New Kato Stuff announced today

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Here is hopeing Kato does a trailer/container lift.

[James Costello]

Here is hopeing Kato does a trailer/container lift.

It is logical, considering the magnets and all. I just hope they do something different than a Mi-Jack Translift.... going to be hard to beat the GHQ version, even with magnets.

[One of One-Sixty]

Hopefully their vehicles will be on par with Athearn, Atlas, Busch, Bandai and Tomytec, as well as their own 1;87 models, as their current offering for N is more on the side of B-mann and bubblegum machine.

[Hyperion]

Here is hopeing Kato does a trailer/container lift.

It is logical, considering the magnets and all. I just hope they do something different than a Mi-Jack Translift.... going to be hard to beat the GHQ version, even with magnets.

I don't think they have to worry too much about beating the GHQ kit since I've seen a total of one of those in years, and it went for big money on eBay.

[Mark5]

Will the vehicles be 1:160 or 1:150?

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Walthers is listing them as "European trucks" which would be 1/160. Kato dosen't have a large 1/150 intermodal line like Tomix/Tomytec. What containers they do have do not include magnets so I think its safe to say these will be 1/160th.

Since Kato uses the N scale NEM 380 standards, you should be able to use these chassis with Walthers, Trix, RoCo and Fleishman containers. Deluxe does not use this standard.

[James Costello]

Here is hopeing Kato does a trailer/container lift.

It is logical, considering the magnets and all. I just hope they do something different than a Mi-Jack Translift.... going to be hard to beat the GHQ version, even with magnets.

I don't think they have to worry too much about beating the GHQ kit since I've seen a total of one of those in years, and it went for big money on eBay.

Oh, I don't think Kato worries about beating anyone else - they do what they want. From a modelling point of view though, it would be nice to have a different type of crane apart from one we already have had two manufacturers produce. I've seen 4-5 GHQ kits on ebay over the last couple of years, so they are out there....

[cfritschle]

Hopefully their vehicles will be on par with Athearn, Atlas, Busch, Bandai and Tomytec, as well as their own 1;87 models, as their current offering for N is more on the side of B-mann and bubblegum machine.

I am sure the Kato trucks will be very nice.  However, the only thing the Kato 1990s Toyotas lack is factory detailing.  



They are well proportioned 1:160 scale models.  And, I am sure there are modelers that can do a much better job detailing them than I did, but they are certainly better than the old Bachmann cars.

Even their 1978 Toyota is not bad considering the tooling is more than 20 years old.



And, when you remove the stock window insert, you will find the car actually has interior detail.

Carter

[sirenwerks]

Walthers is listing them as "European trucks"...

Could that be because Volvo is a European manufacturer?

If anyone needs a GHQ MiJack kits, shoot me a message. I have two still unbuilt.

[Robbman]

Volvo cars may be European... but the trucks are built right down the road form me in Dublin, VA (my wife works there).  They were building Macks as well, but those will get moved back to PA by September.

[sundowner]

Kato got pictures of the trucks on there website.

http://www.katousa.com/N/Unitrack/figures.html#vehicle


They look cool.

[Mark5]

Volvo cars may be European... but the trucks are built right down the road form me in Dublin, VA (my wife works there).  They were building Macks as well, but those will get moved back to PA by September.

Yeah, to confuse matters, IIRC, Ford only bought the Volvo cars - not the trucks.

[sirenwerks]

Volvo cars may be European... but the trucks are built right down the road form me in Dublin, VA (my wife works there).  They were building Macks as well, but those will get moved back to PA by September.

Yet the company, Volvo, is still European in origin. Whatev...

[Robbman]

To confuse matters even more... Volvo Trucks North America is the amalagation of White, Autocar, Mack and GMC...

[Bob Bufkin]

The truck engines are built in Hagerstown, MD.  There is also a Volvo facility which makes parts in my hometown of Shippensburg, PA.  Don't know what they make but they took over a plant which was owned by someone else.