Bullet Train Configuration

[Krackel Hopper]

This may seem like a newbie question (which - I am a newbie)..

 

Since space is at a premium for me, running full (16 car) configuration bullet trains is just not feasible, well it is, but the train would take up over half of the track it runs on.. looking like a big snake chasing its tail.. I know the 500 and 700 series are run in 8 car configurations.  Also, yes I know I could get one of the many other trains that are a 6-8 car configuration.. but I can't seem to stop wanting the 500/700/N700

 

When it comes to Kato/Tomix sets.. if I get the starter and first add-on to get myself to an 8 car set, is that prototypical?  You get 1 car with a pantograph in the starter set.. but the 2nd pantograph doesn't come until the 8 car add-on set.

 

I am having a tough time trying to figure out how to word this question.. it's 1am, I'm tired..

 

basically.. is buying a Kato 4 car starter and 4 car add-on equal what a prototypical 8 car configuration would be?  Or do I need a full 16 car set to make a prototypical 8 car configuration? (ie - 2 pantograph or some such)

 

Jon

[bc6]

Im in the same bind as you, Id love to run a 16 unit train but it aint happening anytime soon. Although I cant decipher Japanese the diagram on the back of my Kato 4 car Series 500 set shows 2 sets of 8 cars it may not be prototypical to run just 8 cars. However if you cant run 16 cars an eight cars 500 Series Nozomi looks awesome since thats how I run mine.Sometimes youve got to take creative license with N-Scale.

[disturbman]

Shinkanse 500-V series (Kodama service), two pantographs one at each end of the train (on the car before the end car). No green car.

 

http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%95%E3%82%A1%E3%82%A4%E3%83%AB:JRW-500_V2_inHimeji.jpg

 

Shinkansen  700-E series (Hikari Rail Star), special livery and no green car. Don't know for the pantographs. Surely two like for the 500-V.

[Bernard]

Jon - My first rule of model RRing is "It's your layout do what you want to do." If you don't have room on it for a prototypical 500 than do a configuration that will work well with the real estate you have.

 

Kato sells their 500 Nozomi in a standard 7 car set with the option of adding on. http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10003465

 

Tomix sells theirs in different pieces: (Tomix & Kato cars are not compatible, different couplers)

http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10050586

http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10050585

http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10009616

http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10050584

 

Here are all the combinations you can purchase:

http://www.1999.co.jp/search_e.asp?Typ1_c=104&scope=0&scope2=0&itkey=500+nozomi

[alpineaustralia]

the following site gives really good info on the configuration of each train

 

http://japanese-model-supplies.com/bullet.html

[Krackel Hopper]

Thanks for all the good info!

 

I know I can run the train with my own interpretation of how it should be.  It seemed to me that having a pantograph at either end would be the prototypical 8 car configuration (thanks to Disturbman for the 500-V link that shows this)..

 

I personally think it would look better with 2 pantograph, I just didn't know if that's how the 8 car configurations are actually run.  Now I know (at least the 500) is run like I thought it would be.  While that does mean a larger investment of having to buy the 16 car set to make a prototypical 8 car configuration, I suppose that is not a bad thing.  It just gives me more of a drive to one day have a layout large enough to run a 16 car set..

 

Thanks!

Jon

[ChrisV]

Ah - another Shinkansen follower....brother!

 

I have the same situation as well. All my shinkansen sets are between 6-10 cars.

I have the same pantograph issue with my N700 set. I am seriously considering a 16 car N700 set up next year as I only need one more add on set and I've got the full set.

 

I agree with Bernard - my layout is my kingdom so I can run whatever I want. My layout only lets me get away with the shorter sets anyway as I too would have the train coupling itself either end if I were to have 16 car sets. Plus the sidings to hold such lengths are incredibly long - too long for my space.

 

There are some good websites around - especially Doug Coster's site that shows some typical Shinkansen configs.

 

I usually go the 4 car starter set first then just add one add set and that usually does it.

[bill937ca]

Five of the nine 500 Series Shinkansen rains were shortened to 8 car trains in 2008 for Sanyo Shinkansen Kodama (local) trains.  The extra cars were scrapped at that time.  So you don't need a full 16 car train to be prototypical. There are all kinds of issues with the design of 500 Series that lead to their down grading.

 

JR West Japanese language page.

 

http://www.jr-odekake.net/navi/shinkansen/knowledge/500kei_okosama/

 

This can be translated with Google Translate.

 

http://translate.google.com/translate_t#

 

[jappomania]

Hi!

if you need more info about short 500 V set

http://tec300prototypej01.web.fc2.com/contents/se/a09_tec500_wv/tec500_conv.html

I would advise you that's impossible rebuild the right composition only whit normal cars because the V set has been modified, one car have 2 windows closed and both original T pantograph whit rounded shield are removed and subsequently changed whit 700 style pantograph and shield (without side fences)

If you love kitbashing I can send you more info and instructions to build yourseld the right V set (but maybe is better if we wait a new Tomix or Kato release..)

 

ciao

Massimo

[Bernard]

Five of the nine 500 Series Shinkansen rains were shortened to 8 car trains in 2008 for Sanyo Shinkansen Kodama (local) trains.  The extra cars were scrapped at that time.  So you don't need a full 16 car train to be prototypical.  There are all kinds of issues with the design of 500 Series that lead to their down grading.

 

JR West Japanese language page.

 

http://www.jr-odekake.net/navi/shinkansen/knowledge/500kei_okosama/

 

This can be translated with Google Translate.

 

http://translate.google.com/translate_t#

 

 

Bill - This is an interesting video not because of the 500 Nozomi but the short length from portal to portal. Is the train coming out of a tunnel and instantly going into another?

[bill937ca]

 

Bill - This is an interesting video not because of the 500 Nozomi but the short length from portal to portal. Is the train coming out of a tunnel and instantly going into another?

 

I really don't know.

[disturbman]

It sure does looks like it. That's not so uncommon in places with lots of mountainous landscape. I've seen that one time on a video from the brand new HSL Firenze-Bologna in Italy.

[Krackel Hopper]

Great information!  It does indeed look like some kit bashing would be in order to make a prototypical 500 V.. but as Bill mentioned in 2008 several 16 car configs turned into 8 car.  It seems as though they all still have 2 pantograph.  So while I'm still not prototypical.. I think committing to the full 16 car set so I can make an 8 car with 2 pantograph is going to be the way to go..

 

plus I figure getting a full 16 car set will also save me the hassle of trying to track down an add-on a few months/years from now when it may be out of production.. or modified color/design to my older starter set..

[bill937ca]

More 500 Shinkansens 

 

 

 

 

[Sushi Train]

Five of the nine 500 Series Shinkansen rains were shortened to 8 car trains in 2008 for Sanyo Shinkansen Kodama (local) trains.  The extra cars were scrapped at that time.  So you don't need a full 16 car train to be prototypical.  There are all kinds of issues with the design of 500 Series that lead to their down grading.

 

JR West Japanese language page.

 

http://www.jr-odekake.net/navi/shinkansen/knowledge/500kei_okosama/

 

This can be translated with Google Translate.

 

http://translate.google.com/translate_t#

 

 

Bill - This is an interesting video not because of the 500 Nozomi but the short length from portal to portal. Is the train coming out of a tunnel and instantly going into another?

 

 

Yes it is, there are parts that run through hilly areas and as you can appreciate, the shortest distance to a destination is the most direct line so it passes straight through them, sometimes quickly going in and out of a few tunnels. Awesome, you have to experience it for yourself.

[westfalen]

Five of the nine 500 Series Shinkansen rains were shortened to 8 car trains in 2008 for Sanyo Shinkansen Kodama (local) trains.  The extra cars were scrapped at that time.  So you don't need a full 16 car train to be prototypical.  There are all kinds of issues with the design of 500 Series that lead to their down grading.

 

JR West Japanese language page.

 

http://www.jr-odekake.net/navi/shinkansen/knowledge/500kei_okosama/

 

This can be translated with Google Translate.

 

http://translate.google.com/translate_t#

 

 

Bill - This is an interesting video not because of the 500 Nozomi but the short length from portal to portal. Is the train coming out of a tunnel and instantly going into another?

Not uncommon, you've got to be quick to get glimpse of the scenery on some sections of the Shinkansen, especially the newer lines.

I come to believe tunnels are compulsory on Japanese railways , I've been on a line that was running straight across flat country then made a 90 degree turn and tunneled through a hill in the middle of nowhere.

[Triplex]

Amazing - just like a model. I guess American standards of "realism" have to be adjusted when you're talking about high-speed trains.

[inobu]

I just order a set and did a little research before hand. Here's some info for Kato's version. Based on what you are wanting, the pantographs are in the main car set 10-510 (4 car powered set) and the add on set 10-512. These are the 4 and 8 car sets respectively. This is the current release set from Kato.

 

There is a third set 10-511 which is a 4 car set but these "do not" have the pantograph.

 

The older release 10-382 is a 7 car set with pantograph, the second set was 10-383 a 5 car set with pantograph. This too has a third set 10-384 which oddly has only two cars, none of which have the pantograph you want. It appeared that modelers had to

purchase 2 10-382 sets to complete a 16 car unit is also cause them to have duplicate road numbers. These can only be found on ebay or an auction house.

 

Inobu

[disturbman]

Heads up.

 

HW has a Tomix Shinkansen serie 700 Hikari Rail Star 3 car basic set to sell with a nice discount: http://www.hwjapan.com/sh/TOX92276.aspx

[inobu]

Not a bad deal

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/KATO-Model-500-Bullet-Train_W0QQitemZ130338656415QQcmdZViewItemQQptZModel_RR_Trains?hash=item1e58ca109f

 

 

Inobu

[Bernard]

Not a bad deal

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/KATO-Model-500-Bullet-Train_W0QQitemZ130338656415QQcmdZViewItemQQptZModel_RR_Trains?hash=item1e58ca109f

 

 

Inobu

Check the sellers other items, he's also offering the 700 at the same price.