I've been poking around on the internet and i've found that Kato engines are slightly on the expensive side. Could a member comment on Kato engines? Are they worth it?
Quesitons on Kato Loco's
- Thread starter YmeBP
- Start date
From my limited experience with Katos (I got two of their F40PHs on my roster), I can say they got very good detail, and they do run nice, but some with the copper-strip-contacts electrical system like the F40PH and SD40 might experience some running issues (which are relatively easy to fix by soldering in some wires to bypass the contact-strip system).
Generally I'd say they are worth it. :thumb:
Generally I'd say they are worth it. :thumb:
Sweet! :thumb:
Which Kato locos did you find and how much? I remember you were looking for Amtrak locos, right?
Which Kato locos did you find and how much? I remember you were looking for Amtrak locos, right?
KATO HO SCALE EMD F40PH LOCOMOTIVE AMTRAK
^^^^ from ebay. Looks like someone beat me to the kato one for 29.99 buy it now.
Actually i'm looking for an f40 or something similar in amtrak paint. But i'll take an undecorated and then paint later in life
. LongIslandTom said:
LIT i just remembered you did a REVIEW DUHHHH!!! hahaha
http://www.the-gauge.com/showthread.php?t=23699&page=2
i should have snagged that 29.99 now the lowest price i can find is 50 bux
DUHHHH!!! hahahahttp://www.the-gauge.com/showthread.php?t=23699&page=2
i should have snagged that 29.99 now the lowest price i can find is 50 bux
LongIslandTom said:
A Kato F40PH for $30? Hmm... I'm a bit skeptical, because those Kato F40PHs retails for close to $100.
You gotta be careful of those on Evil Bay... Remember there are four different brands of plastic-model F40PHs out there-- LifeLike (garbage pancake motor drive), Walthers (OK mechanism but not all the details are right), Spectrum (OK mechanism but very poor detailing), and the Kato (very good detail, but with a potentially problematic mechanism). It would suck if you bid on a "Kato F40PH" and it turned out to be one of the other brands.
I paid $85 apiece for mine from Toy Train Heaven... That was pretty much the lowest price I can find for the Kato F40PHs. Where did you find them for $50? I'm thinking of grabbing one more to paint up in NJT colors.
You gotta be careful of those on Evil Bay... Remember there are four different brands of plastic-model F40PHs out there-- LifeLike (garbage pancake motor drive), Walthers (OK mechanism but not all the details are right), Spectrum (OK mechanism but very poor detailing), and the Kato (very good detail, but with a potentially problematic mechanism). It would suck if you bid on a "Kato F40PH" and it turned out to be one of the other brands.
I paid $85 apiece for mine from Toy Train Heaven... That was pretty much the lowest price I can find for the Kato F40PHs. Where did you find them for $50? I'm thinking of grabbing one more to paint up in NJT colors.
I'm getting really good at spotting what you just mentioned 
. There are a couple fo engines listed when you do the f40 search adn theya re bachmann, listed as something else haha. I'm glad you did that review i refer to it when i go feebaying for that line up dunno why i had a brain fart on the kato brand hahaha.
http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?sofocus=bs&sbrftog=1&sibeleafcat=19134&itemstate=1&catref=C6&itemid=330080165628&from=R10&satitle=undecorated+kato+ho&sacat=-1%26catref%3DC6&sargn=-1%26saslc%3D2&sadis=200&fpos=08085&ftrt=1&ftrv=1&saprclo=&saprchi=&fsop=1%26fsoo%3D1&coaction=compare&copagenum=1&coentrypage=search&fgtp=
This is a listing of all the undecorated engines. And as you say looks like they are around that magic 80$ number. So i think i'm going to buy one from toy train heaven.
. There are a couple fo engines listed when you do the f40 search adn theya re bachmann, listed as something else haha. I'm glad you did that review i refer to it when i go feebaying for that line up dunno why i had a brain fart on the kato brand hahaha. http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?sofocus=bs&sbrftog=1&sibeleafcat=19134&itemstate=1&catref=C6&itemid=330080165628&from=R10&satitle=undecorated+kato+ho&sacat=-1%26catref%3DC6&sargn=-1%26saslc%3D2&sadis=200&fpos=08085&ftrt=1&ftrv=1&saprclo=&saprchi=&fsop=1%26fsoo%3D1&coaction=compare&copagenum=1&coentrypage=search&fgtp=
This is a listing of all the undecorated engines. And as you say looks like they are around that magic 80$ number
. So i think i'm going to buy one from toy train heaven. LongIslandTom said:A Kato F40PH for $30? Hmm... I'm a bit skeptical, because those Kato F40PHs retails for close to $100.
You gotta be careful of those on Evil Bay... Remember there are four different brands of plastic-model F40PHs out there-- LifeLike (garbage pancake motor drive), Walthers (OK mechanism but not all the details are right), Spectrum (OK mechanism but very poor detailing), and the Kato (very good detail, but with a potentially problematic mechanism). It would suck if you bid on a "Kato F40PH" and it turned out to be one of the other brands.
I paid $85 apiece for mine from Toy Train Heaven... That was pretty much the lowest price I can find for the Kato F40PHs. Where did you find them for $50? I'm thinking of grabbing one more to paint up in NJT colors.
O.k. so i've been shopping for this f40... i notice on toy train heavan they have 3 of the exact same loco's only difference is the road number and cost different amounts. Why? Is it about the rarity?
Holy crap.. $65 for the Kato F40PH (Amtrak #400) at Toy Train Heaven.. I bought that exact same loco from TTH too back in November (the one in my review) for $85.
I think TTH might have too many of that particular road number or Kato is doing a clearance or something. I'd jump on it. :thumb:
Heck, I think I'll jump on it too so I can repaint one in NJT.
I think TTH might have too many of that particular road number or Kato is doing a clearance or something. I'd jump on it. :thumb:
Heck, I think I'll jump on it too so I can repaint one in NJT.
I'm with you ... i ahve a couple other things i'm getting from them. I'm eternally in your debts for this site!!!
LongIslandTom said:Holy crap.. $65 for the Kato F40PH (Amtrak #400) at Toy Train Heaven.. I bought that exact same loco from TTH too back in November (the one in my review) for $85.
I think TTH might have too many of that particular road number or Kato is doing a clearance or something. I'd jump on it. :thumb:
Heck, I think I'll jump on it too so I can repaint one in NJT.
COMBAT said:
I was sitting here debating it, but how soon would you need the money?
By the way, as far as I am concerned, that is a heck of an offer for you to make to us. I really appreciate you going on a limb for us like that. Good lookin' out for your brothers and sisters :thumb:
Let me know will ya?
LongIslandTom said:
two things: 1)so THAT's what hapened to the one I technicaly was supoed to get but died! 2) you better no mean pk1000's, that's my F3!
COMBAT said:If I ordered them today I would get them a week from today. I would then turn around and ship to all of those that have paid for them. I guess the answer is, how soon can you pay for it. LOL
Crap, it'd be some time next month. Waiting for some old back pay to FINALLY arrive which could be any timne in the next 4 weeks.
I guess I'll have to see if you have any left over or something, I'm sorry.
Hmm these engines look great... do you have any not spoken for adn how soon do you need the money? Do you accept paypal?COMBAT said:If I ordered them today I would get them a week from today. I would then turn around and ship to all of those that have paid for them. I guess the answer is, how soon can you pay for it. LOL
You know.... i think i have as much fun collecting these things as i do running and building
.I will tell you this. If I get others to participate and buy them then I will hold out for four weeks for you. I cant do this for everyone but I would do it for 1 or two just because I understand how things work. I would put you on the reserve list so to speak. Send me a pm please so I have your info and if I get enough interest I will work with you. Just let me know if your interested. Thanks!
COMBAT said:I will tell you this. If I get others to participate and buy them then I will hold out for four weeks for you. I cant do this for everyone but I would do it for 1 or two just because I understand how things work. I would put you on the reserve list so to speak. Send me a pm please so I have your info and if I get enough interest I will work with you. Just let me know if your interested. Thanks!
OUTSTANDING. What are the road names available (mine are going to be my freelanced "Pacific Northern")? I'll take at least two.