Thanks Mike for the Unboxing and review of the Kato Roundhouse. As for the doors I guess it depends on era. Our roundhouse at Conway yard, originally had the swing open barn doors, but sometime in the mid 1980's they were converted to roll up doors. On a side note, I was able to talk with Alex from Kato while he was in town for the Worlds Greatest Hobby show and it sounds like Kato has a lot of neat stuff in the pipeline.
Thanks Mike. I have the Kato 2 stall engine house and was trying to figure out how to get it apart for kit-bashing without breaking it. Your methods show me some things to try. Maurice
Looks very nice over all. How much do they cost? I prefer the older styles made of wood or brick, which match much better with older era locomotives than concrete does.
Thanks for an excellent review Mike. I have just bought two of these and was unsure how to get the roof off. Your video solved that one for me. I have also viewed your customising video and although I am in the UK you have given some really helpful ideas. Best wishes Keith
Thank you for doing the disassembly of this roundhouse. I have four of them in my inventory for the future home railroad. There is a radial track section that connect to the turntable and the round house units fit snuggly against that track. I eagerly await to learn how to elect to paint and weather the model to get it a more prototypical American appearance.
Mike once again you hit the ball out of the park. Grand Slam. Two questions, do you believe it would work with the Walther's 130 DCC Turntable? What do you believe would be the largest Kato engine that would fit completely in the Roundhouse?
Thanks for the review Mike, I'm anxious to see how you paint the unit and add details to it. Additionally, I am curious if you will need and use an auto reverser on the turntable. I have the roundtable and really enjoy the unit.
Great looking roundhouse Mike! I have an HO Bachmann roundtable and can't find a proper roundhouse for it, except for the Thomas the Train roundhouse that Bachmann sells. ERRRrrGGG! Might be scratch building one. Cheers, Dan
A some of Kato's detail is crude but Kato makes it up by having great running equipment that's reliable and most Kato equipment can be made to look very good just by simple weathering. Kato has been getting a lot better and making relatively fine detail. Thanks for the great review. though
Mike Fifer yes I am more of an operator as well less detail is fine the thing about being an operator is you want smooth running locomotives and that's what you get with Kato
well it will be nice to have a round house. but ya,, can see there is a bit of work to do to it , give it that lived in feeling. lol, thanks for sharing Mike
well i showed the flood and the results. so that sounds like a video opportunity for you .. most people would never see something like that, or understand it
It a nice product. But way to new and shinny for my short line. I'll have to scratch build to get what i want. I've looked at every n scale kit out there none have more than 40% of what i want.
![[Kato USA Tech Corner] - Product preview! New N Scale Kato Turntable (February 2014)](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/jTZhrQQjeMc/mqdefault.jpg)
Thanks Mike for the Unboxing and review of the Kato Roundhouse. As for the doors I guess it depends on era. Our roundhouse at Conway yard, originally had the swing open barn doors, but sometime in the mid 1980's they were converted to roll up doors. On a side note, I was able to talk with Alex from Kato while he was in town for the Worlds Greatest Hobby show and it sounds like Kato has a lot of neat stuff in the pipeline.
Thanks Mike. I have the Kato 2 stall engine house and was trying to figure out how to get it apart for kit-bashing without breaking it. Your methods show me some things to try.
Maurice
Right On and I would guess it too is screwed together.
Thanks , Mike
Looks very nice over all. How much do they cost? I prefer the older styles made of wood or brick, which match much better with older era locomotives than concrete does.
hello mike, do you still use those round house in america? thanks mike-pong from the philippines
Thanks for an excellent review Mike. I have just bought two of these and was unsure how to get the roof off. Your video solved that one for me.
I have also viewed your customising video and although I am in the UK you have given some really helpful ideas.
Best wishes
Keith
Thanks so much Keith and have fun with them.
Mike
Thank you for doing the disassembly of this roundhouse. I have four of them in my inventory for the future home railroad. There is a radial track section that connect to the turntable and the round house units fit snuggly against that track. I eagerly await to learn how to elect to paint and weather the model to get it a more prototypical American appearance.
Thanks Roger , That will be down the road somewhere but I will surely do one.
Mike
Mike once again you hit the ball out of the park. Grand Slam. Two questions, do you believe it would work with the Walther's 130 DCC Turntable? What do you believe would be the largest Kato engine that would fit completely in the Roundhouse?
I do not know if the Walthers is on 10 Deg tracks , if it is it would work. The tracks inside are 9 3/4 long.
Thanks , Mike
Thanks for the review Mike, I'm anxious to see how you paint the unit and add details to it. Additionally, I am curious if you will need and use an auto reverser on the turntable. I have the roundtable and really enjoy the unit.
Some say you do and some say you do not, I will see.
Thanks , Mike
Mike I put one in please let me know if you do install an auto reverser on your turntable, thanks.
Great looking roundhouse Mike! I have an HO Bachmann roundtable and can't find a proper roundhouse for it, except for the Thomas the Train roundhouse that Bachmann sells. ERRRrrGGG! Might be scratch building one. Cheers, Dan
Thanks Dan , and good luck.
Mike
I was really worried at first that it does not come apart. glad you can customize it.
Yes, It is a pretty cool design.
Mike
Great, I was wondering how the top came off for further additions, such as light and bumpers etc.
Thanks for checking it out Stew, Mike
Nice review, looks like they "keep it simple" like the rest of their line, well engineered as usual, thanks for sharing....
Thanks Jack , I agree, Mike
Great review Mike, and I enjoyed watching this video
Thanks so much. I really like the building.
Mike
A some of Kato's detail is crude but Kato makes it up by having great running equipment that's reliable and most Kato equipment can be made to look very good just by simple weathering. Kato has been getting a lot better and making relatively fine detail. Thanks for the great review. though
In my experience , all that great detail (on locomotives) gets knocked off with use. I'll take less detail as I run all my stuff.
Mike
Mike Fifer yes I am more of an operator as well less detail is fine the thing about being an operator is you want smooth running locomotives and that's what you get with Kato
For sure. I would rather have a runner than a looker.
Thanks , Mike
I really like Kato stuff. I just wish their n scale unitack had more American pieces in the line up
Nice little building
Thanks Eric , I think it will do the job.
Mike
well it will be nice to have a round house. but ya,, can see there is a bit of work to do to it , give it that lived in feeling. lol, thanks for sharing Mike
Thanks sparky, I will and just for you i will NOT put water in the basement!!! JOKE JOKE.
Mke
water in the basement was a very fast way to weather my whole fleet and rolling stock all at once,, lol
I hear you brother. We have dust storms and when we do, don't leave a window or door open.
Mike
well i showed the flood and the results. so that sounds like a video opportunity for you .. most people would never see something like that, or understand it
For sure and a good thing I guess.
Mike
Thanks Mike, enjoyed the video
Thanks Randy , it is a well made structure.
Mike
Very nice review buddy!
Thanks for checking them out.
Mike
Love it
Right? Me too.
Mike
It a nice product. But way to new and shinny for my short line. I'll have to scratch build to get what i want. I've looked at every n scale kit out there none have more than 40% of what i want.
Scratch it is , I guess.
Thanks , Mike