS reassembling engines, and looking at those handrails, my "KatoHolicism" changed. I can't and won't preorder with Kato anymore.

The above issues are easily resolved, but haven't been yet. I'm a camel.....................I can't outwait anyone and anything, until it's to my wallets liking.

No bashing here, just "critiquing" what the factory I loved so much, is expecting me to buy!

 

I love my Kato's too but it will be interesting to see what they do with the next loco release. I would presume that they are weighing in on all the comments (both good and bad). The new mechanism is a change and nobody likes a change when you become comfortable with the older locos and their time tested quality.

The pre-production model shots actually showed the bent handrails so I guess we all got what they showed us! I have already told Kato what I think they need to do about these and future releases. I suggest that others should do the same. Obviously they need to stick some soft foam between the body and the handrails to keep those railings straight.

Releasing parts sooner than 3 months after the initial model release is a real bummer when a small piece from the drive shaft goes flying into outer space, never to be found again. Gee I wonder what idiot did that?

About the Athearn units - I don't like the looks of the toy looking plastic glass and don't even think about using glue! Hopefully they will change that. I'm not ready yet....

 

I guess I'm going to take the unpopular view here...

Kato isn't exactly perfect, but Athearn is far from it as well. Although Kato's SD40-2's had some very minor problems (trucks falling out don't bother me, they pop right back in), these problems can all be overcome, resulting in a very prototypical scale model.

On the other hand, I won't touch an Athearn SD70M with a 10' pole from just looking at them. I appreciate the time spent on the project, but it just doesn't look right (from the trucks up!). To prove my point, place a Kato UP SD70M next to an Athearn SD70M and take special note of the small details that really stand out where they should on the Kato model. I don't have an Athearn model as noted, but if I did, I would definitely take a side-by-side shot to show the difference in the details.

Granted, I might be classified as a "rivet counter" in some respects so my opinion is just that, my own. Personally, I just wouldn't bother trying to make the Athearn units look right at this point (here's to hoping that Kato will make them... right).

 

As I pointed out earlier in another thread, you can easily straighten the SD40-2 side handrails when you take the loco out of the box. Just as easy as removing a piece of foam, which wouldn't solve the structural problem anyway. And as was pointed out to me, the end handrails are also warped in a lot of cases, and that's not easily fixed.

I think in their next run Kato will make sure the trucks get properly pushed into the unit at the factory, and we will never talk about that again.

I kind of agree with Craig about the Athearn. It looks "fuzzy", or something, compared to a Kato. I just wish the Kato SD70M didn't have the phase 2 cab. I only ever see the phase 1 in real life.

I remember seeing a thread with side-by-side photos of the Athearn and Kato, but I can't find it. Probably from before the URLs changed.

 

"Now if we could just have the Atlas/Athearn paint, and the "old time" Kato quality mecahnisms, there would be a hands down winning "

Yes, please!

 

Hey Guys, when I posted yesterday about the trucks falling off my Kato SD40-2's, I had no intention of bashing Kato or turning this thread that way. All I meant to do was point out an issue that I hope will be addresses on future units. In fact, I have no real complaints about all the great locos that are out there from all the differnt manufactures. Some old ones like Wathers (aka Life Like) have really stepped up to the plate in recent years. New manufactures like Intermountain and Athearn entered the market with nice products. They listen to us and each new model is better than the last. The same really goes for Atlas and Kato to in the long run. Let's face it all manufactures have +'s and -'s and we should expect that. In fact if it were not for the -'s, we wouldn't have such great detail part manufactures such as BLMA and Mocalova Model Works just to mention a couple. I say, we support our manufactures and give all the feedback we can. It will produce a lot more results than any amount of bashing ever could.

Okay, I'll jump down off my soapbox now.

 

Richard, "soapboxing" is good. In fact, we paid money to "soapbox":thumbs_up: Nothing wrong with that!