Kato SD70MACs

[ljudice]

Say, on the latest runs of Kato SD70MAC's (BNSF) - has Kato fixed that engineer's side handrail problem? The one where there seems to be molding problem that causes all of them to bend inwards?

I've even ordered replacement handrails and they have the problem as well.

Or am I imagining this?  :

[oakcreekco]

Gotta be your eyes. Mine seemed wobbly too, and Kato wanted the engine back for a n/c repair.

I sent it in reluctantly, as I would prefer to swap rails myself, but Kato insisted. I have a feeling that "Kato USA" wanted bad parts to send to "Kato Japan" so they could actually see and touch the problems.

Loco  came back in a week repaired. The new rails looked a lot better, but not perfect. IMO, we "asked for this" by wanting "better" handrails. Thinner, paintable, and more details can give us more headaches, along with the mfg's producing them.

I think that the Kato handrail is an example of the new breed material.............at its' longest length.

I guess that saying "be careful what you ask for" stands true ;D


I haven't carefully checked the latest release, so it's hard to tell.

[ljudice]

Picked one up today - in the H2 scheme and it was pretty close to perfect...

Must be a unit by unit problem....

[oakcreekco]

Picked one up today - in the H2 scheme and it was pretty close to perfect...

Must be a unit by unit problem....

I think you're right. IMO, someone at the factory didn't "sort" the parts well enough. Probably a higher than usual "defect" rate at production that just needs to be sorted.


How does your new unit run???

[ljudice]

It runs perfectly... 

Kato has done a really good job on the BNSF schemes - it amazes me that they seem to hold the color from run to run so well - i am looking at this unit next to a C44-9W in the H1 scheme and they are perfectly matched - probably better than the prototypes, actually.

[oakcreekco]

It runs perfectly... 

Kato has done a really good job on the BNSF schemes - it amazes me that they seem to hold the color from run to run so well - i am looking at this unit next to a C44-9W in the H1 scheme and they are perfectly matched - probably better than the prototypes, actually.

That's good to hear, and I agree. I used to have a reasonably sized "fleet" of various Kato "Pumpkins" and "Exec" schemes. All the runs matched very well too.

Sold them all and "backdated" so to speak.  ATSF "Super Fleet" is more focussed now with red/silver bonnets........and only a few with the BNSF.

I was happy with the "old" drives, and I hear that the newest drives are even better runners. I don't have any of the newest drive locos.

[ljudice]

It would be nice for Kato to do a run of the C44-9W's in the faded-pink warbonnet or faded pumpkin colors...

I'm not a fan of factory weathering, but factory fading seems like a worthwhile thing to do...

[Mark5]

I've got an older C44 in pumpkin - the colors seem a bit drab compared to the real ones.

[Bob Horn]

Lou, for what it is worth, when I do the side sills in Scotchlite I have to file the handrail openings to cut thru the film. The handrails sit correctly after that, have to assume I took some of the frame material also with the Scotchlite. They look fine after that. Bob.

[ljudice]

Bob - interesting!

So in other words, there is slightly too much material either in the slots where the handrails poke out from or on the top where the walkway sits?

Lou

[Bob Horn]

It would be in the bottom of the slots. Bob.

[ljudice]

Bob - thanks - I'm going to take a look at this with one of my units that has the problem... 

Lou