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

[cteno4]

its ok its only a single car train.

 

jeff

[railsquid]

Due to an unfortunate incident involving an auction house I frequently purchase from shovelling someone's collection of MicroAce models of older locomotives onto the market, my credit card has been busy recently.

 

MicroAce EH10 (EH10-1) by Rail Squid, on Flickr

 

Very nice looking-model of an EH10, especially given that it's from 2004, but bizarrely MicroAce have managed to render it slightly underscale (I reckon it's more like 1:160) which really stands out when placed next to the equivalent Kato model, but on its own with suitably selected wagons looks OK. Surprisingly light, but runs well.

[railsquid]

An ED46, or more precisely the ED46:

 

MicroAce ED46-1 by Rail Squid, on Flickr

 

 

[JR 500系]

Seems like Squid san has been rather busy lately!  😛

 

Yahoo auctions can be soso addictive! 

[Kamome]

A little and large addition to the fleet.

Mainly the new EF65-2000 in JR blue and cream. It’s a great looking loco to join to the JRF haulers (Kato 3061-5) 
I’m suddenly in the market for some more Takis. Quite interested in the new Kato 12 car set Taki 1000s release in Feb 2020 with the JP-8 Jet fuel allocation.

 

Although in the wrong thread, finally added a Kiro 28 to my HO Kiha 58 consist. These sold through quickly on the previous run so glad a reissue came so soon.

[railsquid]

15 hours ago, JR 500系 said:

Yahoo auctions can be soso addictive! 

 

So my bankruptcy lawyer keeps telling me.

 

From the same batch, an earlier EF10:

 

MicroAce EF10 (EF10-8) by Rail Squid, on Flickr

 

which I might renumber to EF10-13, which was allocated to Hachioji; and an EF12:

 

MicroAce EF12 (EF12-1) by Rail Squid, on Flickr

 

a class which is not traditionally associated with the Chuo Line but the internet kindly found a picture of one at Haijima.

[Sheffie]

Not delivered, so much as rescued from the post office, who were doing their best to ship them back to Japan: one set of platform kits. Much larger than expected!

 

ETA:

It turns out that the reason the kits are so large is that they are partially assembled. The platform bases are put together, with the uprights, the power rails, and the underside of the roof (a transparent panel, in case you go for the lighting option). All of that stuff is packed neatly inside with cardboard spacers so that it can't move in transit.

 

Edited October 26, 2019 by Sheffie

[serotta1972]

Got my Tomix Urban Liner Plus from the Hobby Search sale - it came a while back but been occupied by other things.  Great price as it already comes with TN couplers pre-installed.  Need to give my trains more attention.

 

 

 

[chadbag]

@Sheffie Why was the PO trying to send it back?  What happened?

 

 

 

 

[railsquid]

To add some variety to my never-ending stream of brown electric locomotives, here a black steam locomotive in the form of a 8620 class, which were used for shunting purposes and freight trip workings on and around the Chuo Line in the western Tokyo area up until the 1960s:

 

 

(Model by MicroAce, prototype is actually of a Shikoku-based loco but close enough...).

Edited October 26, 2019 by railsquid

[Sheffie]

8 hours ago, chadbag said:

@Sheffie Why was the PO trying to send it back?  What happened?

 

 

 

 

 

They tried to deliver it on Tuesday when we were all away from home. I tried to arrange redelivery twice, online, but despite getting confirmation emails both times, the tracking website still said “you need to take some action”. And they only give you four days before deporting your stuff. So I went to the post office and picked it up. 

[cteno4]

Sadly they have this stupid idea that Express Mail (which is what EMS is when here in the us) has to be returned if not delivered in a few days. It’s stupid and actually (as of a few years ago) there was no real rule but usps let the postmasters set what they wanted to. Ems packages usually won’t get held if you have a vacation hold on as well, again a stupid thing that postmasters can enforce. I had an ems package returned while we had a vacation hold on once. Turns out or carrier knew we were away due to the hold and wanted to hold the package but the local postmaster insisted they only get held a week. They have no defense other that to tell you it’s express mail so sposta be delivered fast so the will jut return fast if they can’t deliver fast. Some of the dumbest circular arguments I’ve ever gotten into.

 

jeff

[brill27mcb]

Yes, in the U.S. you're actually better off with a shipment method that does NOT require a signature on delivery.

 

Rich K.

[Madsing]

Received first order from Rail Gallery Rokko. It's perfectly packed. They have even added extra protection foam inside the Kato boxes to make sure that the cars don't move!

 

[Sheffie]

I do like RG Rokko. They sent me most of my black freight cars, and each one was carefully packed. 

[railsquid]

Some more fallout from my recent MicroAce loco batch:

 

MicroAce ED70 (ED70-14) by Rail Squid, on Flickr

 

Not really my thing, but I was AC curious and it was so cheap, turns out it was because it was a non-runner, though the motor was evidently still attempting to turn.

 

And the thing I so love about MicroAce locos is that you never know what's going to be inside when you open them up to re-runnerize them, it's as if they have sworn never to use the same mechanism design twice.

 

MicroAce ED70 (ED70-14) by Rail Squid, on Flickr

 

Anyway after some speculative dismantlement:

 

MicroAce ED70 (ED70-14) by Rail Squid, on Flickr

 

I determined that both bogie tower worm gears were very tight fits and were not turning at all, which was resolved by cleaning out the gunk and adding a very generous amount of grease to all friction-generating surfaces, and now it runs just fine.

 

Hardcore ED70 fans will however be much better served by the more up-to-date Kato version.

[Drunkenclam]

I'm currently awaiting an EMS package. Knowing my luck Parcelforce/customs will sit on it for a fortnight first. Train wise. It was some buildings including the country inn and Tomytec building with the round tower. 

Just wondering if anyone has installed a flexible oled screen around the tower. Or shall I be mad enough to give it a go.

 

Also contains some anime cels and some specialised pachinko machine clamps. 

[Welshbloke]

If it's the fairly small Tomytec with the round tower then I did manage to add lighting. Using a string of LEDs intended to be dangled into an empty wine bottle.

 

I must revisit it and investigate fitting a concealed rechargeable battery along with more subtle lighting. I have a few "disposable" phone chargers which are an excellent source of small lithium cells, add a 99p charger/boost PCB from ebay and you have a simple rechargeable 5v supply.

[Drunkenclam]

I was thinking about something like in this video. But will need the exact dimensions first.

 

As feared, Its gone to customs, so no weekend plans no :sigh:

 

 

Edited November 1, 2019 by Drunkenclam

[Madsing]

Very interesting. I will check it out too. 

[railsquid]

Your Honour, while I freely admit to not having and never having had any intention to model operations on the Senohachi pass, I submit most humbly that the acquistion of this EF61-200 series, which is a converted EF60 with cab end doors and cab end steps at one end falls under "Rule 1" of railway modelling with special regard to the ridiculous cheapness of the thing.

 

MicroAce EF61-200 (EF61-204) by Rail Squid, on Flickr

 

(Also, in accordance with MicroAce's policy of random locomotive specifications, it has working tail lights as well).

Edited November 1, 2019 by railsquid

[cteno4]

Rules, rules, we don’t need any stinkin rules! (Well with model railroading of course...)

 

jeff

[Drunkenclam]

18 hours ago, cteno4 said:

Rules, rules, we don’t need any stinkin rules! (Well with model railroading of course...)

 

jeff

Sounds a bit like 'Blazing Saddles'

[railsquid]

Without the baked beans, I hope (something I have only ever encountered once in Japan).

 

Meanwhile, to coin a Japanese pun (the Squidlet, aged 4 going on 6 is a sucker for these), ましですか？

 

Kato MaShi 35 (MaShi 353) by Rail Squid, on Flickr

 

 

Random addition to the recent auction spree, an ancient (as in 3-digit catalogue number, also 3-figure price in yen) Kato MaShi 35 restaurant car. Interestingly it came with a set of (still sealed) brass pickup strips for the optional addition of lighting, which I only noticed after changing the prehistoric crud-encladded wheelsets for modern ones, which sit somewhat loose but not loose enough to come loose while running, so I will leave them unopened until I confirm I've not accidentally hit on a rarity which fetches silly auction prices.

[Welshbloke]

My ancient 153 Series has a full set of them, still bagged in the little wallet inside the front of the case. Interestingly they have holes for the axle pinpoints rather than cups to act as bearings, presumably to deal with the extra length of the old axles. In the unlikely event of finding the head/tail light kit they'll be very useful.