A new pseudo-British loco from Kato

[RailGooner]

I do think this thread would be better titled "A new pseudo-British loco from Gaugemaster" or even "Another pseudo-British item from Gaugemaster".  I truly believe that Kato's only part in this model is a rather insignificant one, as manufacturer of another one of Gaugemaster's commissions of pre-existing non-UK outline models finished in fantasy UK liveries:

GM2250101... Network Rail Track Cleaning Vehicle (Tomix)
GM2420101... Network Rail Track Cleaning Vehicle (Minitrix)

And even:

GM59... Locomotive Wheel Cleaning Brush (Minitrix)

[GlenEglise]

See this PDF - seems Kato are planning to release their generic "steeple cab" electric loco (see here for picture) in a pseudo-British livery (BR black with early crest logo). Release in June 2021. Not going to please the rivet counters, but another step towards UK products...

Comparing the photo of https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LNER_Class_ES1#/media/File:Heaton_Locomotive_Depot_geograph-2899256-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg and the KATO version for Gaugemaster I think this is an abomination.

Surely we should not have such stuff foisted upon us? Generic approximations went out in the 1970's surely.

[njee20]

I think any similarity is purely coincidental, they could have got closer to the ES1 with existing products if that was their aim.

[Bealman]

Yes, looks to me like it's directed at the "toy" market.

[railsquid]

Surely we should not have such stuff foisted upon us? Generic approximations went out in the 1970's surely.

Don't worry, I'm sure there won't be a legal obligation to buy one .

[70000]

It's not exactly the first N model to pretend to be something else - I've still got a Lone-Star push a long American F unit in green livery with a BR double arrow logo that seems to be under the delusion it is a Baby Deltic (D5900)!
When I first visited Caboose Hobbies in Denver back in the 1980's, they had quite a selection of what I took to be a Japanese prototype N gauge electric loco for sale in liveries like Conrail and Great Northern.
In addition, I can clearly remember one of the local modelshops here in Ipswich having an HO scale F unit in BR blue with a yellow end for sale in the 1970's too....

[njee20]

It's definitely not the first, but as has been said several times we shouldn't aspire for what was acceptable 50 years ago!

[mickeyflinn]

It's a shame it's not cheaper and bundled in a set with some Peco wagons, Kato Unitrack and a controller. It could then make a reasonable starter set for a child - isn't this what Hornby do with some of their generic RailRoad items?
This could make something that was robust enough for smaller hands, and be an introduction to something that could become a lifelong hobby.

[njee20]

That I'd definitely agree with! If they did it for £70 with a circle of track, a controller and a couple of wagons then maybe. There's a reasonable choice of OO gauge sets around £55-£65.

[Bealman]

I think people are missing stuff here.

Space is very limited in most Japanese dwellings. N gauge is the preferred option.

A starter set is what it is!

[PGN]

But it's not a starter SET if it's just the locomotive ...

The need for reasonably-priced introductory sets in N is something my local model shop proprietor has been stressing ever since I've known him ...

[mickeyflinn]

.....A starter set is what it is!

If you look at RailSquid's link and this one;
https://www.gaugemasterretail.com/magento/catalog/product/view/id/75252/s/gaugemaster-gm2260201/
it comes across to me that it's just the loco.

[njee20]

I think people are missing stuff here.

Space is very limited in most Japanese dwellings. N gauge is the preferred option.

A starter set is what it is!

Yeah I've not seen anything to suggest it's a starter set. If it was then I'd totally get it. It appears to just be a ficticious loco for £50. It's well priced, but I still can't see it attracting kids (or anyone) to N gauge, particularly when compared to OO gauge starter sets.

[maridunian]

Here's the standard Kato freight set:

https://www.gaugemasterretail.com/magento/kato-k10-504-1.html

I'd have thought their passenger set presented as a British prototype, perhaps based on the Wantage Tramway or similar pre-grouping line, would be quite an attractive product.

Mike

[Bealman]

Oh, ok, I can't get the PDF up on me phone.

I can get the pic, and thought it was a set.

Sorry!