I'm wondering why Kato released a Gevo in the CSX paint scheme and used the narrow railings that the UP uses when they produced the AC4400 with the wide front and back railings that CSX has. Because I have a Kato CSX AC4400 and just received the Gevo shell I ordered and I took the front and back railings off the walkway of the Gevo and the front and back railings off the AC4400 and put them on the Gevo walkway that fit perfect which the walkways are identical so now I have a Gevo with wide hand rails. My question is, since Kato produced the wide front and back railings, why didn't they use them on the Gevo shell when they came out with the CSX paint scheme? They have the injection molds already tooled to at least have the right railings for the CSX offering. And the interesting thing is that CSX has both low number boards and high number board Gevo's to where they could have released the CSX paint scheme with two different Gevo shells and the right railings.
Who ever Kato got to do the research for the GEVO was just plain lacy, it is the only possible explanation I can give you. FVM made the same mistakes but at least they said so right out front. The Kato CSX AC44 were correct for there number series right down to the three vents DB brakes which are also missing on both GEVO model. The Kato and FVM GEVO are basically a CP unit painted for CSX. The funny thing is more roads have the three vent DB like CSX and the GE demo than the 2 vents DB. I did try to correct mine as much as possible but Kato does not sell the wide hanrails on there website. I was only able to correct the nose handrails and the lightning bolts when I renumber mine. I do agree that both Kato and FVM can make the high number board 4 window cab type CSX GEVOS.
kato gevo I also agree. I got the ac4400 for free because of a broken truck. I'am going add the third vent and high head light on my new gevo shell to make ns gevo
Because Kato went cheap on their Gevo by standardizing on too many parts. Good point on the wide handrail replacements. Kato actually used the late version AC4400 handrail on the Gevo wich isn't correct, also they used the horn from the SD70ACe rather then making the correct one. They further cheaped out by not printing any of the many warning labels. Another thing is on the BNSF unit they used the high plow rather then the low plow wich they even make and should of used on them.They also didn't make the low rear headlight for the BNSF. Kato truely dissapointed me on the Gevo.
The printed warning labels make a very nice improvement on these models. It would be great if Kato were to do this on future ones.
I agree with you. KATO standards have fallen tremendously, they have been fairly accurate in details and paintwork in the past. Sad to say, their recent releases like the GEVO and the SD45 have been a let down. Their BNSF GEVO model is so inaccurate compared to the ones made by FVM.
The Kato model may have its inacuracy but it still a high quality model and cheaper than the competition by atleast $10.
With the wide handrails already from the CSX AC44 it baffled me. The lack of warning labels was also a let down. I only bought one and I'm almost sorry I bought it. Kato used to be the apex of N scale locos IMHO but they have declined. Jeff
But all that being said they will still out pull most other manufacturers. And probably out last them as well. So I'll still take a Kato over most others:tb-wink:
I was saddened to hear that my first Kato, a SD45 in Kodachrome is not color-accurate as the Atlas Kodachrome. Also, the details do not look as nice as my other Atlas locos. :thumbs_down: Question is, should I keep it or suck up the 15% restock fee for returning the loco and Digitrax decoder??
