Starting Out - E5 model that can be showcased and is mobile

[Demetrius]

I've caved to my e-board members today on buying a model shinkansen to showcase at our events, and the model everyone has decided on is the Kato N Scale Hayabusa. 

I'm pretty unfamiliar with moving models, although I have a lot of experience with R/C cars, so I can manage. The whole thing about the set is that it has to fit on a fold out table, look like Florida, and able to be relocated around the campus (or city).

Is this even possible?

[kvp]

Certainly. N scale is good for tabletop layouts. Since it's a Kato train and you are just starting, you might want to check out Kato base ovals for shinkansen. Model trains can operate either on plain analog low voltage DC power or digital command control. Most Japanese trains come as analog models and if you don't want to complicate things, then you only needs tracks and a controller (transformer/speed regulator). Kato N scale Unitrack can be purchased in the US too, so no need to order from Japan. If you want a movable train table, then you can get a table with foldable legs and build your layout on top of it. The tracks can be fixed down with wood glue and most buildings/roads/terrain too. Japanese train makers build many accessories, so you can get anything from suburban houses, to highrises or even marinas or beach building kits.

 

So first i would suggest you to select a nice starter pack of tracks that are good for shinkansen, then find a table large enough for the assembled tracks in one of the suggested patterns that you like and then design the rest around it. You can get various stations too, that just have to be put down next to the tracks or you can add turnouts, storage yards and other extras, but everything increases the size. If you are good with computers, you can get a free track designer software that allows planning before any purchases are made. Also Kato USA has nice pre drawn trackplans on its website, including several US style ones.

[tossedman]

Do you need it to run? If you need a static display you could make yourself a narrow shelf layout showing the Shinkansen on some viaduct track with some swampy Florida land underneath. You could fit the whole thing on a 1 X 6.

[cteno4]

Demetrius,

 

Like has been suggested,ma a static display might be the best that is like 12" or so wide by maybe 4' long. This would allow a bit of scenery around the track and still be easily transportable and fit on a slammer table and still have room for other display bits as well.,you could have half the scene be at grade and then slope off to a viaduct piece to show that HSR tracks stay as level as possible.

 

To do a moving loop you really need about 3.5' x 8' even for a short 8 car train and even then it's really a loopy loopy round and round. Even then it gets to something getting a bit big to set on a larger table and move around much. Also you end up with a much larger area to put scenery on, etc and work and costs go up. I would really think about just a static display for now. Later you could make more display modules that you could link together on a few tables for a larger running display for larger events.

 

Jeff

[Krackel Hopper]

I've caved to my e-board members today on buying a model shinkansen to showcase at our events, and the model everyone has decided on is the Kato N Scale Hayabusa.

If you don't mind me asking, what exactly is your company/organization and what are you promoting?

 

Assuming you are displaying a true E5 in its 10 car formation, that is roughly 6ft long.

 

As Tossedman said, if it is just displayed as a static model you could do a lot with it. If it needs to be operational yet fit on a folding table, it may look a little silly as it would be chasing its tail around in circles. Still doable.. But depending on what you and your company are trying to promote.. static display might give a more serious, grander feel.. Where a loop of track with the E5 is going to promote better with children and be viewed more as a toy..

 

Just one random guys opinion on the Internet. I am very curious what your company/organization is trying to promote using an E5

Edited May 23, 2015 by Krackel Hopper

[Demetrius]

That sounds like a less complicated alternative tossedman and cteno4. I've actually never thought of a static display, although I believe the main purpose why some of my members want a moving model is to showcase a moving train and make it more attractive. Personally, I think it's much easier showing videos of the trains on monitors, especially since our budget is tight.

I know a display model that appears every Christmastime at a large mall in Miami; a humongous O scale model that runs American streamliners and GE diesels. It attracts both children and adults. I wouldn't be surprised if it costs more than the Maserati they have displayed down the hall :-D.

Hugh Speed Rail America Club is the name of my organization, Krackel Hopper. We're trying to promote shinkansens and other forms of rail travel within the US as a ways of creating jobs and fixing our crappy infrastructure. If you have free time, I invite you to visit our YouTube channel that's a host to all the latest research, news, and information on HSR in the US https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpiBD6csbMlsEt20d_CmRCA we're the largest student run organization in the country undertaking this.

[cteno4]

Krackle hopper has a good point as it takes a lot for a moving model train to be viewed as something serious and not just a toy. I think the idea of the videos of real trains moving (if well done) might get you more in the movement side of things.

 

A static model display just helps bring the form and coolness of the look into 3d in front of folks that is hard to see/feel in videos (even 3d video does not make this happen like a physical model does). This is why jr east and central have nice scale end car models at their exhibits (around 1/20 scale I think as they are around a meter long). These definitely get you the personal feel of the cool shapes. Jr east has even had the display case off their e7 model and let folks touch it. This brought a whole new dimension to the display as it was wonderful to run your hand over the curves and made me like the e7 much more than I had from just photos at the time! Very smart move on thier part as your brain just screams FAST when you run your hand over these models! Talking to the monkey brain like this as well is crucial in getting your audience's subjective/subconscious attention. Steve jobs knew this as our reaction to something physically appealing to both the eye and hand is sooooo strong! Go into an Apple Store, first it's usually loaded with people and second most all of them are touching and even caressing the products! Now fo to the high end fashion store and see him many people are touching let alone caressing then usually perceived height of design handbags there!

 

Unfortunately an n scale model is tiny and constructing a large scale model out of the question, but a static model may let folks get more up and personal with the train than you could with a running train as it's always in motion and folks tend to want to try to touch running trains more and any fingers could cause disaster with running trains. Easier ot police a smaller static display and perhaps raise it up a little off the table to make it easier to get closer to view and keep little fingers away and let parents heft them up to view then they may be a bit more attentive to small fingers grabbing at the display.

 

Another idea would just be a static display of the train on track with a very nicely designed base that is simple and clean and just accentuates the train itself. This is tricky,but if doen right even a small model can be highlighted just right to make it pop. With time if you get a few you might be able to do these on a larger standup display board.

 

Your main focus here I think for your exhibit is adults as those are the ones you really need to get thinking right now on the issues to be engaged. Educating kids is great, but is a very different beast to do and is a much longer term game. I think if you want something to get kids engaged economically and simply plarail might be better, but again the toy/play aspect will conflict and compete with the adult message you are working on. It is important to not try to do multiple messages/audiences in an exhibit unless they are carefully done not to compete/conflict or the whole,thing fails on all fronts usually then and you have real egg on your face and have actually done harm to the thing you were trying to advance!

 

Cheers

 

Jeff

[katoftw]

Modelling take up huge $$$.  In 2 years I've spend $3,000 AUD and have about 5% of a complete layout.  I'd estimate that a layout of decent size that would support a shinkansen loop would end up costing me $1500 AUD in materials.  Time is will cost me many unknown hours.

 

DVD/Bluerays cost $15 AUD.  This is the best option if you are on a tight budget.

[nscalestation]

Demetrius,

 

The E5 is a great looking train, I had the chance to ride one in March and it's going to be the next Shinkansen model I buy.  As has already been mentioned, that particular train runs in 10 car formations which will scale out to about 6 ft.  It would be easy to build a nice diorama to showcase this model.  It only needs to be maybe 6 to 8 inches wide and could be done in either a single long section or a couple of shorter sections.  To represent a modern system I would suggest using the Kato Unitrack that is paired and has concrete ties.  Since you don't need turnouts the cost would not be bad.  Also consider the overhead wire structures for realism.  Kato and Tomix both also offer those. 

 

Sounds like a nice project, please share some photos when you do it.

[kvp]

 

Modelling take up huge $$$. In 2 years I've spend $3,000 AUD and have about 5% of a complete layout. I'd estimate that a layout of decent size that would support a shinkansen loop would end up costing me $1500 AUD in materials. Time is will cost me many unknown hours.

This depends on the scale and style of a layout. A large layout with multiple tracks with a huge city and a station costs more than a small grassland layout with a single track loop and the loopiness hidden by a tunnel/highway overpass. A basic oval would work nicely in this case and the whole thing can be assembled on a folding leg table. If you set in it Florida (as Florida HSR) you can even add some low level elevated sections crossing a swamp or a river.

 

ps: Although the new E7/W7 sets would be more ideal as an example, since they are low capacity shinkansens, pretty much the same that could be viable in the US. (besides using the existing tracks and just getting a few high speed demu-s, like recently in the UK)

[Demetrius]

Krackle hopper has a good point as it takes a lot for a moving model train to be viewed as something serious and not just a toy. I think the idea of the videos of real trains moving (if well done) might get you more in the movement side of things.

 

A static model display just helps bring the form and coolness of the look into 3d in front of folks that is hard to see/feel in videos (even 3d video does not make this happen like a physical model does). This is why jr east and central have nice scale end car models at their exhibits (around 1/20 scale I think as they are around a meter long). These definitely get you the personal feel of the cool shapes.

--------

 

Your main focus here I think for your exhibit is adults as those are the ones you really need to get thinking right now on the issues to be engaged. Educating kids is great, but is a very different beast to do and is a much longer term game. I think if you want something to get kids engaged economically and simply plarail might be better, but again the toy/play aspect will conflict and compete with the adult message you are working on. It is important to not try to do multiple messages/audiences in an exhibit unless they are carefully done not to compete/conflict or the whole,thing fails on all fronts usually then and you have real egg on your face and have actually done harm to the thing you were trying to advance!

 

Cheers

 

Jeff

 

That sounds great! We do have the small models already, however something bigger that grabs more attention and has an actual track can do better (and not take up so many outlets and wires as we have already with the TV and laptop booths). The Plarail for kids is also something I'll think about, but we're not engaging with that audience just yet.

 

Demetrius,

 

The E5 is a great looking train, I had the chance to ride one in March and it's going to be the next Shinkansen model I buy.  As has already been mentioned, that particular train runs in 10 car formations which will scale out to about 6 ft.  It would be easy to build a nice diorama to showcase this model.  It only needs to be maybe 6 to 8 inches wide and could be done in either a single long section or a couple of shorter sections.  To represent a modern system I would suggest using the Kato Unitrack that is paired and has concrete ties.  Since you don't need turnouts the cost would not be bad.  Also consider the overhead wire structures for realism.  Kato and Tomix both also offer those. 

 

Sounds like a nice project, please share some photos when you do it.

 

Will definitely share when it goes out! That along with it's prototype, the Fastech, are my absolute favorite of the shinkansen lineup. Absolutely gorgeous trains, nothing like them in the world!