Need suggestions

[Mossberg]

Before starting on something bigger I just made an oval on a sheet of plywood (100x50cm) and have now started to add scenery. The KATO D51SL kit I bought is to big for the space so I desided to save my KATO tracks for temporary layouts on the living room floor. Instead I took some spare Minitrix tracks I had.

 

But I would like to have some suggestions on a appropriate trainset for my first little adventure. The layout is going to be rural, with just a few buildings and a lot of green. It has to be something very short because the station is only 35 cm :-).  I am very fond of steam but it seams hard to find small japanese steam locos (like the Prussian T3 or Bavarian Glaskasten). So diesel will do just as well. The time frame is somewere between 1930 and 1960.  

 

I am new to Japanese railways so I dont really know were to start looking, or am I just beeing lazy :-).

 

Any suggestions?

 

Regards

Magnus M

[disturbman]

One name for you: Kiha 10... One of the rare DMU to fit in your era. With your station lengh you can't run anything longer than a 2 cars set.

[Mossberg]

One name for you: Kiha 10...

 

Thank you. I found some Kiha 10 by Tomix at Hobby Search.

 

http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10036254

http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10036255

 

A stupied question perhaps. But what is the difference between them, other than the price?

 

Regards

Magnus M

[Kabutoni]

KIHA 101/102 from the Nambu Juukan made by TOMIX. Quite easy to find, not very expensive, highly detailed, reliable and changing headlights.

 

Here's a picture from my two pieces. I have to repair some of the couplers though :( they broke off when they collided with the ground due to an insecure switching system... Have learned a lot from that nasty experience...

 

Otherwise a DMU from the TOMYTEC Tetsudou Collection Vol.10 can suffice. You have to buy a motor unit separately though, but it's much cheaper then buying a finished DMU (however, also less detailed). Otherwise a C11 or C12 will do as a small steamer. Smaller diesel engines can be bought from Pro Hobby/Caramel Nine: http://www.prohobby.sakura.ne.jp/e_page/c9.html ;)

 

@links:

http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10036254 = Motorised (M)

http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10036255 = Trailer Car (T)

[jappomania]

Hi Magnus!

maybe you can try with one Kato 9600 (recently re-released and simple to find for now), it's a beautifull loco because the engine is not inside the cab.

http://www.katomodels.com/product/nmi/9600.shtml

or you can wait january for one C11 locotender (really low cost)

http://www.katomodels.com/product/nmi/c11.shtml

you can complete your train with these cars (one or two like I seen on old photos)

http://www.katomodels.com/product/nmi/oha31kei.shtml

This aint a much expensive solution

Maybe one Microace loco is better but aren't to simple to find now ...

another solution can be one single/double old diesel car....

http://www.katomodels.com/product/nmi/kiha52.shtml (this is only one example you can find a lot of diesel cars)

like T3 you can find only brass handmade products, the most little loco produced from Kato/Microace was the C50/C56 an 8600 class, excluding the really old locos Yoshitune and Benkey (similar like far west frontier USA loco, relased from Atlas too, is the same loco with another color) and the museum Number 1 loco, the first japanse locomotive - imported from England - I think to much old for your layout)

 

ciao

Massimo

[Mossberg]

A single or double diesel car would probably look better on my tiny layout but I have to admit that the C11 looked very interesting.

 

Thank you all for your very helpful suggestions.

 

/Magnus M

[David]

Thank you. I found some Kiha 10 by Tomix at Hobby Search.

 

http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10036254

http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10036255

 

A stupied question perhaps. But what is the difference between them, other than the price?

 

Normally (M) means motor car (powered), while (T) means trailer car (unpowered); So you'd need the motor car to do anything. However that's pretty expensive for a trailer car, and the machine translated english talks about a small profile motor - honestly I don't see space for any traditional N gauge motor in that model, but who knows.

[Fenway Park]

Hi, I have several of these Tomix 10/11/16/17 series DMUs. They have a low floor flywheel chassis and run very well. They are High Grade and so Tomix seem to charge more plus you have to add detail parts and numbering yourself. (Similar comments re the 20/25/26 series)

 

The Nambu Jukan railcars 101/102 are very good. I ran my set round the old JR Models shop layout and they ran faultlessly despite comments to the contrary that they would stall on the PECO points.

 

You should also consider the Tomix KIHA 01/02/03 railbus similar to a DB 795/798. Same chassis as the Nambu Jukan . Both powered in the set with fitted TN couplers. Some are cold weather variants.

 

The Kato 52 is very good but avoid the old 20 series from Kato. 

 

The 30 series from Kato is more a suburban unit but could be suitable. They also offer the 35/36 twin set.

 

Tony's advice re Tomytec Train Collection 10 is spot on. Contact Japan Model Railways in Kamen Germany. OK they don't have lights but it is the only way at present to get a JNR Kiha 04 1930s to 1960 diesel railcar. Green Max's kit is very old.

 

Micro Ace offered the 07 series but in a 4 car and not very cheap set. Also you cannot fit TNs to this type as the shape of the nose prevents them being fitted.

[Kabutoni]

Tony's advice re Tomytec Train Collection 10 is spot on. Contact Japan Model Railways in Kamen Germany. OK they don't have lights but it is the only way at present to get a JNR Kiha 04 1930s to 1960 diesel railcar. Green Max's kit is very old.

 

Japanese Model Railways has very few left. I've given them a visit last week in the hunt for one or two diesels and was lucky enough to find two of my liking. He has quite a stash of other Tetsudou Collection trains, though the Vol. 10 seems to have had only two deliveries to Japanese Model Railways. Don't push your luck there for Vol. 10 trains... Unless he has another delivery waiting, which I doubt... Maybe try your luck through auctions on Yahoo! Japan.

[Mossberg]

Thank you for your suggestions. I went for a JNR Type Kiha 03 Rail Bus Set  (http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10047556). They looked small and neat.

 

I also preordered a C11 with suggested cars  :-).

 

/Magnus M