Kato NYC "Black Beetle"

[motofavorite]

I noticed HobbySearch is accepting pre-orders for a Kato NYC "Black Beetle." I didn't find a link during my quick search on this topic here at TRW, but this one should get you started: https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/11428212

Enjoy!

[nkalanaga]

N Scale Supply is also listing them.

[Point353]

I noticed HobbySearch is accepting pre-orders for a Kato NYC "Black Beetle." I didn't find a link during my quick search on this topic here at TRW, but this one should get you started: https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/11428212

Enjoy!

https://katousa.com/nyc-jet-rdc/

Search for 'Kato 166-1966' and you'll find it available for pre-order at numerous US dealers.

[Jimbo]

Video is already posted too: 

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Jim

[u18b]

One of Kato's more unique offerings.....

though $330 seems steep for sound.

[Mark5]

This is one of the last things I'd expect them to have another run of.

Go Kato! 

[peteski]

The first run was one of the early Kobo custom offers. I don't recall how much it cost back then but I suspect that adjusted for inflation, this run is cheaper.

[robert3985]

[peteski]

Man, what a total waste of plastic....

Hey Bob, you are either trolling, or speaking as a grumpy old man (modeling UP).  Would you turn your nose up at some of the many unique UP motive power creations they experimented with over the years? 

The only "plastic" is the original RDC body. The rest were urethane resin castings (and now probably 3D printed parts).  But I guess as far a$$ things go, it is all types of plastic.

[turbowhiz]

The only "plastic" is the original RDC body. The rest were urethane resin castings (and now probably 3D printed parts).  But I guess as far a$$ things go, it is all types of plastic.

These are not the same as the previous Kobo model; this version is fully injection molded with new tooling. Supposedly the drive is the same, but it looks like they tooled fabricated type trucks for it.

[peteski]

These are not the same as the previous Kobo model; this version is fully injection molded with new tooling. Supposedly the drive is the same, but it looks like they tooled fabricated type trucks for it.

Really?  I'm impressed!   That is a large investment in tooling for a unique piece of railroad history.  I still have my undec. Kato RDC ready to be converted using Elgin Locomotive Works resin pieces, but I might now reconsider this.  Seems that Kato is becoming more like Con-Cor, producing  rather unique model trains. I'm still waiting for the NYC Dreyfus Hudson and circa 1938 20th Century Ltd. train.  The later version of that train Kato produced is very nice, but not quite like the earlier version.

[learmoia]

Hey Bob, you are either trolling, or speaking as a grumpy old man (modeling UP).  Would you turn your nose up at some of the many unique UP motive power creations they experimented with over the years? 

The only "plastic" is the original RDC body. The rest were urethane resin castings (and now probably 3D printed parts).  But I guess as far a$$ things go, it is all types of plastic.

Ya what if they made this..


Well I ordered one since I didn't bite on the Kobo..

Funny they are now starting to pop out of the woodwork on ebay.. for $600+

[Englewood]

I saw the O scale version of this at an estate sale a few months ago, and for a few minutes my mind blacked out and I considered selling all my N scale trains and making the switch to O scale, starting with this beauty. Thankfully my son slapped me hard enough that I emerged from my delusions and didn't buy it. But on occasion, in the dead of night when the world is dark and quiet, those memories stir up and I think of what might have been....

[nkalanaga]

Buy one and kitbash the center unit back to the GN W-1 electric it started as.

[robert3985]

Hey Bob, you are either trolling, or speaking as a grumpy old man (modeling UP).  Would you turn your nose up at some of the many unique UP motive power creations they experimented with over the years? 

The only "plastic" is the original RDC body. The rest were urethane resin castings (and now probably 3D printed parts).  But I guess as far a$$ things go, it is all types of plastic.

I'm looking at it as disappointing as to what Kato uses its resources and energy to produce...and what the potential profit for them would be if they expended the same (or less) energy towards some other projects. 

I'll give two examples to start with...  (1) De-skirted GS4's (2) FEF2's...which would simply be a different pilot than is on their present FEF3...along with correct in-service oil bunker tops. 

An additional example, which would be simple as Hell, would be a modern UP "E9A" excursion engine (which I have no interest in acquiring), with no nose door, and a modern air conditioner where the front half of the front intake hatch used to be.  Add to that a few additional add-on detail parts.  These shell mods and tiny detail additions could also be accompanied by modern excursion cars, which would also be at home behind Kato's 844 and 4014 and be run with scale fidelity on virtually ANY modern road N-scale layout.  So, it would not be a purely UP enthusiast directed product...and quite simple to execute, appealing to both model railroaders who just like trains and those who model a specific prototype.

I realize that Kato made a Kobo version of these engines, with fragile, very poorly executed and printed detail parts (I had a set, which I sold after initializing my era-specific layout standards) what...twenty years ago?? But, since both their FEF3 844/8444 and their 4014 Big Boy are specific UP Excursion models, why not do a modernized Excursion version UP E9A/E9B/E9A consist to pull some of the same cars that their two steam engines do?...and maybe add a couple of modern, excursion-specific cars to the bundle?

I do turn up my nose at odd UP experimental prototypes and have no desire whatsoever for any of them...which includes Kato's modern excursion 4014 Big Boy or any of UP's one-off experimental turbine failures...even if they were in my selected layout era.

I know there are lots of modelers who like the odd prototype...and that's fine with me.  But, from a marketing point of view, I will assume that more common prototypes that were in wide use (no matter what road) would be much more advantageous for Kato to spend the time and effort develop and manufacture than a prototype that ran for only a 30 day test period, on a straight 68.5 mile stretch of arrow-straight, flat track between Toledo Ohio and Butler Indiana, and was unsuccessful.

No, I was not trolling, and I don't give a rat's weenie about down-votes.  However, the "grumpy old man" moniker fits pretty well in this instance! 

Cheerio!
Bob Gilmore