CaptOblivious Posted November 27, 2009 Share Posted November 27, 2009 I've posted my short review of Micro Ace's new E653 model here: http://akihabara.artificial-science.org/2009/11/review-micro-ace-a4821-jr-east-e653-%E2%80%9Cfresh-hitachi%E2%80%9D/ I know some members of the board have the older model; I do not. I'm curious to know the differences between the two, to flesh out my review a little more. Link to comment
Hezekiah Strawbody Posted November 27, 2009 Share Posted November 27, 2009 I've posted my short review of Micro Ace's new E653 model here: http://akihabara.artificial-science.org/2009/11/review-micro-ace-a4821-jr-east-e653-%E2%80%9Cfresh-hitachi%E2%80%9D/ I know some members of the board have the older model; I do not. I'm curious to know the differences between the two, to flesh out my review a little more. What you call a "center markerlight" is actually an illuminated nameboard with 'Fresh Hitach' on it. The front skirts on the original releases look the same as in the prototype's photos, so that is something that they have changed for the worse. Link to comment
westfalen Posted November 27, 2009 Share Posted November 27, 2009 I know both are slightly OT from the E653, but you mention 'bi-polar capable decoders', I've never heard that term before, could you explain? "Micro Ace, way back in 1999, started with North American prototypes, but quickly abandoned them in favor of Japanese prototypes." What American prototypes did they do? I know they did the old time 2-6-0 sold by Atlas but it was really a Japanese prototype, and in 1997 I saw some Life Like E8's and SD7's in Micro Ace boxes in a Kyoto hobby shop. Link to comment
David Posted November 28, 2009 Share Posted November 28, 2009 That is one nice pantograph. I have a general preference for older scissor pantographs (this became an issue in trying to decide which version of the EF210 to buy for an eventual container train) because of how poor the plastic molded single arm pantographs normally look and feel (the scissor pantographs are normally made from metal except for the really cheap models). Do all the Micro Ace pantographs look that good (metal with high detailing)? Link to comment
bill937ca Posted November 28, 2009 Share Posted November 28, 2009 "Micro Ace, way back in 1999, started with North American prototypes, but quickly abandoned them in favor of Japanese prototypes." What American prototypes did they do? I know they did the old time 2-6-0 sold by Atlas but it was really a Japanese prototype, and in 1997 I saw some Life Like E8's and SD7's in Micro Ace boxes in a Kyoto hobby shop. Here is the production list from the Micro Ace web site. You can translate it with a machine translator. This was 1996 by the way. http://www.microace-arii.co.jp/products/itemlist/ft.html Link to comment
CaptOblivious Posted November 28, 2009 Author Share Posted November 28, 2009 Woops! "1999" was meant as a placeholder text, I knew that wasn't the right year! Thanks for the correction, Bill. In my previous reviews I always hotlinked the term 'bi-polar decoder' since it is awkward shorthand for something else. Ill throw that hot link back in later tonight so you can see what I'm talking about. In a nutshell: a function decoder that doesn't require you to slice up your lighboards to convert them. Hezekiah: examining photos of the prototype, I see the lettering. The model doesn't even try to reproduce it, so I never even noticed what it is supposed to be. Since its on in each direction, I presumed it was some odd sort of marker. It is a shame indeed if the attenuated skirt is a downgrade, but I suppose the older model must have had real problems on tight cjurves in 7+4 and 7+7 consists. Link to comment
westfalen Posted November 28, 2009 Share Posted November 28, 2009 "Micro Ace, way back in 1999, started with North American prototypes, but quickly abandoned them in favor of Japanese prototypes." What American prototypes did they do? I know they did the old time 2-6-0 sold by Atlas but it was really a Japanese prototype, and in 1997 I saw some Life Like E8's and SD7's in Micro Ace boxes in a Kyoto hobby shop. Here is the production list from the Micro Ace web site. You can translate it with a machine translator. This was 1996 by the way. http://www.microace-arii.co.jp/products/itemlist/ft.html They are all models sold in the US by Life Like, but it seems like only the releases from that year, some were released in different road names as far back as 1988. That explains what I saw in Kyoto at least. Link to comment
westfalen Posted November 28, 2009 Share Posted November 28, 2009 In my previous reviews I always hotlinked the term 'bi-polar decoder' since it is awkward shorthand for something else. Ill throw that hot link back in later tonight so you can see what I'm talking about. In a nutshell: a function decoder that doesn't require you to slice up your lighboards to convert them. Got the link, thanks. I have a batch of TCS Z2's on the way, a couple of them will now be used as guinea pigs in cab cars. Link to comment
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