Hmm...Decisions, Decisions, Decisions

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

I am saving up for two Athearn Genesis SD70MACs in BNSF livery. These locos won’t be available until late September. I was searching on Ebay and found several Kato locos for the same MSRP.

So I risk waiting or possibly being scammed out of money and buying now.

Hmm

2

Wholeman,

For ebay purchases, my basic rule of thumb is to buy items from sellers that have a feedback rating of 100% and have been selling for at least 1 year. No guarantee the you won’t have a problem, but so far this has been working well for me since 2004.

I went to ebay and typed in KATO BNSF. I saw the ebay listings and those are some nice looking units.

REALITY CHECK: What do you really, really want to do? Katos are nice looking units with excellent drive systems. However, Athearn Genesis units usually have superior body detailing. Put your self in a relaxed mood and think it through.

I don’t know your financial situation, but, If you buy a Kato unit now, you can still save up the money for a Genesis unit later if you are employed. There is no guarantee that the new Genesis model will be on the market by September as delays have become the norm for the release of new models.

3

my basic rule of thumb, don’t do anything on ebay for more money than you are willing to lose… Yeah , i know that 99% of the time all will be A OK , but i also know from experience you can wind up with a pile of junk or nothing at all

4

If it were me I would wait until until Athearn releases the 70MAC’s. With ebay you run the risk of your engine not being completely brand new even though it may be advertised as such. Furthermore, if each loco has roughly the same price tag go with Athearn because the Genesis line has tremendous detail.

I have looked at kato units and although they are nice locos the Athearn’s are much more detailed and are very nice pullers. I actually have one of Genesis SD 70M and the detail is amazing.

Will

5

To quote, CSN, but very much out of context - "If you can’t be with the one you love then love the one you’re with. Or in another mode altogether - a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush!

Bruce[:)]