Foreign Prototype Models - What You've Got and What's New

Hobby Search in Japan has the Rapit train for reservation for $165. It'd be nice to have.

 

I saw that. I'm not big on that prototype myself (Nankai Railway 50000 series) but I'll be the first to admit, it is very distinctive. The model is by Micro Ace, part number A0750.



I got a couple things in from Japan recently. I picked up a Micro Ace Odakyu 9000 series suburban train (A6196) which completes my collection of all the trains I've ridden in Japan. (I don't count the rural DMU because I wasn't paying that much attention at the time.) I also got that Kato TGV Duplex so it looks like I'm going to have to crack out the camera and get some shots to post.

 

Almost looks like a train that should have been in the film "Judge Dredd". :tb-biggrin:

 

My son saw it and said, "If the Nautilus were a train..."

 

I can see that - and the color's right.

It does kind of have that "Cap't Nemo" thing going on.

 

During my morning surf to see whats new I found some train store's N scale new arrivals page has a heap of Japanese trains, leans heavily towards Shinkansen but I guess that's what they figure sells best in the U.S.

While I'm here here's a couple of my latest purchases, Kato DE10 and EF510-500.

 

Hey thanks Westfalen! I see they have the E259 Narita Airport Express in stock, looks like there's one in my future.

 

Found the Ibertren 0-4-0 and three cars as a set in a hobby shop in Canada. Not sure of the prototype, but it's probably from Spain. Found the Fleischmann T2 and cars on eBay. Both are N scale and fun to watch. (Well, anything in N scale is fun to watch.)

 

Way back when, and before the release of the Russel Snow Plow I needed a snow dozer. Found a JPN prototype and made a few modifications.[/url][/IMG]

 

It's A GUNDAM!! (just google it :tb-biggrin

 

Which Shinkansen is the middle blue one?

 

Hi webskipper and welcome to TB.
The blue one in the middle is the 500 Series Nozomi. Tomix and Kato make a version of that train.

 

That's what I thought.

My Tsubame 800 will be here in a few weeks. Didn't want to invest in 16 cars for my first DCC N train.

Are you running all 16? How do you control multiple powered cars since they are staggered throughout the group?

500 looks faster. Just hard to find all the sets in one place.

 

Here's some shots of a 500 series I rode from Kokura to Hakata on the 27th August, the remaining 500 series sets have been reduced to eight cars and put into all stops 'commuter' service on the Sanyo Shinkansen by JR West.

All the Kato and most of the Tomix (I think their 300 series has two) Shinkansen only have one powered car so you will only need one decoder, but you will need function decoders in the end cars if you want to control the head and tail lights. Some of Kato's latest releases are designed to take their drop-in EM13 and FL12 decoders.

Welcome to the addictive world of Japanese trains.:tb-biggrin:

 

The 8 car has a powered car.

maybe you were telling us that the people sized 500's are running 8 rather than 16.

So Starter set + 4 car add on set = 8

And so...

Found a sweet kickin deal online for the starter set and a 4 car add on set. Also ordered V11 track set.

At least now I can run my Kato 500 and 800 Bullets as I brainstorm about the layout boards. DCC will come later. Soon.

 

I have some European prototype stuff, Like a little diesel switcher, an old electric switcher, a rack and pinion locomotive and matching coaches, a SNCF IC set (although I need to downsize the number of 1st class coaches, and increase the number of 2nd class coaches.) and an ICE 1 train set. I'm still working on putting together the full consist, as soon as I have the last 3 coaches, I'll post pictures. Decoders are going to be a pain in the ass though....

 

I have a good bit of the ubiquitous Thomas stuff that's always popular with the kids at shows. When I took my wife to Germany in 2002 I bought an ICE-T set, a couple expansion cars, and a decoder. When I went in 2007 I bought an older diesel locomotive and some passenger cars representative of when I lived in Germany as a teenager in the late 70s. When I took my wife and son in 2009 I didn't buy any trains 'cause what I saw was way over my budget.

I find it easier to avoid overspending that way than when it's US prototype that I don't need. Is that progress?

Terry

 

Westfalen - How would you compare the ride of the 500 to the newer Shinkansens?

 

I've run all 16 cars (base set and add-on) and the one power car handles it just fine. A lot of Japanese modelers (and myself as well) will run the reduced consist due to space limitations. All 16 look cool on an N-Trak/T-Trak module setup, though.

I have personally always thought the 500 series was the coolest but at those speeds, I guess aerodynamics matter more.

That's why I try to get my wife to go with me to train shows. Post some pictures when you get a chance. I'd like to see them. I had a couple new arrivals from Japan (and a new tripod) so I need to get the camera out myself.

 

From a few weeks ago, an inexpensive little MOW vehicle this is the MCR600 (by Microace).