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@disturbman Thanks. I wasn’t aware there was another model. Looks great nonetheless. I saw on same channel the dcc equipped china trains with sound. l am assuming they are changming ones because its something i might get if it as good as in that video.

I already have seen Densha de go controller modifications to be used as a power controller, but I don't remember a plug and play box. Maybe that's a gadget and use a all in one controller is a better solution, but the link between model train and video games speaks to me. 🙂 As I as understand it support PS 1 and 2 controllers and USB ones.

Saw the bit about it but I have no idea who's making it

Congrats and good job! That chugging sound may be from one of those big outside gears not being round. I have an old Rivarossi PA that was built on the old Kato drives that you have. Mine went wump wump wump. I think I played with the mesh of the gears, by playing with the motor location - put more clearance between the gears on both sides. It's been a while.

From today's Globe & Mail: “The de minimis changes impact products made in China or Hong Kong regardless of where they are shipped from,” said Tom Gould, a customs and tariff strategy consultant. “If a company is warehousing products in Canada but the products were made in China, then these are subject to the China duty.” https://www.theglobeandmail.com/investing/personal-finance/article-small-businesses-us-duties-de-minimis-china-trump/

After running both for several hours yesterday, letting them rest for the day and running them this afternoon, they have both quieted down considerably. I guess that's going to be it for now as I don't want to take them apart just to see. But, I did find this guy's post on fixing a slipping gear: https://u18b.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/NW2-Manual-Kato-pdf.pdf He takes the thing completely apart and shows how to fix the gear issue that these things may have, in case anyone is interested.

Very much like the greenmax Sushi Zammai store. Needs to be holding the first tuna of the year though.

Coverage in text form if you prefer. The Tomix shorties look fun. can’t find any mention of a camera car (haven’t watched the videos though), who’s making it? https://mokeitetsu.com/event-summary/20250514-shizuoka

If you watch it on youtube its self (not imbedded) you can have it auto-translate:

Damn those popondetta LEDs are miles away from the Kato one. No more flicker (the 1522 with charger) Video

DF7 are releasing this week. The models come in three different liveries: light blue, dark blue and one model in orange. It also brings a few improvements over the previous models, and correctly model the floating tank under the model. To note, the handrails are all etched metal parts. (All pictures posted with Changming's permission)

Tomorrow. Announcements are normally always on Wednesday and release on Thursday. These will for sure sell out instantly on TB. @Section31 I very highly doubt this is the Changming CR200J. The models are schedule for release in 2 years, meaning they just started CAD drawings and haven't put anything in production. My translator is giving me strange results so I can't be sure of who made this, but I think it's a enthousiast-made model. Either that, or it's the first painted sample we see from the Aurora Miniature model. Which I thought had been cancelled. To all, a small reminder, if you don't have the rights to the pictures or have been granted these rights, do not screengrab images and repost them on the forum. I do because I have asked permission to do so from different manufacturers. You are of course allowed to share links to the WeChat announcements.

It seems that today the DF7 should be available. The red one is very nice.

So the warning is not there that more forms may be needed but still has an exclamation point but says on the way but stuck in anchorage since monday. FedEx. On the other pond i had ordered a used dvd from the UK last week from ebay and it sailed thru fine and arrived today thru USPS. Did notice the customs declaration now has the HTS code on it, usually not there on simple ebay things in teh past. I have another ebay coming from canada in the next week and we will see how customs goes. jeff

Yeah, its really not full size.

The Changming CR200J looks really nice too.

Do they let them off the tracks in Switzerland? I thought seeing a steering wheel was like one of those kids steering wheels in the car to play with. jeff

After doing more research on Japanese forest railways, I see they display an abundance of Safety First signs. It seems to be indispensable, so I placed two and I might sneak in another one. This is one of the rare times I go to my local print center to get something printed, my inkjet printer is running out of ink and text looks much crisper and sharper from a laser printer.

All the Zurich trams have backup controls concealed in a large box at the back of the tram. It has long been a favorite place for locals to ride. When you see trams it seems there is always someone sitting on the box. It is such a local institution that newer trams now have four seats at the back window. To go with the backup controls there is gong button on the floor in back of Tram 2000 motor cars and Pony motorized trailers. Occasionally you will hear someone step on the gong. I know who did that! Bang the gong!

The classic Tram 2000s and the first group of low floor articulated cars use what appears to be a steering wheel to control the tram. It is a tap changer that is a mechanism that controls a transformer for acceleration and braking. This case it is in 6kph increments. This is the photographed through the window of the locked cab in the second unit of a Tram 2000 double traction set with the tap changer visible.

I think a real transport solution will be a bit hard to find since you can't put in bolts to secure the modules... I would personally go with Euro containers. It is an established system, and paired with grid foam, it should be a good system to use. You will just need to check the highest point and find a grid foam and container with the matching height. Then lay another foam piece on the track to get it to full height to keep it from bouncing. If you package all other needed things that fit into one of the 600x400mm Euro containers, you can just roll them around with the matching trolley or some other fitting equipment if you need to go off-road. Each container slides into the one below so they won't fall off that easily and if you get a lid for them as well they will be dust safe for storage.

A thought, you could always just do the back far corner as tracks on some blocks/piers if you want to save on having to make the biggest module of the whole set. Or just cut a curved piece of thin plywood for the track to rest on and prop up with some blocks. Its a cheat, but if it makes it all doable… cheers, jeff

Yes storage and transport are always an issue when doing shows. Getting containers that dont waste a lot of space can be very hard to find and the cost adds up. Transporting a few modules naked works, but a large bunch can get dangerous and tedious. Some folks have made lightweight frames that they slide a half dozen modules into. Just enough to hold them together tight packed. Doesnt stop dust or things poking in during transport but can be quite compact and lowers trips during loading and unloading. You could do a frame like this and cover with corrugated cardboard or foamcore for a bit more protection but keep cost and weight down. A lot of your modules are the same sized so maybe a stack would work. Can you talk a friend into coming with you at least for the setup and teardown? Extra pair of hands makes a big difference setting up layouts and just schlepping everything to/from the car. L is a fun presentation, but bit of custom back corner module to do. If it feels too overwhelming dont max yourself out and just do a single loop and displays trains. These shows should be enjoyable for you and you dont want to burn yourself out too much too fast. As you do more shows you get more comfortable with the process and find little tricks to help with setup/teardown. One huge one for us after like 15 years of shows was those fold up wagons! They are so wonderful to help schlep boxes to and from the car. The take a bit of space in the car, but its soooo worth it for what it does moving modules boxes around and so much softer than using hand dollys and palate carts which we have both had stacks of module boxes tumble from while schlepping. cheers, jeff

Neat idea tony. Only have to cut a few windows in the back and maybe a door for the new store. Gm sells tile roof stock material or you could just do a flat tar roof for the shops as the roof is usually very hidden with the storefronts. dullcoat is always your friend! jeff

My first building from the Green Max 2599 kit which is supposed to produce three shops with false fronts and provides painted building pieces for three buildings plus a painted false front for each one. However, the kit was not quite what I expected. The structure parts include four walls for each building though I thought the color choices were a bit off - they seemed like unusual colors and were all glossy. The false fronts were odd as well - two were painted in a splotchy pattern that I did not think looked all that good while one had an intricate green pattern on it (which I included in the picture below). It struck me that the detailed walls would be lost when placed in a row of buildings and commercial structures often have plain walls as well. So I started thinking I could building three houses then scratchbuild commercial buildings with sheet plastic and just incorporate the false fronts. In this way, the package could yield six buildings. And the kit includes six roof pieces so maybe someone at GM wanted this to be a possibility? The kit also has some unpainted accessories - AC units, vending machines and so on. So here is my first building (though not quite complete). I used Tamiya clear flat spay to tone down the glossy color and that, IMO, really improved the look. I also did the roof then gave it a wash with Tamiya Black Panel Liner and, since I wasn't completely happy with the result, then dry brushed some medium gray on the roof as well. Looking at the picture, the windows are still to be added and I need to touch up the flat coat in one or two spots as my spray technique was not all that good. Ciao, Tony