President Bush Special - What KATO cars would it take?

[sundowner]

Simple answer, Kato would need to change the end to have a different way of adding the train name so it does not leave a big hole when you remove the train name and add a bigger door and diapraph to the that end. You can google UPP 9004, UPP 9005 and UPP 9009. Also the three cars are different, 9005 lost the rear window while 9004 and 9009 keep there’s

[ryan_wilkerson]

Good detail, thanks Sundowner!

[EspeeGoldenState]

2066 - Shapeways would be your only option, Jeff Gowers recently did one https://www.facebook.com/JeffGowerspainting/photos/a.202798806791760/428520060886299/?type=3&theater

8008 - Kato 7 Car Set

9005/9008/9005 - Modified CoLA Tail Car (Article in Sept/Oct 2012 N Scale Railroading http://www.nscalerailroadn.com/073/NSR073.html ) (Each Car is a little different on the "tail" end as previously talked about)

302/5011 - Kato CNW Diner is close, but windows on one side would need to be blanked and one enlarged, the other side would need windows added. (both 302/5011 are identical)
Brass Sides are available: https://unionstationproducts.com/-302-up-acf-smooth-side-diner.html

1610: New Kato Design; The "Western series" sleepers that UP owns are all heavily modified window arrangements, damn near the same arrangement as Omaha, except Omaha has two square windows close to one of the vestibules, whereas Portola has but one, but the other side is a perfect match
Brass Sides: https://unionstationproducts.com/-307-up-acf-smooth-side-8-bedroom-sleeper.html

119: 7 Car Excursion

101: Very close to 119, but windows near the platform are the big difference, and highly noticeable, but could be converted by making one smaller and enlarging the other; painting silver door yellow; removing roof "wires"

5769: Swap trucks from three to two, easily done, I did it to mine with no difference in running quality. You could get a decal set from Circus City Decals to change the number on the sides

Chris

[ryan_wilkerson]

Excellent detail Chris, thanks for adding those details.

I saw the photo of Jeff's power car...very cool addition to an excursion train.

Has anyone else submitted a suggestion to Kato? https://www.katousa.com/suggest.html

[cjm413]

Good catch on the 2 vs 3 axle truck. I haven't looked at the design, hopefully it's common design that can be used from a different car.

UP moved the dome on those 3 cars from one end to the middle? I hadn't noticed that. It would be a new car anyway.

Con-Cor:
http://www.spookshow.net/trucks/gsc41cudo11.html

[EspeeGoldenState]

Kato makes the trucks as well.

It’s the same trucks as what’s under majority of the Excursion train cars. I’m still swapping a lot of my old Kato trucks that aren’t correct for the new ones. Still need about 10 more pairs of trucks I believe, once I get that done, I’m gonna repaint them all aluminum as I think the Kato molded color is too much of a silver and not aluminum.

800121 ElCap/Excursion Coach Truck, Silver, w/ Silver coupler, 2 ea - $12

This truck is used under all the UPP Business fleet that is of the four axle variant.

Chris

[sundowner]

http://utahrails.net/pass/heritage-fleet-upp-numbers.php

Here is the history for the cars.

[ljudice]

On Twitter Kato stated:


   -- No Bush train
   -- Re-release of 7-car excursion set in 2019

[cjm413]

Good that it wouldn't take a new truck design.

So what material changes to the dome would it take? Can you clarify what you mean here...
"They would also need to modified the dome lounges from the COLA to the later mid-train config"

Dome Lounge (as built)

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=801133

After rebuilding for mid-train service

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=3330787

[up1950s]

On Twitter Kato stated:


   -- No Bush train
   -- Re-release of 7-car excursion set in 2019

For Kato to state No Bush train implies they thought about it , probably got requests and or questions . Maybe they thought it was in bad taste to make a model of a flagged draped coffin ? I guess I can imagine the bad press being spun up .......... Foreign owned XYZ company makes toys of revered and honored dead president for kids to play with . One could go broke buying enough steaks to erase THAT black eye , even with all the profits made in the sales . Too bad .

[Steveruger45]

For Kato to state No Bush train implies they thought about it , probably got requests and or questions . Maybe they thought it was in bad taste to make a model of a flagged draped coffin ? I guess I can imagine the bad press being spun up .......... Foreign owned XYZ company makes toys of revered and honored dead president for kids to play with . One could go broke buying enough steaks to erase THAT black eye , even with all the profits made in the sales . Too bad .

I too was wondering why not but That’s a good point I had not thought of.  My thoughts would be that Kato would be honoring 41 and those serious modelers who would like to do so too.  Such a sad world we live in sometimes.
Perhaps if we as modelers and Kato as a producer of fine models would approach the Bush family for their permission it would satisfy the very important sensibilities on such a thing.

[Mark W]

I think the reason is more likely that, based on MSRP of existing sets, a 21 car set would MSRP for $750, not including locomotives.  That's quite a sticker shock, even for a serious collector. 

[Steveruger45]

Good point Mark, but I for one would pay it.  The train was 11 cars and two locos as I recall.

[up1950s]

I think the reason is more likely that, based on MSRP of existing sets, a 21 car set would MSRP for $750, not including locomotives.  That's quite a sticker shock, even for a serious collector.

What would be the price of the SPECIAL shaped or unique in printing cars alone ? One could renumber OEM cars as desired .

[Steveruger45]

What would be the price of the SPECIAL shaped or unique in printing cars alone ? One could renumber OEM cars as desired .

Yes, that’s it exactly. I’m thinking it would not be that expensive an exercise for Kato as they already produce the loco 4141, (I have one already on pre-order), they could renumber an existing produced loco as the trailing loco in the consist, similarly for already produced cars and tool up for the remainder only.  If not, then maybe there is an opportunity for aftermarket 3D printed parts for the modeler to use to achieve the same result?  Unfortunately I’m personally not that skilled yet to do such a modification with great confidence and to get an exact replica of that auspicious consist but I would be happy to get one that was close.