Saw this link posted, so it looks like more information and pricing is out there. Does anyone know when it's due out, or who will be carrying it yet? http://www.kk-eishindo.co.jp/2007tirasie.html
Garth Hamilton seems to have some direct sources to this. He has set up a forum on Yahoo. Garth's email [garthah @ computan . on . ca] NO SPACES ...don
The new English language version of the website that Garth posted the link to says they are due out in March now. About 5000 yen for a train and another 5000 yen for the track and power set (sold separately from the trains). That comes out to about $42 US for each set. When I got my two ZJ sets in DEC the shipping was about $40 as well, so that would make it around $125 for one train set, one powerpack and set of track (I think it's a double oval with two different radii) and shipped to the USA from Japan. No real details given on the mechanism yet, but they will be going to the Nurnburg Toy Fair soon. John Bartolotto, are you going this year? If so, please try to get details like voltage, what type motor, etc, etc. Thanks, Randy
I just want the trains! I can make my own track easily enough, and modify the trains to look like NA style trains. Over the past month I have been aquiring 1:480 scale people, cars, and trucks. There's lots of architectural supply companies supplying trees, cars, trucks, and other details. Scenery and structures are easy enough, and I guess I need to know what voltage levels to use, but the only hard part is getting the motorized mechanisms and wheelsets. I am really excited about the prospect of getting tiny trains!
http://www.kk-eishindo.co.jp/pkg120.html If you click there it says 3 AA batteries not included... which probably means they are 4.5 volt motors. That's about in line with the cheaper pager motors, so maybe they will be traditional drivetrains with 4.5V pager motors.
I've been watching T Gauge with interest, and while I haven't done as much preparation as Robert apparently has, I've still been thinking how to make these tiny trains into American prototypes. Possibly shorten a chassis on one unpowered car for a GP9 or F unit. Maybe a couple high-cube ghost cars... Wonder how long it'll be before we see US style bodies on sale for this stuff? The prices are very reasonable, I'm definitely looking forward to getting my hands on these trains Regards, Dan MacKellar
Wow, more tiny than Z? How's that possible? On a side note, you know you've cracked when you don't consider Z scale tiny anymore....
Mike, Starting a new scale and you haven't even shown a Z scale layout yet. You don't see me starting new layouts like that...oh wait, you do. oops Disregard :teeth:
At 3mm track gauge that should put the North American stuff at 1/480. The JNR mechanisms might be oversize for as they are representing 3'-6" gauge track (for the MU cars) which in N is very close to Z Scale track. There are other brands of tiny Japanese trains that have been out for a couple of years, but I don't think they are quite as small nor intended to be as serious as the T Gauge stuff. All this and Bachmann can't figure out how to get a motor into a N Scale 4-6-0 or 2-10-0. Grrrrr. Charlie Vlk
Hey Chris... leave your house, visit the great white north, errr.. Chicago, and I'll show it to you in person. It runs atleast! I've been lazy with the photos lately. I was going to take some before and afters of rebuilding a set of N yard modules, but then realized I left the memory card upstairs. So I just kept moving along. By the time I thought about it again the track was laid, painted, and ballasted already.
I think that there used to be some 2' gauge railroads in Maine (or some other New England state), used for timber and slate. Also, aren't the little amusement park trains usually 2' gauge? I also think that some mines used 2' gauge. This could provide some interesting options for use with Z scale. Were there any 2' shays? Maybe some of the more crative folk out there could make one (similar to the Nn3 Shay based on the MT F7). I just checked, and Lima built 40 2' shays, so, who knows. And, actually, it's easier to make things wider that narrower, so, maybe it would be a good start for a Zm shay. Dan S.
Rob Kluz has a very tiny track and "engine" and few cars on his layout. It is not functional but looks real good in the proper setting. Possibly he will tune in and give some details. ...don
in colorado there was a 2' narrow gauge with a shay: the Gilpin Gold Tram. here's a link: http://gilpintram.com/ a better look at the derilict locomotive: http://photoswest.org/cgi-bin/imager?11006987+Z-6987 dave f.
Don, I think it was probably Saller. Check out Zundmeer (scroll to bottom): http://www.zundmeer.de/html/saller1.html Also check out the "Other" catagory under Z scale. Marks now has a set of Model A vans to go along with their Pick-up and tow truck. A bit pricey, but nice. Dan S.
Holy cow, that was YOU??? I have been to that site a number of times to admire the work, and I just now saw the David K. Smith copyrights. Outstanding. These would be great G scale layouts for our Z scale trains. I think you need to make some more...... :angel: Keep sharing!
In doing some quick calculations, this scale (1:450) works out to just under 0.7mm to the foot. That said, the difference between Cape Gauge and standard gauge would be about 0.5mm. Personally, I'm not about to widen my gauge half a mm I'm looking at these trains and thinking of various ways to make more NA style stuff with it, an RDC immediately comes to mind, but apparently only one truck is powered, which lends itself well to chassis shortening. I was thinking maybe have one of the cars as a ghost car, shorten the chassis on a dummy and making an FA or GP9. Possibly even shorten the powered chassis for a B unit. While having alot of NG possibilities, the SG possibilities are endless too. A DD40AX will be about 2.75" long in this scale. a 2'X4' layout space would be huge. I'm really looking forward to seeing what I can do with these trains as ewll as what others can do. David S, I saw that you used flat steel wire for rail in N scale, that looks like it'd be a good idea for handlaying track in T gauge. re: 1mm gauge, that layout is awesome! I've seen it before and debated how to do such a thing in Z. Regards, Dan MacKellar