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To be honest I wouldn't say there is much change in performance since the first run Dash 9s apart from some newer motors. I make some changes to the reference voltage and BEMF settings, and things definitely run pretty sweet after that.All my Kato SD40-2 Mids have warped handrails towards the rear porch but then I probably have a roster skewed more towards these units and suffer accordingly.
How about an early pre-EPA oil bunker top and filler hatch for their FEF tenders, making a very easy and proper post-1946 to 1959 FEF-3 without the oil dams and safety appliances that the modernized 844 has??
...That's cute Bob. I have an image of you going to the Kato boardroom in Tokyo and pitching this idea to the Kato brass. They would be very polite.I have to believe the only reason the SD70ACU gets a 2nd look is so they can sell CP heritage units. They'll probably throw in a few NS and/or Ferromex into the mix, but that's because it's only requires different paint.The only way Kato will ever evolve into selling more detailed models (assuming they even want to) is if they can figure out how to make them robust and affordable. On the latter point, they will never contract with a Chinese factory to provide any service, so they're in a similar position to Micro Trains. But MTL has managed to enter the 21st century while still remaining (semi) affordable, so maybe Kato could too; again, assuming they even want to.
I always marvel at BLMA Craig (who started BLMA) and his work at adding detail parts to his Kato SD70ACe's. It's quite a feat but I note that he recently posted some new ST diesels.
Where is Craig posting these?
I finally got my sound-equipped SD70ACU this week. And I have admit to some annoyance that Kato hyped these models as being "developed from the ground up with all-new tooling". While the shell may be all new tooling, the chassis/mechanism is clearly the same one used in their SD80MAC and SD9043 diesels. Coulda saved myself the trouble of buying one had I known that -Mark
All (sort of) New and they still don’t have two-color handrails. If I am going to pay more than I would for a ScaleTrains DCC/Sound unit I don’t think it’s out of line to expect the same attention to paint if not details.And yes, I can (and will) paint them myself but it would be preferable to have them done in the factory.
As you mentioned, to achieve this Kato would have to paint the handrails. They don't do that and probably will not do that in the future. It is just not their thing. Just like they don't use glue to hold the model's parts together.
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Topic: SD70ACU from Kato (Read 5938 times)
