Kato Shinkansen gangway design

[GeorgeHInch]

I just realized at some point Kato released N700sets (10-547) with an actual enclosed gangway between cars. I don't think I've seen this on anything else before and I'm curious if anyone has any experience with these sets.

 

I assume they must not have worked too well since they don't appear on anything else but they look pretty cool when combined in a set.

Edited November 5, 2023 by GeorgeHInch

[SwallowAngel]

I've read from @cteno4's answers from older posts that the original batch seemed to have some issues regarding the couplers on a full 16-car setup. Maybe he can elaborate on that here (again).

 

I do have to agree though, they do look pretty cool. I'd like to see these more prototypical designs implemented on more trains. Especially Kato's Shinkansen 0 and 200 coupler designs are in dire need of a rework...

[cteno4]

My issue was with original n700. As I remember it, it did not have the part sticking out in the middle of the diaphragm and the diaphragm looked a bit different, but that was over 10 years ago. The original coupler causes random derailments I could not correct or even diagnosis as they were very random in both the place on the track and train.

 

jeff

[GeorgeHInch]

Interesting! I didn't know there was already a conversation around this. I just randomly stumbled on it and was so curious why it never showed up on other products. I'm kind of stuck in a hard place when it comes to these models because I use DCC and Kato is a lot easier to do when it comes to decoders but Tomix at least tries to make their Shinkansen cars look connected. Plus the power-over-coupler is actually really nice on the trains I have with it. 

[disturbman]

@GeorgeHInch The gangways à la Tomix are more of a question of personal taste. Some like them, some don't as they don't align perfectly. Afaik, Tomix is coming up with a new coupling solution with moving gangways that should avoid the misalignments, but it also looks like it's getting rid of the all-wheel pickup arrangement that was a big pull in their concurrence against Kato.

For DCCing, of course it's annoying and takes time and some practice, but doing your own manual installations would offer you a greater pull of trains to choose from. From what I have seen, it's more the locomotives that can be a pita to convert. You can always find a space for a decoder inside an MU, can be harder in a loc.

[GeorgeHInch]

I'm perfectly ok at installing deciders in even Tomix Shinkansen, it's just nice when it's a drop in instead.

 

@disturbman I'm intrigued by this new Tomix coupler you mentioned. I haven't seen anything yet (though I guess I wasn't looking either.) Where can you see more about it? Which models have they announced with it?

 

 

[disturbman]

I retract my comment, Tomix is not changing its coupling system. It downed I had misremembered a several months old conversation 😕