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

[Spaceman Spiff]

Sadly the receiving of the Visa bill doesn't quite have the same effect :)

 

Spiff

[marknewton]

Mark, I'm sure you won't regret it.  I have the Hokkaido version with the conventional (squarish) tender and plateframe bogies.  Of course, the C58 type spent its last days up here, in Eastern Hokkaido in the early to mid 70's, even hauling the night express "Taisetsu" on its last leg from Kitami to Abashiri- quite a sight.

 

As you say, quite a sight. Nice little movie, BB. The crew on that C58 weren't mucking around!

 

Is it the current Tenshodo model that you have? Are you happy with its performance?

 

Cheers,

 

Mark.

[marknewton]

I'll be first in line if Kato decide to reissue the N scale version. I think the C58 is a nice looking engine.

 

I think of all the standard JNR designs, the C58s were the best looking engines of the lot. Closely followed by the C57s, C61s and D51s.

 

(But I don't think there's any Japanese steam I don't find appealing!  )

 

Cheers,

 

Mark.

[Martijn Meerts]

My Tamaden arrived today, it's very cute =)

 

There's actually quite a bit of detail in the thing, and the paint is very well done, especially considering the price.

[westfalen]

I'll be first in line if Kato decide to reissue the N scale version. I think the C58 is a nice looking engine.

 

I think of all the standard JNR designs, the C58s were the best looking engines of the lot. Closely followed by the C57s, C61s and D51s.

 

(But I don't think there's any Japanese steam I don't find appealing!  )

 

Cheers,

 

Mark.

I've always thought the C58's were nicely proportioned engines the same way as I think a Challenger is a better looking engine than a Big Boy.

[westfalen]

Mark, I'm sure you won't regret it.  I have the Hokkaido version with the conventional (squarish) tender and plateframe bogies.  Of course, the C58 type spent its last days up here, in Eastern Hokkaido in the early to mid 70's, even hauling the night express "Taisetsu" on its last leg from Kitami to Abashiri- quite a sight.

 

As you say, quite a sight. Nice little movie, BB. The crew on that C58 weren't mucking around!

 

Is it the current Tenshodo model that you have? Are you happy with its performance?

 

Cheers,

 

Mark.

I notice a couple of hardy souls have coach windows open. Maybe railfans.

[Nozomi4ever]

Sorry I did not order any Japanese models for these 2 months...(November-December)

Just a set of Märklin train..

Märklin TGV POS ( Got the Kato version.. Wanted to check out the new heavily-delayed Märklin version)

 

Just hope the wait is worth it...

[Martijn Meerts]

No visible screws to keep the shell in place? Must be a plastic shell then 

[Spaceman Spiff]

Nozomi4ever, I have the Kato TGV also. Looks like the Marklin has better detail. I wonder if it will run better than the Kato. My Kato is very finicky.

 

Spiff

[Bernard]

N4ever - Marklin really does a beautiful job on details for their trains! Out of curiosity, I see in one of the photos that one of the pantographs is different, does this train have the ability to use it's pantograph to supply power to the motor?

[to2leo]

Nozomi4ever, I have the Kato TGV also. Looks like the Marklin has better detail. I wonder if it will run better than the Kato. My Kato is very finicky.

 

Spiff

 

Oh no what happened to your Kato TGV?  I got all the TGV sets except the Renfe, aside from some missing parts which Kato has easily replaced, they all run fine.

[Spaceman Spiff]

tp2leo, its weird. It run fin for hours and then all of sudden it will stop on its own then run fine again. it has been like that since day one. I think the problem may be a connectivity issue.

 

Spiff

[Tecchan]

Nozomi4ever, I have the Kato TGV also. Looks like the Marklin has better detail. I wonder if it will run better than the Kato. My Kato is very finicky.

 

Spiff

 

Märklin is HO scale, hopefully it will have better details than N scale! 

But Märklin is also a really fine manufacturer!

 

N4ever - Marklin really does a beautiful job on details for their trains! Out of curiosity, I see in one of the photos that one of the pantographs is different, does this train have the ability to use it's pantograph to supply power to the motor?

Usually pantograph power supply is common on Märklin models.

It's a good thing for people who do it that way but a shame for the others: you pay more for something you won't be using and even worse: as the pantograph has to touch the line, it's really high (spring powered) and not aesthetical when there is no catenary... :-(

[Martijn Meerts]

Just pre-ordered http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10131948 .. Resistance was entirely futile =)

[to2leo]

tp2leo, its weird. It run fin for hours and then all of sudden it will stop on its own then run fine again. it has been like that since day one. I think the problem may be a connectivity issue.

 

Spiff

One of the minor issues that I had was the missing soldering done between the PCB board and the electrical contact on my TGV Thalys. 

 

If your Kato set is still within warranty, try contacting your hobby shop or ebay seller you purchased from.  They usually honor your warranty or refer you to a Kato contact source.

 

Try sending a picture and help them determine the issue is another tip that I will suggest from my previous experience.

[Nozomi4ever]

No visible screws to keep the shell in place? Must be a plastic shell then  

Yeah.. It 's made of plastic

 

Nozomi4ever, I have the Kato TGV also. Looks like the Marklin has better detail. I wonder if it will run better than the Kato. My Kato is very finicky.

 

N4ever - Marklin really does a beautiful job on details for their trains! Out of curiosity, I see in one of the photos that one of the pantographs is different, does this train have the ability to use it's pantograph to supply power to the motor?

 

Spiff- The TGV by Märklin is really good. It is fitted with full sound and the runs very smooth. :)

Bernard- No. The TGV runs using the 3-rail system just like Lionel. The pantographs are not wired to take power but you can raise the pantograph even on the powered catenary system.BTW. For your pantograph question , the TGV is modified for use in real life on both the French Railway(SNCF) and the German Railway(DB). The pantograph on the left is for SNCF , the other on the right is for DB.

 

Spiff- Here are two videos to show how the Märklin TGV POS works like...

 

( Sound demostration)

(Running demostration)

[Nozomi4ever]

Nozomi4ever, I have the Kato TGV also. Looks like the Marklin has better detail. I wonder if it will run better than the Kato. My Kato is very finicky.

 

Spiff

 

Märklin is HO scale, hopefully it will have better details than N scale! 

But Märklin is also a really fine manufacturer!

 

N4ever - Marklin really does a beautiful job on details for their trains! Out of curiosity, I see in one of the photos that one of the pantographs is different, does this train have the ability to use it's pantograph to supply power to the motor?

Usually pantograph power supply is common on Märklin models.

It's a good thing for people who do it that way but a shame for the others: you pay more for something you won't be using and even worse: as the pantograph has to touch the line, it's really high (spring powered) and not aesthetical when there is no catenary... :-(

 

The newest Märklin trains I can think of are not wired to take current from catenary.(As seen from Märklin catalog)

[Spaceman Spiff]

Nice videos and good sound.  The cars didn't look good going around that short curve though 

 

Spiff

[Nozomi4ever]

Nice videos and good sound.  The cars didn't look good going around that short curve though 

 

Spiff

 

Haha.. Yes.. That 's a R1 curve lol... 

[Tecchan]

Nozomi4ever, I have the Kato TGV also. Looks like the Marklin has better detail. I wonder if it will run better than the Kato. My Kato is very finicky.

 

Spiff

 

Märklin is HO scale, hopefully it will have better details than N scale! 

But Märklin is also a really fine manufacturer!

 

N4ever - Marklin really does a beautiful job on details for their trains! Out of curiosity, I see in one of the photos that one of the pantographs is different, does this train have the ability to use it's pantograph to supply power to the motor?

Usually pantograph power supply is common on Märklin models.

It's a good thing for people who do it that way but a shame for the others: you pay more for something you won't be using and even worse: as the pantograph has to touch the line, it's really high (spring powered) and not aesthetical when there is no catenary... :-(

 

The newest Märklin trains I can think of are not wired to take current from catenary.(As seen from Märklin catalog)

 

I honestly don't know, maybe it's an option or not available on all the locs... The three I had were compatible.

[IST]

I bought a Kato 20-806 platform set, I was very curious how it looks like, a book set with 8 places for my British DMU-s, and a pack of R249 Kato Unitrack set. EMS from Plaza Japan was very fast.

And one of my friend has just finished a Plastic Pig for me (yes, it is not Japanese):

[KenS]

HS just acknowledged payment for my pre-ordered Kato/Roundhouse 485 Nikko/Kinugawa train, so I should have that early next week. 

 

By an odd coincidence (or perhaps none at all) Micro Ace just announced a reservation for the similar 189 Nikko-go train, which apparently was repainted from its former Ayano livery to serve as replacement or supplemental power for the 485 on the Nikko service (or so I puzzle out from Wikipedia).

 

I'm thinking of reserving the 189, as I think the two would look good together.  Not quite identical, but close.

[Nozomi4ever]

Nozomi4ever, I have the Kato TGV also. Looks like the Marklin has better detail. I wonder if it will run better than the Kato. My Kato is very finicky.

 

Spiff

 

Märklin is HO scale, hopefully it will have better details than N scale! 

But Märklin is also a really fine manufacturer!

 

N4ever - Marklin really does a beautiful job on details for their trains! Out of curiosity, I see in one of the photos that one of the pantographs is different, does this train have the ability to use it's pantograph to supply power to the motor?

Usually pantograph power supply is common on Märklin models.

It's a good thing for people who do it that way but a shame for the others: you pay more for something you won't be using and even worse: as the pantograph has to touch the line, it's really high (spring powered) and not aesthetical when there is no catenary... :-(

 

The newest Märklin trains I can think of are not wired to take current from catenary.(As seen from Märklin catalog)

 

I honestly don't know, maybe it's an option or not available on all the locs... The three I had were compatible.

 

Which three... Anyway, I can tell you the advantages of the Märklin system..

 

1) Easy to understand digital system , just put the train on the programming track and let them register themselves(Only with MFX equipped trains only)

2) Functions are easy to control , Functions are arranged neatly on each row.

3)Easy to connect from main power to the track. The new transformer and controller have recently designed to be be very small and handy as well as a blue-coloured screen.

4) All the trains they produced from 2008 onwards are all digital decorder equipped. (Either FX or MFX)*MFX means it registers itself. FX means it 's Digital yes but please register it yourself just like DCC)

(Here 's the video showing how the digital system works in the basic controller A.K.A Mobile Station 2)

(The video of the advanced controller A.K.A Central Station 2)

[marknewton]

I notice a couple of hardy souls have coach windows open. Maybe railfans.

 

Cold railfans I reckon!

 

Cheers,

 

Mark.

[marknewton]

I've always thought the C58's were nicely proportioned engines the same way as I think a Challenger is a better looking engine than a Big Boy.

 

Couldn't agree more, Alvin. I've never understood why Big Boys have such a following, when the 4-6-6-4s were a better engine in every respect.

 

Cheers,

 

Mark.