The latest addition to the roster: a pair of the recent Kato SD38-2s. Being in essence a GP38-2 on a longer, six-axle chassis for greater tractive effort, these machines found favour with some roads (including my favourite Southern Pacific) for yard work. These models aren't destined for my main layout, however, but for a side project. When using the US switching area shoe-horned into the dead-space at the end of my fiddle yard, these will handle transfer runs from another yard in the Chicago area.
The SD38-2's common ancestry with Kato's older SD40-2 is immediately obvious, but there is evidence of evolution. Proper wiring has returned - gone are the awful brass strips that caused so many problems on the SD40-2s. There is more chassis detail and the fuel tanks have a sound-ready void as seen on the recent AC4400CW, should you wish to install your own speaker and sound decoder.
Brake cylinders and pipes now come ready-fixed in place - not self-assembly as in the SD40-2 and not the half-hearted moulded attempts as seen on the AC4400CW. Extra sprues of detail parts are now supplied in various hues to accomodate those areas where the grab rails should be a different colour, and the hand rails have separate white end pieces.
The finish on both of my samples was poor, with pronounced overspray between colours. Not a major issue this time, as I intend to repaint into a slightly different livery, but it emphasises the need to check these things at the point of purchase.
For comparison purposes, the SD38-2 is seen next to a Missouri Pacific SD40-2...
...we don't get cab sunshades this time around.
Currently On My Stereo: Radiohead - OK Computer
