Kohs Challengers

George was supposed to have them at the Indy meet, no one has reported on Kohs even being at the meet although reference was made to some one supposedly selling his rejected run of cabooses out of a motel room.

Well they posted an update on the 24th...read it here.

According to a friend who was at Indy Mr. Kohs had 4 versions of the Challengers on display.

I am eagerly awaiting word from buyers too.

They look just fantastic!

Hmmm.....  If he got back on the 24th, and worked diligently at packing everything up and shipping them out, it might be possible that some one might get a delivery today at the earliest.   

 

Maybe folks will check in here and confirm that one arrived and share a few pictures as well.

I was told by an "Indy" attendee that some reservation holders picked up their 

Challengers at the show, which Kohs offered to do on his website. But, I wasn't there so I have to place that in the "rumor" category. 

 

Butch

I am looking forward to some pics and reviews as well, if the production model photos are any indication these should be real show stoppers.

Cool, that means the Big Boy is that much closer 

I was not at Indy but two friends were and saw the Challengers. They reported that they a beautiful models with two minor problems appearance wise. The tender coupler is installed upside down and therefore the knuckle is on the wrong side. The other problem is that there is no whistle cord to activate the whistle. Can't wait for a operations report. Ed

Having been on top of UP 3985 many, many times, there really is no "whistle cord". As best as I can remember, there is a cable & rod arrangement UNDER the jacket, that runs from the cab linkage to the whistle itself. Thus, you only see a very short piece of cable/rod that comes out from under the jacket and connects to the whistle valve lever.

Well, here's hoping that works!  I would never buy a model without a functioning whistle actuation system.

Hot Water, you are correct but on the model there is no tube opening at the lagging and no cord, chain, or cable anywhere.

Now THAT'S interesting. What do you do on Southern Pacific GS class "Daylights" that had AIR OPERATED whistles (the Engineer had two nice little brass handles about waist height; one for the air horn, and the other one for the steam whistle)? Do you have a small compressed air tank inside the boiler?

Well,,,,,,,,,so much for a $5000+ O Scale model!

You have to wait for the 7000K+ Key to get the whistle cord.[maybe]

I received the same report Ed did and I'm still waiting patiently for a 1st hand viewing. 

 

Butch

I don't think I would panic just yet.

For $7000 I would expect the air actuated whistle to function, with real air.

 

Actually, I have a number of locomotives in my collection that do not have all the details of the prototype, and yet I am still quite happy.

What would the rivet counters do if the importers stopped bringing in these state of the art models? I seriously doubt that any of the legitimate buyers of this model are going to pass because of  a couple of minor details, although the steam era is not my choice I give Kohs a lot of credit for getting a production model[100 models per George] to this level of detailing. The Key units will most likely improve on this model[at a greater price of course]JM2cents

Based on the production photos from Kohs site, I really wouldn't sweat the whistle issue.

When one pays thousands of dollars for a model, the tolerance for mistakes is very small. JM2cents

 

 

Larry

Look at all the wailing and gnashing of teeth that goes on the 3 rail side about Lionel not installing swinging bells and smoking whistles of far lower priced locomotives...

 

Rusty

Guys how do they run on curves and thru turnouts? Inquiring minds want to know.

yes do they need to be Shaderised by Gary?

 

Marty

I am also interested in plan of Kohs UP challengers but don't know much about it. 

Go check out the info on the Kohs site about it.  Good info and pics... 

 Wow, very cool step by step...

http://www.kohs.com/UP%20Chall...allenger_update.html

amazing to watch the progress.

These are beautiful/highly detailed models and I hope everyone that ordered one is very happy with them.

 

However I have a hard time justifying this model over a similar brass model made by Sunset 3rd Rail ( which even include sound and smoke).  Especially an anniversary edition like my Northern Pacific Z5.

 

What do you think?

 

 

I didn't realize that Sunset Models installed smoke units AND sound electronics in their 2-Rail products.

The Kohs is an exquisite museum quality model - the Sunset a nicely detailed good running layout quality model. Side by side close up the differences would be very noticeable.  Running 3 feet away I may not notice the differences as the overall appearance of a beautiful model machine in action is what gabs me.  Each to his own value preferences. 

 

I would like to see  both Kohs and Sunset provide bi-modal DC/DCC electronics/sound  in their steam locomotives like the HO importers provide.  If you were to ask me which of the two models I'd like to handle and maintain I'd choose Sunset.  I have a Kohs K4s along with a full page of notes on how to disassemble the chassis from the boiler to install DCC.  It takes a surgeon's hand to connect and disconnect the valve gear actuator to a second motor within the closed bottom of the boiler.

 

Having seen the beautiful running qualities of N&W Chris' several Kohs Y6b's I'd bet the Challenger isn't a shelf queen.  Perhaps some day we'll see a video of a Kohs Challenger in action.

 

Ed Rappe

Delighted that such high-end models are being produced.  Could never justify the expense or hassle.

 

My other hobbies are automobiles and airplanes.  My 1965 mustang convertible cost $200 way back when, and provides transportation to the airport.  A $200,000 Mazerati could do the same thing a bit more elegantly.

 

I occasionally fly a Mooney to pick up my glider buddy.  I can go from here to Salt Lake in three hours.  The Mooney is worth $80 grand.  I could do the same thing in a Cirrus for $600 grand, but it burns way more fuel, and if it gets a door ding, it requires factory engineering approval for the repair.

 

In short, there are choices to be made, and if you have unlimited funds, the choices become slightly easier.

My father was a Navy fighter pilot.  I learned from him that boats are holes in the water you pour money into and airplanes are holes in the air you pour way more money into.   And cars can be too, that is why I stay away from all three.

 

What I would really like to get is one of these.

 

Cat Dragline

 

But I cannot justify that even without planes cars or boats.

As Bob said, it's all a matter of choices.....just like life in general.  We are defined by the choices we make. 

 

Butch

They don't but surprised you missed my main point.

 

I'm sure that the Kohs model is superior in detail

 

but $5500.00 is a bit steep for an O Gauge scale model.

 

Would I like to have one; sure I would.

 

 

 

 

$5500.00 and it dosent even have a swinging bell !

I wonder what a bell costs,

Neither do the REAL Challengers!

And if I were a steam fan I would rather have one Kohs Challenger or Key Cab forward than two fleets of Atlas Masterline.

 

But,  I'm a Diesel/Electric fan and I would rather have 3 Overland SD70ACes than 10 Lionel or 100 MTH SD70ACes.

 

Quantity gets me nothing more than more required space.

 

Richard