My Temporary Setups - Mostly Trains!

[nah00]

I knew that skyline looked familiar...it's Pittsburgh from the North Shore (with some of the corporate buildings cut out and some others moved around).

[serotta1972]

Hey nah00, thanks for the info - I was going to ask if anyone knew the location of this skyline. This background scene was purchased from Model Train Stuff.

[nah00]

I believe the company started out doing industrial building backgrounds and steel mills doing the same thing. There's one of the Clairton Coke Works (with all the US Steel bits cut away) and if not mistaken one that uses the blast furnaces and some other buildings from the Edgar Thompson Works. 

[serotta1972]

I'm paying homage to the Bay Area's Golden State Warriors!

 

 

Tomix 98227 Series 115-300 Yellow

Tomix 92552 Series 474 Blue

 

 

 

 

[serotta1972]

With the arrival of the Tomix and Kato C11's and their respective passenger car sets, I just had to do a Steam Trains running session.  

 

 

These recent released steam engines by Kato and Tomix are simply amazing with awesome details and running characteristics.  I can't seem to get enough of them.  I am still holding out for a Kato C56 in N scale.

[JR 500系]

Wow! Your huge fleet of steam engines is amazing! Reminds me of Thomas and friends ~

[nah00]

The new Kato C11 is a VAST improvement scale-wise over the old one, mine looks gigantic. Nice assortment of steam there. 

[serotta1972]

That's part of the reason I sold my D51 498 Orient Express because it didn't look right to me after getting the newer D51's.  I think I may be done with steam locos for a while or at least the next release. :)

[serotta1972]

My Kumoyuni and Kumoni Fleet - I have a fascination with these type of cars.  All are Kato except for the Tomytec 143-1 Minubo Color which at this moment can only run by itself as I have not replace the couplers.  I hope Tomix will begin producing some as well to go with their line of 115's as Kato has done.  Unfortunately couplers are not compatible between brands so I'm not able to use the Kato's with my Tomix trains. 

 

[Kiha66]

Nice collection Junior, I may have to get some myself!  Is that a 111 series in shonan colors?

[serotta1972]

Wow, good eye - it is a 111Series, Kato 10-893.

[serotta1972]

Until recently most of my contemporary commuter trains were Kato but lately Tomix has been releasing some that I really like and they are the JR West 227 and 323 and JR Central 313-5000 and 313-8000.  One reason I've stayed away from Tomix unless they were the only that made the train is that they're still using Rapido couplers and so to convert to TN couplers would mean an additional investment of at least $15 depending of the number of cars in the train.  And as you can see in the last picture - it makes a huge difference.

 

[Pauljag900]

Well worth the effort if you ve got the patience buddy,they look much better

[JR 500系]

Yap those TN couplers are costly but they really do add up to the looks of the train....

 

Kato ones are slightly closer than the regular Rapido ones, but still the TN couplers are the best in terms of distance between cars, although more costly. Kato trains come with their regular couplers that are still acceptable hence a little edge over the Tomix ones.

 

However, the 227s and 313s from Tomix comes with a HUGE variety of interchangeable front destination boards that can be changed easily, which is also usually not included with Kato ones ~  :)

[serotta1972]

The bustling town of "Nothing but Trains" in the 40's (some trains may have come from the future) - passenger and freight service are booming and the railroad just acquired 2 new C11's and more rolling stock.

 

[Kiha66]

The local railroad of Nobutrain seems to have somehow gotten their hands on some super secret wamu 80000 prototypes!   :)   Looks great junior!  Maybe we should form a California chapter of a temporary unitrack only club like Jeff has back east, or some super simple t-track modules. 

[cteno4]

Hey that's how it started here and then it just evolves...

 

Cheers

 

Jeff

[nah00]

My problem is that trains from the past come to the future sometimes, especially freight-wise since everything is Kokis and Takis now it seems. 

[serotta1972]

JR Central running session: Series 313 - one of my favorite contemporary commuter trains as the front end resembles the 115's.  

 

 

My fleet consist of both Kato and Tomix.

 

Kato 10-1287 Series 313-1700 (3 cars)

Kato 10-587 Series 313-2500 (3 cars)

Tomix 98204/5 Series 313-5000 (6 cars)

Tomix 98622 Series 313-8000 (6 cars)

Tomix 10-589 Series 313-8500 (3 cars)

 

Minor differences between Kato and Tomix that I notice otherwise both are excellent models.  Kato is off white while Tomix is glossy white.  The gangway door and hood on the Kato has better detail and the windows on the Kato's are smoked while the Tomix's are clear.  The Tomix TN couplers looks better and couple the cars closer together compared to the Kato's but are added on at an extra cost.  It's worth the investment. The Kato and Tomix Central Liners are almost identical aside from the smoked windows.

 

 

 

 

[cteno4]

junior, you are in need of an intervention! quite a fleet!

 

jeff

[serotta1972]

Jeff, I'd like for you to know that my n scale train consumption has decreased slightly but unfortunately I've been delving into HO again.  At least the Marklin phase has subsided a little bit.  The test will be when I'm in Japan and see if I can keep my credit card in my wallet. :)

[Pauljag900]

Hey serotta,I know which option my money is on,I think we all know that it s not a case of 'if I can keep it in my wallet'more a case of how much will I spend

[cteno4]

I'm one to talk, I've been trying to slow my train buying the last few years and have done a decent job of it, but I think there were 4 or 5 preorders this month...

 

Jeff

[Pauljag900]

What did you get Jeff?

Paul

[cteno4]

they wont be here till later this year but painted trains JR 103 osaka power loop, E3 700 Series Joetsu Genbi Shinkansen, Series 651-1000 "IZU CRAILE", and a green max tamper Senken Kogyo Color, half a box of trailer collection 9 (splitting with another club member). delayed wallet ouch.

 

jeff