I finished the ground cover and I'm waiting for the code 55 flex track but in the meantime I pinned down some code 80 track.
Nope. There are so many Shinkansens in service that storage yards are packed as tight as they'll go, and maintenence takes place at a seperate, smaller facility. Here's the storage yard for the Sanyo Shinkansen, a few miles north of Tokyo: Kato actually makes something quite similar, they call it a "Gutter" (Kato Item #23-227). I've seen them on eBay for as little as 5 bucks.
Google Maps and Google Street View covers all the major Japanese cities. You can actually type in any train station and it'll take you there - I just screencapped it. So go to maps.google.com, type in "Shinjuku Station, Tokyo, Japan"... you get Shinjuku "Izukyushimoda Station, Japan"... you get the terminus of the Super View Odoriko "Shin-Kawasaki Station, Japan"... you get Kawasaki Yokosuka Line etc etc etc I'm slowly collecting Japanese prototype N, mostly tram/interurbans and the shorter EMUs. Eventually I'm working towards having a layout that'll basically be a loop for longer EMUs with a maze of Tomix Mini-Rail for trams and interurbans. Right now it looks very nice on my shelf!
My order of code 55 Micro Engineering flex track came in and switched the track. It was an interesting experience forming the radius. Here is a photo of the Tram in one of the stations. I also started working on the main station using Walther's butterfly platforms.
It's not that I don't like the Kato platforms but it more about economics. In the Walthers set you get 8 plattorms for about $13.00 - $20.00 (depending where you find them) as with the Katos it's about $7.00 per platform and I need 28. The Katos are larger and wider but it's still a big savings to go with Walthers.
Yeah, I'd be pissed if I stepped off the Odoriko to find the platform was at railhead height. "Hey, looks like we're finallyWAAAAHHHHH!!!!!*thud*" But since you already dropped the cash on Walthers maybe scratchbuild a high-level platform with plaster or balsa and then add the Walthers butterfly roofs? I plan to do something similar in the future, so I can get a nice curved station... though I always just figured I'd mash together a bunch of Greenmax kits.
Good point about the height & prototypical. What I first did was compare the Kato & Walthers platforms and as you can see in the 1st photo, they are fairly close. The next problem was the height. So I did some tests using the height of the train doors and raised the platforms accordingly. I'm still working on the main station, but here are 2 photo of what I'm planning to do.
Bill - Yes, that's exactly what I'm doing. I cut styrofoam pieces into the lengths and size to fit under the platforms. I now have to figure out what to use to seal it before I paint it. I did a test with covering a piece with hydrocal cloth and then tried to smooth it out. I wasn't happy with the first test results but I'm going to try it again. My plan is to paint the new bases gray to match the platforms and hopefully if will work. I do have to kitbash an overhead station. As you can see I'm using the Kato older overhead station but was considering the New Station Kato has put out. I understand it is also easy to installl lighting into those new kits. The only thing turning me off is the price, it's about $45.00 USD and the expansions are $22.00 USD each. Plus I don't know how they will fit into that area. At this point all I need is 2 more of the old stations and they are around $15.00 and in these uncertain times, I'm willing to cut costs.
That looks great. I don't like the architectural design of the new-style station. The older station at least is proper minimalism (should be... Kato introduced it in '81 or '82, I think). I've thought about repurposing some Tomytec temple buildings to build something like the Odakyu terminus at Katase-Enoshima: Now THAT'S a station.
That really is one beautiful station. I wished one of the Japanese manufactures would make a kit of it.
Mudkip - I will in a couple of weeks, I'm busy at work at the moment I'm under a deadline. But not too busy to have the TB forum hidden at my computer.
Bernard, I have just stumbled across your magnificent and well documented effort. I'm impressed with what you have achieved. I'm going to refer to the photos of how you created your scenery while trying to do something similar with mine....thanks!
Finally a video of my layout. I followed my 800 Shinkansen by Kato around the layout. [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKt7GallWu4"]YouTube - 800 Kato[/ame]
Very good Bernard. That curve around the yard looks so sharp for a big fast train! But I'm sure it is actually quite generous. How large is your layout? Wish I had a layout that big. :tb-wink:
Bernard, the layout looks great. As you know from my thread in another part of TB, I'm getting hooked on japanese trains, too! I also can recommend Hobby Search of Japan but for another reason...I buy anime stuff from them and am very satisfied with their service.
