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Hi folks, Unfortunately my Tomix Series 500 isn't running properly, even at full speed it's really slow. I've taken it apart and isolated the problem to the motor itself 😞 The motor is Tomix M-13 Motor (0617). Any suggestions? I can't see a way to take apart the motor itself, so I'm guessing my only option is to replace it. I've purchased Tomix 0623 [ 0623 ] M-9 Motor (TYPE3) from HobbySearch as the original is no longer in stock. Photos seem to suggest it's the same size. But if anyone does know a way to kick the originally motor back to life, please let me know. Like I say, it is turning, but at a really slow pace, even just on it's own. Many thanks, David

Ditto. Great stuff and something I will reference for my next trip. Thanks, Tony

Great !!! Many thanks @miyakoji

Welcome aboard @KaydensRailway

@KaydensRailway You're among good company here. Welcome aboard, Kayden!

Good resource. I bought a few from them, (I think it was them), when I was last in Japan but have not used them yet. Thanks for the reminder to add their website to my go-to list of resources.

I had to go out of town for a work trip Tursday and Friday (one night trip to Kalamazoo). Wednesday before I left I got the grouting done in the kitchen and the master bedroom shower. Saturday my daughter cleaned up the kitchen from the grout haze and also the Japanese bath floor, which was tiled and grouted a few weeks ago but never cleaned up. I and later in the day with the wife's help started putting down the LVP in the train room and where there are doors extending it into neighboring office or open loft area. I had already done a few rows before the trip but kind of re-did them as I was closing up gaps abd figured out better how to do it. It goes down fast but I spent some time figuring out how this particular brand works and working out the kinks. Also had to cut some in-floor electrical outlet openings and around corners etc. The masking tape on the LVP is just to keep it from slipping or coming out of alignment as we're working on it. Since it just snaps together on the short and and then lays together on the long end (shallow depression and shallow insert) its easy to bump it... Should speed up now that we know what we're doing...

Sorry, didn’t respond to this before. My Mani 24-500 also has a slightly larger gap although this is also exacerbated by the blue round end and the square roof.

Thanks. Look like some of the items are no longer in stock... I asked for 2 of some things so maybe there was only 1 left of them. Would be nice of them to tell me a bit sooner!

I have had that before. They didn't have the item in stock. And took them 3 weeks to tell me they couldn't get it from one of their suppliers.

Does Plaza Japan notify you when something is shipped? I made and paid for an order about two weeks ago now, shipping via Japan Post (Standard Air Registered) and have not heard anything since aside from the order confirmation. Looking at it online says it is 'preparing for shipment' but also when looking at the order in detail says 'items shipped to [address]' ...? I have asked them but just wondering if this is the usual experience, my first order.

@Maxx Zteel the layout forum is the best place to post about your layout and its evolution. cheers, jeff https://jnsforum.com/community/forum/63-layout-building/

@KaydensRailway I am a relatively new member here too, and have found it to be a welcoming, and informative, place to spend time. Welcome aboard!

Hi everyone, my name is Kayden and I'm from Malaysia. I have been infatuated with steam locomotives since I was a child and find Japanese ones quite fascinating. My favourites are the Japanese National Railways C11 2-6-4Ts and C62 4-6-4s. I hope I can someday make the trip to Japan to see the preserved ones and ride behind them if possible. I look forward to making new friends while I'm here and meeting them in person when the awaited day comes.

Where have I been? I have been missing your posts. Hope your trip is going well and looking forward to reading more updates. NHK has a show on biking around Japan - you can find it on their web site if you like - there are some interesting trips including to some of the islands close to Japan (though no trains on them). We enjoyed Nikko, particularly getting out of the main shrine and heading to the lake and some of the areas outside the town. Safe travels. Tony

A interesting video and article by Mainichi. I am a little surprised to see that the axles use journal bearings. Although a number of these have been scrapped, there are still 13 in use. Google translated article: https://mainichi-jp.translate.goog/articles/20240504/k00/00m/040/032000c?_x_tr_sl=ja&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=wapp Google translated Wikipedia page on WOKIFU 100: https://ja-m-wikipedia-org.translate.goog/wiki/秩父鉄道ヲキ・ヲキフ100形貨車?_x_tr_sl=ja&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=wapp

For general information or as a reference source for those of you going on Japanese vacations, the link below should go to a Google-translated version of Japanese Wikipedia’s list of railway museums. There is an English Wikipedia page listing railway museums all over the world, but the list of Japanese museums isn’t as complete. https://ja-m-wikipedia-org.translate.goog/wiki/鉄道博物館の一覧?_x_tr_sl=ja&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=wapp

Hi all, I got the digital tech done this week. The layout is powered by a YaMoRC multibus central unit (LocoNet, Xpressnet, etc.). The software is iTrain, running on a Raspberry PI 5. The PI is connected to a 13.3-inch touch screen. Control can be fully automatic or done manually, using either the touch screen or LocoNet/XpressNet controllers, the Roco Z21 app, etc. The set-up looks sort of professional, don't you think? 😉 Grtz! Huib

I do. I just don’t know which thread is the best to post photos of it.

I had an email back from Popondetta, they also said that non-residents cannot sell items to them. They also mentioned that they don't do duty free sales. Well, at least the exchange rate is highly favourable at the moment.

More progress... all levels sorted track-wise. Some isolation joiners and power-to-track wires done. Awaiting more track to complete the final spiral. Level 1.. still have to do the set-up tracks at the back , but it is Peco, and I have plenty of that available Level 2. Probably farmland scenery Level 3 and 4.. The Underground and Overground stations taking shape Another view of Level 4 station... platform roof not glued on yet, and some platform detail to add. Level 5, 6... views from either end. Awaiting more track so I can finish the top spiral. 🙂

The 15v adapter was ac and the bridge rectifier to take it to dc takes off 2 volts. Then the power regulator chip takes off about 3v so down to about 12v max output. I think the newer 13.5v adapter may be dc and then no bridge rectifier needed in the throttle, but then 3v taken out by the power regulator chip, so still around 12v left for max voltage. jeff

For comparison, here is an zenmen tenbō video of a JR Hokkaido Super Hakuchō run on almost the same route and direction from 2009: (Note: because this video was taken in 2009, the train continues all the way to Hachinohe. This was taken before the Tōhoku Shinkansen opened all the way to Shin-Aomori Station.)

Thanks! Your info helps me identify my DCC conversion options. I hope to ask the staff at Kato Hobby Center for more specifics when I visit them in a couple of weeks.

Thanks for the suggestion. I have contacted them for a quote.