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

[westfalen]

I've posted these before on my holiday thread but for reference here's the real thing at Shiretoko-Shari on the Senmo Line in Hokkaido, or at least I thought it was when I saw it, comparing it with the model now I'm back I see a few differences. By the condition of it, it may be a newer version.

[David]

The one thing I've noticed is there are at least 2 varities of the "600". One with 2 rectangle windows on the front, and the one with 3 windows with circles imprinted and more exposed components (not as sleek). There is also a 300 version, which is smaller and even less sleek - apart from some of the window/cab design it almost looks like an American industrial switcher.

[Bernard]

Westfalen & David: the snow blower would make for a good thread. Great photos Alvin!

[westfalen]

The one thing I've noticed is there are at least 2 varities of the "600". One with 2 rectangle windows on the front, and the one with 3 windows with circles imprinted and more exposed components (not as sleek). There is also a 300 version, which is smaller and even less sleek - apart from some of the window/cab design it almost looks like an American industrial switcher.

You can't make it out very well in the low res versions I posted but the prototype in my photos was numbered 415, so there may also be a '400' series.

[westfalen]

Westfalen & David: the snow blower would make for a good thread. Great photos Alvin!

I was just videoing out the train window as we were going along and thought, "that looks familiar" and snapped off a few still shots as we went past.

[KenS]

While I was sitting on my couch, reading the forum and watching Youtube videos, the doorbell rang.  It was my latest HS delivery, with a pair of Modemo trams: the Setagaya green 300 series, and the Enoshima Choco Den.

 

I'd been expecting the mail man, which was one reason I was sitting here killing time. Saturday Express Mail delivery is a great thing. 

 

The 300 series is taking it's break-in spin on the coffee-table test track now.  After a very rough start, it's running smoothly at prototypically low speeds.  That's my third 300-series, for a two stop tram line that can support at most two trams.  Maybe I should add a maintenance garage. In any case, I'm clearly addicted.

[nik_n_dad]

Got a few new things over the last couple of weeks.  It's bonus time of the year at work, so Mom got the backyard landscaped, and I splurged a bit on pent-up train purchases.....

 

MicroAce C55-20 Streamline steam loco.  I really fell in love with this model, but alas, it is beyond me, and may be beyond most folks to convert this model to DCC.  I took off the body shell to discover a solid chunk of metal in the shape of the shell with the motor buried somewhere inside.  Very good looking train.  Anyone crack this open?  I've put it aside for now and will wait to see if i can find someone much less timid (and experienced) than I.....

 

 

MicroAce Kiya95 Dr Tokai.  Will have to figure out how to get DCC into this and decide whether I want to control the little inspection light in the middle car with DCC as well.  If I get it DCC'd, it may be a Christmas present for Nik (or if he keeps his "A's" up in school, a nice end of semester prize?).....

 

 

 

Kawai Kanazawa/Nagano 2-car set of snow plows.  Looks more like something for space travel.  Winter's coming, so I thought we better be ready with some snowplows.....

 

 

 

Nik saved up his chore money and got the Kato E259 Narita Express.  Kato has finally improved the clips for their DCC decoder in the motor car- the metal strips for power distribution that you slide the decoder under has been redesigned, and for once I didn't spend an hour jiggling the decoder and finally making shims for it.  5 minutes and all 3 decoders were in and we were running.....

 

 

 

Ok, the rest isn't Japanese, but they did show up recently....

 

Fleischmann 7174 Streamlined Stream loco.  I actually got this a while ago, but finally got it up and running and decided rather than wait for Christmas or something and give it to Nik, that it was going to be one of "Dad's" trains....

 

 

 

Micro Trains has been issuing weathered cars the last year or so.  Basically they take their factory seconds (bad paint jobs, damaged, etc), weather them very nicely and then sell them at a premium.  Yes, some of the are pretty cool, and this one was actually based on a real graffitied car....

 

 

 

HobbyTrain E474 Swiss Electric Loco.  I've been wanting this model for some time and splurged on myself.  

 

 

 

Our local hobby shop was having a loco sale and made us a great deal on this model.  They had one and didn't seem to want to have it in stock (we're in the wrong part of the country for Reading Railroad).  Atlas Master Line C630 Reading Railroad "Bee Line" diesel.  Oh well, what's one more loco?......

 

 

 

Nik and I have been wanting one of these for some time, but I've been choking on the price.  It went on sale for a few days and I picked one up.  It's an Arnold Swiss Federal Railway Krokodil.  It is a very nice model.  Nice to watch.  BUT, I can't seem to cram the decoder into it.  It uses the NEM651 (6-pin) decoders, and I even tried one with a harness, but can't find a place to put it.  Anyone have one of these and do an install?....

 

 

 

Ok, wallet now hurts.  I'll go outside and enjoy the backyard with the missus.   Gotta keep things in balance  

[westfalen]

Loving trains from all over the world really hurts the wallet.

 

I've always liked the Krokodil, I've always thought they looked like an electric version of a garratt.

[nik_n_dad]

Loving trains from all over the world really hurts the wallet.

 

I've always liked the Krokodil, I've always thought they looked like an electric version of a garratt.

 

Nik and my philosophy is "if it's cool, we should save up and try to get it".  I'm planning on selling a few little-used organs to keep the habit fed.

 

The Krokodil looks cool in the photos.  Watching it on the test track was really amazing- so many moving parts.  "Krokodil" is an appropriate name.

[scott]

Liking European trains can be *really* expensive if you buy stuff new. I've wanted the Kato SBB Re460 in the Postbus-centenary livery for a long time, but the cheapest I've seen it for is $168. :-P  I don't really get why Kato European stuff is so much more expensive than Kato Japanese stuff.

[Claude_Dreyfus]

One of our fellow club members has got hold of the Arnold Croc. It is really very nice. It was used to check new track alignment on Yamanouchi Oshika the other week...yes I know, all kinds of exotic stuff runs on here, especially when converted to DCC, which (thanks to our electrical guru) takes about five minutes...

 

He is a bit of a DCC fiend, so chances are the Croc will be converted in the near future. If he does, I'll find out how it did it.

[Martijn Meerts]

 

Liking European trains can be *really* expensive if you buy stuff new. I've wanted the Kato SBB Re460 in the Postbus-centenary livery for a long time, but the cheapest I've seen it for is $168. :-P  I don't really get why Kato European stuff is so much more expensive than Kato Japanese stuff.

 

The Japanese stuff is manufactured in MUCH larger volumes. European N-scale market is tiny compared to the Japanese N-scale market.

 

If you want expensive though, try 800 euro for a (mass produced) Marklin H0 scale Big Boy =)

[marknewton]

I've always liked the Krokodil, I've always thought they looked like an electric version of a garratt.

 

:hello2: Good one, Alvin! That's the best description of these locos I've ever read!

 

All the best,

 

Mark.

[disturbman]

Ah! Krokodils!!! If I had enough money I'll buy some. These locs really have a look.

[scott]

Well, I didn't expect this to work out, but I just "won" two assembled and powered, but unpainted, Greenmax Hakone Tozan 2-car sets, for $16 and $20. I'm not sure if I'lll paint them accurately or use them for my planned fictional "scenic" line, but either way they should be a fun project. I bought an assembled Greenmax #30 "Station over Parking Lot" from the same seller.

 

I also bid on a bunch of Trix "Swiss Express" coaches, but only won two of them, which is going to make for a really short train.

[Tecchan]

I DREAM about buying trains from my home country. Swiss trains are so beautiful! But that's true that they are really expensive... I'll get some of them when I have more Jtrains (some Shinkansen and others local). Not counting the fact I need and want more track length...

 

My dream is to buy this splendid one: ICN RABDe 500 but its only made in HO scale.

 

[scott]

Yeah, I'd love to have an N-scale model of the ICN, but I'm sure I couldn't afford it even if it was produced.

 

I'm verrrrrry slowly building up my SBB collection by bidding low(ish) on eBay and only winning occasionally. But the regular prices are ridiculous, so I can stand to wait. (Usually.  )

 

Interesting DB stock is much easier to find, but still not cheap. But I'm hoping for our European stuff to focus on Swiss lines, with some ÖBB, DB, SNCF, and FS visitors.

[keiman]

At last, my B train container wagons arrived.  4 wagons and 9 containers.

need to get more bogies then can do  a decent photo with my 4 wheel Tomix sets.

[Krackel Hopper]

At last, my B train container wagons arrived.  4 wagons and 9 containers.

need to get more bogies then can do  a decent photo with my 4 wheel Tomix sets.

 

My sets arrived yesterday.  I ordered two koki sets and the Kintetsu 10100..

 

I didn't expect 9 containers.  8 containers of assorted 12' and the 9th is stamped with

 

"Bトレインショーティ Scale Shorty Train Model"

 

While my basic 8 containers were the same in each box, my B-train containers were different.  I received a green w/ white stripe in one box and a blue w/ white stripe in the other.  I am quite happy with them!

 

Don't have operational trucks yet, so they are just static models for now.

[keiman]

My sets arrived yesterday.  I ordered two koki sets and the Kintetsu 10100..

I didn't expect 9 containers.  8 containers of assorted 12' and the 9th is stamped with

"Bトレインショーティ Scale Shorty Train Model"

While my basic 8 containers were the same in each box, my B-train containers were different.  I received a green w/ white stripe in one box and a blue w/ white stripe in the other.  I am quite happy with them!Don't have operational trucks yet, so they are just static models for now.

My B Train one is white with a blue stripe with the wording in a yellow block. Have taken trucks from a few of my other B train coaches just to put them all on a track  for a picture.

[nik_n_dad]

 

He is a bit of a DCC fiend, so chances are the Croc will be converted in the near future. If he does, I'll find out how it did it.

 

Claude-  I'm looking forward to hearing how your friend does this.

[westfalen]

Set of eight Kato TAKI 1000 tank cars arrived today via SAL from HS.

 

[David]

Set of eight Kato TAKI 1000 tank cars arrived today via SAL from HS.

 

 

Can you confirm if the wheels are silver like in the picture, rather then blackened?

[KenS]

I picked up the same set last month, and I can confirm that it has silver wheels, which match my earlier green TAKIs.

[bigford]

there HERE!!! :grin

The mailman dropped off my m250 4 car + 4 car power set

that makes all 16 cars for me!!!  Tuesday night I'll run them

at the club. I'm the only guy there with a fondness for Japanese

trains