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I'd be okay with the machines if they made them less confusing. I thought I understood the Japanese mindset, but maybe Japanese people find them difficult to use as well. It seems like you just need to know how it works, because it's not written clearly anywhere. Express trains are a good example, where you need a special express ticket in addition to your normal one. Or multiple tickets for the Shinkansen. None of the navigation apps seem to explain it either. Busses can be a pain too. The ones with numbers are easy enough, at least once you figure out how to pay*. But the ones with just the destination on the display... It never seems to match what it says on Google Maps, or on the signage at the stop. * In Nagoya I was on a bus that didn't accept IC cards. I think the system was down or something. Anyway, I didn't have the change but I saw there was a slot for notes and a dispenser for the change, despite the sign that said "no change given" in English. So at the terminal I put 1000 yen in, it spit out some coins that I scooped off, and off I went... "Gaijin-san!" the driver called after me. Turns out it's just a change machine, you then have to put the coins and ticket into the slot yourself. How embarrassing.

Sorry, for the slow reply, I don't even know what day it is due to the travel (and the sake). Tony's suggestion seems the best of a place to meet.

I was thinking that maybe we could have a shared calendar or something so we can see when people are overlapping in Japan, but I don't know how to make one.

I'm surprised how fast this goes, the first printed Prototype maybe even in this Week.

Ahhh, true. I missmatched with the long one.

Thanks for the great pics and instructions looking forward to using an MT decoder in upcoming DCC installations.

If you happen to have the 50 track plan book, layout 7 uses this arrangement and the drawing with the track plan shows the center island. This version has one siding going off the loop as well. If you want a picture of the track list and the layout drawing, I think I could send you one. (Thinking that would be okay since it is for non-commercial purposes. Moderators - please advise if that is not okay.) Cheers, Tony

The whole shutting down the ticket counters originated during the coronavirus period when demand cratered, and dovetailed with the campaign to get more people to make reservations online. Personally, with simpler itineraries the midori no madoguchi ticket machines are adequate, but the more elaborate convoluted railfan itineraries I sometimes conjure up require human facilitation. But most importantly, manned counters are required when there are service disruptions, like I experienced when snow shut down the Hakubi Line last December 23, and my planned journey on ltd express Yakumo was nixed- I had to get a refund and book a new return journey on Sanyo/Tokaido Shinkansen. Okayama Station midori no madoguchi was swamped, tho more with domestic customers rather than inbound (few foreigners know about Sanin, at least for now)- 40 min. wait in line, IIRC.

Hello everyone, I've completed my first MT40 DCC decoder install this weekend. I have installed a K3066RA-LED (https://wiki.mt40.info/doku.php?id=mobiledecoder2:k3066ra) into my (relatively) new Kato DE10 (7011-3). The Kato DE10 is tricky as it is very difficult to securely isolate the motor contacts from the chassis (they make contact at many different points). So, this time I decided to disassemble the motor and just solder two wires to its contacts, then to the DCC decoder. See photos below. My first tests of the MT40 K3066RA are very positive. Writing and reading CVs works very well (I am using a Z21) The locomotive moves very smoothly, even at very low speed (I have kept the default values for all three BEMF CVs). I programmed basic acceleration and deceleration and this works well. In addition to the two headlight white LEDs mounted on the PCB, that particular decoder has five (!!!) LED outputs, typically used for four red tail lights (forward / backwards and left / right) plus one interior / cabin light. I have not tested them as it would be very difficult to install tail lights on that particular loco, but I plan to do that in the future. Each of the LEDs has individual brightness control (16 levels) using CVs. I will purchase more of these decoders and use them for future DCC installs. Marc

Nice use of music. Felt a bit like Mr Roger’s neighborhood when he would do nice piano pieces to some of their video snippets. jeff

I’ll definitely keep an eye out. They have been throwing out a lot of e-marketing of late and hopefully they’ll decide to make warehouse space by shifting at lower prices. I’ve had most of the stuff from them that I was particularly wanting, mainly 10系 coaches that have been difficult to find in Japan other than ridiculous scalper type prices. Most of the other stuff is readily available, especially the Kato stuff which is much cheaper in Japan anyway. Prices seem quite varied, some options are a little overpriced and others quite reasonable. Wonder whether they’ve looked on previous ebay sales to set their prices.

The DN163K0D does fit in the EH200.

Oops, sorry. Yes, I want to have a centre island between the 2 tracks, so its looks like using an R481 will get me to my end goal. Thanks!

What spacing are you hoping for? You dont mention your end goal. If you use R249, you'll need to use one sided platforms on the outside. If you use the R481, you can put a island platform in the middle, (much like most of the Nichinan line). I am pretty sure you can leave the blades in normal position and run a train through the points like a spring set of turnouts. And yes in DC, there will be limitations.

Isn't an DN163K0D too long anyway? Or am I mismatching their formfactor?

Wow that’s great you stayed a couple of days at Portmeirion! Doesn’t look like tons of crowds. Were a lot of folks prisoner fans or is that now more forgotten? did you get to play a game of chess? No bubble sighting chasing anyone down the beach? now I have to go find some prisoner episodes to watch! Danger man (along with Peter Gunn) is on a couple of times a week here and I DVR them all the time to watch. jeff

Did a search and found some posts re the issue with the points, but not for my specific question. On our trip to Japan in March we went to Obi (highly recommended by the way, a nice day trip from Miyazaki). Its on the Nichinan Line which is single track at this point, but at Obi it splits into 2 for a centre platform before going back to single line. The switches appear to be of the 'Y' configuration. See the attached photos. I would like to replicate this and was thinking the Kato 20-222 would fit the bill. Does anyone see any issues with this, and if so what would other options be. If the 20-222 would work, what would the correct track pieces be to get the space needed for the platform? Does the R249-15 on each track give the right spacing (see Kato schematic attached) or would I need something else? And one more, can Kato turnouts be converted to spring switches? I am thinking in N scale the trains would be too light to reliably get through the spring points (not mention the issues with wiring) but interested to hear others thoughts. From the Kato web site. I like how short the Y makes the station layout. Approach Google Earth image of the track layout. Mine would be straight like the Kato schematic, not on a curve like this.

I know a few threads are using a Kato EH500 chassis but I'm having problems with where to isolate the copper strips. The pictures aren't that great that I've seen so I'd like some clarification before I destroy a decoder, I'm using a Digitrax DN163K0D. I've reached out to a member and waiting for a response, Mods please feel free to merge this post into one of the many on this installation.

On Saturday and Sunday the show is open to the public. Hobbyist videos are beginning to show up. Shizuoka Hobby Show 2024 (TOMIX, KATO, GREENMAX, TAMIYA) On May 11, 2024, I went to the annual Shizuoka Hobby Show. This video deals with the exhibition by the Railway Model Prefectural Association Warning: Blaring music intro.

Tatami 1 tatami old man's romance Layout Diagram Story of Past and Present

Woody Joe has a booth at the show. Of interest to those seeking to build a castle.

Let's have a walk to the marvelous FFestiniog & Welsh Railways (I recommend to click "watch on you tube" as the major part is in 4K Enjoy !

Hi @cteno4 Portmeirion is really a nice place to rest. I've spent two days in the Village, at night ... and at day of course. "Be seiing you!" It's really a great place. I was sitting in the hotel just beside le "fake boat" : "Les amis réunis". JM.

A Tenshodo Mani 36 Baggage coach, some Kato 4 wheelers and some Kato Kiha 80/82 including a dining car.....makes for a 10 car set now! I also picked up a couple of Tramway JNR REM 6000 kits to build. I would like to find a couple of older wooden fridge wagons too, any ideas?

bill thanks for the great videos and link you provided, It was nice to see some more pics of the GM Tie Tamper