EH500 - KATO or Tomix?

[Eurostar25]

Has anyone had any experience with one or the other? Any preference? Both seem similarly priced

[katoftw]

coin flip?

 

kato has a slight easier decoder install.  note it is not plug and play.

 

tomix supports CL?  others to confirm.

[ToniBabelony]

Here is a webpage with comparisons between the two: http://app.f.m-cocolog.jp/t/typecast/1015887/1040166/66455599 I'd go for Kato when seeing the visual differences.

[Eurostar25]

Thanks katoftw and Toni for the link, just what I was after.

[Bob_NZ]

Hi

 

I did get the EH200 and EH500 Kato versions a couple of weeks ago but with hindsight I should have held out and ordered the 9161 Tomix EH500 with its power collectors on all axles.

 

My Tomix EH800 with power collectors on all axles arrived today and it is just so smooth running by comparison.

[katoftw]

Can you explain that a bit more?  The distance between the EH500 outer most wheels is about 15cm.  It shouldn't really need all wheel pickup.  It is not a 128cm long 8 car shinkansen.

 

But in saying that.  If you want all wheel pickup on a Kato EH200 or EH 500, then 5cm of wire, some solder and 2 mins work, and you have it.  The copper stripes on one chassis runs the motor and lights for car 1, and the copper stripes run just the lights for car 2.

 

All you need to do is add a link between those copper stripes.  Two black insulated wires at 2.5cm will do the trick.  Already have a black axle hidden between the cars, why not two black wires hidden also?

 

 

 

Edited October 24, 2015 by katoftw

[Bob_NZ]

I think it needs the pickups more so than a Shinkansen which would run at speed and poor track contact would not be so apparent.

 

But in my case I want to be able to run a freight slowly, and at a crawl in places on my permanent layout.   The layout has a mix of track types, is ageing, is ballasted, is broken into blocks with different power cabs feeding them and has very little actual flat running.  Clean track is not always possible. 

 

I have previously wired locos together similar to your examples with good results, but if the double unit comes wired that way then to me it is worth paying a premium, if only to encourage the implementation of multi pickups on a wider range of models.  

Edited October 24, 2015 by gcmr_new_zealand

[kvp]

I would like to add, that a shorter loco is more prone to stalling on turnouts, since in case of a longer turnout, it's possible to have all bogies on the bumpier parts of the turnout. Short rigid frame locos (like a 0-6-0) are even worse off in this regard.

 

ps:

For reliable running, i would like to have all wheel pickups on all sets, especially commuter emus, but this would need a power conducting body mount close coupler. (or even add more pins for easy head/tail/interior light control in dcc)

[HantuBlauLOL]

The Tomix one those 2 units are mechanically and electrically connected, it means more traction and it would never stalls. Also the motor is very quiet and can run very slow although its a 3 pole straight wound one, really. It's the best loco in my fleet.

 

Dunno about the Kato one..

Edited October 24, 2015 by HantuBlauLOL

[Melandir]

Same as Katoftw

 

Kato everytime is possible

 

15 min works, 2 copper stripes to connect the two half of the loco and decoder easly installed, it's running perfectly

[loulasalle]

I have the Kato EH 500, a fine loco , and I had it converted to DCC, and it is flawless.

[inobu]

Kato seems to pay more attention to detail than Tomix. I think the simplest way to reference the two is referring to DPI. Printing in 300 DPI verses 1440 DPI makes a difference to some viewers. It is the same image but the visual clarity establishes itself and some prefer one over the other.

 

Take the front exhaust unit for example. Tomix has a inference to the exhaust unit and Kato tries to replicate it. Notice the fan blades are implied in Kato unit. To the right you can see the rivets on the secondary panel where as the Tomix implies the panel as one piece. For some modeler they see the train as a whole piece and others want to see the detail beyond the train itself.

 

 

Inobu

 

 

The wiring bridge only increases the number of bogies feeding power to the motor. It does not necessarily increase traction. Due to the wheelbase and the linkage the EH500 bogie is able to roll instead of lift.

 

Unless your track is   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pfp7dabTX3I

Edited October 26, 2015 by inobu

[linkey]

I'm happy with having one each, yes there is a few differences from the KATO to the TOMIX versions but they still look good while running on a layout.

[Eurostar25]

Bit the bullet and went with the Kato version. Wonderfully detailed but gee you need a magnifying glass and a steady hand to add the detailed handrail, antennas and road numbers! Worth the effort though I guess.

[katoftw]

Especially if you are doing it all upsidedown.  :)

[cteno4]

He posted it for us in the northern hemisphere!

 

Jeff

[katoftw]

All my handrails and engine numbers are still in their plastic packets.  I'm too lazy and indecisive to get them onto the engines.

[inobu]

I'm still trying to figure out why the train didn't fall to the ceiling. I know the water drains in the opposite direction....so I guess gravity pushes things up.

 

Inobu

[katoftw]

Super awesome magents!  Somebody has raided JR Tokai's MagLev parts bin!

[Eurostar25]

Ha, I must look at the photo before I upload it next time... Probably helps holding the iPhone the right way up in the first place...

Really happy with the loco though, and a bonus it only took a week with SAL shipping from Japan to New Zealand