What did you order or the post deliver? (Japanese N Gauge)

[SL58654号]

This wonderful lot of 36 old issues (in great condition) of とれいん "Train - the international model railroading" arrived yesterday. I love them for the voluminous quantities of railway models and real locomotives of all kinds and all sizes featured, that come from differing countries, in each issue all under one cover. Japanese rail fan publications are highly cultivated if you ask me. Reading Japanese is much fun with these. I got this lot for only 3500 yen. 
I love the detailed drawings and full-color paintings featured as well. Every issue is practically a love letter to foreign railways of the steam age and Japanese railways both old and new. Emphasis on old. I could be wrong, but I don't think even Continental Modeller is as well-rounded. 

 

Next weekend, I'm going to be driving at my neighbor's live steam garden railway! Look forward to that! 

 

[MrLinderman]

Another AMIAMI box arrived this weekend... they just seem to turn up 😅

 

Overhead masts

TN couplers, but i bought the wrong ones, didn't research properly but will keep them incase i ever get some freight locos from Tomix as they will be useful then, i now know what ones i want to convert the JR 225 from Tomix so will grab those another time

I wanted to get some additional cars for my current fleet so got the 3 car additional set for my Yamanote Line Kato loco (now 7 cars total) & 4 car additional set for the JF 225 Series (now 8 cars total)

Also found some facebook "finds" over the week for two more locos, the E233-0 series (3 loco set) and the E233-3000 series (4 loco set) both of them also have the Kato decoder installed and tested so they are ready for DCC when my DCC-EX arrives, as I got these before the AMI order I also nabbed the 4 car additional set for the E233-3000 series, the one with the additional up/down car, so its now a nice 8 car setup, couldn't for the life of me find any E233-0 series additional sets for sale that didn't cost a kidney so I'll either wait for a re-release or it will remain a dedicated 3 car setup.

Tried out a few of the Tomix buildings also, i like them and its neat how they are sectional so installing some LED's inside shouldn't be a problem.

 

My "little" testing layout is starting to get busy, plenty of plastic kit works for me to do now, also got enough parts to "complete" the engine shed section so that is not sorted

 

Next up is:

DCC-EX

Finish of the plastic kit parts

Lots of testing and working with DCC-EX and EX-Rail 🙂 

 

Then its time to work on the big shed and get it ready for the main layout

[bc6]

I've always wanted to get an F-Toys firetruck and I finally was able to do so. I built the ladder truck in under and 1/2 hour as there was no painting or gluing needed. There were minimal parts and good instructions so it was easy peasy to put together. After I assembled the firetruck I posed it with some other vehicles like a TOMYTEC bus and truck and an Atlas car. It looks spot on I may buy another fire vehicle if I can find one. 

[Lessigen]

Not many pics this time because I forgot to take pics before unboxing. Inspired by someone (i.e. @MrLinderman) I also wanted to try out TOMIX's FineTrack system and eventually DCC-EX so I also impulse-bought a Starter Set and some track sets from PlazaJapan. I always wanted to get the FineTrack Rail Yard since I love seeing yards full of passenger trains.

 

Here's what I got:

- TOMIX 90172 EF81 Twilight Express Starter Set

- TOMIX 91016 FineTrack Rail Yard Track Set

- TOMIX 91025 FineTrack Sidetrack Set (Pattern B)

 

So far I'm torn between the two. I love the variety of FineTrack and all of the small doodads that come with it but Unitrack is so much easier to work with and I like that the Unitrack turnouts are powered by default where I assume I have to finagle with powering the FineTrack turnouts (I will look into this further as I just set the track up). I have a few Unitrack/FineTrack conversion pieces on order for the summer so I can compromise between the two.

 

I may also get some Woodland Scenics Incline Starter Sets in the next order as recommended by some forum members as I would like to get something a bit more flexible than the Unitrack piers...

 

[MrLinderman]

4 hours ago, Lessigen said:

Not many pics this time because I forgot to take pics before unboxing. Inspired by someone (i.e. @MrLinderman) I also wanted to try out TOMIX's FineTrack system and eventually DCC-EX so I also impulse-bought a Starter Set and some track sets from PlazaJapan. I always wanted to get the FineTrack Rail Yard since I love seeing yards full of passenger trains.

 

Here's what I got:

- TOMIX 90172 EF81 Twilight Express Starter Set

- TOMIX 91016 FineTrack Rail Yard Track Set

- TOMIX 91025 FineTrack Sidetrack Set (Pattern B)

 

So far I'm torn between the two. I love the variety of FineTrack and all of the small doodads that come with it but Unitrack is so much easier to work with and I like that the Unitrack turnouts are powered by default where I assume I have to finagle with powering the FineTrack turnouts (I will look into this further as I just set the track up). I have a few Unitrack/FineTrack conversion pieces on order for the summer so I can compromise between the two.

 

I may also get some Woodland Scenics Incline Starter Sets in the next order as recommended by some forum members as I would like to get something a bit more flexible than the Unitrack piers...

 

Sorry for being an influence 😄😄

 

Very easy to convert turnouts into electric, just needs the Tomix 0107 motor driver, its a simple clip in replacement if the rear cover

 

https://www.plazajapan.com/4904810001072/?srsltid=AfmBOopojSW2o_rJHzU5-VHEnPLZb8BAzGwvI4Q-1xpOtS3Sjmybn_tg

[Bigdog]

Had to finish the W7 off

[bc6]

Today I received a bunch of pre-orders from RG-ROKKO.

 

[Bigdog]

First ever RG-Rokko order. Had a great experience will definitely order again. 

 

Edited Friday at 05:53 AM by Bigdog

[Steve]

Got another Order:

 

 

Got the A8900 DD50 3/4 Set from MicroAce with assymetric End because DD50 3 and 4 are from different manufacturers. The double Model is very heavy, I was believing the Hulls are Metal too, but they're Plastic. Both Parts are motorized. The Models are absolutly not for Digitalization, their Chassis are massive Metal Blocks.

 

 

 

 

I love, how heavy they are, perfect for long Freight Trains. To switch-out the Arnold Rapido Couplers, I had to disassemble the Locomotives completly to reach the Couplers.

 

---

 

On 2/27/2025 at 7:19 PM, bill937ca said:

First layout purchase in a long time. Two Kato 14-806-1 MyTram Classic BLUE sets. This calls for digging out some Unitram for a small celebration layout.

 

I now have all four tram colors. Probably like yellow and blue the best because of associations with places I have visited.

 

 

The Yellow-ones work 1 to 1 for the Stuttgart SSB Tram, here in Germany, even the windows are correct for the Typ 25 "Gartenschauwagen" Series. You just need to add black Lining between the Yellow and the white Part.

Edited Friday at 08:28 AM by Steve

[disturbman]

The DD50 are fun little machines. And they are indeed massively over-engineered, like most MA double units.

I imagine you would need to mill a lot of the inside weights to digitalise them.

Which coupler did you install? Kato's?

[Kamome]

The old DD50s from Microace seem to hold their price. The brown ones I see for around ¥10,000 on the used market but the red ones are always asking closer to ¥20,000.

 

I’ve taken possession of the the Toro-Q toroko kit from Kato because “trains” and already have the Kiha 58/65 Toro-Q from Kato’s diorama exhibition release. 

 

The kit contains 3 sprues for the tora wagon bodies which require gluing together. The body sprue consists of 4 sides as well as a roof canopy and a moulded interior. The kit also comes with 3 chassis which are inaccurate to the real wagons as well as some replacement rapido couplers houses for the Kiha. I have already switched the rapidos out for short loco knuckles which fit the same. 

 

The kit needs painting. Kato recommend Mr Color 124. There are also water slide transfers to apply once the body is painted. Overall I think it’s a bit pricey for what’s here. 3 slightly inaccurate wagons that you have to build and paint yourselves for SRP ¥7150. Think most that purchased the Kihas will want these wagons but could’ve been so much better or at a more reasonable price point. The couplers will be changed to knuckles, adding to the cost and the safety bars on the real thing have been omitted from the design. (0.3mm brass wire) A nice idea but leaves a slightly sour impression that this was a quick side project.

Edited Sunday at 10:28 AM by Kamome

[Steve]

On 3/7/2025 at 9:59 AM, disturbman said:

The DD50 are fun little machines. And they are indeed massively over-engineered, like most MA double units.

I imagine you would need to mill a lot of the inside weights to digitalise them.

Which coupler did you install? Kato's?

 

Yes, KATO 11-702. They fit perfectly for both Front Sides for short coupling.

[Damo Jr.]

On 2/23/2025 at 6:04 AM, cteno4 said:

Yeah even with the higher costs of importing japanese trains these days (shipping increases mainly), they still remain quite a value the world around, especially with the quality, consistency, and variety thrown in! Here in the US we keep saying this to folks at shows as they think it must be a very expensive hobby compared to us trains.

 

jeff

Jeff, you nailed it.    Modern train models have little variety in western countrys , but the Japanese railways are very individual, especially the thrid-sector ones, and the wrapping and tourist trains just grab you.    It's very hard to beat the pricing as well.

[Little-Kinder]

Received the tomytec Brunswick city tram gt6s as well as the motor tm-LRT04

Opened it to put a little driver inside 

Looks great I love it. Wish we had the same for Paris' tramway.

 

[RS18U]

10 hours ago, Damo Jr. said:

Modern train models have little variety in western countrys , but the Japanese railways are very individual, especially the thrid-sector ones, and the wrapping and tourist trains just grab you.    It's very hard to beat the pricing as well.

Totally, and one of the reasons that attracted me to Japanese railways, and the pricing is a nice bonus.

[cteno4]

It’s actually a problem with japanese trains, too many different trains are made to want to buy! Leads to shrinking wallet syndrome…

 

jeff

[Little-Kinder]

2 hours ago, RS18U said:

Totally, and one of the reasons that attracted me to Japanese railways, and the pricing is a nice bonus.

Yeah you can't beat the pricing. I wanted some french trains made by atlas.

 

Would be at the minimum 50k yen for just a locomotive.

 

Nop

[RS18U]

4 hours ago, cteno4 said:

It’s actually a problem with japanese trains, too many different trains are made to want to buy!

 

 

Yes.  Yes it is.

[Steve]

For an analog German Fleischmann Locomotive, you get a Japanese Loco 3 Times for the Same Price; and with different Numbers, which you can choice...

 

Edited 23 hours ago by Steve

[gibet_b]

And german stuff is less expansive than french one, I believe...

It's why I have 4 awaiting orders of japanese rolling stock 🤣 So hard to resist when a wagon cost 20 € in France, and there plenty between 5€ to 10€ in Japan.

 

[Little-Kinder]

49 minutes ago, gibet_b said:

And german stuff is less expansive than french one, I believe...

It's why I have 4 awaiting orders of japanese rolling stock 🤣 So hard to resist when a wagon cost 20 € in France, and there plenty between 5€ to 10€ in Japan.

 

For real that's why I never did model railway when living in France. I checked an Arnold 141R (analog) 300 euros. No thank you 

[gibet_b]

In H0 scale, Locomotive under 100 € are very rare (currently, only one), under 150 € are rare (add two or three choices nowadays). There is a bit more choice over 150 €, but most of the locomotives cost over 200 €. Analog, of course.

 

EDIT : I forgot Mehano starter sets ! But that's it.

Edited 20 hours ago by gibet_b