JAM 2014 (22~24 August)

[ToniBabelony]

Hi all,

 

Next weekend it's back again! http://jam.gr.jp/ The annual JAM convention in Tōkyō Big Sight in Odaiba. Lots of layouts are to be seen. The bog standard big club module layouts, customised operation layouts (last year there was a simulation of the Tōkyū Tōyoko line with the transfer to the Fukutōshin line at Shibuya station) to the crazy experimental layouts of extravagant modellers. Also, cheap sales of big shops like Popondetta and Hobby Land Pochi will be present.

 

I'll be visiting the JAM on Friday the 22nd coming week. The plan was to go on Saturday or Sunday, but alas... Friday is probably a bit more quiet anyway. Who is going as well?

 

Cheers!

 

P.s. I will post pictures of the venue after visiting ;)

Edited August 17, 2014 by Toni Babelony

[JR 500系]

Thank you in advance Toni! Can't wait to see the pictures of this year's JAM! Wonder what special JAM only items will be available this time?

[railsquid]

Hmm, I might see if I can go along on Friday afternoon.

[NuclearErick]

i was planning to visit my cousing in Kofu 22 Friday, but i guess im going there...

 

still trying to figure out how to do a little schedule but since yesterday hyperdia is very slow or off-line

 

Inazawa or Kiyosu - Nagoya - Shinagawa - Shinjuku to buy a ticket to Kofu ( Azuza/Super Azuza or Kaiji ) leave my back pack in some coin locker - Kokusaitenjijo Station and go back to Shinjiku - Kofu +/- 18h00 PM

 

i only need to arrive at Kofu station at 18h00 PM more or less

Edited August 18, 2014 by NuclearErick

[railsquid]

Didn't make it today, will try tomorrow.

[ToniBabelony]

Hey all,

 

It was a relatively short visit to the JAM, since I had to go to the embassy as well that day (expensive passport extension). Anyway, I only arrived until the afternoon and stayed for only a few hours.

 

The friday was pretty quiet as far as crowds were concerned. However, the show itself also looked pretty restrained in comparison to last year. There were a lot of the same layouts as last year and only a handful of newer layouts. Big loops without or minimal scenery in N-gauge and H0 were omnipresent. Not very fun to look at. At least a few very interesting individuals were there, presenting their crafts. One guy (Mr. Suzuki, a dentist) made a relatively large H0 layout depicting scenes from the Chōshi Electric. All was hand built, including the sushi in the shop windows. Crazy work. I'm pretty sure we will see more of his layout in magazines some time in the near future.

 

After that I went to see a few other layouts and dioramas, but it was mostly a repetition of the previous year. It sort of looked like the hobby was in decline again. Maybe in the weekend more interesting stuff would show up, but unfortunately no time for visiting the JAM... The club who was simulating operations (last year the Shibuya transit on the Tōkyū Tōyoko line) did a Seibu based theme, which wasn't interesting for me. The operations didn't seem very intense as well and the layout less impressive as last year. Maybe it had something to do with the JAM being in the university final exam period this year... Who knows.

 

At the stand of the here on the forum famous Poppoya (ぽっぽ屋) module stand, I found Mr. Itabashi, a fellow member of the T-Trak club of Japan. He was there all alone with his collection of modules, since nobody actually was showing up on Friday. The gross of the members would be there on Saturday. His specialty was to create a subway system under the modules where regular sized trains could run. A sweet addition which I will certainly think about implementing myself. All in all, it was very nice to meet him and he was very happy to meet me as well. Hopefully I can join with my module (yet to be made) next year or on some other occasion. It's a very entertaining club of people to say the least.

 

Anyway, in the attachments you can find the photographs I took this year.

 

I hope you'll enjoy my terrible quality pictures.

 

P.s. I saw a handful caucasian looking foreigners (not speaking any Japanese) on the JAM this friday. Any chance a forum member was present? They all seemed very interested in HO gauge models... :P

Edited August 22, 2014 by Toni Babelony

[IST]

Wow, thanks Toni for the info and the lots of pics! As I see there were some super detailed layouts and very interesting module themes. After watching these pictures I realized how far am I from this level of modelling...

[katoftw]

The 2 cars in a drift battle is a nice touch.

[ToniBabelony]

The 2 cars in a drift battle is a nice touch.

 

Not sure if it's a drift battle or a race. A drift battle would have spectators and judges. This seems to be more a battle of pride, rather than style. ;) IIRC this module was featured in N-Gauge Magazine No.59.

[JR 500系]

Thank you Toni for the wide array of photos! Appreciate that as it feels like being there ourselves!

 

Some modules really look fantastic! Really shows my modelling skills are more than far than their standards... I like the tunnel at the 'drift race', very realistic and looks exactly like what we can see on Japan's roads. Some nicely done rural dioramas too...

 

Haha that extended overhead bridge is famous in Japan too!

[Densha]

I absolutely didn't expect to see a NS Plan V in Lego!

[ToniBabelony]

Haha that extended overhead bridge is famous in Japan too!

 

I think every packed Asian city has them. They are omnipresent in Japan, especially around stations. Some have even evolved into elevated pathways with shops attached to them. A few good examples are Omiya station and Keiō/Odakyu Tama Center station.

 

I absolutely didn't expect to see a NS Plan V in Lego!

 

I think it was there last year as well. At least I remember this train being around for a while already.

[kvp]

Thanks for the great photos! I would really like to have the chance to go and see it in person in the future.

 

 

I think it was there last year as well. At least I remember this train being around for a while already.

I think that was a different train. The nose part on this is brand new and was released this spring. Apparently someone in Japan really likes NS trains.

 

 

After watching these pictures I realized how far am I from this level of modelling...

Imho you are very near and at least we have a target to reach.

[Densha]

Thanks for the great photos! I would really like to have the chance to go and see it in person in the future.

If all goes well I should be able to get there in 2016... :D

 

Apparently someone in Japan really likes NS trains.

A while back I even saw some Japanese on internet who even had a few NS trains in H0. I guess there are people liking trains from elsewhere in every country. Edited August 23, 2014 by Densha

[ToniBabelony]

If all goes well I should be able to get there in 2016... :D

 

Splendid. I'll be waiting.

[railsquid]

Anyway, in the attachments you can find the photographs I took this year.

 

I hope you'll enjoy my terrible quality pictures.

Thanks, better than mine ;)

 

 

P.s. I saw a handful caucasian looking foreigners (not speaking any Japanese) on the JAM this friday. Any chance a forum member was present? They all seemed very interested in HO gauge models... :P

 

Wasn't me, I didn't get there until Saturday. I did see a German-speaking guy briefly.

 

Anyway spent a happy few hours wandering round and getting some inspiration and totally not buying anything, oh no. Except some friends for my lonely Seibu car, and well, some other stuff.

[JGSDF]

Hello there

Thank you Toni for sharing your photos with us !

Now today i have found a video on you tube from the show.

Follow this link:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_q2df1NSmc

Have a nice day, JGSDF Meickel

[ToniBabelony]

Now today i have found a video on you tube from the show.

Follow this link:

That is the Matsuya Ginza show and not the JAM. The Matsuya Ginza show is much smaller and only is attended by manufacturers. It's only half as interesting as the JAM unfortunately, if not less xD

[Densha]

I think this youtube playlist has some vids:

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsldvwOEr3lQOYzxllCW5rQ98DttxE3pU

[Bri]

Three Vids

 

 

 

[Ken Ford]

The modules in photos 8 and 9 are hugely impressive!

[JR 500系]

Wow amazing videos!

 

The steam train actually HAS steam and sound! Now how did they do that?

 

Hugely amazing layouts... I could spend a full day viewing all these trains running around and around!

[kvp]

 

The steam train actually HAS steam and sound! Now how did they do that?

You can add a smoke generator and a sound decoder. Some decoders will operate even in analog mode. The smoke generator is actually using an oil that is heated with a small electric heater element and that produces smoke. You have to periodically refill it through the chimney. The smallest working one i've ever seen was in Z scale br89 tank locomotive.

 

Btw the videos are great and my favourite layout was the operations based, with almost no scenery but proper traffic and signalling. The line looks very similar to the Seibu Ikebukuro line. Maybe someone who was there can confirm this.

[Bri]

Here's another vid

 

[NuclearErick]

i was in Tokyo 22 Friday 10h30 to 12h30, but i spend too much time at Tokyo Station photographing Shinkansens :D

 

but i think was worth it !!!

 

with a BIG surprise in the end...