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

[Densha]

My Tomix Kiha 47s arrived!  They're from the HG re-release of the Kiha 40 types.  Although the motor buzzes badly on my old MRC power pack, they run whisper quiet on smooth DC.  

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Awesome! Looking at the bogies, looks like you got KiHa 47s from the 0 and 1000 subseries, am I right?

 

What power pack exactly are you using? I remember hearing a lot of electrical noise coming from certain Tomix motors under both my older power packs as with my brand-new Kato one.

Edited April 25, 2017 by Densha

[Kiha66]

actually i'm trying to grab the Huis Ten Bosch color now haha but they seem to be more elusive... is the HTB unit still running in Kyushu? Didn't see it the last time I went....

 

I did find one set on HS but it's an add-on set: http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10152971   and it's quite expensive...

 

As for the kiha-66, i'm sorry, but i'm not a huge fan of these... the Kiha-200 looks really nice though...

 

The 787 is on the pre-order list, and I already got the 783 HTB/ Midori ~~   Time for a nice Saga,Sasebo or HTB scene  ~~

 

The HTB unit was still running in the summer of 2015, I rode it from Nagasaki to sasebo one rainy evening.  It was a three car train coupled to a red kiha 220 IIRC, so you could just run the add on set with one of those if you've got one.

[JR 500系]

The HTB unit was still running in the summer of 2015, I rode it from Nagasaki to sasebo one rainy evening.  It was a three car train coupled to a red kiha 220 IIRC, so you could just run the add on set with one of those if you've got one.

IMG_6676 (2).JPG

 

Ah the kiha 220... something i'm looking for too. That's a good idea, likewise I can get a coreless motor to install in the add-on set... Problem is, the Kiha-200 I got is a 2-car basic set, meaning that both cars only have cabs on 1 end... http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10025440

 

I think I will need the Kiha 200 or 220 that is a single carriage with both cabs on both ends to connect to the HTB set to run to look prototypical...

http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10248105

[Kiha66]

Awesome! Looking at the bogies, looks like you got KiHa 47s from the 0 and 1000 subseries, am I right?

 

What power pack exactly are you using? I remember hearing a lot of electrical noise coming from certain Tomix motors under both my older power packs as with my brand-new Kato one.

 

The two on the far side of the platform are 47-1000s, and the two closer are a -500 and a -1500.   I'm using a MRC Tech II, which I've tested on an oscilloscope to prove it produces very noisy DC.  It seems to only half wave rectify until about 50% throttle, where it starts to switch to full wave rectification.  I'm tempted to add a smoothing capacitor to help tone down the peaks.

[ToniBabelony]

Living near a big BookOff is also a bad thing. Or should I say several BookOff stores... Anyhow, I remembered a cheap Greenmax Tōbu 6050 was in the Machida branch, but it turned out to be a release I already own, plus didn't have a power unit. If it were a version with modern bogies, I'd have bought it.

 

However, there was also a very cheap Tomix Sanriku 36-700 in mint condition. Perhaps I will keep it, perhaps sell it, as it's not completely the correct body unit for an Aizu Railway rebuilt: passenger window formation is slightly incorrect, no low-platform doors, incorrect placement of the exhaust, etc. For now, it's a neat little item in my collection that can act as a temporary AT650 or AT750. I still keep up hopes that Tomix will release an Aizu Railway diesel one day (next to that Tōbu 500 Revaty).

 

 

P.s. I also found out that the Tarumi HaIMo 330-701 and Watarase Keikoku 500 release also suffer some had to modify minor details, like the cooler placement on the roofs that make them slightly different from the Aizu AT500~AT700 series. However, these are far better candidates!

Edited April 25, 2017 by Kabutoni

[Pauljag900]

Living near a big BookOff is also a bad thing. Or should I say several BookOff stores... Anyhow, I remembered a cheap Greenmax Tōbu 6050 was in the Machida branch, but it turned out to be a release I already own, plus didn't have a power unit. If it were a version with modern bogies, I'd have bought it.

 

However, there was also a very cheap Tomix Sanriku 36-700 in mint condition. Perhaps I will keep it, perhaps sell it, as it's not completely the correct body unit for an Aizu Railway rebuilt: passenger window formation is slightly incorrect, no low-platform doors, incorrect placement of the exhaust, etc. For now, it's a neat little item in my collection that can act as a temporary AT650 or AT750. I still keep up hopes that Tomix will release an Aizu Railway diesel one day (next to that Tōbu 500 Revaty).

 

 

 

 

P.s. I also found out that the Tarumi HaIMo 330-701 and Watarase Keikoku 500 release also suffer some had to modify minor details, like the cooler placement on the roofs that make them slightly different from the Aizu AT500~AT700 series. However, these are far better candidates!

I also have this train,it s a neat little thing and it will eventually run around my mountain module,then again my layout is not very prototypical as I buy my trains because they look nice Edited April 25, 2017 by Pauljag900

[Suica]

We're halfway to model train hell, huh? Guess I'll join.

 

Some stuff arrived from AmiAmi and HLJ.

 

[railsquid]

Living near a big BookOff is also a bad thing. Or should I say several BookOff stores...

 

None of the stores I go into every seem to have any railway stuff...

[ToniBabelony]

None of the stores I go into every seem to have any railway stuff...

You need to have one with a significant hobby and toy section. I've visited several in the neighbourhood and so far the one in Machida has the biggest and best selection. It's even a good contestant for CleCle, the 2nd hand hobbyshop underneath the TamTam Sagamihara branch store (though the latter is a bit better sorted).

[Densha]

The two on the far side of the platform are 47-1000s, and the two closer are a -500 and a -1500.   I'm using a MRC Tech II, which I've tested on an oscilloscope to prove it produces very noisy DC.  It seems to only half wave rectify until about 50% throttle, where it starts to switch to full wave rectification.  I'm tempted to add a smoothing capacitor to help tone down the peaks.

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KiHa 47-500/1500 have mainly been used around Niigata and only a very few on Shikoku and western Honshu. Also as Retro Train on the Suigun Line lately. They were/are only really abundant around Niigata though. Makes things a bit complicated if you want to do region-focused modelling like I try to do.

 

Alright, so what power pack are you using that does not produce such noise? Would be good to know if there is one that actually produces proper DC.

 

None of the stores I go into every seem to have any railway stuff...

All BookOff stores where I have been to seemed to have a section on railway stuff...

 

The selection was another story though.

Edited April 25, 2017 by Densha

[Das Steinkopf]

I think we're officially set foot on Kyushu island.....   :(

After spending the last week and a half in Kyushu I can understand how easy it would be to get hooked on the trains here.

[railsquid]

All BookOff stores where I have been to seemed to have a section on railway stuff...

 

The selection was another story though.

 

I mean actual models, like what Tony keeps coming across. I guess the stores I go past are smaller ones...

[Densha]

All BookOff stores I've been to definitely had actual models, but many of these were in very poor state or just plain old models. So in that sense, yes Toni's find was a good one.

Edited April 25, 2017 by Densha

[Suica]

There is quite a number of BookOffs which do only sell books, music, movies and games (+hardware).

HobbyOff always has great stuff though!

[railsquid]

Which reminds me, the HobbyOff in Akihabara (over the road from Yodobashi) closed a few weeks ago.

 

Meanwhile BookOff (who BTW ended their business association with HardOff some time last year I think) do have an extensive presence on Yahoo Auctions, providing me with this Saikyo Line 205 (left of centre) for a modest sum, enabling me to pretend it's late 2004 or early 2005 at an undisclosed fictitious location somewhere along the western side of the Yamanote Line.

 

yamanote-saikyo-lines by Rail Squid, on Flickr

[ToniBabelony]

Meanwhile BookOff (who BTW ended their business association with HardOff some time last year I think) do have an extensive presence on Yahoo Auctions, providing me with this Saikyo Line 205 (left of centre) for a modest sum, enabling me to pretend it's late 2004 or early 2005 at an undisclosed fictitious location somewhere along the western side of the Yamanote Line.

 

Ebisu sounds about right. ;)

[railsquid]

Ebisu sounds about right. ;)

 

Too bright and airy for Ebisu ;)

[ToniBabelony]

Too bright and airy for Ebisu ;)

 

It needs that dank, dark, damp, stale beer post-izakaya flavour. Still, it's the only station with only four platforms that houses both the Saikyō and Yamanote line next to each other.

 

Now I'm thirsty... :/

[the_weird_one]

After a lot of delays outside of my control, my TMD scene is back on track - well track pins

 

 

Now just need Hatton's to ship my track, SEEP's and cork but at least I'll be able to lay it once it arrives

[railsquid]

yamanote-saikyo-lines by Rail Squid, on Flickr

 

Just noticed that Nariichi-san is supplying drop-in LED lightboards for the Kato 205s so have ordered some :D

 

[adrianKeith]

Some Yahoo deals arrived.

 

Tomytec Alpico 3000 series

C9S5vJYW0AAI7C7.jpg

 

Tomix SaHa E501

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Now I can finally make a 5-car Joban line train. (and have one car left)

 

Tomix DD51 & 50 series coach set

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Does anyone know more about this particular train? I tried to find informations but I can't figure anything out. Not even its name. Google translate results don't seem trustworthy here.

 

Love the colors on that Tomytec Alpico 3000 series!

[Kiha66]

KiHa 47-500/1500 have mainly been used around Niigata and only a very few on Shikoku and western Honshu. Also as Retro Train on the Suigun Line lately. They were/are only really abundant around Niigata though. Makes things a bit complicated if you want to do region-focused modelling like I try to do.

 

Alright, so what power pack are you using that does not produce such noise? Would be good to know if there is one that actually produces proper DC.

Interesting, I didn't know the difference between the types other than the trucks.  These were the only models in stock when I ordered though, so I may have to get some -0/-1000's once they become available.  For the smooth DC for testing I actually used batteries, although I'm going to try adding a capacitor to the track power feeds to see if that smooths out the rippled DC power.  Alternatively, I may make a PWM controller from an arduino, which may work better with the Tomix models. 

[Densha]

The main difference is that KiHa 40-2000 and 47-0/1000 are made for the 'warm region', whilst KiHa 40-500 and 47/48-500/1500 are made for the 'cold region'. The warm region is practically all of western Japan, whilst the cold region is practically all of northern Honshu and some mountainous regions. There are also 'severe cold region' models for Hokkaido. The most obvious visual difference between the warm and cold region models are the bogies, as the former use coil springs for suspension, whilst the latter have air suspension. As only very few KiHa 47-500/1500 have been manufactured (about 20 cars each), in the cold region mainly KiHa 48-500/1500 is used. Nowadays the 47-500/1500s mainly run around Niigata. JR Shikoku also owned a handful of them, although these are all scrapped by now. I'm not really sure about the exact locations where KiHa 47-500/1500 was used during the JNR era, but JNR was more known to mix up units from other regions than JR is.

 

As for the DC, strangely enough a Tomix unit I have still produces electrical noise with a 9V battery. Maybe it's just really this specific power unit that's problematic. Also, doesn't Tomix have PWM power packs in their assortment?

[Kiha66]

Yeah, Tomix motor units seem to have a strange tendency to either be a noisy or silent unit, independent of the throttle used or model type.  I have two high grade kiha 66 sets, and one runs nicely and the other buzzes even on battery power.  The new kiha 47 that I got buzzes, while the older kiha 58 set I just got runs pretty quiet, even on the rippled DC throttle. 

[Densha]

Ugh. Another reason for me to go for Kato locomotives then. However, as Tomix HG KiHa's look so much better than their Kato equivalents there's really no other choice for those. Though it's basically every time a gamble like this.