What did you order or the post deliver? (HO and other scales)

[bikkuri bahn]

Have this on order:

source:http://www.1999.co.jp/image/10098282a3/20/3

It's a model of the second production series of the famous wamu 80000 series.  It differed from the first production run in being compatible with the raising of the freight speed limit from 65km/h to 75km/h in conjunction with the 43.10 timetable change.  Also, the roof is a pressed steel type, rather than braced.

[bikkuri bahn]

Also ordered the taki 35000's, same version as Mark Newton's.  These types, though of a more modern design, look fine behind steam and are prototypical to boot: I have seen pictures of these on a local freight hauled by a 8600 mogul (on the Sotobo Line in Chiba Pref.) as well as behind a 9600 consol on the Kawagoe Line.

[John P Boogerd]

Three more sleeping cars arrived Friday to make up a 7-car train with the Kato set of four I already have - two of the Type 20 and one Type 21

[bikkuri bahn]

Three more sleeping cars arrived Friday to make up a 7-car train with the Kato set of four I already have - two of the Type 20 and one Type 21

The 20 series is my favorite Blue Train type.  You will have an impressive consist there behind the EF65.

[John P Boogerd]

I recently sold my N-scale EH500 to another member and today received the Tomix HO version from Hobby Search for my new layout and collection. 

[marknewton]

Also ordered the taki 35000's, same version as Mark Newton's.  These types, though of a more modern design, look fine behind steam and are prototypical to boot: I have seen pictures of these on a local freight hauled by a 8600 mogul (on the Sotobo Line in Chiba Pref.) as well as behind a 9600 consol on the Kawagoe Line.

Mine arrived the other day, and made their debut on our club layout during the afternoon of last day of the Liverpool exhibition, when anything goes. 

I ran a steam-hauled mixed train and a diesel-hauled passenger train. It was funny to see the looks on peoples faces - at least the ones who recognised what my models were. Although I did have one chap tell me that these tank cars and the HoKi 2200s would never have run behind steam, and another who was absolutely adamant that my models weren't of Japanese trains. According to him, "All Japanese model railways are N scale..."

Bonehead opinions aside, they're a very nice model indeed, I think you'll be very happy with them.

Cheers,

Mark.

[marknewton]

Three more sleeping cars arrived Friday to make up a 7-car train with the Kato set of four I already have - two of the Type 20 and one Type 21

Nice!

Cheers,

Mark.

[marknewton]

Although my latest acquisitions aren't Japanese prototype, they are HO scale and they were made in Japan. I'm now the proud owner of 4 Suydam brass interurban cars. There's two Sacramento Northern combines, a Sacramento Northern coach and an Oregon Electric combine. These are models I've wanted for years, but I had to wait for the advent of eBay - and a decent salary - to finally get some.

I'm not about to stop modelling Japanese railways, nor am I about to become a "brass collector". These cars will be run on my club's US prototype layout. Work is underway to complete the permanent layout in our clubhouse, and I'm pushing hard for it to include an interurban line with an interchange.

I've already started work on repowering the OE car. I'm replacing the somewhat primitive Suydam drive with either a Hollywood Foundry "Bullant", or a Steam Era Models "Black Beetle". After I trial them both I'll decide which I prefer, and I'll repower the remaining cars with the same drive.

Photos will come as soon as I find where my wife has stashed the camera!

Cheers,

Mark.

[John P Boogerd]

I just received a gorgeous Tomix 4-car set from Plaza Japan as well as some Coca-Cola containers for which I'll have to get a container car.

[John P Boogerd]

I just bought a Tenshodo EF-30 which is truly stunning - it has different couplers from the Kato and Tomix engines I have - do I need Tenshodo cars for this engine?

[bikkuri bahn]

Yes, those are modified forms of the old Baker coupler.  You'll have to replace them with KD types if you want to couple modern rolling stock.

[John P Boogerd]

Thanks - I knew this was an older engine but it's like new - maybe run on track once - and I paid a lot less than I did for a Kato or Tomix engine - so I'll just take it to a train shop and have them put on KD couplers. 

[marknewton]

As promised earlier, some photos of my Suydam Niles car. The car will needs a lot of work to bring it up to an acceptable standard, but that's something I enjoy doing.







Cheers,

Mark.

[Martijn Meerts]

Nice! Did you build it yourself or bought it pre-built?

[marknewton]

Martin, the Suydam models date from the early 60s, they were supplied nominally ready-to-run. But the mechanisms were very basic, and the finish and detail wasn't always the best. I'm repowering these cars, replacing one of the trolleypoles with a pantograph, and adding details.

Cheers,

Mark.

[brill27mcb]

Martin, the Suydam models date from the early 60s, they were supplied nominally ready-to-run. But the mechanisms were very basic, and the finish and detail wasn't always the best. I'm repowering these cars, replacing one of the trolleypoles with a pantograph, and adding details.

Cheers,

Mark.

Well, in the 1960's they were considered top-of-line -- imported brass!

Rich K.

[Nick_Burman]

As promised earlier, some photos of my Suydam Niles car. The car will needs a lot of work to bring it up to an acceptable standard, but that's something I enjoy doing.

Cheers,

Mark.

Somehow I find that US interurbans look better with a pan than with trolley poles.

A suggestion... use Tomix TDK-C pans (the ones used on the Kotoden cars) - they look more like the US-made stuff.


Cheers NB

[marknewton]

Well, in the 1960's they were considered top-of-line -- imported brass!

Which just goes to show how much the standard of RTR has improved over the years. But don't get me wrong, I'm quite happy to have gotten these cars, I don't think I'd enjoy scratchbuilding them at all! They make a great basis for a detailing/kitbashing project.

Cheers,

Mark.

[marknewton]

A suggestion... use Tomix TDK-C pans (the ones used on the Kotoden cars) - they look more like the US-made stuff.

Nick, I've got some of these on hand, I'll give one a try and see what it looks like.

All the best,

Mark.

[KenS]

A box containing several sets of Kato's new car lighting "LED Interior Lighting Kit, ver.2" (11-212) just arrived (and they're sold out again at HS).  I'll be installing these in my two Ginza trains, and later experimenting with them in an E231 to see how they compare to the original kit for those.  However, the plastic diffuser is the same length and width as the old one, so I'm hopeful that it will be fairly easy to fit.

The box bears both Kato and Kato USA markings and the instruction sheet is in both languages so they're clearly planning to make them available over here. There are a couple of notes on the Japanese-only side marked "Not for U.S. or European Models" that are only in Japanese, and appear to discuss installation in some specific Japanese models, I'll see about getting a scan of those onto another thread so someone can translate them.

With shipping these came to about US$50 per set, so I'll be really happy when they start showing up locally (assuming they'll be closer to $40 for a set of six).

BTW, I made my payment for this on Wednesday (really late Tuesday U.S. time), so that's just 3 and a bit days from Tokyo to the east coast.  I think it's a record for my EMS shipments. Probably helped by the small and light (353g) package size. Normally it takes at least one extra day, and I wasn't expecting these until next week.

Ah, oops.  Somehow I posted this in the HO thread.  Could a moderator move it to the N-scale Orders thread?  Dumb, dumb, dumb. 

[marknewton]

An EF60, made by Tramway. I already have one of their DD13s, a very nice model, so I'm keen to see how this one compares with it.



All the best,

Mark.

[bikkuri bahn]

An EF60, made by Tramway

Very nice.  One of my favorite second generation DC locomotive types.  The single large headlight appeals.  I can imagine this pulling a mixed merchandise freight on the Tokaido line circa 1966.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e4/JNR_ef60_53fc_tai.jpg

[bikkuri bahn]

To add: the freight livery EF60's were used on passenger trains too.  This one is at the head of train 924, a night train to Shingu, via the Hanwa and Kisei Main Line.  Location is Tennoji Station.  Great atmosphere as late as 1986, when this pic was taken- the loco hauled trains are gone, but the other types are still there, though their days are numbered...
http://rail.hobidas.com/kokutetsu/archives/2007/02/60.html

[marknewton]

What with all the disasters we've been having at work lately I've had plenty of overtime, so I've ordered this:



http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10003636

The model is unpowered, but it should be a simple matter to power the thing with a Bullant or Black Beetle.

At the recent model railway exhibition at Liverpool I saw a very simple but effective layout that was basically a crossing loop set in very well-executed Australian scenery. My mate Dave is keen to build something along similar lines but with a generic Japanese station and scenery. Initially I wasn't all that keen, but I'm gradually warming to the idea. Hence my ordering this and other JNR stock.

Cheers,

Mark.

[marknewton]

Very nice.  One of my favorite second generation DC locomotive types.  The single large headlight appeals.  I can imagine this pulling a mixed merchandise freight on the Tokaido line circa 1966.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e4/JNR_ef60_53fc_tai.jpg

To add: the freight livery EF60's were used on passenger trains too.  This one is at the head of train 924, a night train to Shingu, via the Hanwa and Kisei Main Line. Location is Tennoji Station.  Great atmosphere as late as 1986, when this pic was taken- the loco hauled trains are gone, but the other types are still there, though their days are numbered...
http://rail.hobidas.com/kokutetsu/archives/2007/02/60.html

Great photos, BB, thanks for putting those up.

Cheers,

Mark.

[John P Boogerd]

I love that Tramway engine - and that is one of my favorite engine types as well - how do their models compare to Kato and Tomix?

[John P Boogerd]

I bought a 7-car brass container train by Endo but I can't get the pictures to post - nice for my Toshiba EF30, though.

[bikkuri bahn]

At the recent model railway exhibition at Liverpool I saw a very simple but effective layout that was basically a crossing loop set in very well-executed Australian scenery. My mate Dave is keen to build something along similar lines but with a generic Japanese station and scenery. Initially I wasn't all that keen, but I'm gradually warming to the idea. Hence my ordering this and other JNR stock.

Nice to have a layout where you can let a long train out and just run it.  With the fixed formation main line EMUs it's about the only way to enjoy them.

[marknewton]

I love that Tramway engine - and that is one of my favorite engine types as well - how do their models compare to Kato and Tomix?

So far the only Tramway engine I have is their DD13, and I'm very happy with it. The detail and finish is similar to models from Kato and Tomix, perhaps not quite as refined, but still very good. The running and performance is excellent. Here's a photo of the DD13 staright out of the box, without any of the detail parts applied;



Cheers,

Mark.

[marknewton]

Nice to have a layout where you can let a long train out and just run it.  With the fixed formation main line EMUs it's about the only way to enjoy them.

That's the plan at the moment. Just got to get various other projects finished first! 

Cheers,

Mark.

[marknewton]

My Tramway EF60 arrived today. Haven't had a chance to run it, but my first impression is that it's a very nice model indeed, easily the equal of Kato or Tomix. I think it's a bit better in terms of detail and finish to their previous DD13. And it's bloody heavy! My Kato Series 165 EMUs also arrived, needless to say they're beautiful as well. Hopefully I'll get down to the club on Friday night and give them a run.

Cheers,

Mark.

[marknewton]

The missus let me spend a bit of my overtime money on models, so I visited the local hobby shop and got some bits and pieces. 6 Peco code 75 turnouts, 25 metres of flextrack, and 25 metres of Trackrite underlay. On the way home I visted the local timber merchants and picked up some 9mm and 12mm plywood. I'll have some leave early in the new year, time to start building the portable layout mentioned above.

Apart from that, I picked up a NWSL Stanton drive, and ordered these:


http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10170504


http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10042171


http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10003655

Should keep me busy for a while!

And I took the EF60 and the Series165 EMU to the club for a run - they're both superb.

Cheers,

Mark.

[Nick_Burman]

Hmmm, are we finally going to see the beginnings of the creation of Komatsu?

cheers NB

[marknewton]

G'day Nick,

I'm glad someone remembered my plans for Komatsu!    But no, that's a long-term project, as it requires a fair bit of scratchbuilding.

What Dave and I are building will be a simple rural station, with a reasonable amount of room for scenery. We've decided to base the layout on the Kominato Railway station at Yorokeikoku.



It has a simple track layout, but it still has good operational possibilities. Trains can run through, they can stop, they can cross another train, they can shunt the siding, or they can terminate, run around and return in the direction they came from. I think it should be an interesting layout for an exhibition audience. As an aside, I think that a lot of modellers equate operation with vast amounts of unnecessarily complicated trackwork. Whereas I tend to think just as I do when I'm at work - what's the bare minimum needed to do the job?

At any rate, our version of Yorokeikoku will be generic enough so that we can run either JNR or private railway stock without it looking too strange, hopefully. And it will be electrified.

I'm thinking of calling it "Takiguchi", in honour of my local station and workplace. Yorokeikoku I think might be a bit much for the average Australian! 

All the best,

Mark.

[marknewton]

The Tomix DF50 arrived yesterday. It's like a housebrick with wheels - it's unbelievably heavy. It also has a large number of etched detail parts, which surprised me. Haven't run it yet, but I think it will be very impressive. If it doesn't damage the track! 

Cheers,

Mark.

[Nick_Burman]

The Tomix DF50 arrived yesterday. It's like a housebrick with wheels - it's unbelievably heavy. It also has a large number of etched detail parts, which surprised me. Haven't run it yet, but I think it will be very impressive. If it doesn't damage the track! 

Cheers,

Mark.

Like the O scale club located in the basement of Denver (Colorado) Union Station. They had to replace the rails on their handlaid track with heavier rail after a trio of D&RGW L-105 4-6-6-4s (individually, not triple-heading) mangled the original track beyond redemption...

Cheers NB

[marknewton]

Fockinell! They must have been impressively heavy models to do that!

Cheers,

Mark.

[Nick_Burman]

Fockinell! They must have been impressively heavy models to do that!

Cheers,

Mark.

You bet, AFAIK the locos can handle prototype-sized trains over the layout. Model Railroader magazine told this story when they visited the club a long time ago. However the locos did not do it in one go, the wear was spread over a period of time.

cheers NB

[DanMacK]

I ordered a bunch of T-Gauge track for my micro layout, as well as a KiHa 47/48 combo, and a bare KiHa chassis from TrainAidsA. I also ordered a test run of my KiHaYuNi shell from Shapeways. 

I'll post pics when stuff comes!

[Nick_Burman]

Ordered this, http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10166303, should be docking here soon. Although of Japanese prototype it is a design which could just about be found the world over, this one will go to my HOn30 sugar mill line...

Hint, hint... between these Tsugawa freight cars, the Minitrains Koppel 0-4-0T and the Arumo coaches and gas car, one could model an iteration of the Utsube and Hachioji lines before they went electric after WWII...

Cheers NB

[cteno4]

New multimeter showed up. Woo hoo now 1" numbers I don't have to squint at and a built in stand to prop it up to see easily. Also good beep continuity tester. Also picked up a pair of needle probes for it. Also some solder paste to try with magnet wire and SMS LEDs.

Jeff

[Nick_Burman]

Tsugawa HOn30 "Wa". Cute little beast, I'll sure get more of them! Although of Japanese prototype they look very European, even British. They remind me of the box vans used on the Geldersche Stoomtramweg in the Netherlands. They definitively would look very Geldersche-looking in a string behind an Egger-Bahn Henschel steam tram.

Cheers NB

[marknewton]

Nice little van, Nick. I can see the similarity between these and the stoomtram vans...



But I think they would look better behind a Breda tram than a Henschel! 



All the best,

Mark.

[Nick_Burman]

  WOW! What a picture!!!

Andreas Schoenfeld of Minitrains International has announced the intention of producing even more Minitrains equipment. I hope he brings back the Egger-Bahn Henschel steam tram + coach. I had one during my childhood and it was my favourite locomotive.

Don't forget...between the Tsugawa freight cars, Arumodel gasoline railcar and coaches and the Minitrains Koppel you could be well on modelling an iteration of the Utsube and Hachioji lines before the wires came up.

Cheers NB

[marknewton]

WOW! What a picture!!!

Nick, it's a beauty, yeah? Glad you liked it! I didn't realise you were a fan of Dutch steam tramways. I have a fair bit of material on these and other lines if you're interested.

Andreas Schoenfeld of Minitrains International has announced the intention of producing even more Minitrains equipment. I hope he brings back the Egger-Bahn Henschel steam tram + coach. I had one during my childhood and it was my favourite locomotive.

I can easily see why. I wasn't being too serious in my comment re Breda vs. Henschel you know, I think they're gorgeous little engines. But I've never seen an Egger-Bahn model in the flesh, so to speak, so I'd be fascinated if they were to be made available again.

Don't forget...between the Tsugawa freight cars, Arumodel gasoline railcar and coaches and the Minitrains Koppel you could be well on modelling an iteration of the Utsube and Hachioji lines before the wires came up.

You wouldn't be trying to drop a subtle hint, would you?  

All the best,

Mark.

[marknewton]

Ordered another Kotoden car. I've only got one in the "retro" livery and I think it looks a bit lonely... 



Cheers,

Mark.

[Krackel Hopper]

I was at a train show this past weekend and scored BIG!  Or small.. depending on how you look at it!

A swap dealer happen to have a large lot of Kato stuff on his table.  He was trying to pitch these to me by saying how easy I could make them look "more American" and I laughed and said I'd prefer they stay Japanese as that is what I model.  He then walks around the counter, and pulls out two cases.  Says to me, "These are not N scale, but they are Japanese if you're interested."

He showed me two Pro Z cases.  The Series 20 seven car set (EF65 + 6 series 20 cars) and the seven car set E231 Yamanote Line.  Both brand new in their cases.  I said they looked great but would be too expensive for me to purchase.  You know what he tells me?  $100 a set!  I just stared at the set, I had looked at this blue train on Hobby Search many times and knew it's retail was roughly $250.  Before I could say anything, my father (who models N scale B&O/C&O/WM Chessie) says "He'll take it!"

I was going to purchase both sets, but this vendor only dealt in cash, and I did not have that kind of cash on hand.. plus, while the E231 looks great and was an insane deal, it isn't really my style.  However, I have now stepped beyond the bounds on N scale and will start to look at Z scale.  I don't see myself getting too involved in Z scale, at least not until Dr. Yellow makes his Z scale debut!

http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10056835

[cteno4]

uhoh! down the rabbit hole krackel hopper goes! next he will be buying t scale!

cracking good deal krackel!

jeff

[marknewton]

I've picked up a couple of HO scale trams for a new project - a simple tramway layout for my son Harry. He quite likes "bendy" trams, so I've gotten him some Düwags for starters:

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/TRAM-ROCO-8502-H0-1-87-PERFETTO-BOX-RIVAROSSI-ROCO-FLEISCHMANN-LIMA-/130634295045?pt=Modellismo_Dinamico&hash=item1e6a692705#ht_548wt_1032

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/330635562808?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649#ht_1589wt_1017

Should be fun! 

Cheers,

Mark.

[John P Boogerd]

Those are nice trams, Mark - remind me of my childhood in Rotterdam - and Roco is such nice quality, too.