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

[katoftw]

1 hour ago, Dave K said:

 

Not true.

Which Japanese Kato loco did you buy that came with knuckle couplers fitted?

[Kamome]

4 hours ago, Dave K said:

I just don't understand why Kato shipped this with Rapido couplers installed.

All Kato locos and loco hauled coaches tend to ship with Rapidos. I’m definitely not an advocate for them either but many train collectors at rental layouts still have them on their stock here in Japan. (I’m similarly OCD about fitting the short shank “EF66 style” couplers to my N Kato stock and locos as well as metal knuckle couplings to all of my HO gauge) Hobby Centre Kato now sell a mid and short shank magnetic coupler, the same as comes with their American locomotives. 

 

Non magnetic short shank knuckle

Assy parts Z01-0224

 

28-255 Short shank magnetic

28-256 Medium shank magnetic

 

These fit Kato locos and coaching stock with the pivoting pin style coupler mount, such as ends of 24 series blue trains. My Fuji, Twilight and Hokutosei came with medium ones but look way better with these shorter ones. 

 

The only Kato set i’ve received without Rapidos attached was the 7 stars where the DF200 and end coaches had pre-installed knuckles. Plus any American outline, of course.

 

The couplers on the 8620 in the Hitoyoshi set looked especially thick and heavy, very out of place on such a dainty loco hence my comments. They also tended to droop due to how far they extended out from the tender and coaches but I have a much bigger hatred of the enormous Tomix ones. 

[bill937ca]

4 hours ago, Dave K said:

 

Not true.

This is a Japanese focused list. Once you get away from train set configurations you will find Rapido couplers. Hobby Search has big photos in their listings and you can see exactly what you are looking at buying.

[Wolf]

6 hours ago, Dave K said:

Not true.

Wich part is not true? Both my Kato Kyushu DE10s (Item No #7011-4) came with Knuckles to swap in the Box.

[disturbman]

Guys, no need to pile up on poor @Dave K. Give him time to come back and answer the first posters 😅

[Falcon]

2 hours ago, Wolf said:

Both my Kato Kyushu DE10s (Item No #7011-4) came with Knuckles to swap in the Box.

Also for my Kato DE10  !

 

 

[roadstar_na6]

Dave meant the fact that only Rapidos allow for tight radii isn't true I think

Edited December 6, 2022 by roadstar_na6

[disturbman]

Obviously, Dave meant to say "Not trou", meaning, "there is no hole". Which is true.

[Dave K]

11 hours ago, Kamome said:

All Kato locos and loco hauled coaches tend to ship with Rapidos. I’m definitely not an advocate for them either but many train collectors at rental layouts still have them on their stock here in Japan. (I’m similarly OCD about fitting the short shank “EF66 style” couplers to my N Kato stock and locos as well as metal knuckle couplings to all of my HO gauge) Hobby Centre Kato now sell a mid and short shank magnetic coupler, the same as comes with their American locomotives. 

 

Non magnetic short shank knuckle

Assy parts Z01-0224

 

28-255 Short shank magnetic

28-256 Medium shank magnetic

 

These fit Kato locos and coaching stock with the pivoting pin style coupler mount, such as ends of 24 series blue trains. My Fuji, Twilight and Hokutosei came with medium ones but look way better with these shorter ones. 

 

The only Kato set i’ve received without Rapidos attached was the 7 stars where the DF200 and end coaches had pre-installed knuckles. Plus any American outline, of course.

 

The couplers on the 8620 in the Hitoyoshi set looked especially thick and heavy, very out of place on such a dainty loco hence my comments. They also tended to droop due to how far they extended out from the tender and coaches but I have a much bigger hatred of the enormous Tomix ones. 

Thanks.

 

I surmise the 28-255 knuckle should be easy to install on the Hitoyoshi coaches?

 

 

Dave

[Kamome]

4 hours ago, Dave K said:

I surmise the 28-255 knuckle should be easy to install on the Hitoyoshi coaches?

Correct, as well as your DE10. The steam loco comes with a short shank non magnetic knuckle so you could also replace. 

 

I purchased some of these magnetic ones, mainly due to the limitation of finding the non-magnetic ones (28-255 are sold as regular parts whereas Z01-0224 are Assy parts only stocked by certain larger chain stores and HCK) The metal pin needs some trimming I’ve found.

 

I’m not sure how reliable they are for uncoupling, if anyone can shed more light on the subject as they’ve been used on Kato’s American locomotives for a good while.

Edited December 6, 2022 by Kamome

[katoftw]

Been trying to get my hands on Z01-0282 parts for a while. Only found in random Japanese language only websites. And 400 yen part with 1500-2000 yes shipping.

Edited December 7, 2022 by katoftw

[Dave K]

Happy to report that there are no coupler issues with the cookies received

with my Kato DE10.  😊

 

 

Dave

[Kamome]

4 hours ago, katoftw said:

Been trying to get my hands on Z01-0282 parts for a while.

These are the short shank couplers that centre with the coil spring rather than the flat brass plate spring. 

 

I know these were used on the Kato EF58s amongst other things. I’d have to check but I think a lot of the older style locos like the EF57, 10, 13, 15 may also use them. 

 

That’s the issue with these small parts, you pay more on postage. Even the Japanese domestic postage from a Models Imon order I made, the postage went up exponentially with the cost of goods, despite it being small sticker sheets and other small parts that wouldn’t have been much weight and would have all fitted in an envelope. That postage was around the ¥1500 mark because I live in Kyushu, as if it’s a foreign entity from the rest of Japan. 

 

I guess try and order from one of the independent along with other items to make the postage worth while. 

[ED75-775]

The latest arrival to my N-scale collection came today - three coaches for my Tomix Osaka Loop Line 103, and three more Hoki 800 hoppers split from the 97949 set. Having more slots (and numbers) in the set case, and a love of these hoppers, it was an easy choice. I also snagged a spare chassis for one of the cab cars on the 103 as it had lost its tail light prism, for reasons I cannot recall, and the only way to get the prism was to buy a complete chassis from the recent Wakayama Line version.

 

I haven't unboxed anything yet though, but will likely do so in the next few days while I recover from coronavirus - one of my staff at work may likely have infected me. I don't bear any grudge against him, at the time he probably didn't know he had it. Irrespective of the how or why, I'm now out of circulation for a week at least, but at least have something to work on besides reading countless books/magazines, playing video games (time to get back into Breath of the Wild, I guess!) and coping with the draconian restrictions my siblings demand of me to ensure I don't infect them.

 

Alastair

[Das Steinkopf]

On 12/7/2022 at 6:33 PM, Kamome said:

These are the short shank couplers that centre with the coil spring rather than the flat brass plate spring. 

 

I know these were used on the Kato EF58s amongst other things. I’d have to check but I think a lot of the older style locos like the EF57, 10, 13, 15 may also use them. 

 

That’s the issue with these small parts, you pay more on postage. Even the Japanese domestic postage from a Models Imon order I made, the postage went up exponentially with the cost of goods, despite it being small sticker sheets and other small parts that wouldn’t have been much weight and would have all fitted in an envelope. That postage was around the ¥1500 mark because I live in Kyushu, as if it’s a foreign entity from the rest of Japan. 

 

I guess try and order from one of the independent along with other items to make the postage worth while. 

Oh yeah Kyushu is so far from Honshu, it takes between 20 to 30 minutes to walk from one to the other via a pedestrian tunnel. My wife and I are heading back in May but only to Tokyo as a bit of a stopover on our way to and from the UK, I would love to go back to Kyushu again as I enjoyed the laidback vibe of Hakata.

[Sean]

This Hankyu 6300 Series by Kato arrived in the mail yesterday. Picked up the 4 car kihon set plus a 4 car add on set for just 6100 Yen on Yahoo Auctions which was a bargain. I used to ride this train to work during my first year in Japan so am happy to have it.

[JR 500系]

It's raining trains again!  🙂

 

Mandarake is really a good place to hawk out, sometimes the items is really attractive!

 

 

 

 

Never enough Toei buses haha

 

 

Found these LOVELY magazines that are great to look at!

 

 

 

 

FINALLY! The R10 formation of the N700-8000 series that was launched when Kyushu Shinkansen first opened! I love the graphics on the R10, as well as a N700-8000 series to complete the Kyushu shinaksens!

 

RG-Rokko has great packing as usual, LOVE buying from them ~~

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The E531 Akaden! The colour is really nice, now i need the original E531 series to couple with...

 

 

The Kyushu holy grail now, the gold class standard for Steam locomotive sets! 

[Sean]

Mandarake is great, that Kyushu Shinkansen is a beauty!

[bill937ca]

Must be moving to a presidential palace! Naaaa   Maybe just a bus company palace!

[Wolf]

So the final (Christmas) RG-R Package rolled in today. Aparently a lot of my pre-orders hit december XD



Got the new (reprint) Tomytec Hot Spa / Onsen setting stuff. Looking foreward to do something with these!



Also couldnt resist on the new (reprint) Kato small lined shops. (Also more Buildings to compliment the Spa/Onsen theme)



Some accessories and spare parts needed came as well. Finally time to repair all these molten DE10 Boogies ...



Some Storage stuff, as well as the Diocolle Hangar for the Club (wich will house a Gundam, for visitors Amusement)



Speaking of Club. I initially ordered this TGV with the sole intention of resale to be honest. But by now, I think it will move to the club as a nice addition to our (non existant) club rolling stock.



New EVA wrapped train. Just had to ...





And last these two white beauties arrived as well.

Guess thats it for this year. Just missing one Appartment Building I aquired private, and then lets hope for less purchases next year XD

[cteno4]

New goodness from Narrichi San. With Ttrak for club stuff been focusing more on smaller trains. We now have an Evanveleon battle scene module in the club now so figure it’s time to go Evangelon!

 

cheers

 

jeff

 

 

[disturbman]

The art train... 😕

[Johnstrams]

I have had the Kato unitram 40-820 extension on order on sometime as I couldn’t find it anywhere but recently I got lucky and found it in a shop in The  Netherlands so today it’s arrived so I am very happy 😃 

john 

Edited December 13, 2022 by Johnstrams
Added photo

[cteno4]

10 hours ago, disturbman said:

The art train... 😕

Yes could not pass it up!

 

jeff

[disturbman]

I did and seeing it reminded me that I really like it.