Buying from Japan

[Robsr]

I’ve been looking for a Modemo NT123 Hiroshima 5-car tram and have found one in Japan. 
I need to pay using a Bank of Japan transfer as they won’t accept a UK credit card.

Does anyone know of a way to arrange the transfer from the UK or know of any suppliers that may have one or two models in stock?

Thanks in advance.

 Just for reference, I’ve got a load of old Kato track and I’d like to make a tram layout by combining Unitram track with my existing unitrack.
 I’m thinking of using my double viaduct track for a raised section as well as ground level track. 

 

 

[DenshaTen]

What website is it listed on? You can probably use a proxy service but it depends on where it's listed 

[Robsr]

3 minutes ago, DenshaTen said:

What website is it listed on? You can probably use a proxy service but it depends on where it's listed 

https://celebration.asideproceed.site/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=8923
it seems like it’s a bit like an umbrella site for smaller businesses 

[roadstar_na6]

20k is way to much I'd argue, better keep an eye out on Yahoo Auctions and see if you can get a better and less stressful deal via a proxy buying service like ZenMarket.

There actually is one for sale on YAJ, but it's marked as junk and seems to have a few issues: click

[bill937ca]

The Modemo NT123 is known for having issues.  The body does not straighten out on coming out of curves. I have all kinds of trams but I avoided tis one from the start.

 

 

 

The Kato Greenmovers are widely available and probably a beter buy for a Hiroshima tram. 20,000 Yen will get you a two tram Piccolo set.

https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/search?typ1_c=104&cat=rail&state=&sold=0&sortid=6&searchkey=hiroshima&Make=Kato&spage=1&ItemSeries=Electric+Car

 

There are also generic red and blue versions available.

https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/list/1700/6/1?Make=Kato

 

Edited March 2, 2023 by bill937ca

[Robsr]

1 hour ago, bill937ca said:

The Modemo NT123 is known for having issues.  The body does not straighten out on coming out of curves. I have all kinds of trams but I avoided tis one from the start.

 

 

 

The Kato Greenmovers are widely available and probably a beter buy for a Hiroshima tram. 20,000 Yen will get you a two tram Piccolo set.

https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/search?typ1_c=104&cat=rail&state=&sold=0&sortid=6&searchkey=hiroshima&Make=Kato&spage=1&ItemSeries=Electric+Car

 

There are also generic red and blue versions available.

https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/list/1700/6/1?Make=Kato

 

I bought the Piccollo / Piccolla set at the weekend but I really want a 5-car tram like the 5000 series.

Do you think the Tomytec version with a power bogie put in would be a better  option? 

[bill937ca]

It would be more readily available for sure. When you buy /order it you need a TM-LRT05 power drive which is due back in June.

https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10812586

 

One version of the five section is available at Hobby Search.

https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10812579

 

Three more are in the reservation stage for August delivery.

https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10956693

https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10956692

https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10956691

 

Edited March 2, 2023 by bill937ca

[Robsr]

5 minutes ago, bill937ca said:

It would be more readily available for sure. When you buy /order it you need a TM-LRT05 power drive which is due back in June.

https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10812586

 

One version of the five section is available at Hobby Search.

https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10812579

 

Three more are in the reservation stage for August delivery.

https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10956693

https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10956692

https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10956691

 

Thanks. I’ve seen those but they’ve all got signwriting on them.

I’ve seen one that’s not quite so obvious as the colour scheme is more plain. I’m trying to make a layout with more of a European feel to it so the more plain the livery the better. 

[brill27mcb]

It depends on what you want. The 5000 type "Green Mover" is a Combino design tram built by Siemens of Germany and imported into Japan. The Tomytec models are of the later 5100 type, a Japanese-manufactured "Green Mover MAX." (The Kato models, and also a different Tomytec model, are the 3-section "Green Mover LEX" design.)

 

I would recommend any Tomytec trams with the appropriate power chassis added. The #5105 model  https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10812572 (temporarily sold out at Hobby Search) is the typical paint scheme for this design, while other Tomytec model versions have special liveries that are either have added ad panels or are total ad "wraps":

https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10812579

https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10956691

https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10956692

https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10956693

 

Thanks to Kato and Tomytec, right now there are a great variety of LEX and MAX models to choose from. Be aware that, if you want to run models of mixed manufacturers all on one power pack at the same time, the Tomytec power chassis have faster motors and are not speed-compatible with the others. I run 3 or 4 trams at once on one power pack, keeping them spaced apart by using controllable stop blocks. So, something like they do at skating rinks ("The next song is ladies only..."),  I run my trams in Tomytec-only or non-Tomyec groups. (If you want to go to digital control, you could then tune the individual tram voltage/speed curves to be compatible.)

 

Rich K.

[brill27mcb]

13 minutes ago, Robsr said:

Thanks. I’ve seen those but they’ve all got signwriting on them.

I’ve seen one that’s not quite so obvious as the colour scheme is more plain. I’m trying to make a layout with more of a European feel to it so the more plain the livery the better. 

Have you seen the Tomytec World Railway collection models? They're European:

https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10626112

https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10626108

 

Six of these have been produced. Like you, I tend not to be specifically modeling Japanese trams. I generally do a "world city" concept in my mind, where the buildings and overall look could be any modern city anywhere.

 

Rich K.

[Robsr]

I’ve spent dozens of hours over the last month whilst recovering from a hand operation looking at virtually every website and model available (I had to do something to cure the boredom. Lol)
 

I’ve seen the European trams and I’ve ordered the piccolo / Piccola units but really want a couple of 5-car sets to run as I like to see them snaking around the tighter corners and S bends and have a layout in my mind that will have both having been to Lisbon, Seville and Blackpool in the last year and seen ideas that I like.

Referring to your other comment. I’d prefer the dark green colour of the Modelo but do you think the lighter green with yellow bits above the doors is a decent replacement? 

Edited March 2, 2023 by disturbman
unnecessary quote, answering previous message

[bill937ca]

I like dark green but whether an alternative would satisfy you is hard to say.  You probably know best. But it is tricky to get exactly what you want at particular time. I have had scoop up what was available as it became available and this has been going on since 2007.

 

I too have world wide models with that being Japan. US, Canada and Europe.

 

You can find some HO gauge Lisbon four wheelers bodies mounted on N scale trucks usualy on eBay and if your clearances aren't too tight you could run them on your N scale track.

 

Modemo models all have a minimum radius of R140mm.  Tomytec unless noted can do R103 radius.

 

We tend to use Hobby Search as a directory of available models.  This page is their Japanese trams.

https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/list/1700/6/1

 

World Wide Trams

https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/list/1712/6/1?Region=Europe&Make=Tomytec

 

Edited March 2, 2023 by bill937ca

[disturbman]

Agreed on all counts. It also at times hard to know if you will actually really like a mode until you have seen it in the plastic flesh. Something you thought would like can be in the end underwhelming and others you wouldn’t have thought twice about can become instant favourites. At least, I’m my experience.

 

Unfortunately, most of us cannot get access to physical hobby shops to judge how a mode will speak to us.

[bill937ca]

Perhaps the best route is to set up a proxy account with Zenmarket or Buyee.  There is a separate thread to educate you. I have used it a couple of times. It etend sto get a bit expensive at times with all the fees. But I think you should be able to get the green tram for less than 20,000 Yen.

 

With the proxy you can bid on items not normally accessible to our market(i.e. Japan only).  You will need to set up a deposit. When you win the proxy will pay the suppler out of your deposit and have the parcel shipped to their warehouse. There you can accumulate items or ship them straight to you. 

 

 

Edited March 2, 2023 by bill937ca

[Robsr]

47 minutes ago, disturbman said:

Agreed on all counts. It also at times hard to know if you will actually really like a mode until you have seen it in the plastic flesh. Something you thought would like can be in the end underwhelming and others you wouldn’t have thought twice about can become instant favourites. At least, I’m my experience.

 

Unfortunately, most of us cannot get access to physical hobby shops to judge how a mode will speak to us.

I’m like that with the Kato 1000 series. I preferred it to the Piccolo / Piccola set because of the colour but decided to get them instead as they’re only a bit more than the dark green I really wanted. 

[Kamome]

Also check a proxy that can bid with Yahoo auction. Seems to be a few on there.

 

https://auctions.yahoo.co.jp/closedsearch/closedsearch/広島電鉄5000/0/