CaptOblivious Posted September 9, 2008 Share Posted September 9, 2008 Both Tomix and MicroAce produce a model of the ultra-luxurious Hokutosei Yumekukan sleeper train. I know the dining car in the Tomix set has lit table lamps, but they are kind of large, especially in comparison with the few photos of the MicroAce model of the same. My question is: Do the table lamps in the MicroAce model light up? Is one set otherwise better than the other? Does anyone here even know? Link to comment
Masioka Posted September 9, 2008 Share Posted September 9, 2008 Go for the MicroAce - the drivers cigarette glows. ;D ;D ;D Link to comment
Guest ___ Posted September 9, 2008 Share Posted September 9, 2008 I saw that train at Ueno, but never had any idea what it was. Link to comment
Martijn Meerts Posted September 9, 2008 Share Posted September 9, 2008 I have the Tomix Twilight express with lit table lamps, and while those look rather big, they're not that bad really. Especially not after seeing a prototype shot and noticing those table lamps are actually quite big ;) Actually, I haven's seen any MicroAce cars that use their own lighting except for the head and taillights, which would make me believe the table lamps aren't lit. Link to comment
Bernard Posted September 10, 2008 Share Posted September 10, 2008 Go for the MicroAce - the drivers cigarette glows. ;D ;D ;D I guess there are no "non-smoking" cars :D Link to comment
CaptOblivious Posted September 10, 2008 Author Share Posted September 10, 2008 Well, I found a review, with lots of pictures, of the MicroAce set, here: http://mandertaker.blog.hobidas.com/archives/article/21861.html (Japanese language) The lamps do in fact light up, as it turns out, but the dining table at the very end of the lounge car is...missing! To make room for electronics. I know the Tomix version does not have this deficiency. I'll probably still get the MA one because it's less expensive. Any other opinions? Link to comment
Bernard Posted September 12, 2008 Share Posted September 12, 2008 Capt--Great link it show exactly what the car can do. A few years back Minitrix had an Orient Express set in HO where there were table lamps that also lite up. Now it's even more detailed in N scale. The Mirco Ace is very impressive. Also is it true that Mirco Ace only put a limit run on their sets where they only make a certain amount? That might be something to consider. Link to comment
CaptOblivious Posted September 12, 2008 Author Share Posted September 12, 2008 MicroAce does not, as a rule, do second production runs. Once stock of a particular model runs out, that's that. However, sometimes they do, and the current MicroAce Yumekukan sets on the market are in fact a second production run. It was first made in 2003; in 2007 they switched in a baggage car (MANI) for the generator car (KANI) in the first run. Why, I don't know. That said, I haven't seen too much of a collector's premium on most OOP MicroAce sets, which is a little surprising to me. Kato is now taking preorders on an Orient Express model, incidentally. It will be interesting to find out if it has table lamps too :D Link to comment
Masioka Posted September 12, 2008 Share Posted September 12, 2008 Kato is now taking preorders on an Orient Express model, incidentally. It will be interesting to find out if it has table lamps too :D Obsessed much. ;) Sounds a great model. Link to comment
Bernard Posted September 12, 2008 Share Posted September 12, 2008 Capt--I'll bite, (and off topic too) do you have any information on the Kato Orient Express? I have the Minitrix Orient Express and would like to see what Kato is doing. Link to comment
CaptOblivious Posted September 12, 2008 Author Share Posted September 12, 2008 Capt--I'll bite, (and off topic too) do you have any information on the Kato Orient Express? I have the Minitrix Orient Express and would like to see what Kato is doing. This is all there is for the moment (and it doesn't look like they're going to have lit table lamps :( ): http://www.katomodels.com/product/nmi/nioe88.shtml http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10077140 Apparently in 1988, FujuTV paid to have the Orient Express travel from Paris to Japan (via ferry from Hong Kong)!! They fitted it with narrow-gauge trucks, and various locos of distinction pulled it all up and down Japan for a few months. Pretty amazing. Kato is only just now getting around to commemorate the event, apparently ;) (This is all from the Hobby Search page) Link to comment
Welshbloke Posted September 13, 2008 Share Posted September 13, 2008 Ah, but Kato will surely offer it with the Japanese bogies rather than the standard gauge originals? Mind you it would be neat if they managed to offer both in the box so the buyer can swap them over. They will need to do this or offer European versions if they are to sell outside Japan. Link to comment
CaptOblivious Posted September 16, 2008 Author Share Posted September 16, 2008 Probably Japanese-style bogies, yeah. So, I bought the Tomix Yumekukan set. I found a good deal on a new one on eBay (and it includes the loco!). Details on the Tomix version can be had here: http://www.tomytec.co.jp/tomix/report/n/nj_095.htm (note there are four pages, navigated from the links in the upper-right-hand corner of the page). (Note also that some images reveal more detail when you hover the mouse over them.) Link to comment
CaptOblivious Posted October 20, 2008 Author Share Posted October 20, 2008 ...And, since the train set was a birthday present, and yesterday was my birthday, and yesterday was a very busy day, I now have, for the first time, the Tomix Yumekukan set running in a big loop in front of me. First impressions: Very impressed. Review forthcoming! Link to comment
Martijn Meerts Posted October 20, 2008 Share Posted October 20, 2008 Ooh, happy birthday =) Link to comment
Masioka Posted October 20, 2008 Share Posted October 20, 2008 Ooh, happy birthday =) Indeed, Happy Birthday! ;D Link to comment
Bernard Posted October 20, 2008 Share Posted October 20, 2008 Don - Happy Birthday and gee how did your wife know what to get you? ::) Enjoy the train! Link to comment
CaptOblivious Posted October 20, 2008 Author Share Posted October 20, 2008 Thanks for the birthday wishes, all! Don - Happy Birthday and gee how did your wife know what to get you? ::) Enjoy the train! Actually, we picked it out together :D She thought it was awfully cute (not as cute as the E4-series, though). Link to comment
Bernard Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 Okay, I know I'm super positive, but that was an excellent review. Don, what I liked is that you told the pros & cons of the train without "pussy-footing" about the cons. That is something that Model RR magazine rarely (or ever) does. I learned a lot from reading it, thanks. Link to comment
stevenh Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 Capt! You've got an issue with your hrefs around: "No. 98 is special because, EF81-98 with EF81-97, which is painted in the usual manner." where there is a whole chunk of text missing about comparing the models... (you're missing the closing double quote on the url) Otherwise, Awesome review. Link to comment
CaptOblivious Posted October 22, 2008 Author Share Posted October 22, 2008 Capt! You've got an issue with your hrefs around: "No. 98 is special because, EF81-98 with EF81-97, which is painted in the usual manner." where there is a whole chunk of text missing about comparing the models... fixed! and thanks for the kind comments! Link to comment
bill937ca Posted October 25, 2008 Share Posted October 25, 2008 Both Tomix and MicroAce produce a model of the ultra-luxurious Hokutosei Yumekukan sleeper train. I know the dining car in the Tomix set has lit table lamps, but they are kind of large, especially in comparison with the few photos of the MicroAce model of the same. Here's some photos of the interior of the dining car. http://homepage1.nifty.com/hodo/burutore/yume/hktnsk/nsk_21.htm http://homepage1.nifty.com/hodo/burutore/yume/hktnsk/nsk_22.htm I have a video that includes the dining car and I remember the lamps as being over sized. There's a photo here taken from the platform that shows the table lamps. Also note the ceiling lamps are large too. The interior was designed by a private railway department store, Tokyu if I remember correctly. http://homepage1.nifty.com/hodo/burutore/yume/hktnsk/nsk_20.htm Link to comment
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