The Japanese trains will run on Code 55 track. I used Micro Engineering C-55 on the Tram video with a reverse unit. Here are 2 photos with 4 different Japanese trains also on C-55. Peco code 55 is actually code 80 but sunk deep into the ties so if you go with Peco track research what switches will work with it. The majority of my layout is code 80 but all the turnouts are Peco, they're great. Also if you are going to be running any Bullet trains (Shinkansens) you are going to need large radii to run them. [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-BxJ3Jxx8Y"]YouTube- Code 55 Track[/ame]
Thanks, Bernard. That's good to know. I still haven't really made up my mind yet. I'm not planning on getting a Shinkansen yet, but I do like the first series (the 0?).
I'm using Unitrack on T-TRAK modules but I've mainly used Peco C55 in the past and there is a lot of it on the club's N-TRAK modules. Japanese trains have no trouble running on it, though some may have deeper flanges that might give trouble on Atlas, most newer stuff seems ok. I was planning using Atlas track on my home layout until the club's N scalers got bitten by the T-TRAK bug in June, now I'm using T-TRAK modules as my home layout. The minimum radius on the older Tokkaido Shinkansen is 2,500 metres, thats just over 51 feet in N scale if my calculations are correct. The newer lines have a minimum of 4000 metres, or 82 feet.mg:
I guess the difference between 282mm, 315mm, and 348mm UniTrack radii are academic at this point, at least from a relation to the prototype standpoint. :wink3: Just looking at it, I would probably use 315mm and 348mm on a 36" HCD layout. I don't like track too close to the edge. I've been giving some thought to a modified version of the Kato "Cheap and Nothing Wasted II" trackplan.
Okay I have to get out a converter to go from inches to mm. My 500 and 700 Shinkansens need a radius of at least 17.5" which converts to 444mm. There is an area on my layout I have one radius of 16" (406mm) and they can't navigate that curve. Oh, I'm using flex track.
In my latest order of goodies I got a pack of Kato's 414/381mm radius (16 3/8, 15") super elevated double track curves to experiment with, with the idea of making wider radius T-TRAK end modules, I want to set them up in a loop of track to try various trains on them first. Bernard, I'm surprised your Shinkansens won't negotiate 16" curves as Kato's Shinkansen elevated track uses the 414/381 radius, I'm sure I've run my Kato 500 round sharper, but not at high speed of course. WPZephyrFan, you could hide the curves at the ends of the layout in tunnels and just leave the straights visible, there are plenty of tunnels on the Shinkansen to make the ruse prototypical.
That is curious. I know I've run the Kato 500 Series and the 0 Series at a pretty decent speed on 315mm (12.4") UniTrack with no hangups. Not the best looking but . . . Sorry about the metric. I only use mm because that's what's on the package. The largest UniTrack radii are 15", 19", and 28.25".
Unfortunately, there aren't any tunnels in California's Central Valley. It's as flat as a pancake. I do want to try using orchards to hide the roundy round look.
I should clarify a little more. I'm using flex track and in my yard I have one 16" (406mm) radius, the 500 Nozomi can make it but it's not pretty. The 700 Shinkansen can't. Here is an early photo of the area I'm describing it's the inner most curve.
Ive probably missed you guys discussing this(if yu have)but when you run your bullet trains,how much faster do you run them compared to a normal freight on your layouts?Do they go abat out hell compared to the others?I havent got them,just interested how you operate them.Ta Stu.:tb-cool:
When I run them on the club's N-TRAK layout with it's long straights and wide curves I have a bit of fun and open them up, my old Kato '0' series is the fastest. Lately though my Japanese purchases have tended to be of more conventional trains, my last Shinkansen was the Kato 500 when they first came out.
Here is a video of some of the Bullet trains running on my layout, plus other Japanese prototypes on my roster. I designed my layout with a min radius of 17.5" and a max of 22" on the main lines. The reason for the larger radii is that if I wanted to I could run them fast I could plus the Bullet train cars are longer than most other passenger cars so they need more room to navigate the curves. But to be honest, I enjoy having them run at the speed in the video: [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tI4XbI5knp8"]YouTube- Japanese Model RR[/ame]
I havent been into passenger stuff,but damn it after seeing that video........um.......what room can i commandeer to have another layout!!Man they look great!:thumbs_up::tb-cool:cheers
I can see now where that could be a bit tight. I haven't invested in a 700 or N700 Series . . . yet. That viaduct is great, BTW. Reminds me of outside Tokyo Station. Now I'm wondering about what radius my TGVs and Eurostar will handle. Is it just me or is there something intriguing about modern looking trains in a solid, perfectly matched consist?
Tetsu, yes! And, being a Q fan yourself, how awesome is it seeing photos of the Cali Zephyr with it's solid silver consist snaking along?
TetsuUma - Thank you for the compliment. Your TGV's and Eurostar will have no problems with a small radius, I have the French TGV and it's cars are much smaller in comparison to the Japanese Prototypes on my roster. Leo, a member and friend here, has a large collection of TGVs and runs them on Kato Unitrack and has never had a problem with curves. The Shinkansen's cars are a lot longer than any of the other cars/trains on my roster, think of it as trying to run a "Big Boy" on your layout, you have to make room for it to make the curves.
DD51 - Japanese Diesel-Hydraulic I noticed that many of the previously featured Japanese models are straight electrics. While a high percentage of Japanese lines are electrified, there is still a great deal of regular line requiring locomotives to bring their own power. The below prototype, the DD51, was put in service starting in the early 60s with almost 650 built through 1978 and over 90 still on the active rosters. This B-2-B diesel-hydralic has two 1100hp v-12s and has been used in both passenger and freight service with several variants (including some with steam generators) and paint schemes. I should add that the Digitrax DN163K1D decoder is a direct replacement. Kato 7008-2 Kato 7002 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JNR_Class_DD51
Bernard, after watching that video, I may have to look into getting a Shinkansen sometime. They do look very cool!
If I had the running space I'd let my bullet trains stretch their legs. Since I don't I tend to run my steam slowly enough to be aware of the side rods, my diesels somewhat faster and my bullets faster than that. Benard - Great! vid. Now my g/f wants to get busy on the layout extending it all the way around the living room. Hmmm. Maybe after she gets a job.
