Aoshima DD51

[dmir.steve]

I have some upcoming travel around Christmas so my wife let me open a few presents early.  She gifted me the Aoshima 1/45 DD51 locomotive kit...somehow she found this on a Japanese site, and I guess knew to look for Aoshima because I'm building the EF65 kit now.  Will share pics of that when finished - a few weeks away.  

 

What resources do you recommend for researching the DD51, useful for the kit build?  I've searched the forum and found some apparently great YouTube videos, but following the link takes me to an error page on YT, video no longer available.  Since the engines and other mechanical components are exposed, I'd like to see photos of these to build accurately.  And there is a lot of detail in the trucks/bogies...detailed photos of these would also be helpful.

 

The 60 page, 99% Japanese instruction manual tells me this is a build for the long haul, but worth it.  Google Translate is working great so far.  I plan on writing down the translations for each page of the manual before starting.

 

Will also admit I am a newcomer to Japanese trains so if anyone has details on which specific prototype this kit represents, I'm absolutely open to input and critique.  

[Kamome]

There are magazines available on Amazon Japan which if specifically look at the DD51, would give a lot of visual reference. The monthly railway magazines are a little expensive but are more like periodicals printed on heavyweight paper with good quality photographs and information.

 

For Google search, If you’re not well-versed in Japanese, you can use your translate app from English to Japanese and paste the result into the search field. This may bring up much more suitable images you can use for reference as opposed to typing in English. 

 

Engine bay and drivers cab are the images you’d probably need the most to assist the build. This kit comes with the metal wheel upgrades plus there is a  headlight kit from Aoshima for this model. 

 

Also the product page gives some reasonable images for some of the painted surface colours. 

https://www.aoshima-bk.co.jp/product/4905083009987/

 

 

[cteno4]

@dmir.steve Steve you have a very nice wife! Send her our compliments.

 

jeff