Kato Tweets E5 pic. I'm officially concerned.

[Sokramiketes]

For example the nose grilles were originally etched and painted panels attached to the nose (what Kato modeled) compared to IRM's which is painted on by volunteers from the museum.  There is plenty of documentation of variations just by the Q when when they painted the variouse E models.

Who is comparing to the IRM unit?  Are we ignoring all the in-service prototype shots posted in this thread?  The "grills" don't match any of the photos, old or new, painted or applied panel.

I am interested in this documentation you speak of.

[CBQ Fan]

Who is comparing to the IRM unit?  Are we ignoring all the in-service prototype shots posted in this thread?  The "grills" don't match any of the photos, old or new, painted or applied panel.

I am interested in this documentation you speak of.

Start with the BRHS Bulletin on all Q E units for one.  #10 if I am not mistaken.  The morph picture overlaying a reversed photo of the model against the IRM unit. 

And then there is comparing 60 plus year old black and white photos to modern color digital images.

[kalbert]

Wow.. This is still going somehow!

Regardless of what photo evidence you find anywhere, the only thing you can tell from these photos is that this thing looks a hell of a lot more like an E5 than it does something else. It's not like it's a Tyco Silver Streak for freaks sake! The way I see it if you are interested in having an E5 you have three options:

a) Buy this one.
b) Buy this one and bash it into what you think is a more accurate representation of the specific prototype you want.
c) Sit on your hands and wait for a "better" one to be made by some other manufacturer. Enjoy the wait.

Warping a photo with photoshop to "match" the angle of some other photo? Seriously!?!???

[Scottl]

Sit on your hands and wait for a "better" one to be made by some other manufacturer. Enjoy the wait.

Sadly, this is how it will likely fall out for any model produced.  There are exceptions, but the market is too small to support multiple offerings from two or more manufacturers.

[kalbert]

Sadly, this is how it will likely fall out for any model produced.  There are exceptions, but the market is too small to support multiple offerings from two or more manufacturers.

Happily, for people interested in having something that looks like an E5 in their stable, they can do so because Kato is making one!

[CBQ Fan]

I have all three ordered and will buy any additional versions they choose to sell!

[spookshow]

If you're not happy with Kato's efforts, there's always the old brass Hallmark E5 set. For some inexplicable reason they've been showing up on eBay fairly frequently in recent weeks

Cheers,
-Mark

[Scottl]

They are selling the brass version to buy Kato models. 

Actually, I have some sympathy for this situation.  I was really looking forward to the CN wide-cab SD-40 that IM made.  When it came out, minor issues with it left me unhappy and unwilling to buy one.  Now I'm stuck- kit bash or take the IM version.

[spookshow]

They are selling the brass version to buy Kato models. 

Ya think? That was kinda my point.

-Mark

[GaryHinshaw]

Warping a photo with photoshop to "match" the angle of some other photo? Seriously!?!???

No warping, just isotropic re-scaling and in-plane rotation.  No photoshop, just an image viewing program.  Not serious at all, just a curiosity-driven exercise using the available data, with a disclaimer about that data.

As I said, I think the model looks really good and I probably wouldn't hesitate to buy one (or more) if it were on my wish list.  But I can understand some being bothered by things they've identified and we shouldn't berate them for it. By the same token, people who are bothered by the flaws shouldn't insinuate that those who aren't are somehow out-to-lunch.

[CBQ Fan]

I know two thing for certain that apply to this situation:

1) A talented photographer can hide the flaws and make anyone or anything look better than it is in reality.

2) A less than talented photographer can highlight the flaws and make anyone or anything look much worse than it is in reality.

[Vince Gortner]

I've been drooling over the Hallmark E5 sets for years, and Bill Denton's resin/Alclad models...   all gorgeous.    Was shocked, thrilled that Kato was going to do E5s!   

Cannot believe they aren't going to do a B unit...   need an AB set.   Just can't do this right in my mind without the B unit.

[bbussey]

They are selling the brass version to buy Kato models. 

Actually, I have some sympathy for this situation.  I was really looking forward to the CN wide-cab SD-40 that IM made.  When it came out, minor issues with it left me unhappy and unwilling to buy one.  Now I'm stuck- kit bash or take the IM version.

I must point out that it is far easier to start with a model that is 95% accurate and modify it to 100% accuracy than to start from scratch.  The Atlas NE6 caboose falls under the same category, yet I was ecstatic to acquire a fleet of them and spend relatively little time to make them 100% accurate to New Haven prototypes.  Minor correctable issues should not be a deterrent from buying a railroad-specific prototype models that happen to represent the railroad you model.

[mcjaco]

Just for reference for myself....

[peteski]

Again, each photo is taken from different elevation. Real loco's photo is taken with the camera about 6' from the ground. Mode's photo would have the camera probably around 12 scale feet from the ground.  That difference will change the way all the curved nose surfaces look like.  If someone can take the models photo from about the same elevation and location as the real loco then you can truly compare them.