Kato releasing new GS-4s

[bobcat]

I see on the BLW website, that kato will be releasing new GS-4s, including an American Freedom version.

Could a whole American Freedom train be the next train for Kato?

[Pete Steinmetz]

The prospect of an American Freedom Train does not excite me.  I was hoping for a new train with new tooling.

Plenty of other new stuff to buy.

Pete S

[SkipGear]

A properly done Freedom Train would require quite a bit of new tooling. The display cars for one would be interesting to see how they deal with them.

Jerry Debene has been building one for the past year or two over on Trainboard.

http://www.trainboard.com/grapevine/showthread.php?t=96833

[chessie system fan]

Some of the same cars were used in the Chessie Steam Special, so it would be useful to me.

In the past, didn't Kato announce the trains and locos together?  I sorta think if they were doing the whole train they would have announced it by now.

[ljudice]

Arghhh.... 6 versions of the GS4, but still no NS C40-9W...

Of course 5 numbers of SD70M's, the [second] least common widecab loco on NS....

Kato should have done an accurate RBBC train - works with modern locos, runs everywhere, etc...

[SirTainly]

Nobody's pointed out that this run of  the GS has the numberboards moved to the front so it's now correct for the AFT and for as built locos as well as 4449 (which has sported number boards in either location as various times).

[Lehmannmws82]

Maybe some one can chime into as why Kato decided to do AMFT.... But knowing Kato, they usually have a good trick to pull out of the hat. Maybe this could be the next "named" train.

[TiVoPrince]

Really?
We are actually sniveling just because Kato is making the SP/AFT GS4 is coming in more accurate detail variations?  

Just because Kato is West-centric and everyone who matters really wants something PRR,  but let one small detail be an inch or two off and they could easily get crucified by online postings and then at the cash register.  No wonder they avoid Eastern paint schemes like the plague.  

Oh wait that GG1 was somehow unsatisfactory, why?  Nobody got PRR catenary to market in support of the Kato models despite a groundswell of forum demand.  Seems that demand never materialized or manufacturers universally felt that it was not a viable product from a sales standpoint.

No win situation for Kato, they can't even lose with dignity.  Let them produce whatever they want, I may not need the model myself but I will refrain from complaining when somebody else is getting what they want/need.  Anybody really think repeatedly whining and complaining gets your desired model to the front of the line?  If that were the case we would be awash in atlantics and oddball PRR steam, last time I looked this was not the case despite repeated campaigns by forum mega-posters...

[bobcat]

Really?
We are actually sniveling just because Kato is making the SP/AFT GS4 is coming in more accurate detail variations?  

Just because Kato is West-centric and everyone who matters really wants something PRR,  but let one small detail be an inch or two off and they could easily get crucified by online postings and then at the cash register.  No wonder they avoid Eastern paint schemes like the plague.  

Oh wait that GG1 was somehow unsatisfactory, why?  Nobody got PRR catenary to market in support of the Kato models despite a groundswell of forum demand.  Seems that demand never materialized or manufacturers universally felt that it was not a viable product from a sales standpoint.

No win situation for Kato, they can't even lose with dignity.  Let them produce whatever they want, I may not need the model myself but I will refrain from complaining when somebody else is getting what they want/need.  Anybody really think repeatedly whining and complaining gets your desired model to the front of the line?  If that were the case we would be awash in atlantics and oddball PRR steam, last time I looked this was not the case despite repeated campaigns by forum mega-posters...

Well said, now lets have a candle light vigil for an American Freedom train. ;D

[Mark5]

I could comment on how the GS-4 was a step backwards for Kato but ...

Mark