MA 200 - 1000 shinkansen

[keitaro]

was requested to make this a seperate post

ok well I have had time to play with my Ma 200 series.

Key points -

Pro's-
-Train is quiet much quieter than my recent tomix shinkansens.
-Great pulling power will handle my 4~% slopes pulling all 10 cars no issues and barely notice any slow down.
-Details are great but I’m not too sure about the pantographs they seem a little small or out of scale.

Cons-
-Every carriage has a massive printed micro ace on the undercarriage. While not visible while running it does give me the shits as it makes it look cheap.
-The paint job is not as sharp as tomix / kato and some bit's look hand painted like detail parts (though I’m undecided on if this is bad or not)
-The gap between first car and second car and rear and 2nd from rear have a larger gap than the other cars. Therefore looks a bit silly to me.

Undecided-
-The couplers are definitely interesting. While they are pretty sizeable they do work really well and they are easy to couple and uncouple, though as mentioned in cons the gap for the front and rear is a little odd.

What’s good about these couplers compared to say Tomix power couplers is they spring back directly in the middle, of course then you don't have an awesome pickup system though.

One issue I have with the tomix ones is they don’t snap back like there TN’s do this leaves room for de-rails on points if the couplers have not straightened.

What I have noticed though is the Ma can handle 280 – 45 curves and even would go on the 243-45 though not recommended. I think this could be due to the extra gap so it could be a benefit for those with smaller layouts.


Other mentions-

-The lights front and rear light up really well, they don’t flicker either, one thing I also have issue with tomix is they still flicker some times on all wheel. I’m actually got a theory as to why the tomix flicker and I’m about to test that.
- case is normal though I wish I could fit all 10 cars into 1 case.
-stickers as per normal

To sum it up I would definitely buy another MA and am glad I bought this as The Ghan would know I was about to cancel this pre-order just after I ordered it then I didn’t.
Also I may purchase the 300 off them as they are doing 2 different sets and Tomix doesn’t offer both forms.

some video not great quality sorry lighting was poor
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/ahfn7toCVyI" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/ahfn7toCVyI</a>

[cteno4]

I will second Keitaro's review of the ma 200-1000 set. ive had mine for like 4 years now and its always been a chap runner. its run many miles on the jrm layout. needed a little lubing to start with, but many trains do now and then when they are new.

never actually noticed the MA label on the bottom, but then looked at my tomix flat/smooth bottom shinkansens and they have a pretty good sized tomix label and katos have a small one going across as well. but you never really see the bottom of the train so doesnt really bother me much.

Couplers on MA have never been a strong point for them. the 200 is a tad looser look between cars than tomix or kato shinkansens, but not really noticeable with the train in action.

the nice white and blue really stands out well and the bolder nose on the 200 is noticeable, has a fell of a larger train than it is.

when i bought it on the first release it was a tad expensive, but glad i got it as the blue paint scheme is very striking.

jeff

[disturbman]

Cons
-Every carriage has a massive printed micro ace on the undercarriage. While not visible while running it does give me the shits as it makes it look cheap.

 

You are such a sensible fellow.

[The_Ghan]

Great review keitaro.

Cheers

The_Ghan