Kato f3's

[CBQ Fan]

http://www.katousa.com/N/F3/index.html

UP, SP and CB&Q,

Added N scale icon... -gfh

[Albert in N]

Glad to see another run of the SP black widow F-3s.  Like my AB set from a few years ago, these appear to be freight only without the steam generator roof vents.  Kato should consider building F-7 SP black widows in the future. 

[Albert in N]

Strangely, Kato's announcement shows Burlington units as freight only, but the drawing shows roof steam generator vents.  Both the SP and UP F-3 drawings show no vents, which means true freight only. 

[wcfn100]

Strangely, Kato's announcement shows Burlington units as freight only, but the drawing shows roof steam generator vents.  Both the SP and UP F-3 drawings show no vents, which means true freight only.

Kato only has a few options when it comes to the roofs.  I don't think they have a non DB version w/o the SG.  The RI release of F2s also had SGs when they shouldn't.

Glad to see more freight F's, I just wish they sold the black truck side frames as separate parts. 

Jason

[Ike the BN Freak]

Strangely, Kato's announcement shows Burlington units as freight only, but the drawing shows roof steam generator vents.  Both the SP and UP F-3 drawings show no vents, which means true freight only.

The Q units represent former passenger units built for Cali Zephyr service after the CZ service ended and the units were moved to freight service.

[arbomambo]

The Q units represent former passenger units built for Cali Zephyr service after the CZ service ended and the units were moved to freight service.

What he said...these were originally passenger units (notice the straight pilot), and were later repainted for freight service.
I considered the SP units but by late '49, at least, these were fitted with stainless steel grills....in fact, it's possible they were built with the grills rather than the chicken wire. I would have liked for Kato to use the same shell that they used on their most recent ATSF warbonnet release.
Bruce

[Albert in N]

Bruce has a point; stainless steel grilles on a black widow SP F unit are preferable.  I own a Bachmann Spectrum F-7 AB set black widow SP with stainless steel grilles.  That is one beautiful locomotive as far as color scheme goes, plus runs well and pulls good even without flywheels. 

[wcfn100]

in fact, it's possible they were built with the grills rather than the chicken wire.

Not with high fans like the Kato model.  Any unit built with the SS grill would have had low fans.


Jason

[arbomambo]

Not with high fans like the Kato model.  Any unit built with the SS grill would have had low fans.


Jason

that makes sense...the ATSF nos. 22 on were good examples of your info...so, Kato is re-releasing these SP one's in the 'as delivered' scheme, I guess.
I'd LOVE for them to do the F7s in the black widow again, too!
Bruce

[wcfn100]

I'm still hoping that Kato will do the later versions of the F3.  One new roof could yield two new F3 'phases' if used on both the F3 and F7.

I got the parts ready to cast the DB vents and low fan, but cutting into that Kato plastic is a huge turnoff.

Maybe it's time to hit up Kato's 'suggest a model' e-mail.  It only took 10 years to get the Superliner transition car, and at the pace I'm going that would be about the time I would need some motive power.

Jason

[CBQ Fan]

The Q units represent former passenger units built for Cali Zephyr service after the CZ service ended and the units were moved to freight service.

The Q units actually went into freight service quite quickly and were odd ball because they lacked dynamic brakes.

[Ngineer]

Maybe it's time to hit up Kato's 'suggest a model' e-mail.

4 or 5 years ago I suggested an SDP40F. I am still hoping that they make it!

As the ATSF had some of them, they would have a model that sells, as ATSF is always a hit and WILL sell.

Other than that, I really would like to see CB&Q E8's. Pulling the California Zephyr with them is always an option.

Let's see what we have 5 years from now...

Javier

[Nato]

           Changing the topic just slightly, the Bachmann SP Black Widow locomotive can be converted to DCC. Not exactly cheap the body shells are the same as those on the new DCC GN & ATSF locomotives. GN engines with their black trucks make the swap easy, or modelers can just wait for more DCC road names to be released like SP and EL from non DCC runs. Nate Goodman (Nato).