Mark...like I said,draw your own conclusions.

In Kato's defence...these are advertised as custom painted units,painted by an individual person,not a machine controlled by computer.That being said, if the units were masked by hand it shows how important it is to mask a unit correctly.This also could have been a rush job to get a picture posted.If anyone would be interested I suggest you contact Kato for more info and maybe suggest some corrections...there are quite a few.

In regards to the 20 year old tooling,IMHO its still the best 35 on the market.Yes,it doesn't come with all the detail parts but adding the after market parts is an enjoyable part of creating a good looking model.

Maybe Kato has something in the works to upgrade their 35's tooling and advertising custom painted units might be away to sale exsisting stock.

I'd be happy if they would replace their molded on roof fans with individual units,thin down their handrails a bit and add a positional drop step.

Scalecoat paint has been purchased by Minuteman Scale Models. According to their web site they are located in Pepperell Ma.
They stated they were adding additional colors.I e-mailed them requesting them if they would consider bring back RDG yellow to the Scalecoat line.If anyone is interested send them a request...maybe they'll bring it back.

Scalecoat up date

Shawn Cavaretta of MinuteMan Scale Models contacted me earlier today.He stated,"As for new colors there will be a good amount coming soon.RDG yellow is on the list".

I find this to be great news and looking forward to having RDG yellow back on the SCII line.

Just a heads up for anyone in the Allentown area, the Lehigh Valley heritage unit is heading your way. It just passed through Reading at 10:35 am this morning on point of an oil train. I had my wife snap a picture as it passed by the route 61 overpass. Will post the photo as soon as I figure out how to get it off her phone.
Thanks, Mark

Back in June I ordered SCII paint from Weaver's when it was announced they were closing at the end of that month.My order was picked up by MMSM and it finally arrived about a week ago.I contacted them about SCII RDG yellow and was informed they are working on it now.Look for it in the near future.

Also,picked up my copy of RDG Facilities Vol.II this morning. I paged through it quickly and I have to say,"its a winner".Great photos a definite must have for anyone's RDG library.

That's good news about SC ll, Chris. I did a bit of stocking up before Weaver shut their doors, but I certainly don't use as much paint as you do.

I too picked up the Morning Sun facilities book, and it is nice. I had almost forgotten about the bright pinkish red trim scheme the RDG used on many of its suburban stations in the late 60s. I remember noticing it on a early adolescent shopping trip from Lansdale to the Terminal and trying to describe the color to my father at dinner that evening. I don't know that it was ever used on buildings on freight only lines.

I too received my copy of Reading Facilities, 2. I did note some factual errors, for instance the reference to Bethlehem Steel in Coatesville. During the Reading's time, it was ALWAYS Lukens Steel. Reading was long gone for the rail business when Beth Steel took over.