Micro Ace DD16

[Claude_Dreyfus]

Recently I have been on the look out for a small Japanese shunter, to both cover the yard duties on Yamanouchi Oshika and for my new personal project that is being planned. Really nothing really seemed to fit the bill – the DE10 to me is too big and will be used as a branch and trip loco, and I have always had reservations over the Kawai shunter as it looks a little crude; I have also come across some suspect running qualities with Kawai locomotives in the past.

 

Tomix do (did) a small 6-wheeler, however this seems to be more or less completely unavailable, and again looked a little crude on the examples I have seen (both pictures and ‘in the flesh’).

 

Then, the other day, I came across this little locomotive http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10038159 at a small shop in the UK – Wellington models. One order duly placed, I am now the proud only of a Micro Ace DD16. I still, however, have next to no information on the prototype. Does anyone on here have any background? The usual sources of English language have turned up nothing…

[David]

Ag, it's long sold out. I'm interested in the very same thing.

 

As for the Kawai unit, as far as I know it is exactly the same product that Bachmann sells in the US as the "Plymouth" MDT switcher, just with different paint jobs. State side you can buy them from MTS for $21 a piece (they are sold alone instead of with freight cars, in 2 generic paint jobs and 2 road names). Performance wise I'd say it's actually very good given the price, my biggest complaint being that it's very noticable that there is no flywheel (jerky running as it hits unclean sections of track). The running lights are dim but visible, the axels are a bit spongy (makes putting it back together a bit of trial and error, as there needs to be the right amount of tension to keep them in gauge). It has surprisingly good low speed running for something of it's size and price, and can pull a good number of cars (at least 10 boxcars).

[David]

I assume this is the place:

http://www.wellingtonmodels.com/10440/info.php?p=6

 

I can't find anything to indicate if they ship overseas - they've got a nice set of out of production locos gathering dust.

[Claude_Dreyfus]

Yes, Wellington Models do ship abroad. I noticed that some of their locomotives looks to have been long sold out with other suppliers...

[jappomania]

Recently I have been on the look out for a small Japanese shunter, to both cover the yard duties on Yamanouchi Oshika and for my new personal project that is being planned. Really nothing really seemed to fit the bill – the DE10 to me is too big and will be used as a branch and trip loco, and I have always had reservations over the Kawai shunter as it looks a little crude; I have also come across some suspect running qualities with Kawai locomotives in the past.

 

Tomix do (did) a small 6-wheeler, however this seems to be more or less completely unavailable, and again looked a little crude on the examples I have seen (both pictures and ‘in the flesh’).

 

Then, the other day, I came across this little locomotive http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10038159 at a small shop in the UK – Wellington models. One order duly placed, I am now the proud only of a Micro Ace DD16. I still, however, have next to no information on the prototype. Does anyone on here have any background? The usual sources of English language have turned up nothing…

 

 

Hi Claude!

a little bit of information

http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%9B%BD%E9%89%84DD16%E5%BD%A2%E3%83%87%E3%82%A3%E3%83%BC%E3%82%BC%E3%83%AB%E6%A9%9F%E9%96%A2%E8%BB%8A

 

http://images.google.it/images?hl=it&num=10&lr=lang_ja&cr=&safe=images&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=dd16&sa=N&tab=wi

 

http://itreni.net/jnrkeishikipage/dl/dd16/jnrdd16.html

http://homepage2.nifty.com/ninizou/rail-dd16-3.html

kitbashing example (maybe if you wanna create your personal company)

http://km-motors.cocolog-nifty.com/blog/dd16/index.html

 

sorry, only in japanese, but Google translation don't work so bad (use advanced search option and select pages in japanese language, is much simple to find more info)

 

p.s. Tomix 3 axle switcher are fantasy models they don't exist (are based on real locos but doesn't match the real)

I hope this help you..

 

ciao

[disturbman]

Ag, it's long sold out. I'm interested in the very same thing.

 

If you want, there is one on yahoo auction.

[westfalen]

This one, unfortunately I didn't record the number, was the resident shunter at JR Hokkaido's Naebo Workshops in Sapporo when I visited in 1994. Workshops shunter might be a common occupation for any remaining DD16's as the one offered by Hobbysearch is labeled "Ohmiya Factory".