A British domestic train from Kato? 800 series available from May 2021

zwilnik · June 14, 2021, 03:33:34 PM

Finally got mine (GWR) today and managed to run it around my layout after learning the stranded Warship blocking the line (see unhappy thread

). Wow, this is a really good model. Couplings are nice and clever. Close coupled on straights but extend around curves, so it handles my tightest corner (282mm) without worrying about it and it's got enough weight and smooth enough bogies to run over point work at express speed without derailing. Handles slow speeds nicely too.

Definitely worth the hassle I had importing it

dannyboy · June 14, 2021, 03:41:53 PM

My GWR Gaugemaster set finally arrived today as well. I have to agree with @zwilnik - lovely model and runs superb. Problem is, this is what has come to be expected from Kato so it was not a surprise.

. There were some extra straight pieces in the box as well, maybe it was a free gift from 'Rails' for the inconvenience they caused me

.

Railwaygun · June 14, 2021, 04:32:32 PM

Quote from: dannyboy on June 14, 2021, 03:41:53 PM
My GWR Gaugemaster set finally arrived today as well. I have to agree with @zwilnik - lovely model and runs superb. Problem is, this is what has come to be expected from Kato so it was not a surprise. . There were some extra straight pieces in the box as well, maybe it was a free gift from 'Rails' for the inconvenience they caused me .

its for display - we all got some!

njee20 · June 14, 2021, 04:34:29 PM

The Gaugemaster set includes the M1 oval of track, and I presume in this case a couple of extra straights on top of that. My set only included the M1 set.

railsquid · June 14, 2021, 04:35:37 PM

Quote from: Railwaygun on June 14, 2021, 04:32:32 PM
Quote from: dannyboy on June 14, 2021, 03:41:53 PM
My GWR Gaugemaster set finally arrived today as well. I have to agree with @zwilnik - lovely model and runs superb. Problem is, this is what has come to be expected from Kato so it was not a surprise. . There were some extra straight pieces in the box as well, maybe it was a free gift from 'Rails' for the inconvenience they caused me .

its for display - we all got some!

Except for sets purchased in Japan.

Railwaygun · June 14, 2021, 04:39:23 PM

there is a good fitting guide here (from NGF) Thanks to @Jack

https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=54046.msg712694#msg712694

https://www.tramfabriek.nl/kato-800.html

njee20 · June 14, 2021, 04:48:56 PM

It's not Jack's guide, he simply found it. It's also nothing to do with the NGF... isn't Tramfabriek @Sven ?

Railwaygun · June 14, 2021, 05:33:40 PM

Quote from: njee20 on June 14, 2021, 04:48:56 PM
It's not Jack's guide, he simply found it. It's also nothing to do with the NGF... isn't Tramfabriek @Sven ?

And I felt it could do with another broadcast!

dannyboy · June 14, 2021, 06:05:56 PM

Quote from: Railwaygun on June 14, 2021, 04:32:32 PM
Quote from: dannyboy on June 14, 2021, 03:41:53 PM
My GWR Gaugemaster set finally arrived today as well. I have to agree with @zwilnik - lovely model and runs superb. Problem is, this is what has come to be expected from Kato so it was not a surprise. . There were some extra straight pieces in the box as well, maybe it was a free gift from 'Rails' for the inconvenience they caused me .

its for display - we all got some!

As I understood things, if you just bought the 5 car set, you got the display track, whereas if you bought the Gaugemaster pack, you got the M1 oval of track and no display track. But I am not complaining.

GlenEglise · June 14, 2021, 10:47:45 PM

My LNER 800 arrived Monday.

Sadly part of the red transfer on one of the power cars is missing where the white LN of LNER is located.

Have asked questions of Rails who supplied the box set. Will advise outcome.

Red Onion · June 15, 2021, 10:18:11 AM

Mine just arrived today! Had to double check the power cars based on that. But mine seem fine. Like the little inclusion of track though not sure how much use it is for me.

gc4946 · June 15, 2021, 03:07:06 PM

Quote from: gc4946 on May 14, 2021, 04:49:38 PM
Quote from: osborns on May 14, 2021, 03:28:20 PM
to those of you who have not had Kato Locos (EMU's) before I would be interested in your opinions of the way the sets are presented and packaged.

I'll comment when I receive my LNER Azuma set.

My set arrived today ...

It's well presented with card slip case in book format but the foam packing is a bit tight in places.

I accidentally dislodged the plastic pantograph from its base when replacing one of the carriages in the foam tray. Fortunately it clipped back in!
However some trimming back of the foam may be useful especially at the ends, because I can foresee the angled inter-carriage insulators attached to the inner ends could snap off with repeated packing and unpacking.

The Kato track in the train pack (not the set) consists of 3 x 248 mm long sections, 1 x 186 mm section and a bufferstop. Including track makes the boxed set wider than A4 size.

The size of the box including slip case is 32 cm tall x 27 cm wide x 3.5 cm deep (rounded up to the nearest 0.5 or 1 centimetre)

Red Onion · June 15, 2021, 06:58:26 PM

A silly question perhaps but I can't seem to find out! Are the unit numbers different between the Kato and the Gaugemaster sets?

railsquid · June 16, 2021, 06:46:46 AM

Quote from: Red Onion on June 15, 2021, 06:58:26 PM
A silly question perhaps but I can't seem to find out! Are the unit numbers different between the Kato and the Gaugemaster sets?

If the Gaugemaster sets had a different Kato product number, there might be differences, but they're the same two sets (10-1671 and 10-1674) available everywhere. Looking at the Gaugemaster page for the LNER version (10-1674) the running number for the prototype set is listed as "800 209", which is the same number as on the side of the Kato set I purchased in Japan.

Red Onion · June 16, 2021, 07:33:30 AM

That's great, thank you. Had just been wondering as looking at options for running a ten car set.