Tokai Type EMU Trains

[serotta1972]

I'm in the process of researching what prototypical consist I want to put together and one thing I know is that it will either be in the Yokosuka or Shonan Livery or might have to do 2 trains.  The Kato 111-0 7 car set might be a starting point but I also really like the new Kato 115-300's and 800's. 

 

I was wondering if you had 2 motor cars on the 165 10-car train but you did say it only had one, it manages okay but that's a lot of work for that one motor.  Yeah, probably a good idea to have 2 motor cars to preserve and extend the life of the motor cars.

[Welshbloke]

Well, I wasn't sure about it, then I thought that Kato seem to regard ten cars as a fairly normal load.

 

The 103 Series is ten cars if you buy both packs, and they suggest trains up to ten cars for the 457 and 165 Series on the back of the box. So I'm probably underestimating how tough they are. Their Shinkansen load to sixteen cars with a single motor, after all. I know Tomix use two motors on theirs but I've not seen hordes of people complaining about premature death of Kato motors. I had a second-hand 117 Series which kept overheating, but that was due to loose brush holders and it runs perfectly now I've glued them in (after removing the brushes, so it didn't end up as a solid lump!)

 

I might have to avoid acquiring more N for a little bit longer, as my other hobby (astronomy) is getting interesting. Jupiter will be in opposition in just over a month, and the amount I was about to spend on a KuMoYuNi 82 would go most of the way to completing my set of good quality telescope eyepieces...

Edited January 31, 2016 by Welshbloke

[serotta1972]

Oh man, juggling different hobbies is difficult. I go through phases myself and currently the trains is taking the stage in regards to the hobby budget. I think I got all the bikes and cycling equipment I need for a while as well as R/C cars.

 

I just ordered a motorized 83, trailer 83 and a trailer 82 to go with the Kato 115-800 8 car set. I think I waited too long to decide on the 165, now they are not available thru my main sources.

 

Thank goodness I've stayed away from astronomy and photography as I know those hobbies can become expensive. But those are next on list of hobbies if and when I get tired of my current ones.

[Welshbloke]

My KuMoYuNi fleet stands at: a powered KuMoYuNi 74, a dummy KuMoNi 83, and a Tomytec KuMoYuNi 143 as a trailer.

 

Have you had a look on Amazon for 165 Series? My three car dummy set and at least one of my extra trailers came from there. I think Traintrax still have the powered three car set for sale too.

 

The good news is that there isn't really much else telescope-related I want, aside from the next eyepiece for a full set and another optical tube assembly. My 'scopes are all small portable ones as I'm 20mins drive from a Dark Skies Park, so I'll get better results taking a smaller telescope up there than I would from a larger one which was a pain to dismantle and pack in the car. At the moment I have one of SkyWatcher's little 90mm Maksutovs on a goto mount, and I'm planning a 130mm flex-tube (the top end of the tube slides into the bottom for transport) Dobsonian next as it'll give me a useful boost in light-gathering while still being able to fit on the goto mount. Plus as it has different strengths to the Mak I'll have a use for both of them.

[serotta1972]

Why are you dropping names of your equipment? Now Im curious and will have to google them and then will be drawn to them and before you know it Im a member of an Astronomy forum or club.

[serotta1972]

I think Kato and Tomix have been eavesdropping on our thread about the 165's, they're both coming out with new sets of 165's and 167's both in Shonan or Tokai colors. The Kato say "new" so might mean new tooling and based on the price I think it is. And for the Tomix, its HG. Decisions, decisions! Maybe it's a good thing I didn't get the older Kato 165's.

[Welshbloke]

I think the new ones will be the "other" type of 165 Series with intermediate MoHas, as opposed to the series with KuMoHas (like the ones I have). Presumably they'll have the new close coupler mounts throughout and switchable lighting, like the 111 Series. The 3-car 165 Series don't have that, so you have to marshal the two cab cars from the add-on set in the middle as they don't have lights but do have working couplers.

 

As for telescopes, do not look up Sky-Watcher. Especially not the two models I mentioned as they're temptingly cheap, but then you find out that the eyepieces in the box are useless so you end up spending almost as much again to upgrade them... Felt I had to mention a few names otherwise it turns into using the word "telescope" repeatedly with no explanation as to why I want more than one of them!

[serotta1972]

Just received my Kumoni 83-800 (M), Kumoni 83-800 (T), Kumoyuni 82-800 (T).  What beautiful cars and I'm really liking the Yokosuka Color.  I can't wait to get the 115-800 4+4 Car Set to run a full consist with the 83.  I'm still debating about the 115-300 4+4 Car Set, also in the Yokosuka Color.  

 

Edited February 27, 2016 by serotta1972

[serotta1972]

New additions to the Tokai EMU Collection:

 

Kato 10-1272 115-300 Yokosuka Color 

Kato 10-1153 115-1000 Nagano Area 

Kato 92415 115 Shinano Railway

 

 

Talk about multiplying, I'm just a sucker for all the different wonderful and beautiful liveries.  I'm beginning to double up on certain liveries but different train model but I can't seem to get enough of the Series 115 Yokosuka Color as I now have a Kato 115-300, Tomix 115-1000 and have on Pre-Order the Kato 115-800.

 

 

[katoftw]

Would you consider a Chichibu Railway 3000 series?

[serotta1972]

I probably would as it is a derivative of a 165 and has a slightly different look to it.  Is it the Micro Ace A3976?

[miyakoji]

Is it the Micro Ace A3976?

 

Yes, that's it.  There's also an English wikipedia page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chichibu_Railway_3000_series

[serotta1972]

2 new additions to the fleet:

 

Kato 10-1118/19        115-800 Yokosuka Color (4+4 Car Set)

Tomix 98954              113-2000 Kansai Line Rapid Train (6 Car Set)

 

[JR 500系]

Oh wow Serotta san! I can see your fleet rapidly growing, from all scales! But these 115s are still your favourite eh?  :P

[serotta1972]

Yeah, I'm a sucker for these Tokai Types and all the different liveries.  There are 2 more on the pipeline, the Kato 711 and Tomix 475.

[serotta1972]

2 new additions to the fleet:

 

Kato 10-1328        711-0 Series

Tomix 98602         Series 475 Hokuriku Line Old Color

 

 

[Ochanomizu]

Hello,

 

475 system Hokuriku Line is a beautiful train.  I love also, but I limit to Yamanashi / Nagano region.  Still, I have many consist ... ;)

[serotta1972]

I don't know if this will work here, but I uploaded a video to the forum Facebook page of my 165 Series + KuMoYuNi and 457 Series passing at speed in the elevated station:

 

https://www.facebook.com/Disco.Matt/videos/o.118717184889213/10156455981080453/?type=2&theater&notif_t=video_processed

 

The red KuMoYuNi 143 is a Tomytec model, fitted with a working pantograph, Kato wheels, and Kato tightlock couplers in spare Tomytec mountings. The lack of directional lighting doesn't make much difference as it always runs in this location within the train.

I just ordered the Tomytec KuMoYuNi 143 with the motor and pantographs.  My first time delving into the Tomytec trains.  I just really like the livery and it will match up with my new Tomix 475 and a Tomix 115 in the Minubo Color.