LEGO KiHa 120 DMU

[Space2310]

Some of you suggested a while ago, that I should post some pictures of my LEGO version of the KiHa 120. Hope you like it. ;)

For those of you not familiar with the train, it runs on the Takayama Main Line between Toyama and Inotani and is operated by JR West. There is a N-scale version by Tomix.



The scale is 1/38. It is powered by LEGO's own (infrared) remote controlled Power Functions System, so it has on-board batteries ;) I will add some decals, but so far it was difficult to find good quality pictures of the train and I don't want to make them from scratch. Unfortunately I don't have a video of the finished train, because I don't have a layout to begin with. My plan is, to mix model railroad scenery (eg. ballast and grass) with LEGO trains and buildings in the future, but I haven't even started yet.

And here the real train for comparison:


Thanks for your interest :)

[Claude_Dreyfus]

That is a seriously impressive bit of work. Here's hoping that LEGO start producing a range of J-trains!

Models such as this are really impressive, and I'm sure you should be feeling suitably smug about it!

[Hobby Dreamer]

Seriously cool!

[Martijn Meerts]

Bugger, now I feel like buying Lego Trains again =)

[Space2310]

Thank you guys! :)

I really doubt that LEGO will ever produce a Japanese train though, time will tell ;)

[john_ibw]

Very impressive. Going by the track in the picture, is it meant to be static? Not motorised it? The boggies are from the 12V ones?

[Kumo]

Whow! This is impressive work!
Great use of SNOT and 8 studs wide, a masterpiece! :-)

I wish I could start modeling Ltrain again. I run them from time to time but it's been a while since my last creation (a 4 cars, Metroliner-like, EMU).

[Space2310]

Very impressive. Going by the track in the picture, is it meant to be static? Not motorised it? The boggies are from the 12V ones?

Thanks! But no, it's not static, it is motorised. The bogies are brick-built, not prefab. As I said, unfortunately I don't have a video of the finished train yet. I have a video of a test run from a while ago, but it should give you a rough idea. :)

<a href="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=22037422&amp;server=vimeo.com&amp;fullscreen=1&amp;show_title=1&amp;show_byline=1&amp;show_portrait=0&amp;color=01AAEA" target="_blank">http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=22037422&amp;server=vimeo.com&amp;fullscreen=1&amp;show_title=1&amp;show_byline=1&amp;show_portrait=0&amp;color=01AAEA</a>

Whow! This is impressive work!
Great use of SNOT and 8 studs wide, a masterpiece! :-)

I wish I could start modeling Ltrain again. I run them from time to time but it's been a while since my last creation (a 4 cars, Metroliner-like, EMU).

Seems like you know how to talk LEGO Thanks. It is 9 studs wide though ;)

[Kumo]

Whow! This is impressive work!
Great use of SNOT and 8 studs wide, a masterpiece! :-)

I wish I could start modeling Ltrain again. I run them from time to time but it's been a while since my last creation (a 4 cars, Metroliner-like, EMU).

Seems like you know how to talk LEGO Thanks. It is 9 studs wide though ;)

9 studs: even better!!  
And it uses the power function system with custom tracks, really nice.

In fact, if I started back "playing with trains" it was because of LEGO. I was really fond of trains after my first trip to Japan and I couldn't resist when LEGO released it's Hobby Train. I own 4 of them and I wish I could buy a couple more (with different colors, I have too many red bricks now lol).
I did build some nice stuff, but not since a while and of corse nothing as fancy as your KiHa!!!

[ShinCanadaSen]

That's awesome. Just got my little guy the Lego city commuter train (the red one with the Lego power running gear). It's lots of fun. I was thinking of making an EH500 and some koki cars. I did a quick google and found a few basic designs of Japanese stock but good models like your are few and far between.

Kai