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Hey, appreciate you sharing your experience with resizing your avatar! I know that it can be really frustrating when platforms don't clearly outline their requirements.

It certainly would be nice knowing the sales stats for SL models, I certainly would be interested 😅 As much as I enjoy the detail on KATO's and TOMIX's SL models, it definetly is quite apparent that they dislike taking risks in that department. A shame really IMO, since the most interesting locos are the more obscure ones (I still badly want JGR Streamliners). While the SL models are very nice, I always feel like the "popular" locos are heavily over represented. A couple more "odd" variants of locos (C57 4th type; D51 slugs, etc) alongside more "medium"-sized classes would go a long way in spicing a collection up while still having decent mass market appeal. I always found it quite jarring that there is a chronic lack of medium- and smaller-sized passenger locos. Unless you're willing to pay scalper prices, the only medium-sized passenger SLs available are Tomix's C55 and C58 alongside Katos C57. A bit more variety in terms of classes is much needed... I wish there were more (viable) RTR SL manufacturers. The variety MA offered with their SL models was quite impressive though their details are quite lacking compared to Kato and Tomix ofc...

As there was only 5 E10s built, I would doubt Kato or Tomix would decide to produce something so niche, definitely MAs territory. Same with something like the DD50. Great looking loco/s but as only 6 were made, it has limited mass market appeal. It does seem that Kato and Tomix play it safe these days with either SL joyful trains or D51s that were used nationally and can produce a few different detail options for various areas of interest. MA still like to throw out a few curve balls and they seem to have a modellers mind set to some extent. When I spoke with the head of Kato products, he didn’t really respond well to suggestion of an SL, so they either don’t produce/sell enough to warrant the CAD work and mould set up needed or there’s limited market ROI. Could also be playing it safe currently so that their revenue stream enables them to continue construction of their new factory and visitors centre. We are still waiting for a 9600 and considering there were over 700 made, seems worthwhile. My 2013 JNR 10 series Taisetsu is still without a Hokkaido C58. I honestly sometimes wonder what the domestic market want compared to the common ideas shared on this forum. I’m sure there are many wanting the newest modern stock and perhaps most of the steam connoisseurs moved to HO brass. MA and GM are thankfully making stuff that no one else is so hats off to them for giving us more choice.

I don hink ive seen any of the TOMIX control systems doing polarity switching required for reversing loops. @brill27mcb may have some ideas. jeff

Also...this might be one of the most expensive things I've imported and I'm totally cool with it. Never thought I'd own a Lensman Britannia II toy and now I have one!

My Kim Possible obsession has resulted in finding some very cool Japan exclusive merch.

It seems GREENMAX doesn't sell single cars with pantographs so you have to make your own. Lucky for me I had spare pantographs and a spare car, I drilled some holes then added the pantographs and a spark arrestor to the roof. I scratched the roof a little so I'll need to touch up the roof a little, I may add some piping to the roof in the future, I don't think it came out too shabby if I do say so myself.

I don't think that will work. The system cannot reverse polarity with a loop.

New Episode! #146 Iwate Prefecture: Promoting Railway Tourism Iwate Prefecture is home to a number of unique railways and popular tourist trains. See the different initiatives JR and Iwate are taking to increase railway tourism. Broadcast on June 14, 2024 https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/shows/2049145/

Sega's baseball team sometimes uses "Geki! Teikokukagekidan" from Sakura Wars during matches which has always amused me.

I wouldn't want to test that theory lol, I think it'd at least fade the colors from the sunlight

New rolling stock just pulled into the station. Fitting a DCC decoder to this Kato E127 took me nearly a day. But it moves...

The small brother of the big Buddha 😉

@disturbman they are, thanks for reminding me, but reasonably priced they are not! Some of the details are also a little coarse, though perhaps I’ve been spoilt with the detail on Kato and Tomix models.

Yeah, I wonder how the plastic would hold up inside on a hot summer day.

I think if you can't find the number, just buy a 0051 to try···· And I don't think that 6426 should have a special bogie.

Somehow I have overlooked that Tobu has their own YT channel, which currently has two front view videos: First, 9000 series prototype set 9101. This is from Shinrin Koen to Yorii on the Tojo LIne, where they transfer to the Chichibu Main Line which is not shown in the video. The video resumes at Hanyu on the Isesaki Line, where the train proceeds to the Watarase North sidings off the Sano Line, predictably north of Watarase Station. Unfortunately, this out-of-service move is to scrap the train. Next, for the hardcore amongst us, a night time trip on the 500 series Revaty rolling stock on Urban Park Liner service. The run is Asakusa to Omiya, Omiya to Kashiwa, and back to Omiya. The beginning of this in the relatively well-lit areas around Asakusa is cool, after while it's pretty hard to see anything.

Only little bits and pieces this time, but I’m moving on to Kyoto tomorrow so this’ll have to be quick: I picked up the Tomix 8752 KoKi 200 flats yesterday at Nikkyosha Models, while the 3164 containers and Kato brake wheels came from Popondetta Hakata today. ISO tank containers are expensive particularly when you’ve only got Popondetta’s own range of such items to choose from, but these 20 foot containers were a bit more manageable. The brake wheels were needed because I had quite the ‘fun’ time this morning trying to set the brake wheels on the 8752 set. I eventually got one on during a running session at Popondetta, but the other and the 2759 I snagged in Akihabara have now got Kato brake wheels instead. Note to self: have a pin vice handy next time, just in case. Not sure I’ll be in a hurry to start buying things in Kyoto or Osaka tomorrow, but who knows…? Alastair

and cheering squads, and a brass band, and a gym/auditorium? Oh, and that the team has a YouTube channel? Me either. Maybe I knew that large companies have this kind of thing, but I forgot. This is separate from the formerly JNR-affiliated Swallows pro baseball team. The YT algo comes through again! Who might they play, you ask? In another video, at the end they show a bracket: Tokyo Gas Honda Revenge99 (no idea) Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance possibly JP Morgan Saginomiya (air conditioning and refrigeration) Gold's Gym Sega NTT East Japan

Hi @Tony Galiani, living in Paris subburb, I don't see that many Mirai as taxi. There are a few of them and the major issue is the "refueling" as there are only a pinch of H2 station https://www.h2-mobile.fr/stations-hydrogene/region-ile-de-france/ Jm

I think in the end we will only use hydrogen where energy per kilogram is a really big issue, like aircraft. For everything else, batteries are getting so cheap so fast that hydrogen just won't be able to compete. For the road warriors Nio has battery swap stations in a few countries now, 6 minutes start to finish, although even conventional charging is now so fast that it's beyond what most humans can tolerate in terms of needing comfort breaks. Japan is unfortunately not doing so well with EVs. Most Japanese manufacturers were late to the game, and most of the charging infrastructure is 50kW only. Europe has 400kW chargers, with megawatt range ones for special applications. On the plus side, many people do have somewhere to park a car at home for charging. I'd like to rent an EV, but I've had trouble finding out what the situation is with paying for charging. Are they still using RFID cards, or can you use an IC card or a credit card? Or are they still operating them for free like much of Europe did in the early days?

YouTuber member nimo5 just posted a video of the last few days of operation of the 381 Series train sets in Yakumo service: Being the oldest type of JNR era express train sets in service, they have served well over the years and finally get their deserved retirement. I believe the six-car 381 train set painted the old JNR express train colors will make a few excursion runs in middle August 2024 as their final runs. I hope to see that very train set preserved and put in a museum.

And if a live steam locomotive weren't enough, look what my friend plans to make to go with it! You do after all need riding cars to carry passengers in the live steam hobby! Will they have their own JR ladies?

I think the biggest issue will be availability once it's out of production. I did search around and found that the set HN3505 seems to be available in this shop https://www.jkmodel.dk/n/passagervogne/arnold-hn-3505 Contact them to confirm existing stock and eventual delivery costs. Good luck.

Wasn't the E10 one of the rare MA steam loco to scale?