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

[railsquid]

Random bits'n'pieces from Akihabara:

 

]

 

Going at the way the figures are making a very determined assault on the up-face of Wave Number Six, I might not go there again for a while...

[chadbag]

On 1/8/2022 at 6:07 PM, Kamome said:

Anyway as regards to new releases, i’d probably say if the train has the same or similar chassis to a train already produced in model form, it’s far more cost effective to use existing designs for current collection and light units etc perhaps with subtle changes to underfloor equipment.  This may have been the case with the Chizu HOT7000. I’m sure if they had needed to design it from the ground up, they would have included the newer EM decoder design. 

 

This.

 

If they base a model on an existing chassis, you get the DCC capability of that chassis.   If they have to make a new one, I think most of the completely new ones have had DCC compatibility.  There is not much extra cost to make something work with an EM13 vs not having any DCC compatibility at all.  But having to design something completely new is a large cost so if they can re-use older designs they will to save that cost.

[beakaboy]

On 1/11/2022 at 7:15 PM, SL-san said:

Microace D61-3 from Yahoo Japan via Zenmarket and DHL.  Although a 1997 release this "secondhand" model is in immaculate condition and runs well!

 

Graeme

 

Hi Graeme, can you tell me the model number please.looks like the version I have. The cab on my model seems to sit too high, but otherwise runs nice

Edited January 14, 2022 by beakaboy

[gavino200]

I just received my Aoshima apartments. These things are enormous. At least the boxes are. This is for sure the largest box I've received from 1999. And with it my Shooting Star.

 

 

Edited January 15, 2022 by gavino200

[railsquid]

Today I cycled approximately 11.63km to Hobbycentre Kato:

 

 

and made a couple of acquisitions:

 

 

the most important one being a reservation for the 28-223 E351 upgrade set, which I missed out on last time round, much to my lasting annoyance.

 

Also the upgraded motor unit for the Hiroshima tram, which is a vast improvement over the original version.

[JR 500系]

48 minutes ago, railsquid said:

Today I cycled approximately 11.63km to Hobbycentre Kato:

 

Look within 11.63km radius and we can find the squid residence for some delicious Takoyaki   😛

 

49 minutes ago, railsquid said:

the most important one being a reservation for the 28-223 E351 upgrade set, which I missed out on last time round, much to my lasting annoyance.

 

Is this already released? Mine is still in pre-order here..... X_X

[lighthouse]

Last week new locos for a small layout arrives.

 

Kato 7011-1 Type  DE10

 

Kato 2011 Type C11

 

[railsquid]

1 hour ago, JR 500系 said:

 

2 hours ago, railsquid said:

the most important one being a reservation for the 28-223 E351 upgrade set, which I missed out on last time round, much to my lasting annoyance.

Is this already released? Mine is still in pre-order here..... X_X

 

Err no, hence the reservation. They will let me know when it is available, and I will go and pick it up (and have another good browse 🙂 )

Edited January 15, 2022 by railsquid

[beakaboy]

9 hours ago, gavino200 said:

I just received my Aoshima apartments. These things are enormous. At least the boxes are. This is for sure the largest box I've received from 1999. And with it my Shooting Star.

 

 

 

I got the Aoshima apartments, or at least something very similar several years ago. I managed to build one apartment to fit on my city layout. A lot of sprue cutting involved. One of them is still unmade. I am pleased I got them when freight was cheap ex Japan.

[disturbman]

16 hours ago, beakaboy said:

Hi Graeme, can you tell me the model number please.looks like the version I have. The cab on my model seems to sit too high, but otherwise runs nice

What do you mean by site too high?
 

Early MA steam models are not known to be fully to scale. They wouldn’t be the first models to have the cab or boiler be too large to accommodate a motor.

 

1997 is pre-historic MA territory. It’s good to hear it runs nice.

[James-SNMB]

Fresh delivery from PlazaJapan with a Fresh Green 100 series Shinkansen!

 

I have slowly fallen in love with the fresh green livery, and everyone who recently picked up a 100 series (in blue and white) and shared their pictures got me excited. RG-Rokko had them in stock for a long time, and I was going to add one to my pre-orders coming in March, but they sold out. I thought about asking them, but then kind of decided I'd just let it go and just hope for a re-release.

 

PlazaJapan must have found a box way in the back of the Indiana Jones warehouse because they suddenly had stock again! Couldn't pass it up!

 

And of course I had to fill out the order with some buildings and some Tomica cars (which were a hit with my girls this Christmas, and so I grabbed some more for birthdays and friends kids birthdays)

 

I now have more trains than places to park them on the layout... And about two thousand unstarted building projects... I'd better find some time soon!

[mags_minibuilds]

Delivered yesterday by DHL from Hobby Search. What sparked this purchase was that I really wanted the hamburger vending machine but ended up with a stockpile of buildings and accessories to build a B-Train Shorty layout (at some point). 🤭

[The Birmingham train spotter]

@Cat hey lovely Tanks I see your a Girl Und Panzer fan too, that Maus looks like it's ripped out the Anime!

[Cat]

1 hour ago, The Birmingham train spotter said:

@Cat hey lovely Tanks I see your a Girl Und Panzer fan too, that Maus looks like it's ripped out the Anime!

 

Thanks!  Fanatical modelling meets fandom.
: 3
 
Roxanne and I are both fans, this is why we chose to model Ibaraki Shorty.  We're starting construction in Mito and that terminus of the Kashima Rinkai Tetsudo which will eventually reah Oarai. 

[cteno4]

5 hours ago, ZandT said:

What sparked this purchase was that I really wanted the hamburger vending machine but ended up with a stockpile of buildings and accessories to build a B-Train Shorty layout (at some point).

LOL weren’t we just saying model train stuff is just like peanuts, popcorn or potato chips?! I’ll just have one…

 

jeff

[SL-san]

On 1/15/2022 at 10:41 PM, disturbman said:

What do you mean by site too high?
 

Early MA steam models are not known to be fully to scale. They wouldn’t be the first models to have the cab or boiler be too large to accommodate a motor.

 

1997 is pre-historic MA territory. It’s good to hear it runs nice.

 

On 1/15/2022 at 6:36 AM, beakaboy said:

Hi Graeme, can you tell me the model number please.looks like the version I have. The cab on my model seems to sit too high, but otherwise runs nice

Sorry beakaboy for not replying sooner...the Microace D61-3 model number A9506.  As disturbman said Microace tended to size boilers and cabs to fit the motors they used.  I have been buying older Microace models where there is no other equivalent except for World Craft models that I can't afford.

It is interesting to compare these early SL models with later offerings from Kato and Tomix with coreless motors.  Early models could scale 1:140 and made compromises with lots of dimensions.  Recent Kato and Tomix SLs scale at 1:150, have a wealth of detail and are much closer to prototype.

 

Graeme (from across the ditch) 

[KaiDon]

Today delivery:

 

 

 

 

Edited January 19, 2022 by disturbman

[railsquid]

Some early 90's bug-eyed double decker action:

 

MicroAce 215 series by Rail Squid, on Flickr

 

MicroAce 215 series by Rail Squid, on Flickr

 

I was going to hold out for the Tomix version, but the base set will only have 4 cars, and I really want 6 and am not terribly enthusiastic about paying all that extra money for another 4 cars I'll probably never use, plus the cost of TN couplers and the mild mental distress of mutilating brand new bogies, so I was happy to find this MicroAce version in the midst of the current 2nd hand glut with 10 cars for not much more than the price of the Tomix base set plus they all have TN couplers.

 

Edited January 19, 2022 by railsquid

[comeng84]

12 hours ago, railsquid said:

Some early 90's bug-eyed double decker action:

 

MicroAce 215 series by Rail Squid, on Flickr

 

MicroAce 215 series by Rail Squid, on Flickr

 

I was going to hold out for the Tomix version, but the base set will only have 4 cars, and I really want 6 and am not terribly enthusiastic about paying all that extra money for another 4 cars I'll probably never use, plus the cost of TN couplers and the mild mental distress of mutilating brand new bogies, so I was happy to find this MicroAce version in the midst of the current 2nd hand glut with 10 cars for not much more than the price of the Tomix base set plus they all have TN couplers.

 

The one thing that I can't get past with the MA 215 is the location of the motor mech. I'm glad Tomix are putting there motor mech in the leading car so as to not spoil the "double decker" illusion... then again my one and only experience with Tomix EMUs in the mid 2000s was not a good one.

 

I purchased a Tomix Nagano Electric Railway Series 1000 from a local hobby shop during my early days of J-Trains, and that was the first (and last) time it ever ran. It sounded like somebody was chewing corn flakes with there mouth open - the mech was that loud and crunchy. Returned it that next day and I've been buying Kato EMUs ever since.

[Rod.H]

On 1/19/2022 at 11:27 AM, Cat said:

 

Thanks!  Fanatical modelling meets fandom.
: 3
 
Roxanne and I are both fans, this is why we chose to model Ibaraki Shorty.  We're starting construction in Mito and that terminus of the Kashima Rinkai Tetsudo which will eventually reah Oarai. 

While I'm puttering around thinking of the Kashima end, while having enough tanks for Pravda (minus the IS2 & KV2 in 1:100).....

 

2 hours ago, comeng84 said:

The one thing that I can't get past with the MA 215 is the location of the motor mech. I'm glad Tomix are putting there motor mech in the leading car so as to not spoil the "double decker" illusion... then again my one and only experience with Tomix EMUs in the mid 2000s was not a good one.

 

I purchased a Tomix Nagano Electric Railway Series 1000 from a local hobby shop during my early days of J-Trains, and that was the first (and last) time it ever ran. It sounded like somebody was chewing corn flakes with there mouth open - the mech was that loud and crunchy. Returned it that next day and I've been buying Kato EMUs ever since.

That sounds like it was a bad spring worm drive or someone had reinstalled a power bogie wrong

Edited January 20, 2022 by Rod.H

[railsquid]

2 hours ago, comeng84 said:

The one thing that I can't get past with the MA 215 is the location of the motor mech.

 

I suspect MA's standard motor chassis design (which is used with this one) isn't suitable for use in end cars... However for some reason they motorised the second car, rather than a more central one, for no apparent reason. But anyway, it's a train I have more for completeness and probably won't get run that often.

 

30 minutes ago, Rod.H said:

2 hours ago, comeng84 said:

 then again my one and only experience with Tomix EMUs in the mid 2000s was not a good one.

 

I purchased a Tomix Nagano Electric Railway Series 1000 from a local hobby shop during my early days of J-Trains, and that was the first (and last) time it ever ran. It sounded like somebody was chewing corn flakes with there mouth open - the mech was that loud and crunchy. Returned it that next day and I've been buying Kato EMUs ever since.

 

That sounds like it was a bad spring worm drive or someone had reinstalled a power bogie wrong

 

Yup, it's conceivable that model might have been from the spring worm drive era. Modern Tomix mechanisms are fine.

[disturbman]

They are more than fine, quiet and great runners. I still haven’t tried their freshly released new motor to see how it compares with the previous one.

 

1 hour ago, railsquid said:

I suspect MA's standard motor chassis design (which is used with this one) isn't suitable for use in end cars...

Afaik, their standard motor is used on all their EMU and DMU designs. They usually try to have the motor not in the end cars, but otherwise the difference is limited to the floor plates. At least in the models I have, you can swap the chassis around if they are the correct length. The rest is modular and hasn’t changed much. But the floor plates are more or less model specific.

Edited January 20, 2022 by disturbman

[comeng84]

@disturbman@railsquid@Rod.H

A did a quick google of “Tomix spring drive” and you are all right: it was fitted with a spring drive. 

 

All my locos are Tomix and I agree - they can’t be faulted. You have given me hope in trying a Tomix EMU again 😁

[ED75-775]

21 hours ago, railsquid said:

Some early 90's bug-eyed double decker action:

 

MicroAce 215 series by Rail Squid, on Flickr

 

MicroAce 215 series by Rail Squid, on Flickr

 

I was going to hold out for the Tomix version, but the base set will only have 4 cars, and I really want 6 and am not terribly enthusiastic about paying all that extra money for another 4 cars I'll probably never use, plus the cost of TN couplers and the mild mental distress of mutilating brand new bogies, so I was happy to find this MicroAce version in the midst of the current 2nd hand glut with 10 cars for not much more than the price of the Tomix base set plus they all have TN couplers.

Ooh, nice! Where did you find yours, squid? I saw this and immediately went for a peruse through Yahoo! Auctions via Zenmarket only to decide that the prices were not low enough for me to consider scrapping my preorder for the Tomix one. But to each his own, and I'm glad you're happy with yours!

 

Back on the other side of the world, my first N-gauge rolling stock purchase for 2022 is considerably more mundane: a like-new Kato C56. Someone else tried to bid it out from under me, so I thought 'screw this!' and clicked the buyout button in retaliation. Oh, and I've also got the latest Kato catalog coming via Osaka which was my first N-gauge purchase for the year, courtesy of the same shop I brought the '21 version from. I'm still hoping for a nice train postcard as a bonus from the shop. I'll find out when it arrives next week.

 

So far I've been able to mark myself safe from a lot of stuff announced on the N-gauge front, which is just as well because I'm definitely not safe on the Märklin H0-gauge front!

 

On 1/19/2022 at 1:27 PM, Cat said:

 

Thanks!  Fanatical modelling meets fandom.
: 3

Roxanne and I are both fans, this is why we chose to model Ibaraki Shorty.  We're starting construction in Mito and that terminus of the Kashima Rinkai Tetsudo which will eventually reach Oarai. 

Ooh, you'll have to show us your tank train! I'll show you mine (admittedly in H0, but who cares?) if you do! I'm still waiting to watch Das Finale 3 and wondering how next time around Oarai will dig themselves out of trouble. Maybe a battle of the troll tanks between the Hetzer and the BT-42?

[railsquid]

2 hours ago, ED75-775 said:

Ooh, nice! Where did you find yours, squid? I saw this and immediately went for a peruse through Yahoo! Auctions via Zenmarket only to decide that the prices were not low enough for me to consider scrapping my preorder for the Tomix one. But to each his own, and I'm glad you're happy with yours!

 

This was from BookOff via Yahoo Auctions, found by diligent, constant searching, or maybe it popped up as a related item, anyway I was the only bidder.

 

(Sometimes the bigger non-specialist sellers put up something noticeably below the usual market price levels, probably through lack of knowledge, and you just have to be lucky...).