Bandai B-Train Shorty

[disturbman]

You should hunt these on YJA (now JDirectItems Auction), Shorties can still be rather easily found there. Even in full formations sometimes.

I'm putting a browsing link here, you can use a different proxy if you prefer: https://buyee.jp/item/search/query/Bトレインショーティー/category/2084259579?translationType=98

You definitely don't have to put the motor in the head-cabs. A middle car is enough, even on longer formations. Whatever one float your boat. With Japanese MU, motor can be bit anywhere.

You can also swap the couplers for shorter ones if you want. It will make the train look a bit "better".

[Cat]

Mandarake is also a good source.  While listed as 'used', everything I've gotten from there was new in box, just re-sold.  Signing up for 'alerts' for out of stock items there is worthwhile, they get new stuff in.  I have some older alerts that I've never turned off, it's fun seeing some items awaken every so often.
https://order.mandarake.co.jp/order/listPage/list?keyword=b-train shorty&lang=en

[MetalMech]

Awesome thank you for this information. I took a look at it but will check it out more later. Good to know there are some sources. I didn’t finish building mine till this week and enjoyed it so much I really wish I had bought more back when I did when I could get them cheaper.

[cteno4]

I’ll do a basement dive, I have a small handful of shorty kits that I failed to get the second set for and if I have it it’s yours.

 

jeff

[kami_illy]

On 2/8/2025 at 8:35 PM, cteno4 said:

I’ll do a basement dive, I have a small handful of shorty kits that I failed to get the second set for and if I have it it’s yours.

 

jeff

Hi Jeff, 

since you'll go hunting for Shorty stuff in your basement, I might have a request as well... If you happen to have a spare roof for a EF66 (in blue without the AC), I'd be interested 😁 

Best

ilja

[cteno4]

Ill look if i have the ef66, i do remember some locos coming with different roofs. I do keep all the spares parts from shorties and tomytec, at times feeling like a hoarder doing so, but alway think myself or someone may need that later!

 

jeff

[disturbman]

It's a like hoarding. I'm keeping the bogie covers from my Tomytec sets for future, never-going-to-happen projects. I should just bin them. The only part that I have found to have any re-use value for me are coupler springs and radio antena.

[N-Osoi]

I really wanted a B-train Shorty, as I didn't have one yet. Part of my treasure haul was this - Tama Densha Shorty! 

 

I also purchased the Kato 11-107 power unit and 11-097 bogies... I assume that's all I need to make a running B-train shorty of two cars?

Edited March 21 by N-Osoi

[kami_illy]

On 3/21/2025 at 8:55 AM, N-Osoi said:

I really wanted a B-train Shorty, as I didn't have one yet. Part of my treasure haul was this - Tama Densha Shorty! 

 

I also purchased the Kato 11-107 power unit and 11-097 bogies... I assume that's all I need to make a running B-train shorty of two cars?

 

Yep, that will make it run. For better realism -though that's not the main focus of shorties 😁- and better spacing between cars, you could also change the couplers (like the Kato 11-703). The difference is huge for small money!! 

[kami_illy]

A little bit of cross-posting now. I took my motorised sleeper trains for a spin (7 car Cassiopeia with EF510 and 7car Hokutosei with EF81, all using Bandai running gear). I did this to test the new Pocket controller by Kato. I did some testing after receiving it but was not convinced (by both the controller and my test setup).

So now I put together the outer loop of my Shorty layout and had the trains do some rounds. The trains went with one single engine (Bandai power unit 5) and achieved "good-enough" realistic speeds through the course. The EF81 had some trouble in the curves. Think I need to add some more weight on it to kill the wheel slip. Had a very nice time and a lot of fun. 

Will try to upload a short video here or there. 

 

Edited Saturday at 04:20 PM by kami_illy
Typos

[kusojiji]

How are your 11-107's holding up? Mine have all died. They have two zener diodes and I'm guessing I'm frying them. Perhaps that micro controller is really needed. I tried to replace the zeners but still don't work. Actually gave up on them and sticking to the 11-109. 

[kami_illy]

22 hours ago, kusojiji said:

How are your 11-107's holding up? Mine have all died. They have two zener diodes and I'm guessing I'm frying them. Perhaps that micro controller is really needed. I tried to replace the zeners but still don't work. Actually gave up on them and sticking to the 11-109. 

I'm not using Kato gear with the Shorties. It's all Bandai power units. They seem a lot more robust (probably a bit more clunky or less smooth though). 

[kusojiji]

Are you still able to get them? I haven't seen them lately.

 

Man, I really like that hokutosei train! I have a Kato EF81 in that livery. I bought it probably 30  years ago. Still running.

 

I put some nuts and bolts into the space behind the cab. Really helps with traction.

Edited Monday at 12:39 PM by kusojiji