Norfolk Big Mac

Following my Kato SD90 purchase, I have just recieved a Kato SD80mac in Norfolk Southern livery.  This model is from the last production run three or four years ago, but it has not been run and is in mint condition.

These 80ft long locomotives are probably my favourite modern engine, and it's great to finally have one in Norfolk livery. 

This model will be lightly weathered and then run in tandem with the SD90 once I have changed the shell to make it a Conrail livery unit, then these models will be heading up a train of Walthers Bethgon goal gondolas.

Like the SD90 (which uses most of the same components) this Kato model is superb quality, with crisp detailing and finely printed livery, the plastic grabirons and handrails are more sturdy on these models than the celcon rails used by other brands, but they are also slightly thicker as a result.  

It's hard to say which is better, but one good thing about these thicker handrails is that they don't bend or buckle like the Athearn Genesis rails.

I have been collecting the various parts needed to put together a Railpower Products SD90 and convert it into another SD80, although this project will be a longer term one, following my current RPP/Athearn GP60 conversions.