I don't really think it's fair to say Kato is "feeling the pressure" with regards to the ACe's...to me it's simply a good business decision to make it known officially that they are releasing those schemes. So, not so much "bracing for the competition" as it is letting your customers know there *is* competition lest they order FVM's thinking no Kato's are on the drawing board. Regarding FVM, I cannot speak from personal experience about how they perform as I don't have any of the Gevo's. I do have a GP60B on order and am eagerly awaiting its arrival to see how it operates. It seems to me that FVM does some excellent tooling, and from all reports the performance is very good as well. My one issue from my experience so far is with decoration. They seem to have trouble getting the lettering details right, and the color and lettering of the H-II scheme on the BNSF Gevo is what turned me off to purchasing one. This after (at least) two pretty big blunders on the RD-4 hoppers. (Denial's not just a river in Egypt, FVM!) I keep telling myself there's little chance they can screw up the warbonnet-less silver warbonnet-schemed GP60B, but I have my lucky rabbit's foot in hand when making that assumption. If they keep mailing it in with the paint and lettering, Kato, et al has little to worry about in my opinion.
I don't disagree with that statement...except it's more like 10 years, but... 1. Kato's decoration is still better than FVM's. I'm willing to give FVM some slack for being "new", but I would like them to at least try to improve. 2. Kato's reputation is still one of "the team to beat". Yes, Kato has it's issues and detractors, (me, for one) but overall they are still king of the mountain. 3. Kato is CHEAPER than FVM. Granted, different features, and I personally appreciate the separate grabs. But still, fact. 4. Kato's "Give-a-Hoot" meter is at maybe 3-4, while FVM's is barely quivering between zero and one. I would expect the new guy to be more eager.
1.) How so? Kato continually changes the red on warbonnets, the yellow on UP....And I'm doubting it's to "improve." FVM has corrected the orange on their BNSF units to be more color correct. That sounds like "improvement." 2.) I've never considered a manufacturer to be the one to "beat." Each of them bring something to the table. Maybe that's why many of have flawed thinking in this hobby. 3.) Can't compare apples to oranges. More parts = more money. Ask Atlas, and why they started the Trainman line. 4.) Kato actually gives a hoot? News to me. Of course, don't ask a HO guy that! I won't defend FVM on this one, I know he's excited about the products he's come out with, and is planning, but it does seem like it's kind of all over the board at times. I think when you have set backs like everyone has had with China, you have to regroup and come up with a new plan. Anyone that knows, or has met Matt, knows he's a good guy with a lot of excitement for his line.
HA! Unofficially announced on FVM's facebook page today was the sd70aces. They are expected to begin shipping late summer, only a few monthes after kato. the es44acs are also shipping out within a few monthes, so fvm has a lot of merch comingout soon. fvm is also doing the 1030 that kato is not, so unless someone REALLY hated fvm theyll be making the big bucks off that number. as a sidenote, the fvm and kato ns road numbers dont overlap, so there are (going to be) five different roads commercially available between the two companies, though i would expect fvm to add on another 10 or so within the next few years.
1. Like I said, Kato has its issues. I said *better than*, not impossibly and uncorrectably better than. I did not realize/haven't seen FVM's new BNSF orange, so I stand corrected. (did they fix the skinny letters too?) I do actually think that FVM will get better, but it's just been frustrating. I am actually very excited about the GP60's and I feel like they are gonna be outstanding models from what I've seen. 2. True, they all bring something to the table, but ask 1000 n-scalers what the best locomotive made is. 3. Well, I'm comparing an n-scale SD70ACe to an n-scale SD70ACe. It's not my business to figure out whether people want those parts or not. (I do, but I don't pretend to be the majority) In most case the bottom line...is the bottom line. I'll pay for the parts if all other things are equal, but if you botch the paint job that bad, you've lost me. And Kato has botched paint jobs too, no arguments there. 4. Again, just like "better than"....it's all relative. I'm not a "customer is always right" type, but I do believe that your customer is the A#1 most important thing in your life as a business owner. So even scoring an 8 under "caring about your customers" is pretty unacceptable in my opinion. A 9 means that once every two weeks you have a bad day, and that's probably pushing it if your livelihood depends on it. A 4 means that most days you don't care. I've met Matt a couple of times (in his former life at another company) and agree he's a good guy. But the 2 or 3 issues I've had as a customer of FVM...didn't seem like he had time for it. Being too harsh? Maybe. Fair? Probably not. But, it's life as a business owner. Anyway, don't take me too seriously. I'm happy to see all the product out. I still love everything about model railroading, and I enjoy being passionate enough about the hobby to even care about such things.
the Norfolk southern Heritage engine is a gevo not the sd70Ace. 1030 is a date engine not a Heritage engine. That is way it has 1982 to 2012 for the number boards.
A little off topic, but since we're talking about heritage units: Why is the cab door on the gevo on the right side instead of the left, and why doesn't it have a window? Was this a unique design specifically for this unit?
Hmmm, don't know but 8102 isn't the only one. A quick scan of the NS ES44AC photos on RR Archives shows door placement on the left or right and with or without windows. Even among the Heritage Units, there are changes. http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=3226900 Brian
GE Evolution... Newer GE Transportation locomotives, as well as refurbished units, are claimed to be rated for a 1-million lb impact on the head-end; door placement on the nose of the cab is an experiment to try and improve upon this ratio, it has nothing to do with visual aesthetics...you will not find this information on google or forums, only through experience on a Class I railroad. At the end of the day though, they are still sliced open like a tin can. I have a few FVM ES44's, and just received the new CSX 5500 Spirit of Cincinnati...which is actually an ES40DC due the horsepower being derated from 4,400 to 4,000 for our so called "fuel conservation & environmental" agenda, so it is an earlier representation, but that can be remedied with a simple decal fix. We can only hope Kato does not allow a backwards AC lightning bolt [which is only a safety reminder for crews and engineering/mechanical departments] to be released...but who knows, maybe the stenciling on the engineers side will all be backwards!? ...run intermodal, it's much better at 60mph... ^_*
Yeah, FVM's latest representation of the 5500 is stenciled as an ES44DC, but it is actually a ES40DC now...in the real world of course, if your into prototyping. ^_*
Did GE deliver it that way or did CSX derate it after they took delivery? Just curious more than anything. Thanks, Brian
GE Evolution... GE Transportation delivered them that way as ES44s with a 4,400hp rating, CSX de-rated them and stenciled them as ES40's with a new rating of 4,000hp...it's all about fuel savings now; im sure the FRA had a say in it to... [The Evolution Series replaced the production of AC4400's to meet EPA emission standards].
