Kato Class 273 'Yakumo' (a good model, but look at the instructions first!)

[NeMo]

So, these arrived yesterday! One is the four-car set (10-1999) and the other than eight-car set (10-2000). The trains themselves seem to be similar, but the eight-car set includes two driving cars with working couplings to go on the inside of a 4+4 formation. These driving cars also have a switch on the underside to turn off the headlights. The other two driving cars have more realistic, but non-functional, couplings. The four-car set has two driving cars, both with working couplings and light switch. If you want to run a 12-car formation, you'd need to put this four-car set in the middle of the eight-car set.

 

Performance is what you'd expect from Kato: smooth and quiet. The bogies apparently tilt around corners, but if they do, the effect is subtle. The Sound Card adds some fun to driving the train, but I'm not really sure of the significance of the music at function #6. Presumably something to do with in-train annoucements?

 

What I will say about this model is to read the instructions first! The cab-end couplings are odd. You need to turn the car over, push the black housing piece forwards, and in doing so, you'll see the cab-end coupling extends forwards. If you don't do this the train will immediately derail when it goes around a curve. Turning the car over also reveals a sort of 'cow catcher' on the leading bogie that hangs really low. If you have anything sitting above ballast height on the track, there's a good chance it'll catch the 'cow catcher' piece and derail the train. You can unclip and remove the 'cow catcher' though, which is helpful.

 

I've just seen a YouTube video where someone has come across this problem and seems quite cross about it. Fair enough, but it's not really the model's fault so much as the lack of English instructions in the packaging. Once you figure out how the couplings work and how to detatch the 'cow catcher' if needs be, the train runs very well. Hopefully this post will help JNS members not make the same mistake.

 

The colour scheme is subtle. It's a sort of metallic golden ochre colour. It's not the most eye-catching livery Japanese railways have ever done, but it's quite nice in a low-key, tasteful sort of way. I haven't tried fitting the cab-end doors yet, but it looks as if these (as you'd expect) only fit on the driving cars with working couplings.

 

Overall, a nice addition to the railway, even if a little fiddly to get started.

 

 

Edited yesterday at 04:31 PM by NeMo

[katoftw]

All modern kato multi units have this feature for coupling together.  It's not a new or confusing feature. I guess if you're new to Japanese n scale, I could see this as maybe tricky feature.

 

Cow catcher = skirt.

Edited yesterday at 09:11 PM by katoftw

[Tony Galiani]

Japan Station has this to say about the color:  "The train’s color has been called “Yakumo Bronze” and is meant to represent a mixture of warm colors that can be seen in the Sanin region, such as sunset on the sea, ceremonial fires, and red-tiled rooftops."

 

This is a model I would like to get at some point.  Not buying anything in the near future but at some point I think I will look for the four car set.

 

Ciao,

Tony

[Madsing]

I have purchased the four-car set (Kato 10-1999). It is very nice, I like its bronze color. I would have preferred the paint a bit more glossy, that would have made the set more stunning in my opinion. I had a better impression when I received the E261 Saphir Odoriko, for example. 

Marc

[NeMo]

1 hour ago, Madsing said:

I have purchased the four-car set (Kato 10-1999). It is very nice, I like its bronze color. I would have preferred the paint a bit more glossy, that would have made the set more stunning in my opinion. I had a better impression when I received the E261 Saphir Odoriko, for example. 

Marc

Now that you say it, I think you're right. A bit more gloss or even a slightly metallic finish would have made the unit look more eyecatching.