Hello from Paris

[splifdfx]

Good day to you all.
 
I'm a graphic/ux- designer & illustrator, living in the Paris metropole, France.
 
I've always been interested in trains, big and small, having enjoyed many train trips across Europe (and over the Iron Wall in the 80's) and having been gifted with quite a nice GDR Piko HO collection during my childhood.
But apart from these sweet times, I never got the opportunity (space, time) to build a permanent layout.
 
From then on, I've been pretty much stuck in what you could call the Dark Ages of my train hobby, wishing to be already retired and living in a house to finally commit myself to build a vast layout.
 
But here comes my trip to Japan last summer... And my visit to some Akihabara toy stores where I discovered the sheer diversity of japanese model trains.
Being at the end of the trip, left with few bucks and little place in the trunk, my wife happily insisted to buy me a train set, and I humbly settled for a small Yamanote-line B-Train shorty box.
 
Now, being burdened with an overwhelming nostalgy of this trip, I've started to collect every train that I've been on during that journey...
Furthermore, I've discovered that Kato (and Tomix) produces compact tracks with very small curves, which could be great to build a small layout on a shelf or in a trunk or box.
 
Anyway, I've stumbled upon this forum by trying to download the episodes of the NHK Train Cruise show (by the way a big thank you to all the uploaders !) and am glad I found it !
 
And like they say : yoroshiku onegaishimasu.

[Matteo_IT]

Bienvenue à bord....

[tossedman]

Welcome splifdfx! Lots to see and do here. Make sure you check out the B Train Shorty thread. There are a few of us here that enjoy these little trains.

 

Cheers,

 

Todd

[miyakoji]

Hi splifdfx, welcome to the forum!

[cteno4]

Hey splifdfx,

 

Sounds like the common infection that most all here have contracted! Sorry the prognosis is not good for recovery that does not involve many more model trains and a layout or two...

 

Take a look at nick yee's article on his micro layout and btrains, very inspiring!

 

Welcome!

 

Cheers

 

Jeff

 

http://japanrailmodelers.org/pages/modelingjapan/btrainshorty-pt1.html

 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2Xa8i6eN3g0

[splifdfx]

@Matteo_IT : Grazie mille ! :)

 

@tossedman : Thanks for the link to the thread, I'll be following this attentively from now on.

 

@miyakoji : Thank you !

 

@cteno4 : Too bad train models aren't covered by medical insurance... Thank you for the links ; this layout looks great and his article is very inspiring, lots of interesting thoughts and ideas.

[cteno4]

Actually on friend did have a debilitating work injury and the insurance paid for some "hobby" type therapy to get him active in recovery. He was not interested in the painting or pottery classes offered to him and asked if he could do something from childhood, model trains, and they let him! It was enough to get him started pretty well on his first small Japanese train layout!

 

Jeff

[tossedman]

Splif if your train stuff looks as good as your artwork I'm looking forward to seeing what you come up with.

 

Todd

[splifdfx]

@cteno4 : O_O That's crazy stuff ! How big is his layout and collection now ?!

 

@tossedman : Ahaha, thank you. Sorry my website isn't up to date as it should. And well, I've got immense pressure to succeed now ! ;)

[cteno4]

he ended up with a 4'x12' layout on his dining room table and 4'x7' and 3'x6' layouts in his living room at his height of modeling. after a few years he tired of it and recently sold off most all his collection on ebay! But he had a good time while he was into it and it was a good activity while he was not super mobile.

 

jeff