New run of Kato HO Business Cars: Pros & Cons

[Anonymous]

Well, I recently aquirred an HO scale Kato Bussiness Car, decorated for UP. I thought maybe it might be fun to do a review of it.

Pros:
-Cleanly applied paint, although the UP armor yellow seems a bit to light.
-The working marker lights are way cool[8D]
-All the detail parts are relativly easy to put on.
-Runs like a dream.

Cons:
-Dummy couplers which are mounted too high.
-The interior's not light
-Those grab irons are rather difficult to apply

All in all, I'm very happy with this car. It'd look good on the end of any passenger train OR freight train for that matter.

[rrinker]

The only road name this car is ACTUALLY accurate for is the Burlington. Still a nice model though, red markers that light up and all.

Plus it kinda makes suckers out of those people who kept bidding up first run examples on eBay to more than double the MSRP. This even AFTER the second run was announced. Silly, silly people.... eBay only works if you RESEARCH a little.

--Randy

[Anonymous]

In what way do they differ from the previous first run?
Have they improved the chintzy interior lighting system?

[Anonymous]

Chuck, the models do not come with lighted interiors. You have to seperatly purchase a lighting kit.

[Anonymous]

If you think the Kato model is cool, check out the new Hornby British Pullmans which come with lighting already installed. Every lamp on every tiny table lights up! They look stunning in the dark!
Cheap too!!!

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Bilby2k

If you think the Kato model is cool, check out the new Hornby British Pullmans which come with lighting already installed. Every lamp on every tiny table lights up! They look stunning in the dark!
Cheap too!!!

Very nice. But will them brit stuff run on American HO?

I own a First run Kato B&O and I know the paint aint prototypical... but is was so well done it will go on the train when I get it built. I havent checked the eBay activity but they should not be selling for much more than 30 bucks or so.

[CP5415]

I have the first run CPR car & it too wasn't something CPR had in its business car pool but in stainless steel with the side & end marker lights that light up, I don't care about prototypical either.
Way too cool to pass up since it does look amazing on the end of my passenger consist with my Walthers Budd cars!

Gordon

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by HighIron2003ar

QUOTE: Originally posted by Bilby2k

If you think the Kato model is cool, check out the new Hornby British Pullmans which come with lighting already installed. Every lamp on every tiny table lights up! They look stunning in the dark!
Cheap too!!!

Very nice. But will them brit stuff run on American HO?

I own a First run Kato B&O and I know the paint aint prototypical... but is was so well done it will go on the train when I get it built. I havent checked the eBay activity but they should not be selling for much more than 30 bucks or so.

Yup, they'll run on HO just fine - they're built to a slightly larger scale but run on the same track gauge (long story, involving oversized early motors and smaller British locos/stock). I've heard reports of derailment problems with the early examples, so make sure you get some of the more recent ones - Hornby have modified the couplers to fix the problems.

Regarding the Kato cars - hope my LHS will have some in stock this time, I wanted one of the CB&Q examples but they ran out before I got there!

[Anonymous]

I'm very pleased with my Kato business car lettered for the Santa Fe (what else?). I've been thinking about putting lights in it but after I got fifteen Walthers Budd cars lighted I've got trouble with the Digitrax reseting after a short. Long Explanation and short possable fix (we'll see).

It does look nice on the end on a string of budd cars

Bob