Mysterious Kato NW2 Black and Yellow handrail set revealed.

[wcfn100]

Has anyone done an NP NW-2 with the Microscale 60-133 sheet?


Jason

[hegstad1]

Like the NP.  Stripes and handrails are fine.  I WILL buy one.

[Sokramiketes]

But what about Jason's original question? 

[SkipGear]

But what about Jason's original question? 

On the NP prototypes, the handrails were painted, and the stripes were Scotchlite, so they didn't match perfectly.

The Life-Like GP-18 had the same type of color mismatch, for the same reason. 

I agree that the handrails could be toned down a little, but that would be wear and weathering.  They really were about that bright when freshly painted.

I believe that applies to the lettering also. The lettering would not be scotchlite and would be a different color than the stripes.

[mplsjct]

But what about Jason's original question?

I'm assuming the original question was directed at the lack of contrast between the stripe color and the large NP lettering, and I would agree it's not perfect, my eyes were directed toward the color of the handrails, which stood out more.

This is Kato's first attempt at an NP paint scheme, is it not?

I won't be buying one because I painted one a while back, I might be interested in the BN units, we'll see.

[wcfn100]

But what about Jason's original question?

After looking at it last night, it wasn't the color of the lettering that was throwing me off, it's the letters themselves.  From what I see in the picture, the type face is off and they're too big which screws up a bunch of stuff.

MS has a sheet that looks pretty good so I may get one and give it a proper paint job.

Hey Kato, do more eastern stuff. 

Jason

[wazzou]

I think that was my first instinct as well RE: the height of "NORTHERN PACIFIC" being a little too tall.
The handrails were painted differently but weathered soon after.

The larger elephant in the room is the phase difference.  The Prototype #106 had louvers, and strange ones at that. 
Less importantly, the rear handrails were retrofitted as seen in the picture below.

That said, I am sure I'll get one.

[Ike the BN Freak]

Nice, I'll take two in a yellow bonnet paint scheme please.

You mean Sante Fe yellow bonnet?

If so, its not a SF paint scheme for switchers, and you'll need someone to paint them, either you or someone else.

As for me, looks like I'm skipping these, all the NW2s were retired from BN in the mid 80s...so 10 years before my era...however the NW12s did make it, but these were rebuilt NW2s...

[wcfn100]

The larger elephant in the room is the phase difference.

The phase issue is what it is.  Nothing will ever change about that.  I think ultimately most would agree that they wouldn't want Kato to not produce a paint scheme because of it.   I don't know if that would extend to the tapered hood (not stepped) of the Phase V or not, maybe we'll find out.  When this model was first announced, I thought the Phase IV would have been a better choice.  I guess we'll see in the end what paint schemes are produced and whether or not that is right.

If there were 47 hours in a day (and my son slept for 40 of them) I'd RP a Phase IV hood.


Jason

[nkalanaga]

Yes, the NP name does seem too big, and too long, as it laps over the stripes more than it should.  However, in this case, the length is correct.  An earlier picture of the same 106, taken in 1968, shows the longer hood stripes and the cab stripe extending over the battery box.  Page 15, NP Color Pictorial Vol 3, Four Ways West.

On the other hand, the same page shows NW-2 #99(2nd) in 1967, with even shorter hood stripes, but still the battery box stripe.  Apparently the NP didn't really have a standard for their striping?

But those pictures also seem to show the name as shorter vertically than the Kato model.

[rogergperkins]

  I have two of the Chessie scheme NW2 engines and am very pleased with them.
Since I do not model that era, I took mine apart and painted them back to the Baltimore & Ohio blue color scheme.  They are relatively easy to disassemble, and I caution anyone who considers painting one to disassemble it first.

I have not seen the newest model introduced, but I know that Kato offered parts for the NW2; the parts sets offered varied it the option of stacks and handrail colors.
http://brooklynlocomotiveworks.com/kato-nw2.htm
Now I see that Kato is offering some with DCC installed. 

[delamaize]

http://brooklynlocomotiveworks.com/kato-nw2.htm
Now I see that Kato is offering some with DCC installed. 

Got mine ordered! 

[RockGp40]

I'd be up for a couple in this scheme:

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=442329

Love those colors!

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Lettering gaffs seem to be a Kato thing lately... witness the PRR Gs with the wrong road number font.