Bandai B-Train Shorty

[Welshbloke]

Wouldn't really work with the freight stock though!

 

Besides which I've never been keen on dummy locos and motorised coaches or wagons. The locos are improving with every hour of running, so I'll keep at it. If you consider the purchase price Bandai must be paying absolute pennies for the components in them.

 

The Power Unit 01 also comes with a neat clear plastic box which has a foam insert to hold a pair of the locos which use this power unit, having bought two motors I have a spare box. Will report back on whether the DD51 will fit if I trim the foam a little, it's very slightly longer over couplers but there's a bit of leeway at the ends of the box. Would be handy if it does as the other power units don't include a storage box for the locos they fit.

[kvp]

 

Besides which I've never been keen on dummy locos and motorised coaches or wagons.

Personally you could try to fit the bogie motors into the loco shells. In theory it should be doable as there are newer locos that use bogie motors. (both diesel and electric) The couplers would be a bit more out, but the gap between the locomotive and the trailing coaches doesn't matter as much as between cars. Imho this would give a more realistic look to the locomotives and 8 wheels of power pickup instead of 4.

[utrainia]

How about a real-life B-Bus Shorty?

[Welshbloke]

Well, second batch of tankers arrived (the deep blue versions of the TaKi 43000) along with one pack of Euroliner coaches. I've found that the standard B-train shorty coach (and presumably EMU vehicles) will also fit in the foam inserts from the Power Unit 1 boxes, if you do as I did with a pair of electric locos using these chassis then you'll end up with a spare box from each such combination (as the two locos will fit in one box).

 

Somewhat weirdly the second pair of tankers are running far more reliably than the first! I suspect my problems are related to a lack of freedom in the bogies, as they can't tilt upwards at the outer end without the coupler pocket hitting the floor. Also the wheelsets seem to go out of gauge. This may all explain why Bandai's instant layout kit is just a simple oval with no pointwork...

 

I will be working on these until they behave themselves! Also ordered the Hokutosei A and C sets (might get the B later if the price comes down a bit). Next purchase will probably be three packs of trailer chassis to get all the coaches running, although I may well see if I can also find some space in the budget for the set of two EF66s. Doing my best not to end up with a huge pile of stock needing motors/trailer chassis and no cash left to buy same!

Edited May 22, 2015 by Welshbloke

[Mark]

At the moment, I have two powered B-trains, one powered by a Bandai unit and the other by a Kato unit. My Kato power unit is pretty quiet and runs smoothly but seems to lack pulling power. It could be a weight issue because the Kato unit is noticeably lighter than the Bandai one and doesn't come with the additional weights. My Bandai unit has plenty of pulling power but growls like a mini diesel engine and is a little jerky at low speeds. After reading Welshbloke's posts above, I'm going to try lubricating it to see if that helps.

 

I am happy with both overall and have another Kato unit on order along with the matching trucks.

[Welshbloke]

I know the general rule is not to add any more lubrication straight from the box, but the gears on mine were dry. A brass worm is going to chew a plastic cog to pieces pretty quickly without any grease.

 

I just used some plain plastic-safe axle grease applied with a thin screwdriver. A dab on each cog, a tiny drop of light oil on each motor bearing, then reassemble. Be careful with the power pickups, they're supposed to bear on the backs of the wheels so you need to prod them inwards to allow the wheelsets to settle into place properly before refitting the metal baseplate. Said baseplate also only fits one way, so if it won't go back properly then try turning it 180 degrees.

 

At the moment I have one EF64 and all four tankers growling and clattering around an oval of Kato CV1+CV2, they'll run happily in that exact formation and that direction. Try to put the loco on the other end and run in the opposite direction and tankers start derailing, unless you change the formation!

 

Edit, if the Kato unit is a bit light then I might be inclined to fill the two weight pockets in the body with fishing weights/lead shot, then a piece of tape over the pockets to stop it falling out. That's probably the easiest way to add some ballast without getting into things like offcuts of roofing lead cut with tinsnips. Obviously you need to wash your hands thoroughly after working with lead, it's a neurotoxin but can be handled safely with the correct precautions.

 

My pair of EF64s have clocked up about eight hours running between them today, things do seem to be improving. I'll give them the same treatment again tomorrow and then take the baseplates off to inspect the gearing. Very strangely the train of four tankers behaved perfectly all day in both directions, although they're still not keen on the diverging route of the Kato turnouts!

Edited May 24, 2015 by Welshbloke

[chinbeard]

You will need multiple packs, if I read the description right you need 3 packs to make the full train.

Seems the third pack is only needed for 1 roof and 2 car ends which seems stupid given all the other parts are provided.

[Welshbloke]

Yep, they do some silly things in terms of parts supply.

 

The Hokutosei B-pack for example is only short of one side, glazing for same, a pair of ends and a set of bogie sideframes to be able to make four coaches instead of three. The Kintetsu 12200 B pack is only short of a pair of ends and a set of bogie sideframes to make an extra non-driving motor (either 12200 or 12400 depending on which roof you have left over).

 

Further experimentation...

 

The four wheel chassis are nothing like as good as the bogie ones. I have two of four four wheel chassis which run to my standards, the other two are a case of "lumpy at low speed one way, fine the other" and "horrible gear mesh leading to growling".

 

The bogie chassis are superb after a few drops of light oil and a good run. There's an ebay seller named AmiAmi offering the DD51 and the matching 05 chassis at the moment, I'd heartily recommend this as your first B Train Shorty loco. You need to add some ballast (I used lead sheet in the cab) but once you've done that it'll purr around happily with four coaches or wagons behind.

 

I have managed to get similar performance from three 03 chassis, they wouldn't disgrace themselves compared to "serious" N scale models either. The 03 chassis comes with metal ballast weights, I use blu-tack to wedge them into the bodyshell as while they're cast in particular shapes the instructions don't make it that clear how they're supposed to fit.

[Atobit]

Funny enough, N Scale World Magazine just did an article about repainting these trains. In regards to the pantograph, they recommend GreenMax PT42 (http://www.1999.co.jp/10007728).

Onthelam, can you tell what issue of N scale world magazine you refer too?

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Gordon Werner]

Most annoying part of the B Train Shorties ... is the near impossible challenge to find the power drives for them ... especially power unit 4 for the trams

[kvp]

Actually the type 4 is just a type 3 with the couplers removed and in gray. You can just get a type 3 (standard dmu/emu/passenger car motor) and pop off the couplers. The color will be black though, so that might be a problem. Once i've intentionally bought a type 3 for my single articulated shorty tram, because it also uses a passenger trailer bogie that was only available in black, so i got a matching power unit. Both the trailer and the power unit got their couplers removed (together with the mounting boxes) to fit into the tram.

[Gordon Werner]

Actually the type 4 is just a type 3 with the couplers removed and in gray. You can just get a type 3 (standard dmu/emu/passenger car motor) and pop off the couplers. The color will be black though, so that might be a problem. Once i've intentionally bought a type 3 for my single articulated shorty tram, because it also uses a passenger trailer bogie that was only available in black, so i got a matching power unit. Both the trailer and the power unit got their couplers removed (together with the mounting boxes) to fit into the tram.

 

well see ... that is helpful to know ... so thank you!

[cteno4]

Gordon,

 

they will be around again, its the japanese system that few things tend to stay in totally constant stock, but when they do go oos usually they are back in a new production run in a few months. does require some planning if you want to add it in a little while and want it for sure or some patience if it goes oos on you like this! or some creativity like above!

 

cheers

 

jeff

[Gordon Werner]

Thanx jeff ... I find that I am usually as far from a computer as possible when it comes time to reissue OOS items that I want  ;-)

 

but I am patient (and i am going to try the subbing the unit 3 for 4 as mentioned above 

[Gordon Werner]

so. Has anyone created a list of the best replacement pantographs for the B-Shorty's?

 

I have a bunch of the Toden 8500 series trams that I would love to enhance with a "real" looking pantograph ... they are single arm and have a single current collector plate up top (though I have ridden on ones with dual collector plates as well)

 

Bandai even offers you the option:

 

 

I would love to know which replacement pantograph would work well with these trams ... though I don't think I've come across anyone here modifying trams (seems to be the commuter / engines that are getting swapped).

 

Anyway ... thought it might be a fun group project to track which parts can be used for each model

[beakaboy]

Not much help, but I did see an assorted  selection of etched pantographs on a flat metal sheet recently which looked very nice. Possibly in my weekly email newsletter from Hobby search. I can't recall the manufacturer either!!

[Welshbloke]

The thing on the yellow tram is known as a bow collector here, Glasgow and Leeds trams used them (possibly others too). Might help with searching for one!

 

I'm currently hoping that AmiAmi will find some more stock of the 500 Series Shinkansen "Kodama" A set. I have two Bs, so while I can build a four car train one of the end coaches is wrong, and I would like to complete the other two intermediate coaches (one missing a roof and one end, the other missing sides and an end). The instructions call for two A's and two B's, but I'll settle for one A at the moment. Did see some on Amazon Marketplace but I draw the line at paying over double what the B's cost.

Edited September 8, 2015 by Welshbloke

[beakaboy]

found the bow collector  set, but out of stock at Model Train Plus and long sold out at hobby search.

Nariichi at MTP may be able to source some sets locally for you http://www.modeltrainplus.net/collections/n-scale-parts-new/products/masterpiece-n-scale-bow-collector-set-3

[Mr Frosty]

Looks like someone has been getting creative with the Glacier Express.

 

 

[tossedman]

I like that bottom one. Might steal a bit of that idea and expand upon it, as in put it into a 15 foot long layout.

[HantuBlauLOL]

Just wondering.. Have anyone converted their shorties into normal length trains?

[kvp]

It's possible but not really worth it and thanks to the compressed look, they would still look like two cars fused together. (except for trains that have a repeating side and roof pattern in real life)

 

Personally i just get those shorties that look good in short form or wasn't compressed at all, like the deki locomotives. (i call them b-train normies).

[HantuBlauLOL]

Still need bashing on the side windows anyway.. Because some models just no longer available in normal length version..

[Welshbloke]

On a related note, the B Train Shorty Shinkansen sets look a lot better than those little Tomytec Hakotetsu four-wheelers.

 

The EMU and electric locos look cute when reduced to a mobile box with overlays, but the Shinkansen just look ridiculous IMO.

 

I really think it'd be less work to scratchbuild a model from plastic sheet than it would be to stretch a shorty, if you're after something which doesn't exist in N or is hard to find. The windows aren't usually scale length, and it'll be easier to get a good result from a smooth fresh piece of plastic than from joining multiple small pieces together and trying to fill the gaps in.

Edited December 30, 2015 by Welshbloke

[chinbeard]

Film report from Yokohama Model Railroad Fiesta 2016, shows a couple of Shorty prospects, Maglev and Evangelion (looks ace !)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sS9bEum9ZjA