HO Amtrak Superliner cars: should I go for Kato or Walthers?

Quote by Streamlined Trains -

Hi there,

I’m new to the MR forums. I’ve been into modern-day/classic streamliner era HO since I was a kid. In the last few years, I’ve collected more with my brother.

Anyway, I recently also decided to get a HO Superliner train (in the classic 1990s Phase III, always my favourite!). I was tempted by the Kato, and instead decided to get the Walthers, because of the plating, primarily. They’re supposedly bringing out more plated stainless steel models in the future, so I thought it was a step in the right direction. I’ve always been slightly disappointed by the silver paint of models up to this point.

Here’s a review video I did on them:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sZtnKbYl-4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HmRj8FnOkA

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[#welcome]

Hello Michael, Welcome! Hope you’ll be here a long time. I enjoyed your YouTube reviews Notable how you spoke in a relaxed manner, took your time, and had good closeups on your passenger cars. A+

(I find it frustrating on YouTube when modelers review an item, but seem to do it in a rushed manner and do few or no closeup views.)

When you have a chance, check your

Hi Michael.

Great YouTube reviews.

Yes the interior lights are very tricky to get in there. The worst for me were the sleeping cars.

Shorting out is a surprise as the cars are plastic and what little metal could be in the paint would unlikely complete a circuit.

You mentioned in your YouTube review the marker lights on the Superliners. Unlike Kato, the Walthers cars do not have a lighting kit to light these. But you could easily add some red LEDs and solder them to the light bar.

If you haven’t seen this before, here is a review I did on the new Walthers Superliners a while back when I first got them:

Walthers “Plated” Superliner review

Hi again.

New YouTube review up today, showing what progress I’ve made so far with the lighting.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyHm6_lPYFI

I actually did read your review ages ago when I was debating which product to go with (Kato or Walthers) and it helped a lot to see the interiors, and detail up close, despite being a different paint scheme. I would like to do some more accurate modeling (I’d especially like to do a super-detailed added-gubbins rear end to one of the superliners, including the marker lights, and the air hoses etc.

That said, I’m running P42s in Phase 3 with an all phase 3 consist, which never really happened (for long anyway) given how quickly phase 4 was being implemented. I made my first visit to the US during the phase 3/F40PH era, so I guess I’m biased…[:D]

I’ll probably get a third P42, certainly a Phase 5 one (once Walthers release it!) and a pair of F40PHs to complete my mid-90s Amtrak motive power.

I’ve also got a decent looking mid-90s Lake Shore Limited/Empire Service, made up of Walthers “Heritage” stock and Bachmann Amfleets. It runs very smoothly at any rate, as shown in the video.

I’ve seen on Amtrak’s 40th Anniversary site a bunch of info on upcoming metal-plated Phase IVb, but I can’t find it advertised anywhere else. Any chance its actually going to happen?

Best,

Michael