Announced for February You may be waiting a long time. This is Kato and they may never do MRL. There is no hint or murmurs that they will do the M-2 version either.
I'll wait for the CSX version. However, since it's Kato, I'm not holding my breath. Do they know the US goes east of the Mississippi?
no undecorated announced... (@#รง%&#@) 5x D&RGW (light handrails) and 5x SP (black handrails) for me please... ...the stripper (called Mr. 96% alcohol) is ready
Woo-hoo! Now I know what will be pulling my UP/CSX intermodal run throughs. I may actually have some track in by February Jamie
I don't know about that ... there are limited opportunities to make models with this mould ... and since MRL has what ... 11? it would make sense. If they don't, I could see PWRS making a special run of them since they have made plenty of MRL releases in the past
I reserved a DGRG & a SP but a bit disappointed MP was not on the initial offer. Looks like I will have to wait for the next round. Cheers,
Here's one from Overland This is my SP edition of the Brass Overland model; but I don't plan on using it for a runner. The other two from Kato will fill those holes.
Don't forget there are multiple phases of the SD70ACE, and the 2 UP/SP/DRGW units will have variations from other models. The CSX and MRL SD70ACE's may not even be appropriate for this particular body. Supposedly they plan to do the others - I think to cover the Heritage units they need to do three variations??
I think there are only two variations. SP, DR&G, and C&NW are one. WP, MP, and Katy are the other. The differences are pretty minimal. Some underframe details on the left side, different sized upper vents in the far rear section, and sand fillers at the very back on the later variation (SP, etc.). As far as I can tell, the MRL locos match the WP, MP, Katy variation (earlier build dates). CSX has yet a few further slight differences from that variation (all at the far rear). If I've missed something (on the roof?)...I'm sure most modelers wouldn't care, and the rest could fix it. If Kato really accounts for both variations, I'd say it'll be the farthest any mfr has ever gone to satisfy the "proto-police".
Actually Atlas did at least SIX variations on the B30-7 plus Hi-Hood. MANY MANY of them are still available in undec at various distributors.
The MP, WP and Katy types are real close to the CSX ones. The only difference is were the ladder grabs in the rear of the long hood are. Things that can be easily corrected with BLMA grabs, an X-acto knife. The trucks are different for the CSX unit to, but that no big deal for me. I will gladly strip one or two of each, if they dont do CSX.
The three major operators of SD70ACe's are UP (318), BNSF (270) and KCS (130), I'd think they would the logical choices for Kato, I'd even go for one or two in the KCS Southern Belle scheme, its the bright coloured flashy, everybody will buy one, sort of thing Kato like to go with. Coming in a long way behind in fourth place is our own BHP Billiton with 24, CSX and MRL have 20 and 16 units respectively, minority owners really but you can never tell what Kato will do. I guess there's only one each of the UP Heritage units and they'll sell thousands of those.
Well at least they will come out with undecorated eventually. I would love to do a delivery run through with a billiton loco
I'll just have to keep my fingers crossed that Kato will release NS and CN at some point. If I get any of the UP Heritage units, it'll be the CNW and SP - the SP would look good behind my GS-4 :tb-biggrin:
