...and so it goes. Wonder if Kato felt pressure with the FVM announcement to get their art work and information out. Certainly breaks from their latest ads where the release would be due in stores by the end of the month... http://www.katousa.com/N/SD70ACe/index.html Brian
While looking at the Virginian's art it seemed to imply that there will be changes to the mold so it looks like Kato's is going to have a different mold for the NS units.
According to the Kato email, new tooling and here by summer. Hope the do the same for the GEVOS, I need parts to correct my CSX GEVOs. http://www.katousa.com/news/DLR-Newsletter-February13.html#Item01
+1 Also for ATSF fans such as yourself, Yellow Bonnet F units are in the pipeline from Kato. They'll be pretty neat!
I will need at least one of these Heritage units, though I model CSX in south-central PA . Just don't know which one would be the most believable
IMO nothing is superior about the Kato drive. The sprung trucks are a genuine PITA. FVM kept it simple. Given Kato's parts supply, you'll be seeing FVM locos running a lot longer. My FVMs are every bit as smooth as the Kato.
Not sure what you are having issues with Jim, I have no problems with the new Kato locomotives using the new trucks. But I will agree that the FVM are rock star performers. I will need to play wait and see with these. Kato is dumping the horrible tinted light tubes, if only FVM could fix the lighting on their locomotives.... I will go with whichever one I think does the better job with the overall locomotive. It is nice to be in a can't lose situation like this!
WABASH RAILROAD HERITAGE!! Hallelujah indeed! Now I'll have something to pull my 2013 Railfan Wabash Cannonball!
FVM already had a sneak peak of a - SD70M-2, look at Model 160 website you can see it in the pictures with the Aces
I will be going with the FVM's. Every side by side test Ive ever done FVM's look 100% better. Better paint job, more correct colors, better warning stickers all over, free standing grabs supplied, etc. But the biggest plus goes to Matt, who unlike Kato takes advice and listens and cares about N Scale and what modelers want. I also have not had any problems with the running quality of FVM.
I on the other hand have purchased only ONE (1) FVM locomotive (ES44AC). The first one smoked the decoder in short order. I paid to have it returned to the etailer. I bought a second one from a different etailer. It has been a running mess. I know...send it back to the etailer or Matt. Nope...I am not going to keep paying for return postage on a model that should have either been tested before shipping...or should have been reliable from the get go. I also know I can diasassemble it and fix it myself. That is the only viable option I feel I now have. BUT...I shouldnt have to do either on a brand new purchase. Its the principle of the thing ! My FVM experience has been a bad one. I will stay with Kato. All my NEW Katos have run great right outta the jewel case. My FVM experience may be one of them fluke things...but its real and makes locomotive purchasing decisions easier. BTW...I agree with Jerry that the FVM models look great. The detailing is excellent. But if it dont run...pretty dont count for squat !! YMMV
I agree about the Kato sprung trucks... they are fine until you attempt to install a decoder, and then the thing never works the same. I will however be buying one from both suppliers.
yes two of the club members last nov. had just picked up fvm gevo's and both ran like crap. so they returned them and got the kato gevo,s and they ran all show long. and about the kato sprung trucks I have 7 sd40-2 mid. and 8 sd70aces and they run flawless and thats on show modules which the track work is all ways not the greatest.
I think it's safe to assume that the Kato will be the better-running one, while the FVM will win in the looks department.
