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Hello I've just bought Tomix' TaKi1000 in 1/80 scale. I intend to convert it to narrow gauge, but it's my first Japanese model ever, so I can still choose between going with modelling into: >#13 aka JM (1/80 13mm gauge) >#12 aka H0m (1/87 12mm gauge) >non-standard 1/80 12mm gauge 13mm vs 12mm: 13mm is accurate for 1/80, 12mm is accurate for 1/87, but 12mm is way more available. Well, it is simply "available" compared to extremely rare and Japanese-only 13mm parts. 1/80 vs 1/87: 1/80 is exclusive to Japan, so I'd have to either scratch-build or order from Japan every little thing that's not part of nature. But 1/87 trains are more expensive and have less variety, not sure about eg. cars in 1/87. I'm not planning to go into Shinkansen soon, probably not at all, but in 1/80 Shinkansen would cause even more mess with gauges. Is there any regular group of #12 or #13 modellers in Europe?

Hi all. Does anybody know a paint match colour fo the Hokutosei DD51s and coaches ? I'm tweaking a H0 Kato DD51at the moment but I also need to know about the four air hoses at either end. On the railway I work for in the U.K one end hose each side has yellow ends and cocks (100 p.s.i main res) and one red each side (train pipe pressure). If it is the same which ones are the upper outer hoses? cheers Kev