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Hi Marc, I really like this style of stairs too. Like you say they have a sleek clean design. I have yet to work out how to make these as an etch, I have an idea but I haven't tested it yet. The design I based my steps on has separate landings with each flight of stairs dropped in the gap and bolted together, like this: This was easy to turn into a net for etching as I could just use tabs on the steps that slot into holes on the landings: The design you attached has the landing attached to the steps that is lowered onto some for of support such as an I-beam like this: I gives a really nice clean side without any visible joins. For etching it with the steps attached would mean something along these lines: I have a feeling it would be easier to have the steps and sides as separate parts, I have yet to test my theory. If anyone has any novel way to make these easily I would love to hear from you. I did't mention before but there is a 1.5mm gap in the middle so that you can have 2 posts between the steps not on the outside: I agree it looks better that way, I like that it forms a series of triangles in the middle. Just checked the drawings, there is 20mm between floors, which is probably a little too much. If I take two steps out it would bring it down to around 17mm if that would be better? I can adjust it to whatever height works best by altering the depth of each step and seeing as I don't own any ready made buildings I am not entirely sure if any standard floor height is used for models. Regarding the slope I imagine from the height of the building it wouldn't be any steeper than 40 degrees, It could even be a 35. This is a handy guide from the Building Standards Act. Source: https://fujino-gyosei.jp/kaidanryokan/ Joe

Thnx Jeff, Here is the recipe.... 😉 1. Create the basic shape of the tree from 0.35 mm wire (8 double strains will do) 2. Wrap the base in Fimo (PVC modelling paste) 3. Add fibres 12 mm (2x), 6 mm (1x) and 2 mm (1x) 4. Spray in a dark base colour, i.e. RAL 7013 5. Add the leaves; I used ground leaves from Scenic Express 6. Fine-tune with airbrush and drybrush I will edit a video of the whole process once all the trees and bushes are done. Grtz! Huib

Hi Joe, This is one I like. Sleek, modern. There are only two support columns at the center, so they look lighter. I don't know the slope, though. How can you figure it out? Btw, what is the distance between two storeys in your design? Marc

Sneaky New Episode! #144 New Regional Yamagata Shinkansen Series E8 The new Yamagata Shinkansen Series E8, which has unique features inspired by Yamagata Prefecture, made its debut in March 2024. See the efforts being made along the line to attract passengers. Broadcast on May 17, 2024 https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/shows/2049143/

I’m just guessing that none of these will be preserved. I could be wrong. JR Central has one at the Nagoya museum. At least one could be displayed temporarily at the Kyoto museum on that track that comes in through the Umekoji yard, that wouldn’t surprise me. They’ve had some interesting stuff in there for a few weeks at a time. Now that I think about, I don’t recall seeing anything about plans to refresh the permanent collection. I’ll have a look around.

Recently purchased a Kato TGV Sud-Est (10-198) and a Kato Eurostar (10-327), and I am in need of some pantographs. I've read that the TGV pantograph can be replaced with part numbers 14746-3F or 14794-1F, but they are sold out everywhere. The Eurostar pantograph part number is 14730F, which is also sold out everywhere. Any suggestions on where I can search or who I may contact to locate parts? Also if there are any alternate parts that are easier to locate, please let me know. Thanks for the help! New to creating posts so if this is the wrong place for this, please correct me.

Thanks for posting. I have been watching Nimo5's videos as the 381 gives way to the 273 - neat to see another perspective. A bit disappointed that no 381s will be saved. I like the retro look (now that I sort of look retro myself....) and have gotten several models of the series. I had been thinking that some would be kept on as a recent Japan Railway Journal highlighted how JR West was using some older trains as an attraction to bring train enthusiasts out to ride some trains. Guess not though. Ciao, Tony

Nice Huib, what materials and methods are you using for your armatures and flicking? jeff

Some detail shots of the station and farm.

As the layout came together. I pulled up the tap from the tracks and began test runs again. All but one of my switches work remotely, power worked in all sections. For the time. I’m happy with it.

After starting on the ground cover, I began to experiment with foliage. I remember seeing many small gardens and farms when I travel through the countryside of Japan. Between Tokyo and Kyoto, later between Sasebo and Fukuoka. Thinking on that, I arrange some ground cover and foliage to mimic those small farms and gardens. Later I would add premade rice paddies from Tomytec.

The first set of 50 trees is about done. Up next: creating 30 or so pines 😉 Grtz! Huib

Two videos by railway consultant, and apparently former Meitetsu employee, Itsuki Nishiue. Detailed looks at the inside and out, useful if you’re modeling either of these types, and I would imagine generally interesting to this audience :). The 273 retains the tilting ability, which I thought would be eliminated. Very appealing design overall. And of course it’s great to have this document of the 381 as presumably none will be preserved :(. If I’m reading correctly, the Kyoto Railway Museum doesn’t have a 381. Hint hint.

A nice segment from Ehime TV about JR West’s KIYA 141 Doctor West inspection train. Here, JR Shikoku is borrowing it for use on the Yosan Line in Ehime prefecture. It starts at Iyo-Ozu and proceeds north toward Matsuyama. Later, a Plasser & Theurer multiple tie tamper operating around Iyo-Komatsu.

Thanks jeff 👍

Looks great! I agree the red makes more sense! jeff

Red or Blue?! I will putting the first set of fire escapes up for sale in the next couple of weeks. I just need to order the packaging once pay day rolls around again. I the mean time I have been working of the escapes with half landings. These are going be a little wider than the first set and not as steep. These steps are set at 46 degrees. I have been looking for examples of the steeper narrower 57 degree steps with a half landing but I haven't managed to find any. I have made these steps the same dimensions as the external steps I released at the beginning of the year. This means you can interchange parts from the two etches such as having a full length flight of stairs at the base of the escape: I just need to work out how I am going to do the top landing. There are couple of options shown below: The red steps make the most sense to me as you would be walking down to the next floor on the outside and it's less likely that someone would open a door in your face 🥴 That said from the examples I have looked at the blue version is slightly more common. Most of the blue examples I have seen do have supporting columns on the corners of the landings which might explain having steps leading down from the outer side of the landing. I have also seen some examples of the red style with a longer landing to attach to a post so maybe not: The supporting columns would be easy to add with some styrene rods. Not all of the pictures I have seen have these supports when the landings are all fixed to the exterior of the building. If anyone is interested I could also make a version with the steps facing out from the building: These would always have columns to support the half landing. Please do let me know which style of landing you would like at the top and if you know of any steeper 57 degree stairs with half landings please do let me know. Joe

I suppose having the trains set up on the track while on the go can't really work. Even if they are just stopped and not running, they would fly all over the place on bumps, lol. About the controller, it is 12V for N scale, right? In that case I could run the controller off the power of the cigar lighter. That would be cool, lol.

There is already a large and convinently placed plate steel located above the engine of the car, so there's need to stare at the rear mirror any longer. The Traffic police should be happy about you looking out through the windscreen at all times. The windscreen wiper engines operate at 12V, so this is a perfect place to hook up the power for the model railway on the hood and the train can then be operated using the windscreen wiper switch on the steering wheel. 😁

That’s what T scale trains do. But then you need steel wheels and rails. It is effective with tiny T scale as you can even run the trains upside down hanging from the rail. That won’t happen with n scale unless the wheels are made from rare earth magnets! There’s a thought maybe put some rare earth bar magnets in the bottom of the chassises and some plate steel under the track roadbed. jeff

Another preview of the CR400AF: https://www.facebook.com/100064165236162/posts/836677085147792/?mibextid=rS40aB7S9Ucbxw6v

Need to figure out how to magnetize the wheels or tracks or both so you can run it WHILE driving. 🤣

A local train inbound from the Nagoya direction. It seems I accidently spilled invisibility paint on the catenary poles on this section. 😄

Nahhh, I don´t think so... here are my reasons why the section of the route cannot be set: 1. Alternative route to the Moruran Main Line for passenger and freight traffic in the event of unforeseen events, for example the eruption of Mt. Usu in 2001 2. Tourist traffic for skiing and hiking athletes (Kutchan and Niseko area) 3. Conversion of the route into a third sector railway line But maybe JR has other plans too? Resumption of the SL C62 Niseko? In any case, it would then be possible again, as the arrival times for tourists would be significantly shorter than in the 1990s. Edit: found this Informations.... I didn't even notice that Cathy Cat left the show. I was just wondering why this extreme moderation is no longer there and the show is moderated more calmly again. To me the people looked similar! 😂

@cteno4 The controller could be the radio knob in the car or the centrifugal forces of cornering like a roller coaster?! In any case, you'll get a lot of attention, even from the police 😅 🚔🚨👮‍♂️👮‍♀️ If you're lucky, you can convince him of the idea and he'll play with it himself...