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

[Wolf]

On 7/5/2024 at 7:10 AM, N-Osoi said:

Thanks to having family contacts in Japan, I have ordered a few things from here: https://miniature-a.jp/category/products/building/

 

I have tried to get a hold of them for months now. Mails, member of their line group, Instagram. Nothing.

 

They really dont reply to english 😞

[N-Osoi]

1 hour ago, Wolf said:

I have tried to get a hold of them for months now

What do you want to know from them?

[Wolf]

Just now, N-Osoi said:

What do you want to know from them?

If they would be interested to export, namely to me, so I could add them to my shop. I asked them the same time I asked TDF as well (wich responded and by now I carry their full range) as I looked for Sankai alternatives (Sankei offers second to no discount at all)

 

Obviously this would come with me asking for a sort of wholesale discount, if possible, but as said, they never replied sadly. (And is the reason I didnt try third party).

 

 

[RS18U]

18 hours ago, Kamome said:

My DD200 and UT11K tank containers finally showed up. I have converted the loco coupler to a Kato knuckle as I usually do. 

 

The model is a little flimsy. The white hand rails along the side are held in by pegs along the white edging and pop out quite easily. Any handling tends to move something so certainly better to sit on a layout rather than be constantly put in and out of its box. I already lost the radio antenna from the cab while removing the model so proceeded to glue it in along with the horns that need fitting. I ended up removing the cab and body sections and adding small amounts of extra thin adhesive to the inside pegs of the accessories. Number boards too. Just need a steady hand. 

 

The coupler changes are a little different. The whole front platform pops off the model, due to the headlight boxes. There’s definitely a little more a**e clenching required as you remove parts due to everything feeling on the verge of snapping. You then need to drop out the coupler housing thanks to 2 thin side clips. All the parts have a reasonably amount of flex but you have to be extra gentle. 

 

It is a nice model though. There’s still the age old Tomix issue of rear headlight pulsing. All of my smaller Tomix locos do this from time to time. 

Thanks @Kamome and @MD12 I like these types of user reviews, I find them very helpful.  I should do something along that lines for my items.  @cteno4 is there a correct place to put reviews for items not recently purchased?

[cteno4]

@RS18U we always love reviews of items, just create a topic in the appropriate forum (ie Japanese n scale rolling stock) and give it a title like Review: [manufacturer] [product number] [product name] so that folks can easily see it. Folks can then post questions and comments on it. I was just talking about marketing a sub forum for trains like this to collect all the bits of review, comments, repairs, etc on individual models.

 

cheers,

 

jeff

[SL58654号]

Whatever models I can't get at Nikkyosha I order online, and getting mail is often an exciting experience, as it was today.
First off, my third D51 arrived, it being D51 498 (2016-A) and I felt fortunate to get one at a good aftermarket price.
What color numberplates shall I give it? 


Also, another old issue of Tetsudo Mokei Shumi came.
Titfield Thunderbolt, anyone? 

[Kamome]

12 hours ago, SL58654号 said:

What color numberplates shall I give it? 

Are the choices black and red, or do Kato give you any blue?

 

https://www.kanorail.com/D51498/d51498page.htm

 

Think both my older D51 498s (Regular 2016-1 and Orient Express 2016-2 versions) came with preinstalled numbers so nice you get a choice on the newest auxiliary light release.

[SL58654号]

15 hours ago, Kamome said:

Are the choices black and red, or do Kato give you any blue?

 

https://www.kanorail.com/D51498/d51498page.htm

 

Think both my older D51 498s (Regular 2016-1 and Orient Express 2016-2 versions) came with preinstalled numbers so nice you get a choice on the newest auxiliary light release.

Just black and red, actually. It would be cool if blue and purple were included, too. 
Edit: I went with black, as all my other SLs use black numberplates. Uniformity. 

Edited July 9 by SL58654号

[SL58654号]

What do you know? Another issue of TMS!
I love these old issues. They've got N gauge models, live steam, brass models of Japanese and foreign locomotives, machine shop tools and tips, detailed drawings and everything. 

[bc6]

Its about that time again for another delivery from RG-ROKKO. The Salmon Roe is not from RG-ROKKO but is for a project that Im working on.

 

 

[lighthouse]

On 7/8/2024 at 1:47 PM, SL58654号 said:

Whatever models I can't get at Nikkyosha I order online, and getting mail is often an exciting experience, as it was today.
First off, my third D51 arrived, it being D51 498 (2016-A) and I felt fortunate to get one at a good aftermarket price.
What color numberplates shall I give it? 


Also, another old issue of Tetsudo Mokei Shumi came.
Titfield Thunderbolt, anyone? 

 

nice numberplate! Made of cardboard?

[SL58654号]

3 hours ago, lighthouse said:

 

nice numberplate! Made of cardboard?

Yes, just cardboard. It was a gift from a friend, the same friend of mine who owns and runs the live steam 5 inch gauge 58654. 

[SL58654号]

Today, to add to my growing collection of Tetsudō mokei shumi and "Train" magazines, I obtained my first issue of Tetsudō Fan. 鉄道ファン
This is the May 2024 issue, and I bought it almost exclusively because of its article on my favorite Japanese train and its iconic class of Japanese SL, detailing its history. 
Another treat. 😄 More old Tetsudō mokei shumi issues coming next. 

[Junech]

The wood for my segments arrived today together with two Haimo 230, two track packs, and some smaller goods from Tarumi Line. Looking forward to build the segments and still need to order the power units for Haimo 230s.

[cteno4]

Cool who makes the lasercut modules?

 

jeff

[Junech]

They are from a Polish service called Pikart. They got ready-to-buy kits for N-Trak among others. A regular single N-Trak module costs 20€ and comes with all screws and adjustable table legs. They have engraved like a dotted outline where the track needs to go. Will build them over the weekend and give more info about the assembling then. But sofar they look really nice.

[SL58654号]

Now I got this! Dated November 1961, this is my oldest issue of TMS yet, and I love the front cover image.

[SL58654号]

A classic book on SL that I picked up today from my favorite Kumamoto bookshop and ED79 (3076-1) with a single-arm pantograph which I bought at Nikkyosha. 
I already own an ED75, so I thought I'd go for this similar EL while it was still on the shelf for a good price.    

[Kamome]

It seems Nikkyosha is greatly benefiting from your disposable income. 😂

 

The ED79 (SAP) is a great little loco. I actually prefer the look of this little thing pulling my Cassiopeia, Twilight Express, Hokutosei and Akebono rather than their regular locomotives. 

 

[SL58654号]

On 7/14/2024 at 8:26 AM, Kamome said:

It seems Nikkyosha is greatly benefiting from your disposable income. 😂

 

The ED79 (SAP) is a great little loco. I actually prefer the look of this little thing pulling my Cassiopeia, Twilight Express, Hokutosei and Akebono rather than their regular locomotives. 

 

Yup. I pride myself as being their best customer. They're always glad to see me drop by.

Later I might get the recent ED76 0 (3013-3) as I like its colors and JR mark. 

Speaking of which, here's another TMS issue that I got yesterday with an ED76 on the cover.
The station pedestrian bridge is what I'd like the one on my layout to resemble. 

Edited July 15 by SL58654号

[RS18U]

My latest two orders arrived today from Hobby Search via EMS, one took 5 days and the other 3 and both arrived at the same time.  The 787 was shipped on its own in 3 days.

- Horyu-ji Temple Yumedono by Fujimi

- The Building Collection 037-2 Traveler`s Inn Hotel (Station Square Hotel 2) by Tomytec

- The Building Collection 002-3 Farm House B3 by Tomytec

- The Building Collection 040-4 Contemporary Townhouses (Colonial Roof) (Built-For-Sale House A4) by Tomytec

- `TN` Tight Coupling 6 pack by Tomix for the J.R. Diesel Train Series KIHA183-6000 ordered earlier

and the pièce de ré·sis·tance Series 787 `Around the Kyushu` Four Car Set by Kato.  In March of this year we travelled a lot in a similar train from Kagoshima to Miyazaki then a few days later to Oita.  Plus from Takeo-Onsen to Hakata on our way from Nagasaki to Tokyo.  The prototype photo shows our train with what seems to be a similar number down low on the left hand side.  Maybe the same as the model?  Anyway very impressed with our travels on this train, very comfortable and a nice use of wood inside.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited July 16 by RS18U

[Kamome]

This is actually the same set as your photo.

 

The 4 car-set of BO104 (stationed at Oita depot) was fitted with inspection equipment as of June 2021 at Minami-Kokura works. Both cab cars, Kuroha and Kuha now have 6000 numbers to differentiate them from trains without inspection equipment

 

クロハ787-6004 and クハ787-6004.

 

3 out of the 11 4-car sets have this equipment fitted.

 

Still waiting for Kato to put up a 36+3 version. Wonder if they'll announce something like this at the Kyushu Mini Diorama exhibition although a little bird told me there could be some Toro-Q Tora 70000s in the pipeline.

Edited July 16 by Kamome

[RS18U]

7 hours ago, Kamome said:

This is actually the same set as your photo.

 

The 4 car-set of BO104 (stationed at Oita depot) was fitted with inspection equipment as of June 2021 at Minami-Kokura works. Both cab cars, Kuroha and Kuha now have 6000 numbers to differentiate them from trains without inspection equipment

 

クロハ787-6004 and クハ787-6004.

 

3 out of the 11 4-car sets have this equipment fitted.

 

Still waiting for Kato to put up a 36+3 version. Wonder if they'll announce something like this at the Kyushu Mini Diorama exhibition although a little bird told me there could be some Toro-Q Tora 70000s in the pipeline.

Wow, thanks for the background info @Kamome.  The railway nerd in me likes this as this makes it the only train I have ridden in that I have an actual model of.  I'll need to get a couple of figures to represent my wife and I and stick them in the right seats, although the seats are facing the wrong way for the direction of travel we were in it.

 

How can you tell this has the inspection equipment, anything external or is it just by the number?

[RS18U]

And one last order in today, from Hobby Search.  It feels like its been Christmas or my birthday these last couple of days!

 

A Kato 10-1368 Series HB-E300 `Resort View Furusato` (2-Car Set) arrived along with a bunch of miscellaneous track I won't bother to list out or show.  Enough track now for all my planned T Track modules including wiring though.

 

Unlike the last 2 that came EMS in 3 or 5 days, this came ECMS in 14 days, so was actually ordered well before the other 2.  And no real cost saving.  Since May I've done 6 packages, 2 from Plaza Japan and 4 from Hobby Search.  2 shipped via ECMS that both took 14 days while the 4 EMS took between 3 and 7 days and I did not notice any real cost savings for the ECMS.  And for ECMS I had to go to the post office to pick up/pay taxes while the EMS ones I could pay Postman Pat at the door. 

 

Should be done for a bit although I did pre-order another 2 car set that should be here in mid-February.

[Kamome]

13 hours ago, RS18U said:

 

How can you tell this has the inspection equipment, anything external or is it just by the number?

Essentially the 6000 number allocation (as it is now) indicates it has been fitted. Previously it was set number BO104 then changed to BO6104 once the equipment had been added. Sets 101 and 106 also have the same allocation, becoming BO6101 and BO6106.

 

The Kato model itself should not represent any additional equipment as it is of the train before modification (BO104). Not sure what else it should have on 104 after its update. It may only be additional cab mounted camera equipment for monitoring track and signalling.  I know BO6106 has some additional roof equipment, cameras for monitoring pantograph and catenary. I also know a few of the older 811 series commuter sets that were updated have something similar on their rooves. The 4 car 787s were chosen for sections of the Nippo Line inspection. They're rarely seen on most northerly parts now, since they were relocated to Oita.

 

 

 

In order news,

 

payment for my Micro Ace Shiki 801 and electrical transformer load has gone through so only a 5-6 day wait for Ami Ami to process my final order with them and ship it. Quite looking forward to this one and will go nicely with my 3 Tomix Shiki 1000s. This has the updated green Nippon Express NX logo. I really liked their old red logo.

 

Sorry Ami but your shipping delays have pushed me away from your website and this is the final of my preorders.