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Small update of the diorama. The backdrop of one half of the building is nearly done. Only the curtains and lighting are missing. I looked up what manga/anime was popular around Ogaki and chose "A Silent Voice", "Adachi and Shimamura", and "Ground Control to Psychoelectric Girl" for the bookstore's big advertisement posters. They all have scenes around Ogaki so I thought it was a nice touch to have something close to the region being advertised. I hope that I get the street markings done in the next days too... so I can glue down the station platform and start with adding the blast. (The original reason for the diorama 😅)

We have an entire section dedicated to suppliers, https://jnsforum.com/community/forum/51-suppliers/. I recommend checking there. All our favourites are listed there and each has its own (pinned) subject. People usually buy from Ami Ami, Hobby Search, Plaza Japan or Rail Gallery Rokko. There are a few other sources, but they are less used and/or more specialized, like Mandarake.

As I started making logs for the diorama, I wanted to redo the logs for the logging cars. I previously used chewing sticks for small pets (which is one of the methods Japanese modelers use) but it doesn't match the scene. The logs are made from balsa dowels using the same method as I did with the cedar trees. I like the look of these logs better.

You can check amazon jp. Not sure about the shipping fee though

Got the 009 Large England Welsh Pony!!! Got the current surviving England Engines in my fleet!!!

@disturbman Thanks for the tip. I probably will stick with taobao for the near future, it seems to be overall the best deal due including caniano shipping costs. Also seems fastest shipping. The HO Scale freight locomotives caught my attention too. More to keep my eye on.

Hi guys. Just designing track and looking at buying kato and tomix direct from Japan. I am looking at buying from Banzai models and Japan plaza. Exchange rate is better for me direct to Canada than buying from Kato USA. Do you have any other sources you use from Japan. Thanks.

For those who might search for a train/railway from an anime in the future, I just found these two sites with maps for anime locations: https://animenavi.org/main-map https://anime-tourism.jp/

Hey all! First of all, thanks for the kind words, it's appreciated. I've done a little more research in the cause of the slow downs, and while I know why the forum slows done, I'm still not sure what the underlying cause of it is. We're running the forum on AWS. We have 1 server for the database and 1 server for the website. The database has been doing fine, but the webserver has been seeing several CPU spikes over the past weeks. Basically, in order to keep cost down, we're using AWS's general purpose instance types. These are relatively cheap for still very decent performance. The way they keep it cheap, is that you build up "CPU credits" when you're not taxing the CPU very much. This is usually the case most of time on a webserver with not a great deal of traffic. When the CPU load goes above a certain threshold, CPU credits will get used for that additional load. Once the CPU credits are used up, the server basically gets limited CPU power. And that's exactly what's been happening the past few weeks. So, the question is, what is causing those CPU spikes? I've noticed that the spikes coincide with a large increase in network traffic. So there is a fair chance some new bots/spiders/scrapers have been introduced which we aren't blocking yet. Another possibility is that the forum is running some background tasks, but while that can cause CPU spikes, it shouldn't cause additional (external) network traffic. So, what I want to do somewhere in the coming days/weeks(/months?) is: Check / update our bots/spiders/scrapers blacklist, and update it if needed Look into some possibilities on the server side to improve performance / decrease network traffic Regardless of whether or not that fixes anything, set up a new server instance with an up-to-date OS, and migrate everything to that instance Update the forum software to the latest 4.x version Should that prove insufficient, look into spreading the load over multiple server instances, if the forum software supports that. This would mean increased cost. Worst case scenario, look into the cloud hosting that Invision Community offers. This would also mean increased cost, but also less flexibility

The item sold out in minutes. Though i wasn’t that keen on it. I will wait for HXD1D or 3D plus whenever FXN3C/5C (no rush there).

Ahhh thanks. Wasn't sure if they were part of a big company or anything. Couldn't find any mention about it. Such a shame it looked great in quality and steady. They said it was through wifi I believe

Appears to be a custom build by these guys who build layouts.

According to a recent report of Keisei Railway's mid-term business plan ("D2 Plan"), to address the surging number of foreign visitors, a new limited express service will be introduced by FY 2028, from Narita Airport to the city, utilizing the Keisei Oshiage Line, with direct access to the Toei Asakusa Line. Rolling stock image is merely conjectural: https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/173de06d062ba8b837c67e803d8909ecea9f761c *run through translator for details Keisei corporate source: https://contents.xj-storage.jp/xcontents/AS01810/ee7af440/4014/40b9/b2dc/93cb1a4cced2/140120250520559506.pdf

Which shop did you purchase from? Where in Kyushu are you at? I hope you get a good replacement and that they have taken steps to remedy the issues. 20 point checklist? Can I see?

I have been going back and forth a little with the retailer but they have been pretty responsive. They were a bit apprehensive at first as they're a general store rather than a model or railway specific shop and it would be fair to say their returns department don't possess lots of model railway knowledge. I didn't want to put too much pressure on them as the issue is from manufacture rather than their storage or shipping etc.. but they have been pretty helpful so far. They have now heard back from Kato and have agreed to replace the item once they can get hold of stock. The subject of the detail parts added is still slightly contested but that was my error for not checking over the product fully so I will take the hit on a new parts set if absolutely necessary. Best case they will replace that too. Worst case I'll have to get another one if they can procure a replacement loco for me. Thankfully I didn't add the crew yet. Anyway you live and learn and once you get your fingers burnt, I have to now implement a new 20 point railway model quality check procedure before I continue doing anything to the model. Translated by Google We have confirmed with the manufacturer that this is a defect common in this item. Please pack the items as near as possible to its original state in their original packaging while we request the marketing department to secure a replacement.

That's because HK vendors don't stock, or only very small amounts which are quickly sold out. But you can usually find stock at Tekkon and J-scale. At least, once we will receive our allocation. We are always on a delay due to distance.

Jeff I have been studying hard and have two drawings for you to look at for me, they are the general concept of the wiring just so i know i have the wiring concept correct, then i can play with cutting the control panel into two one for either side of the layout, i was also a little confused as to how to put the terminal block between the cabs and the DPDT switches i have drawn that as well separate from the first diagram. i hope they make sense to you. Thank you again i hope i have done you proud it seems to make sense, i can obviously if this is correct move things around and divide up, im still looking at how best to divide up into Blocks. As you can see i have crossed scribbled some wires out i couldn't face drawing it all up again lol, the first diagram hasn't got the terminal block at the bottom but will have if ive wired it up correctly Cheers Jeff Ive just realized iv mist the wires connecting the bottom of the DPDT switches together i the bottom photo, i thought i was doing so well, i was in a hurry to show you, at least i did realize that they should be there or should they ah ok i think they are actually connected together via the terminal block, Tony

I think that's a one-way thing: Wafus (as far as I've gathered) didn't show up on mainline trains, but Yos definitely showed up on the Aizu Line - even a Yo 5000 painted in green for the Takara container express visited the Aizu Line sometime in the early 1970s.

Could be Microace as they are talking about them right before and then showing some of their products i believe

I heard that kato has a facebook page. has anyone provided feedback there? Seems like it is more active, actually the only direct route for interaction.

In the late 1980s BVB introduced a particularly affordable environmental tariff to encourage greater ridership. Patronage soured by over 10% in the first year and additional rolling stock was required. Instead of the then common 6-axle articulated tram, BVB chose four-axle motor trams in order to make use of the large number of existing trailers. Conventional resistance technology was chosen as the drive technology in order to be able to combine the motor vehicles with the existing rolling stock. When these vehicles were built, the control technology used was considered outdated. In retrospect, this policy has proven to be successful: thanks to the lack of technical bells and whistles, the vehicles are hardly susceptible to repairs and can be used universally. With the Be 4/4 477-502 the BVB formed three car trains for the first time. These trams either run as motor + trailer or motor + motor + trailer. There are 2 x 204HP motors in each tram for climbing the steep grades of lines 15 and 16 to Bruderholz. Unlike most trams I have ridden in Europe these trams are almost old time growlers. BVB Swiss Standard trailers have a bouncier ride than the Tram 2000 Ponys in Zurich. Like the Tram 2000s in Zurich these trams give no indication they are approaching 40 years of service. Many Swiss trams have nicknames and these trams are no different. Most common is "Gherkin" or sometimes "small cucumber." Photos: 1. Gherkin 498 at Bruderholz terminus. 2. Be 4/4 498 downtown at Bankverein. 3. Interior of a Be 4/4 4. Controls of a Be 4/4. No tap changer! 5. Bench behind the closed cab hiding control technology. 6. Swiss Standard trailer at Birsfelden Herd.

@disturbman More of an curiosity but it seems like you can only really buy the changming re-release reliably through Taobao. The other vendors listings disappear so fast (some within 24hours) for last two instock release. I am assuming supply(supply allocation) sold out that fast

Basel is a city of 173,000 people just over an hour from Zurich. Basel has two tram systems running on common infrastructure. The BLT operates five lines and is the heir to four former suburban railway and tram lines. The BVB is the local tram network with 9 routes. BLT has 100 trams and BVB has 115 trams and 22 trailers. Because of local resistance to spending Basel trams have always less elaborate than Zurich's. The designs at Basel, starting with the yellow BLT 4/6 Schindler trams of the 1970s focused on simple, flat shapes and surfaces. Zurich's Tram 2000 was too expensive and unusable in Basel without significant modifications. Basel trams required compressed air equipment for trailer operation and the Tram 2000 was all electric. Basel kept its cam control while Zurich used fully automatic chopper control. Pantographs in Basel were manual and in Zurich pantographs operate with an electric drive. This group of 66 trams is winding down its life on the BLT lines. At least one group is moving onto Lviv in the Ukraine and some have gone to Germany. Starting in the late 80s a large portion of the Schindler's had a third section designed for low floor entry added. These now run in trains of a 4/8 lead tram and an original 4/6 second tram. Photos 1. BLT 4/8 outside Basel SBB train station running with a 4/6. E11 is a rush hour only route. 2. Be 4/6 on a Fahrschule (driving school) assignment. 3. Centralbahnplatz outside SBB Basel.

The primary reason for my visit was to photograph and experience the Tram 2000 cars. The second series is to be retired by December 2025 as more Flexity trams arrive. Tram 2000 is a tram that was designed to appeal to passengers with their seats and dimensions, aisle width and easier steps into the car. From a raised tram stop there would only be one step into the tram. But all this is out line with today's world. The articulated Be 4/6 six axle motor trams are 21.4 meters long and 2200mm wide. The Pony Be 2/4 four axle motorized trailers are 15.4 meters long. These trams were designed to run either in double traction with two motors in a train almost 43 meters or as Pony trains with a motor and a motorized trailer. The Pony train is essentially what was once known in North America as a six-motor train. Two motorized units were deemed to required to maintain schedules as towing a true trailer over Zurich's hills would not work. The 36 meter articulated motor and Pony were assigned to lines with tight stops that don't allow longer trams. The Tram 2000 has been called the best classic high floor tram ever built. The ride is smooth, the interior is very quiet for a tram and these trams corner smoothly. The Pony rides very smooth for a trailer, probably because of the weight of the motors. Like the other trams I was seeking, the Tram 2000s have upholstered seating, something that is becoming very rare today. It is not noticeable that these trams are 40 years old. Photos 1. Tram 2000 with Sedan section added during the early 2000s. 2. Entry doors and fold down step. 3. Interior looking the enclosed cab. 4. Interior of a Pony without a cab. 5. Seating.

@brill27mcb, thanks mucho! I have one of those a was frustrated trying to get an old world kougi mech to fit in but not quite right sized or axle spacing. I’ll grab a tr02. What did you strip off, the side frames? jeff