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

[cteno4]

Ok that makes a lot more sense! Amazon.jp also usually charge a lot more than usual for shipping preorders for some odd reason. I didnt think amazon would ever offer a surface shipping option, kind of goes against thier whole mantra.

 

Jeff

[Max Thum]

Recently got delivered a Greenmax 201. Totally didn't line it up with my Greenmax 103.

Edited April 10 by Max Thum

[gibet_b]

Received yesterday. The Kato EF 75 is even capricious on 150 turnouts than my Tomix EF 79, which run like a charm now by the way (probably my best locomotive ever) !

[mr bachmann]

Finally arrived from Plaza , sadly it was over the ‘safe’ spend limit of £125 (uk) and customs had to be paid , but still ended less than bought from hobby shop in UK .

Greenmax Tamper … 

[Tony Galiani]

While I had been planning to pause purchases for a while, I had also thought of getting the Tomix HH100 set in Hokkaido wrapping.  Currently have delusional plans to go to Abashiri to see the drift ice on our (hoped for) February 2026 trip.  When I noticed that RG Rokko was way less expensive than either Hobbysearch or Plaza Japan, I took that as a sign I should go ahead with the buy.

My first purchase from RG Rokko and very impressed.  Ordered on Tuesday, arrived here in the US on Thursday, perfectly packed - he even place a piece of cardboard inside the Tomix package (as there was a few millimeters of open space) so the models would not slide around!  Saved about US$50 over the cost from the other two shops.

Also picked up a MicroAce plow set so I have two sets that actually look the part on my winter T-Trak module.

Ciao,

Tony

[Section31]

Just got this in. Really liking these compared to the Shinskansen. Have the Kato E323 (Non-Expo), Tomix Hello Kitty E5, Kato E8 and Twilight Express coming in next couple months. 

 

[Little-Kinder]

Received something nice from tomix. (Banana for scale)

 

And oh my god I hate stickers/decals whatever

 

Any tips so that it sticks and stays in place (water one)

Edited April 12 by Little-Kinder

[cteno4]

Water slide decals stick pretty well. There is stuff called microsol and microset that can also help. Microset helps the decal adear better to surfaces [some paints like matte paints dont grab quite as well], you just paint some onto the surface you are applying the decal to. Microsol softens the decal some so it can better fit over and rougher surfaces as sometimes once the decal drys its not all set down over the protrusions and the microsol helps them suck down onto any non flat detail bits. You dab some on the area don dab with the end of a brush or dental applicator to get the decal totally conformed to the parts. 

 

Once decals are on you can hit the whole thing with a light coat of matte clear acrylic stray [like dullcoat]. This helps seal the decal on well and also helps make the edges of the decal less noticeable. 

 

Decaling is mainly just practice, the more you practice the easier it gets.

 

jeff

[Little-Kinder]

  On 4/12/2025 at 11:43 PM, cteno4 said:

Water slide decals stick pretty well. There is stuff called microsol and microset that can also help. Microset helps the decal adear better to surfaces [some paints like matte paints dont grab quite as well], you just paint some onto the surface you are applying the decal to. Microsol softens the decal some so it can better fit over and rougher surfaces as sometimes once the decal drys its not all set down over the protrusions and the microsol helps them suck down onto any non flat detail bits. You dab some on the area don dab with the end of a brush or dental applicator to get the decal totally conformed to the parts. 

 

Once decals are on you can hit the whole thing with a light coat of matte clear acrylic stray [like dullcoat]. This helps seal the decal on well and also helps make the edges of the decal less noticeable. 

 

Decaling is mainly just practice, the more you practice the easier it gets.

 

jeff

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Thanks.

 

Will look for microsol

[cteno4]

It’s an American product but a unique one that i expect may be imported to japan. I dont know if tamyia has anything similar. Might ask at your local hobby store.

 

jeff

[Madsing]

Mr Hobby and Tamiya have similar products.

 

MR.MARK SOFTER Product Number : MS231 https://www.mr-hobby.com/en/products/detail/356

MR.MARK SETTER Product Number : MS232 https://www.mr-hobby.com/en/products/detail/357

TAMIYA DECAL ADHESIVE (SOFTENER TYPE) https://www.tamiya.com/english/products/87193/index.html

 

Marc

 

[cteno4]

Great i figured someone in japan would be making a similar product!

 

jeff

[MrLinderman]

Been using mr.mark softer and setter for years on gunpla, I'd place it above microsol\set in quality, as jeff said, its an art and practice helps, I usually use a 0 size brush to apply the liquids, one brush for each, I use softer almost all the time no matter the surface application, it helps with both application but also as the name implies softens the decal enough to help it blend in with its surface, setter I only really use on surfaces which are prone to decals sliding or not sticking after they dry.

 

After application and more importantly a full day to dry, I apply a light thinned brush of either GX 114 Mr Color Super Smooth Clear

 

Or if is a larger area then a spray of Mr Super Smooth Clear Matt, personally prefer the look of the spray but its not easy to use over very small areas.

 

 

[cteno4]

Thanks i ordered some Mr.color to try against the micro sol and set.

 

cheers

 

jeff

[Kamome]

You can also find Micro-sol and Micro-set in some places in Japan. A number of independent model shops and railway model stores seem to carry it. The Mr. Color decal softener is more readily available. I've found Micro-sol does the job a bit better for finer 3rd Party decals as I've damaged a few with the Mark Softener. Not sure whether it's the concentration that differs between the products or the quality/thickness of the decal. Possibly a bit of both.

[Tony Galiani]

@cteno4 - where can you get Mr. Color in the USA?

I would like to try it as well.

Tony

[DD13]

Arrived yesterday more Koki and containers for my to be build shunting layout. 

[cteno4]

@Tony Galiani i got it on ebay. I can send you some of mine if you want. A bottle is a lifetime plus supply doing rr decals! Sounds like it’s pretty much the same as microsol/set which you can find all over the place a bit cheaper here in the states. 

 

Ive had very good luck with microsol.set even with printed decals that have acrylic clear coat on them. Generally does not work as well on the acrylic clear coated decals and takes repeated working to get everything down around some nastier features. I use the technique then of just poking a couple of very tiny holes if something is not going down with the acrylic coated decals and some gets under the decal then and then it sucks down better. But the acrylic clear coat i think does make the decal stiffer than regular silk screened or dye sub printed decals. The printed decal film is also a bit heftier than usual silk screened a dye sub printed decals it feels like as well. Maybe to hold up to rougher printing id guess.

 

Jeff

[Tony Galiani]

@cteno4 - okay - I have some of the microsol/set so if it is essentially the same I am good.  At some point, I would like to try the Mr. Color paints so will check on eBay for them.

Thanks,

Tony

[Kingmeow]

@Tony Galiani get it in Japan in the Fall.  🤪  I *think* I saw it once when I was in Yodobashi.

[cteno4]

My current microsol/set are probably 10-15 years old but they dont seem to be going off. The Mr hobby should be here soon and i can get you some of that as well. I have little tiny plastic sample vials that are perfect for stuff like this.

 

jeff

[MrLinderman]

I think the new bottles have an included brush attached to the lid, which is awesome. 

 

My bottle is about 10+ years old now also.

[bc6]

Its been a while since ive posted anything but im back. I also took a trip to Japan where i had the opportunity to pick up some preorders from RG-ROKKO. I got to meet Masaharu and some of his staff who were very accommodating for me. Anyway the items are below and a picture of  the building.

 

[DD13]

  On 4/17/2025 at 11:46 AM, bc6 said:

Its been a while since ive posted anything but im back. I also took a trip to Japan where i had the opportunity to pick up some preorders from RG-ROKKO. I got to meet Masaharu and some of his staff who were very accommodating for me. Anyway the items are below and a picture of  the building.

 

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What is the Hogarakadou item? 

[Little-Kinder]

Went to surugaya yesterday and I got lucky enough to find the Kato Ouigo for 20 500 yen. Jumped on it really fast.

 

Also got some omikoshi decorations (since I participated in one I figured why not have it there).

 

Also bought some freight cars and thanks to this forum discovered Tokyo diorama factory.

 

I ordered some trash, vending machines and Amazon locker which arrived today.