Trying to find alternatives passenger car sets for EF58-150 Kyoto Edition

[EHizon671]

I have the KATO 3049-9 EF58 150 Kyoto Edition, and I am having trouble deciding which train to pair it with.

I was looking at the KATO website, and it says it is paired with 10-1893, 10-1591 and 10-1353, and 10-1820. 
The problem is that; 
I have the EF58 150 (Brown) already paired with 10-1893.
I have the C56-160 already paired with the 10-1820.
The 10-1591 and 10-1353 are no longer in production.

 

It also says that on the KATO website, the "Correct" set for the EF58 150 is the 10-1670 Kitaguni and the 10-1550 12 Series JNR Specification; neither of them are no longer in production and are very hard to find and often price-inflated.

So, I am trying to find alternatives. I found these online. Would these make great contenders?

10-1872 Series 20 Sleeping Car Express `Sakura` Nagasaki Formation + 10-1873 Series 20 Sleeping Car Express `Sakura` Sasebo Formation 
10-1726 + Kato 10-1725 Series 20 Sleeper Limited Express 'Asakaze'

Any help would be appreciated. Thank You.

 

Edited April 3 by EHizon671

[SwallowAngel]

I think I start sounding like a broken record, but as always it's probably best for you to just run whatever "looks right".

 

The model you have here in particular never actually ran in any sort of service in that condition. The Kyoto variant you have should have an ATC antenna mounted on top of both cabs, a feature it only gained when it was preserved in 1987 and painted in JNR Grape. After it's retirement from service in 2011 it simply kept the antenna despite being painted back into JNR Blue, a combination it never actually ran in.

So unfortunately literally anything coupled to it (that isn't ORoNe 24 4 and EF65 1 like currently seen at Kyoto) is going to be wrong to some degree.

 

Now, that being said, I think you should consider this as something positive, as you can just hook up anything and always be equally correct (or wrong 😛).

 

Before I go on rambling though, this site provides a wealth of picture of EF58 150, both during JNR and JR service in front of all sorts of consists. So having alook through there might prove useful in your search.

 

As for model consists, I'd personally recommend a 12 Series consist, since it was more often towing those, both during JNR and JR service. As the KATO site already recommends, both 10-1550 and 10-1820 would be the best option for that. Alternatively any Blue Train would probably look great behind the model.

 

On a side note though, I am not sure what you're talking about when you say that 10-1550 is being marked up/hard to find. Almost all of the "go-to" JP model sellers have that set in stock at or below MSRP. I don't know where you get your models from, but branching out to other retailers might be a good idea.

 

Additionally, I am kinda wondering why you're so hesitant to mix your consists among locos. Isn't it half the fun of loco-drawn consists being able to mix and match the locomotives infront of it? Especially in this case it might just be worth it to bite the bullet and have EF58 150 and C56 160 "share" the 10-1820 set.

 

Hope this helps!

[EHizon671]

1 hour ago, SwallowAngel said:

I think I start sounding like a broken record, but as always it's probably best for you to just run whatever "looks right".

 

The model you have here in particular never actually ran in any sort of service in that condition. The Kyoto variant you have should have an ATC antenna mounted on top of both cabs, a feature it only gained when it was preserved in 1987 and painted in JNR Grape. After it's retirement from service in 2011 it simply kept the antenna despite being painted back into JNR Blue, a combination it never actually ran in.

So unfortunately literally anything coupled to it (that isn't ORoNe 24 4 and EF65 1 like currently seen at Kyoto) is going to be wrong to some degree.

 

Now, that being said, I think you should consider this as something positive, as you can just hook up anything and always be equally correct (or wrong 😛).

 

Before I go on rambling though, this site provides a wealth of picture of EF58 150, both during JNR and JR service in front of all sorts of consists. So having alook through there might prove useful in your search.

 

As for model consists, I'd personally recommend a 12 Series consist, since it was more often towing those, both during JNR and JR service. As the KATO site already recommends, both 10-1550 and 10-1820 would be the best option for that. Alternatively any Blue Train would probably look great behind the model.

 

On a side note though, I am not sure what you're talking about when you say that 10-1550 is being marked up/hard to find. Almost all of the "go-to" JP model sellers have that set in stock at or below MSRP. I don't know where you get your models from, but branching out to other retailers might be a good idea.

 

Additionally, I am kinda wondering why you're so hesitant to mix your consists among locos. Isn't it half the fun of loco-drawn consists being able to mix and match the locomotives infront of it? Especially in this case it might just be worth it to bite the bullet and have EF58 150 and C56 160 "share" the 10-1820 set.

 

Hope this helps!

Thanks! The link you provided helps a lot. I am surprised to see multiple variants of the EF58! 
As for me asking questions, I apologize. I primarily run American trains in HO, so getting back into Japanese N scale again is still challenging for me, as I have been out of the game for a long time. 
 

[RS18U]

1 hour ago, EHizon671 said:

I primarily run American trains in HO, so getting back into Japanese N scale again is still challenging for me

I've been an HO modeler (western Canada/logging) since the late 70's and only got into Japanese about 1 year ago, so I am finding the learning curve to be pretty steep if you want to keep it truly prototypical.  So I've taken the 'run what you brung' route and get those trains I like or have had an actual interaction with.  Everyone will have a different reason for being in the hobby, for me its just enjoying the amazing variety that is available.