Kato Pacific Surfliners

[MetroRedLine]

Rcvd my 8-unit set from Lombard as well. Very well packed and fruit gummies too!
I also have the Bachmann Surfliner engine, and comparing both, the Bachmann has a little better detail IMO.
Planning on running both tonight.

I wish Kato released a Surfliner rolling stock-only box set - no Charger loco. Some people might want to run this with the Athearn F59PHI or the Bachmann SC-44.
I'd ideally want to get the Bachmann Charger, not only for the better details but because it already comes with all the lighting options - engine light, flashing ditch lights, reverse marker lights, strobe lights and emergency beacon too. I've already done ditch and marker lights on the Loksound install for my Kato ALC-42 so those won't be too hard, but the strobes and emergency beacon are gonna be tricky.

[pedro]

I wish Kato released a Surfliner rolling stock-only box set - no Charger loco. Some people might want to run this with the Athearn F59PHI or the Bachmann SC-44.
I'd ideally want to get the Bachmann Charger, not only for the better details but because it already comes with all the lighting options - engine light, flashing ditch lights, reverse marker lights, strobe lights and emergency beacon too. I've already done ditch and marker lights on the Loksound install for my Kato ALC-42 so those won't be too hard, but the strobes and emergency beacon are gonna be tricky.

Kato 28-592 N Scale Carrying Case for North American High-Level Passenger Cars. Holds 6 cars.

I lucked out and found one at a local hobby shop, but they seem to be elusive at the moment…although I do see that Plaza Japan is showing them in stock. I picked one up for extra CNW bi-levels.

https://www.plazajapan.com/4952844123529/

[pilpro]

I also wish they had separate cars.  And the full set doesn’t need two superliners.  A regular consist is 6 cars not 7. But beggars can’t be choosers and happy to have them finally be released by someone!

[ATSF_Ron]

Package arrived today!  Both sets look flawless and really sharp.  I won't bother to post any pics as others already have.  I will be filing a complaint with USPS though, as my outer packaging was pretty trashed and WIDE OPEN!  Luckily my wife was home and brought it in as it was raining.  The Kato packing was fully intact and dry.  I tested both locos and they ran perfectly and silky smooth.  Very pleased with this purchase.  We've waited a long time for Surfliners in N scale!

[OrangeAnon]

Imagine my disappointment when I compared what I thought to be an accurate paint to the Kato paint, and theirs turned out to be a lot darker! After a quick investigation though, I found the error in my ways; There were two times I used the Rapido paint before trying to find a match. First, when I painted the Grove cars. Second, when I painted the 3D Surfliners. It turns out I didn't have enough coats of paint down before I got frustrated with how the Rapido paint sprays and decided to find a match in something easier to use.



Top, Kato's Redwood Grove. Middle, my Redwood Grove. Bottom, my Surfliner in Vallejo French Blue. Clearly I should have tried matching to my previous work, as it's basically the same. There's a slightly more purple hue to the Kato paint, but the difference is subtle enough, it doesn't stand out if they're coupled together. So it's unfortunate that my full set of 3D printed cars doesn't match and I'm essentially going to retire them, but fortunate that Kato got it right. A second unfortunate side effect though, is now another project of mine that's in progress now needs a repaint; one portion of which has already been cosmetically completed with decals... 

I'm very pleased with these sets though; the 3D prints were nice, but the level of detail, finesse, and consistency of injection molding can't be beat. They've also got printing no decal maker has ever bothered with. My favorite detail is actually the interiors, Business class actually has the longer seat pitch resulting in the seats not being symmetrical on each side, and the Cafe car has the point of sale area and condiment bar.



Lastly, if you're interested in a less ridiculous looking coupler on the cab, a Kato medium shank is what you want. (A short shank is too short.)

I also wish they had separate cars.  And the full set doesn’t need two superliners.  A regular consist is 6 cars not 7. But beggars can’t be choosers and happy to have them finally be released by someone!

They also indicate that the Cafe car goes directly in the middle, between two normal coaches. Every train I see has it separating Business and Coach; so the third car, behind a Business Surfliner and Superliner. (If there's a Superliner in the train, it's almost always an extension of Business class.)

[tehachapifan]

Hard to tell the difference in blues at all from your photos. I also noticed the Kato cars are quite a bit darker and more purple than my custom painted cars. Funny, I originally thought my custom cars came out a bit too dark, as proto Surfliner cars almost look like a light baby blue in many photos. Guess it largely comes down to age of the paint on proto units.

I just got informed by Hogtrainz that me replacement set is on the way after the USPS snafu. Hogtrainz has definitely gained a loyal customer with how great they handled this whole thing!

[OrangeAnon]

It's a lot more apparent in this one. I think the best thing to do is bring these out into the sun and photograph them there; better yet, next to an actual Surfliner!

[tehachapifan]

Yep, that's about how the Kato's look compared to mine.

The silver on my custom cars is also a bit brighter that the Kato's and has less of a mirror-like finish.

I'm hoping the differences will be less noticeable over time as I would still like to run my custom cars. Maybe not mixed together, but as separate trains.

Nice decal work, BTW! I appreciate the laser-straight application of the stripes, which is what I went for as well (not super easy when the shell itself isn't perfectly straight!).

[tehachapifan]

Check this video out for some examples of different paint shades on prototype Surfliners, particularly at 9:17 and 9:19...

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Pretty cool that this is also a double set!

[mgar2112]

Which drop-in non-sound decoder is recommended for the SC-44?

[nickelplate759]

Which drop-in non-sound decoder is recommended for the SC-44?

TCS K7D4 is one choice.
https://www.tcsdcc.com/post/installation-of-the-week-kato-n-scale-alc-42-charger

[peteski]

The other is https://www.digitrax.com/products/mobile-decoders/dn163k4a/

It is not all that difficult to go to decoder manufacturer's website like https://www.digitrax.com/products/engine-matrix/decoder/ then just select the model you want to install the decoder in.

[mgar2112]

The other is https://www.digitrax.com/products/mobile-decoders/dn163k4a/

It is not all that difficult to go to decoder manufacturer's website like https://www.digitrax.com/products/engine-matrix/decoder/ then just select the model you want to install the decoder in.

I had already done that and there is no entry for the N Scale / Kato / SC-44.
This is the response I got back from the Digitrax help desk specifically asking about the Kato SC-44: "We are always creating new products, but cannot announce before they are ready.  Please stay tuned!"
I was surprised that they didn't reply to use the DN163K4A which is used on the ALC-42 Charger. I think I read some place that the SC-44 is just a little different fitment.

[MetroRedLine]

I had already done that and there is no entry for the N Scale / Kato / SC-44.
This is the response I got back from the Digitrax help desk specifically asking about the Kato SC-44: "We are always creating new products, but cannot announce before they are ready.  Please stay tuned!" I was surprised that they didn't reply to use the DN163K4A which is used on the ALC-42 Charger.

This exactly. Never assume that all the DCC manufacturers are always on top of things as soon as a loco comes out! Especially in the case of the Kato SC-44 which isn't even a formal loco release, but part of a box set (where the rolling stock is the main feature anyway).

I think I read some place that the SC-44 is just a little different fitment.

I opened up my SC-44 out of curiosity, despite not having a compatible decoder yet (I thought the TCS K1D4 was a fit, which is is true for the contact, except that the rear (front) of the decoder extends too far forward as to obstruct the loco cab/ligh pipe holder. It'll work, but you won't be able to fit the shell back on).

It seems that the SC-44 is 90% identical to the ALC-42, with the exception being the shell features, a more sophisticated DC light board (no rear light LED but a marker light LED at the bottom of the light board), a different design of motor contact clips and the inclusion of a plastic snap-on bracket to hold the clips into place:

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It seems the SC-44's motor is slightly wider than the one in the ALC-42's hence requiring a different design of motor contact clips. So it's imperative to save both the contact clips and the black plastic holding bracket from the original light board and transplant them into your DCC decoder when you do your install.

[peteski]

Do you actually have both ALC-42 and SC-44 on hand?
I'm asking because I own ALC-42 charger and its chassis looks identical to the SC-44 in the photo you posted.  The decoder made for ALC-42 should fit SC-44 except maybe the location of the rear LED.  The shape of the light board is the same. Both appear to use standard Kato motor. 

Here is my ALC-42.