I'm a bit confused...I noticed that Kato is now listing the upcoming ES44AC edition for UP and CP, and so is Fox Valley Models. Who's actually making these? Is Fox Valley using the Kato frames and engines and just designing and producing a new shell or is both companies making their own models?
As far as i know, both KATO and FVM are making their own from their own tooling.... I know alot of N scalers who are pretty exited for both of them, and buying one or more of both to compare them
This is going to hurt the wallet. I'd prefer the FVM Norfolk Southern version...it just seemed strange that two manufacturers are making the same exact engines. I suppose this happened before, I just haven't seen it.
Herc Driver Wrote:This is going to hurt the wallet. I'd prefer the FVM Norfolk Southern version...it just seemed strange that two manufacturers are making the same exact engines. I suppose this happened before, I just haven't seen it.
LOL yeah i know what you mean, I can help put less of a dent in your wallet if you are interested.
I wish they had plans like these in HO scale for these modern beasts. Intermountain finally is doing the ES44AC in HO coming out in March/April of 2010. Athearn is supposed to be doing one as well, but not much information on them right now. I wish someone like Intermountain, Athearn KATO or even Atlas would do the SD70ACe in HO scale....
It's great that all these "current" power units are being produced...but I'd really like my high hood Southern GP30 unit made. (I guess I'll just have to make one myself.) Unfortunately, almost all the current diesels look pretty much the same, so getting an ES44 that looks a lot like an SD70ACe or AC4400 isn't exactly a big leap for the layout and diesel collection. But that Norfolk Southern is looking pretty good...
Herc Driver Wrote:It's great that all these "current" power units are being produced...but I'd really like my high hood Southern GP30 unit made. (I guess I'll just have to make one myself.) Unfortunately, almost all the current diesels look pretty much the same, so getting an ES44 that looks a lot like an SD70ACe or AC4400 isn't exactly a big leap for the layout and diesel collection. But that Norfolk Southern is looking pretty good...
LOL GP30 high hood, whats that
Just kidding, i know what it is, just way too early for my taste, im big on the BIG modern 6-axle diesels
And i know what you mean about pretty much all modern diesels looking the same, i find it difficult to tell the difference between alot of them, especially the SD70 series lol
Herc Driver Wrote:I suppose this happened before, I just haven't seen it.
How many FTs are available in N scale? Intermountain and Micro-Trains have both done them. Intermountain and Model Power have both done FP7s. Bachmann and Kato have both done F7s. Atlas and Bachmann have both done H16-44s, albeit with different body styles.
Herc Driver Wrote:Unfortunately, almost all the current diesels look pretty much the same, so getting an ES44 that looks a lot like an SD70ACe or AC4400 isn't exactly a big leap for the layout and diesel collection. But that Norfolk Southern is looking pretty good...
Other than both having six axles the ES44AC and SD70ACe look nothing alike. That's like saying a GP30 and U25B are practically identical. Simply put, there are more moder modelers willing to shell out for modern power so that's where the production dollars are going. You'll get your high-nose GP30s someday, if you convince enough friends to model the Southern of the late 1960s.
railohio - I don't know what I was thinking...I forgot all about the FT units and several types of F units, plus the various SD70's by Athearn and Kato and GP units by Lifelike and Atlas.
You are so right about the diesel "look"...all I meant was the cab design, axle, and body design of modern diesels make them look pretty similar. I understand that modern day railroads need a particular long haul engine based on their requirements, and form usually follows function. (Although there seemed to be more variation in the 60's through the 80's.) But I have no problem at all buying engines from the 50's forward to current day...they all look great in their own way, and they all get laps on my layout. The way I wrote that previous post was rather dismissive - though I didn't mean it to read that way. (I get the same thing from people who are not in aviation saying all airplanes look alike. To my eye, each variation within a model of aircraft is identifiable, even if only the antennas or hatches are changed.) I understand manufacturers today need to make a profit and will make those engines that they believe people want. And what doesn't get made this year might be made next, or might be a project to build. Is this a great hobby or what!?!