Kato East vs. West?

[sundowner]

I think on modern diesels, the issue is that Kato has tended to pick a version or phase of a model by measuring
or studying a UP or BNSF unit, which nowadays almost insures that the model will be inaccurate for CSX or NS since they specify other easily seen options - like headlights or handrail configurations.

I believe the other widely repeated belief is that with the global market, there is more recognition of western roads than eastern roads - although I doubt this comes into play.

I seriously doubt there is a real bias - just sometimes Western modelers luck out (GEVO's, C44-9W's) and sometimes eastern roads get lucky....

Kato is no along in this, FVM GEVOS are all western bias models base on CP, UP or BNSF , my FVM and Kato CSX ES44AC are CP base models and my new ES44DC are BNSF model with the goofy low rear headlight painted for CSX. Sure the NS heritage units will have the new NS cab but they look like nothing GE ever produce for NS.

[Alwyn Cutmore]

There is only a small difference between an Esatern Road  and a Western Road and that is an Undercorated Body. I would rather have that as they are much easier to make correct and get things in the right place.

Regards

Al

[robert3985]

Howdy Podners!

Ah am personally real happy with the Western bias....Whoa Trigger!!...and Ah'm lookin' forward to that U.P. FEF-3 and associated Heritage Fleet U.P. cars to go along with it that is supposedly comin' out this year!

Happy Trails! 

[Alwyn Cutmore]

Good One Bob,



Regards

Al

[Alaska Railroader]

Howdy Podners!

Ah am personally real happy with the Western bias....Whoa Trigger!!

Happy Trails! 

[Leggy]

I think Kato has North America and Japan bias, why no Australian models? Hell they even do some Euro stuff....

[ljudice]

I think Kato has North America and Japan bias, why no Australian models? Hell they even do some Euro stuff....

It's a good question - of course in Europe they have Lemke as a partner.   I have no idea of the actual business
relationship, but I presume Lemke takes some or all of the risk in every model that is made.

[Bob Bufkin]

Yeah and for some reason Europe gets all kinds of steam in N compared to what we get here.

[ljudice]

Yeah and for some reason Europe gets all kinds of steam in N compared to what we get here.

Bob -  Not so sure from Kato though!   There is a little bit of munging around who makes what - a lot of Lemke products are branded Hobbytrain, which are made by various plants around the world.  Then there is Kato/Lemke which is true Kato.  Most of the Kato products are electric or diesel locos, passenger cars and Electric Multiple Unit trains (EMU).  But a lot of stuff is called "Kato" in the US - like tamper model that came from Hobbytrain a couple of years ago.

Trix and Fleischmann (owned by ROCO) do a lot of steam of course, and it would be interesting to study why they get
a lot more steam than we do.  One thing is that the price of those models is in the $300-500 range most of the time.

I would also point out that there was a dearth of truly MODERN European models until the past few years, but that is changing - a lot of modern freight cars, passenger sets and new paint schemes have been coming out.  It could be
that modern modeling is overtaking traditional steam focused modeling??


- Lou

[rogergperkins]

Which EAST and WEST are you comparing?  Kato is an international company which is strongly focused on the Japanese models.
I model B&O and when Kato produced a smooth side passenger set I purchased it with hopes that more cars or separate cars would be offered.
I am still waiting. 
I did finally purchase a Kato do-it-myself B&O E-8A to get a locomotive with the B&O lettered shell; now having undecs painted for B&O.
I got the modern bug and purchased 3 of the Kato SD70ACes.
When has anyone written to Kato USA to suggest or request a specific US railroad paint scheme?   My direct correspondence with them on various issues has been productive.
One never knows until they try. 

[SkipGear]

Yeah and for some reason Europe gets all kinds of steam in N compared to what we get here.

It's fairly easy to answer that one....

Germay has one national rail company so all steam loco were built and lettered for the same road.
France is the same way.
Steam lasted longer in Europe and is still in use today in some places.

More exposure and fewer model variations make steam much easier. I think there is more variation in B&O steam than all of Europe put together.

[ljudice]

It's fairly easy to answer that one....

Germay has one national rail company so all steam loco were built and lettered for the same road.
France is the same way.
Steam lasted longer in Europe and is still in use today in some places.

More exposure and fewer model variations make steam much easier. I think there is more variation in B&O steam than all of Europe put together.

There are actually quite a patchwork of railways that eventually made up the national system in Germany - like the Prussian State Railways, Bavarian State Railways, etc...   Even after the German railways merged (and not all of them did), there was the Imperial Railways,  the DR  of the WW-II days,  the DB of the post war era and multiple re-brandings since the re-unification (although steam was gone by then).

And today, things are even more diverse than the US/Canada in that respect, with dozens of private companies running trains over the public owned infrastructure.

As far as B&O having a more diverse fleet than ALL of Europe, I mean really, there is some incredible variety out there! 

[Bob Bufkin]

Quite a bit of UK steam and before nationalization they had a bunch of different lines.  After US and Canadian steam I always liked UK steamers.

[bbussey]

There is no bias.  Kato has produced plenty of models based on eastern prototypes - in motive power, passenger equipment and freight equipment.  The bottom line is that the midwestern and western roads sell better for Kato than the eastern roads.  If the BWL had sold better, there would have been more eastern passenger consists.  If the eastern road schemes on past diesel power had sold better, there would be more eastern power now to go with the CP releases.  Any "bias" is due to what sells best.  If eastern roads started selling better for Kato, they would shift back to a more balanced railroad selection.  But they still release models based on eastern roads, one example being their commuter cars and revamped F40PH.

Atlas certainly picks up the slack regarding eastern paint schemes, with InterMountain a close second.  And you always can strip and repaint Kato engines.

[johnh35]

"Go west, young man"

Kato is only taking a cue from Horace......LOL!