Kiha 110 formations?

[David]

I know there are a few people who love this DMU. I am trying to figure out what arrangements it is run in, and how the car numbers relate to that. From my information the 111 series is also a minor variation of the 110, built as twin sets (matching 111 and 112 units). However it seems nothing stops these sets from being run with other cars - prototype photos (even the one right on the Wikipedia page) show 111 sets joined to a 3rd car. The Wikipedia page also claims the Kiha 100 and derivatives run in a 1 and 2 car formation - are twin sets counted as a single car?

 

Kato sells the a model of the Kiha 110 in 4 pieces:

 

A 2 car powered set with numbers 111-119 and 112-119

A 2 car addon (unpowered) set with numbers 111-120 and 112-120

A single powered car numbered 110-130

A single unpowered car numbered 110-137

 

Are any of these powered formations of the Kato cars not prototypical?

 

• 110-130 running alone?
  
• 110-130 + 110-137 running as a pair
  
• 111-119 + 112-119 running as a twin set
  
• 111-119 + 112-119 + 110-137 running as a twin set with 3rd car
  
• 111-120 + 112-120 + 110-130 running as a twin set with 3rd car
  

 

:

In the attached photo you can only see the number of the first car, 112-1 but you can see enough detail to make out that the last car has what looks like the 110 door arrangement (drivers cab door and grill on both ends, unlike the 111/112 pairs which only have it on their respective outer ends).

[ToniBabelony]

AFAIK twin-car sets are counted as two cars. I've even seen pictures of KIHA 100s running with KIHA E120 and KIHA E130 cars (maybe a KIHA E200 as well?). I think you can be as creative with formations as with the older class DMU (I recall pictures of KIHA 55, 56, 20, 35, 40, etc. classes running together in regular services). As long as the KIHA 100 are connected through modern Scharfenberg couplers with their other Scharfenberg counterparts it's fine I think.

[stevenh]

I have a few pics of their formations in Aizuwakamatsu here:

 

And also here:

 

From this I can tell you that you also need the E120 series :)

[Guest ___]

Capt and I are the big fans on this set, and he would know better than I would as I only run mine in a two-car configuration, and even then, I don't even have them numbered.

[CaptOblivious]

Despite my aspirations towards Ueno...the '110 is my weakness.

 

First note: the kiha100 is a different beast than the 110. Its a lot shorter.

Second: no-one makes the e120 as a model yet :'(

 

But more to the point: David, I've seen all of those formations in various photographs. You can recognize a 111 or 112 because at the end where they join, the green stripe does not curve around the face, as on the cab ends, but makes a straight line visually connecting the two cars. I have never seen a 111 without a 112 and vice versa. Barring that one exception, there seems to be a prototype for any combination up to 5 or 6 cars, as near as I can tell.  The 110-111-112 consist seems especially common (definately the consist in your photo, btw)

[CaptOblivious]

KIHA E130's now available for reservation, w00t!

 

http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10127692

http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10127694

[David]

I'm going to have to wait until they are actually out to see what the model colors and detail turn out as. With the "wrong lighting" the E120 just looks fat to mean, in the ugly flabby way because of the curve and paint scheme (especially the single car unit that reminds me of a fat lady in a loud dress). When it comes to short trains I'm hoping Kato is going to take the logical step from its E127(-100) and make one or more of the narrow gauge 701s (granted they're AC, but I've got an ED75 that likes to show up too).