Kato might be doing NS 70ACe units after all. They updated their SD70ACE page showing all the available paint schemes and one box that says "More coming soon...". I guess we'll see soon enough what exactly they are planning. Maybe a manufacturer throwdown haha.
Hopefully both FVM and Kato will make ACe's since compition is better for us since they will both try to out perform each other giving us better models!
This is old news, Kato already hinted that they are doing the ACes. In typical Kato style, Kato will make the annoucement when they are almost here unlike FVM where they annouced a loco and you are still waiting over a year or two to get it, still waiting on my four CSX ES40dc GEVO'S announce in 2011. Sure the FVM Aces might be correct but the Gevos are not since the handrail and long hood are incorrect no matter what cab you put on it. Hey I like FVM just wish there stuff would show up. http://www.trainboard.com/grapevine...S-HERITAGE-LOCOS/page6&highlight=kato+sd70ace
Unless Kato changes out the sprung trucks for their original ones on these, I'll be going with FVM this time around.
Do NS fans ever stop complianing? In the old days, I had to butcher and add all sorts of details to ATSF units (heck, I still do) off of stock Atlas, Kato, LL units. There's only so much tooling that can be done to make these close to perfect. The fact the FVM goes to extra lengths to make each one a bit more specific is pretty awesome, if you ask me. At least your headlights are now in the correct place.... *roll eyes* FVM shows up. Production delays in China bottle necked everyone, and in some cases FVM didn't like what they got back, so it was reworked.
name ONE loco (other than the tunels) that ever had SP details, then you can complain about the NS locos....and even the 2 SD40-T2's that I have are still missing the rear snow plows
WOW calling us out complaining when a engine is grossly wrong. but have the railing color not match the shell color and crying is heard all over. LIKE THE KATO C30-7 I have a right to voice my opinion just like you MCJACO. I did not attack you so do not attack me.
Hi Bremner, The long hood is wrong because it is missing a vent in the back which places the rear headlight in the wrong place for the NS Heritage and the M-2 engines. The inverter cabinet has the wrong grill assembly. The housing behind the cab for the M-2 should not be there, it should be a access hatch. Two of those things can be corrected without too much kitbashing work, but on a high priced engine, as these are, how many are going to be cutting them up and then try to match the paint. The back of the engine would be a lot harder to do. Now at least the Kato engine that I have a thread on that I am kitbashing a NS Ace unit that I only paid $25 for and stripped is a lot easier to kitbash and very little work needs to be done to the long hood. Even the FVM cab has the wrong GPS, NS does not use the GPS that is on the cab of the FVM. There are other things that are wrong too, but are minor. I believe the reason why Kato has not come back out with a SD40-2 is because of the bashing they got on the forums for the C30-7 that everybody was hoping that they would rerun and look what happened with that.
I got four for that price. and 1 was the George bush engine that will stay that way. as i like the paint scheme.
Where's the attack??? This is the only shot I've found of the long hoods. It's only two of the five pre production models.
if you look at the 2013 Amherst report you will see all 5. and all 5 have the same long hood. and the pic you show has the one with rear ditch lights. and it is the one that is for the NS engines. you like them buy them . I do not so I will not buy them.AND as FAR AS THE ATTACK you high lighted my post. and if you do not like my opinion,tough.
I see what you mean. Kato will only produce SD45's lettered as a SD40-2M due to the SP guys pointing out simular errors Back when Kato put out the first run of U30C, they used a number for the wrong phase....no rerun on that (I did correct the number when I added the lights, battery box, bell and 1 of the 2 plows)
This is the only other shot in the Amherst report that shows all the units (at least that I can find). Not sure how you can tell off of one shot of the units from the top, and once again these are pre production. Things change. There isn't one single manufacturer out there that offers up as many alternatives to one model as FVM has on these and the GEVOs. Generic variations have to be made to make these models cost productive for any manufacturer. The fact that Matt makes efforts to try and make variations as close to the prototype is pretty awesome. I'm just tired of the continual bashing (by the same handful of people), when guys like FVM, Bluford, BLMA, come out with really accurate (not 100%) models, and they still can't make headway. There's no way it can be done. For one, the 100% prototype fanatics are way too small of a demographic of model raliroaders to make it worthwhile. Two, it's model railroading. If it's not accurate enough, make it that way.
I can't wait until I think both Kato and FVM will create beautiful models, with advancements and accurate drawings they should create beautiful products for in technology both can do better NS, CSX are just as powerful as UP, BNSF.
Except for CP, UP and BNSF the GEVOS are about 85% correct for most road release and I think most modelers care about that.
