KATO BM70 and trucks

[Altoona]

KATO BM70 and trucks are in stock at Kato

Judd Barton

[CodyO]

Where on the website?

[OldEastRR]

Says it's pre-sold out.  Trucks still available, tho.

[crencs]

Located here http://search.cartserver.com/search/search.cgi?cartid=s-1078&keywords=%27Arriving,%20New%20Stock%27&maxhits=50&go=Search&bool=OR at the bottom of the page.
Yes they do appeared to be Pre-Sold out.

[reinhardtjh]

Says it's pre-sold out.  Trucks still available, tho.

Located here http://search.cartserver.com/search/search.cgi?cartid=s-1078&keywords=%27Arriving,%20New%20Stock%27&maxhits=50&go=Search&bool=OR at the bottom of the page.
Yes they do appeared to be Pre-Sold out.

The BM70 was a pre-order only item back in August.  You had a couple of weeks to pre-order and then the window closed.  A bunch of us just got notice that our orders had been filled and shipped so we should see them any day now.  Probably some will show up on Ebay but I wouldn't expect any discount from the $40 each that Kato charged.  As far as I know, retailers didn't get any discount if they ordered.

Re: Kato PRR rerun

This probably means the re-run of the PRR Broadway Limited is coming real soon now.

[OldEastRR]

" White LED Car Interior Lighting Kit - Indirect Lighting Version,"  -- what the heck is this? Indirect?

[peteski]

" White LED Car Interior Lighting Kit - Indirect Lighting Version,"  -- what the heck is this? Indirect?

Do you have a part number to go with that?
I suspect it is their standard lighting kit. It has a single LED with its light distributed through the length of the car through a clear plastic conduit (thus indirect).

[OldEastRR]

No, there's this
White LED Car Interior Lighting Kit Version 2, 1 ea

and this
White LED Car Interior Lighting Kit Version 2 Bulk Pack, 6 ea

and then this
White LED Car Interior Lighting Kit - Indirect Lighting Version, 1 ea


All different part numbers, all of them being produced -- but what the hell is it?

[peteski]

No, there's this
White LED Car Interior Lighting Kit Version 2, 1 ea

and this
White LED Car Interior Lighting Kit Version 2 Bulk Pack, 6 ea

and then this
White LED Car Interior Lighting Kit - Indirect Lighting Version, 1 ea


All different part numbers, all of them being produced -- but what the hell is it?

I see. But still no part numbers.  With part number it is easier to do a Google search to possibly find a picture of it and better description.

Ok, I did a google search with the info you provided and found the answer rather easily.

11-213 - Interior Lighting Kit /w LED (Indirect lighting color)

Can be used to illuminate any N scale Kato Passenger car, Business car, or RDC - has a more diffused and orange light appearance, appropriate for older cars with indandescent lit interiors.



The description above was found on http://www.katousa.com/N/accessories.html (in the Lighting Kits section).

If you need even better explanation, this is the same interior lighting kit as the other 2 you listed. The only difference is that the amber diffuser lens is much darker amber than the other kits this one uses warm-white LEDs along with the amber diffuser , so the light produced will be more like a standard incandescent lightbulb.

Why the strange name?  Probably a poor translation from Japanese. Kapish? 

EDIT: correction after reading C62-2 post.

[C62-2]

The Kato USA page (http://katousa.com/N/accessories.html) lists these three:
11-211 - Interior Lighting Kit /w LED Version 2
11-212 - Interior Lighting Kit /w LED Version 2 x 6
11-213 - Interior Lighting Kit /w LED (Indirect lighting color)

For whatever reason, they don't list 11-214. The 11-213 and 11-214 have warm white LEDs ("incandescent electric light color" = 電球色 on the Japanese web site), while the 11-211 and 11-212 have cold white LEDs (for simulating fluorescent lighting). Either kind comes with snap-on orange filters to make the LED color a bit warmer than it would be otherwise. Between the two kinds, you can get four levels of warm/cold to the light.

[peteski]

. . .
For whatever reason, they don't list 11-214. The 11-213 and 11-214 have warm white LEDs ("incandescent electric light color" = 電球色 on the Japanese web site), while the 11-211 and 11-212 have cold white LEDs (for simulating fluorescent lighting). Either kind comes with snap-on orange filters to make the LED color a bit warmer than it would be otherwise. Between the two kinds, you can get four levels of warm/cold to the light.

Thanks!  Kato USA should hire you to do the Japanese->English translations. 

[Point353]

For whatever reason, they don't list 11-214.

Buy them from Kato via Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Interior-Lighting-Versionr-2-Indirect-Optional/dp/B00A347XLM
Don't forget to use the link to Amazon.

[nightmare0331]

The BM70 was a pre-order only item back in August.  You had a couple of weeks to pre-order and then the window closed.  A bunch of us just got notice that our orders had been filled and shipped so we should see them any day now.  Probably some will show up on Ebay but I wouldn't expect any discount from the $40 each that Kato charged.  As far as I know, retailers didn't get any discount if they ordered.

Re: Kato PRR rerun

This probably means the re-run of the PRR Broadway Limited is coming real soon now.

The latest run of Broadway Limited (and associated parts) showed up late last week along with the GG1.  The E units are following at the end of this month.

The parts department has been in full swing pulling and shipping the BM70 parts kits and other assorted parts.

I spent all weekend installing interior lighting kits in like 700 cars for the Kobo versions with lighting.  (a couple hundred more to go.  Yay!)

On a side note, the indirect lighting kits have been available for about a year from Japan, although Kato USA has only sporadically brought them in...it's supposed to be more of a subdued lighting versus the standard current revision (rev 2?) 11-211/11-212 lighting kit.

Anywhoo...enjoy!

Kelley.
www.dufordmodelworks.com

[thomasjmdavis]

Kelley, since you would know, having installed 700....
Are these DCC compatible "out of the box"- that is, do they power from DCC pulsed rail power without need for decoders, and/or soldering in resistors or capacitors?

[nightmare0331]

Kelley, since you would know, having installed 700....
Are these DCC compatible "out of the box"- that is, do they power from DCC pulsed rail power without need for decoders, and/or soldering in resistors or capacitors?

They operate just fine on DCC with no further modifications.

The light kits you have to be wary of are the real old 11-208/209 (and earlier versions) which have bulbs as sitting on a constant source of power as the bulbs can heat up and potentially melt/warp the roof.  Some cars this is more probable such as Superliners because of the tight fit. Luckily, they haven't been sold in years, but I see them pop up occasionally.

Now, if you want to control the interior lighting with DCC, the FR11 (29-353) (function room) decoder can be utilized to toggle the light on and off although to equip an entire train would get a bit pricey and they won't necessarily fit in every car.

Enjoy!

Kelley.
www.dufordmodelworks.com