Which C11?

[Kiha66]

Is there some technical reason why the 16th driver doesn't have pickup?

 

I meant 15 axle, sorry!  The Intermountian AC-12 has 30 wheel pickup, yet surprisingly poor performance.  

[serotta1972]

I recently got the Tomix C11 and it looks really good and it creeps along okay but not as well as my Kato C12 but at slightly higher speed it's pretty smooth though it's a little noisy.  I don't think it's gear noise but rather electrical noise, I experienced this before with one of my Tomix Kiha's thinking that something was wrong with it.  Might try the 9 volt battery test again to see if the noise goes away.  I'm using a Kato controller.  As for the details, it looks great and I'm happy with it overall and it looks awesome with its 3 cars. I should be receiving my Kato C11 sometime this month.

 

 

[Kiha66]

Well, here are some pictures of the Kato C11.  Super stoked that one of the number plate options is for C11 193, which was assigned to the Haiki district authority and hauled the Sakura blue train on occasion between Haiki and Sasebo.  Sorry for the cell phone quality of the photos, they don't do the engine justice.

[Kiha66]

And a few pulling the sakura blue train.  I really like how the loco has knuckle and arnold coupler options, for both the front and rear.

 

-Pulling from the front:

The model: 

The real thing:

http://drfc-ob.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/f1511s.jpg

 

And running rear first:

http://kenf.sakura.ne.jp/kenfhp/slc11/C11193rft19671107.gif

(In later years JNR got lazy, and would only attach the head mark to the Haiki's C11s if railfans asked ahead of time.  Otherwise they would just leave them on the DD51 if they added them at all)

[serotta1972]

Nice pics Sam! Do the rear lights work on the Kato? It does on the Tomix.

[Kiha66]

Thanks Junior.  Yep, both front and rear headlights work, but the motor starts at such a low voltage that I couldn't get it to stall with the headlight on for a photo!

[westfalen]

The thing that sold me on the Tramway C11s, apart from Kato not having announced their retooled version at the time was that it has a standard six pin DCC socket, a first for a Japanese N scale steam loco.

[Kabutoni]

Looking at the Tomix version; that shining set of front wheels is definitely an eyesore... The blackness of the Kato version is also much more fitting as well. Maybe a 3rd party would release a C11 325 number plate for the Kato model! That'd be worth getting the Kato C11 for me personally over the Tomix version. :)

[Densha]

Took me a while to decide, but I think I'm also going to get one of these new Kato C11. I don't have any steam locomotives yet, but these locos just look really good and a C11 will fit in practically anywhere in Japan from 1942 up until this day.

[serotta1972]

Well, here are some pictures of the Kato C11.  Super stoked that one of the number plate options is for C11 193, which was assigned to the Haiki district authority and hauled the Sakura blue train on occasion between Haiki and Sasebo.  Sorry for the cell phone quality of the photos, they don't do the engine justice.

 

 

 

Hey Sam, be careful when you're cutting out the number plates from the sprue - it's noticeable when we magnify our little models 10x their size. :)

[Kiha66]

Hey Sam, be careful when you're cutting out the number plates from the sprue - it's noticeable when we magnify our little models 10x their size. :)

 

Yeah, the knife slipped a bit on the left side, and I managed to bend the one on the right side too.  Perhaps if another forum member gets one and decides to use a different number, I could get some of there extras.  :)

[serotta1972]

I will be using 174 on mine, I will send you the 193's.  PM me your address.

[Tanuki]

Thanks everyone for such a great deal of useful info and detail. I am now inclined to go for the Kato model...I think.

[Fenway Park]

It would appear I failed to order the Tomix C11, but the Kato version is better for my Kyushu layout. As the Kato version has the cab windows open which is more typical for Kyushu. So it is the Kato one for me.

[serotta1972]

I want to make sure the Tomix C11 gets a fair shake as my previous pictures may not have done it justice compared to the nice pics posted by Kiha66 of the Kato C11.  Also, I did the 9 Volt Battery test run and it ran smoothly and hummed along the track so it does reacts a little to the Kato power pack and gets a little buzzy.  With that I am also looking forward to getting my Kato C11, so for me it's Tomix and Kato.

 

[Kabutoni]

Damnit. Those bronze details though! D:

[velotrain]

I'm curious - I see all these comments on the Tomix having more bronze details, but the only difference I'm noticing is the handle for opening the smokebox door, and the decoration on the side of the cylinders.  Are there other differences that I'm not catching?  The other bronzed fittings appear to be common to both, and for me the blackened leading truck on the Kato is a plus. 

 

However, while recently searching for wheel blackening agents, one fellow correctly pointed out that proto wheels are rusted, not black.  This was related to rolling stock - not SL, where perhaps the wheels are kept painted black just so they won't rust?

Edited April 25, 2017 by velotrain

[katoftw]

Looking at the Tomix version; that shining set of front wheels is definitely an eyesore... The blackness of the Kato version is also much more fitting as well. Maybe a 3rd party would release a C11 325 number plate for the Kato model! That'd be worth getting the Kato C11 for me personally over the Tomix version. :)

"cough" I have this "cough"

 

 

 

 

 

[Kabutoni]

"cough" I have this "cough"

 

P4250297.JPG

Interesting! Revolution Factory... Never heard of them before, but probably seen them around on sales meetings.

 

http://www3.tky.3web.ne.jp/~epc/rf/

[Khaul]

Hey Sam, be careful when you're cutting out the number plates from the sprue - it's noticeable when we magnify our little models 10x their size. :)

 

I just got my Kato C11. I managed to cut the number plates properly but I slightly damaged one when pushing it with tweezers. I should do it always by hand or with something soft enough. In any case, is it easy to replace the number plates at all? Any advise regarding that?

 

This loco both runs and looks great. I only wish the knuckle couplers could be used for shunting. I have no problem with the ones supplied with my other locomotives, a DE10 and an ED16, both Kato.

 

By the way, I have found this really interesting site. There is a lot of geeky info not only about the C11s but also interior lighting and how it may interfere with coreless motors http://rtmrw.parallel.jp/laboratory3/index-lab-2.html

Edited May 18, 2017 by Khaul

[Kiha66]

I just got my Kato C11. I managed to cut the number plates properly but I slightly damaged one when pushing it with tweezers. I should do it always by hand or with something soft enough. In any case, is it easy to replace the number plates at all? Any advise regarding that?

 

This loco both runs and looks great. I only wish the knuckle couplers could be used for shunting. I have no problem with the ones supplied with my other locomotives, a DE10 and an ED16, both Kato.

 

By the way, I have found this really interesting site. There is a lot of geeky info not only about the C11s but also interior lighting and how it may interfere with coreless motors http://rtmrw.parallel.jp/laboratory3/index-lab-2.html

 

What #'s do you need Khaul?  I have some extras from my loco, and would be happy to mail them to you, just PM me your address.

[Khaul]

Thanks, but I have the extras from my loco too. The ones installed now look pretty good anyway, with just a small blemish,

[Stephen NZ]

 

I'm not sure if people are still following this topic from 4 year's ago, but anyway... I have a couple of questions. I'm trying to decide whether it's worth upgrading to a new Kato or Tramway or just ignore my old Kato being a bit too big....

 

For the Kato C11 2021,  it seems the number plates supplied are not for Hokkaido engines. Is there a source of alternative number plates? My existing 2002 model is out of scale but at least has number plates for Hokkaido, which is the location of my layout.

 

The reviews for the Tramway C11 seem mixed, but it seems the current model is better in terms of running? It also seems the Tramway is a very matt black compared to Kato and Tomix? Is it reasonable to conclude the Kato and Tomix are better runners and look more realistic?  I had a look at the Hobby Search website and it looks like the Tramway C11 model does not have any number plates and also no slot for number plates to be plugged into - can anyone give insight into number plate availability and how they get attached for this model?

 

Thanks for any thoughts.

Edited August 10, 2021 by Stephen NZ

[katoftw]

Kato or Tomix preferred over Tramway.

 

Mechs/motor have gotten smaller in the past 5 years so steam loco boiler are not as high as older models.

 

Just check hobby search fors many pictures and find a loco that works best for your needs.

[bill937ca]

There are reviews of many N scale steam locomotives on this Japanese language page.

 

http://www5a.biglobe.ne.jp/~toyoyasu/index.htm