I know this was from a while ago, but I just had to mention a tidbit of extra trivia for this train. The purple seats are a carry over from when that train was the Type 500 EVA train honoring the anime Neon Genesis Evangelion. If you lift the white Hello Kitty head cloths from the seats you will find the NERV logo underneath. That upholstery was specially designed for the EVA train, and they deemed it too costly to replace it all. Over the years that the train has been Hello Kitty it has been slowly getting replaced as it has been in for maintenance. There used to be a video on YouTube about the transformation of the train that showed the conversion process from EVA to HK and they mentioned how the seat covers were only 3 years old and it wasn’t cost effective, so they made HK covers for the headrests.
I did know this! I just wasn't sure how many other anime nerds might be lurking around here so didn't bring up Evangelion haha They changed the armrests to make them pink and kept the purple seats - I actually thought that was pretty smooth. The original 3D design photos from the press release in 2018 actually showed them blue with pink armrests, I think the purple is a better fit for the overall scheme anyways. I've never been on either, but the interiors are nothing at all alike so I imagine it isn't noticeable at all. Am still toying around with the idea of the HK as the Kato E4 sets just keep getting more and more expensive. As does everything. Will just have to see which I feel more comfortable spending the cash on when I get there, I guess. ...and on that note, at least I am not wanting a scale model of the EVA 500 Shinkansen set (Kato 10-942). Holy frak, those sell for absurd money now!
I just got one, the price dipped down to my upper limit, when I actually had the ability to buy and I pulled the trigger. I have not gotten to run it yet, but I will soon. Don’t worry I will post a video of it running. Oh and the set I got came in Kato’s box, with the add-ons such as the shopping bag and re-railer. I don’t think it was ever removed from the box, it was just kept and sold at a later date. Looking now, most of them have gone north of $1k again.
^yeah, that's nuts. I struggled to pay $170 for my E259 and expansion set. Only reason I did is it's my favorite train and I designed quite a bit of layout around it. I look at both the E4 and the HK and think to myself 'am I really going to pay $225-250 for ONE. SINGLE. TRAIN?' I'm sure there are tons of people on here that would scoff at that number, having paid way more for lesser things, but they ain't me That's a lot to me for a single train. The original Kato Shiki Shima and EVA 500 are pretty much the holy grail trains that I always drool over when I see for sale but would never pony up the cash for. Super cool that you've got one.
I'm still here. Kinda IRL has hit a bit harder than normal in 2023 so spare time for things like hobbies have been a bit scarce but wanted to at least pop in, I do miss goofing off at work and seeing what everybody else is up to. Had some time this morning so wanted to pop in for a bit, has been a while! Went to the dark side and changed jobs, I work at Lowes now for a more flexible schedule so I can start back to school (again!) in the fall - plan to get my Radiology Technologist license, have decided I miss the medical field after all. Problem it creates is my schedule is now all over the place, I can work 6 days straight and a different time every day. This place is nuts. In March my stepfather had a massive stroke and is perfectly healthy but has no cognizance and is unable to care for himself so even though he's in a great complete care facility, that's been a ton of stress on the family. (He and I were never particularly close, but you can imagine it's been tough on my Mom). And the rental next door to me sold and the new tenants have been making life hell - think we've had five Sheriff's office visits this calendar year. I grew up with two of the Sheriff's deputies here and they know all they're coming out here to do is mediate baseless claims, but it's like being back in the military when 9/11 happened and the constant hyper-vigilance and constantly waiting for something bad to happen. They're a** hats but I still have to deal with it. So, yeah. It's been a fun few months around here. It's not all bad, though! I did finally bite the bullet (pun 100% intended) and bought my Kato E4. It's not even here yet but I'm still reeling from spending $265 on ONE train I just kept watching the prices go up and up and it's the last train I was set on for my layout. The heart wants what the heart wants, and my heart is a jerk sometimes. In an ironic twist of fate, TomyTec is releasing a new 'The Car Collection' of their Comfort taxis for the first time in over a decade later this summer. Yep, the same taxis I have been looking for forever, am beyond stoked - already have a preorder for a gaggle of them! Can't believe how that one worked out. I am still getting little things all the time - I keep coming up with new ideas that require new "stuff", and new tools, and new changes in AnyRail, etc. I've been working on the basement little by little as I can, am hoping I can get it finished soon so I can move in and get the whole thing laid out to work on instead of just the one section tucked in the corner of the study. For now, though, am in a perpetual holding pattern on getting anything train related done. I haven't lost interest - FAR from it - just not much room left on the plate for the time being. Figure am 48, I still have some time, eh? Hope you guys are all doing great, will try to pop in a little more often
i hate neighbors and bad neighbors at that. the last bad neighbors i had , we had to get real tough with them. had a gang member lived down the road a bit and so made friends with him .. long story short bad neighbors went away.........now ive moved way away 4 states and very quiet place.
These are kids in their early 20s that were not blessed with an overabundance of education and are the 'press ALL the buttons' type. My favorite so far has been them calling the police because I was (can't make this up) mowing too close to their bathroom window. Said window is maybe 18"x18" and almost to the roofline, and the property line is 4.2ft from the side of their house, but yep. That happened. He now likes to stand on the back steps with a bat and stare me down as I mow. They drive across my yard, leave their grill way over the line then make a scene when I move it, just dumb stuff. Is insane what all they come up with just to poke a situation. We're all just waiting for the escalation that finally gets them kicked out. Am working to get a fence put up, but there's a lot that goes into that here. Just stupid that I have to deal with this.
A previous neighbor's dog used to dig out under the fence into our fenced back yard, then dig out under our back fence into the open yard behind us, and take our dog with him! Two Chihuahua mixes prowling the neighborhood, lookin' for trouble!
Sorry to hear about the neighbors, hopefully they get kicked out soon. Congrats on going back to school, hope the studies go smoothly. And that Kato sounds sweet! We missed you around here.
I honestly don't care if they stay or go, just wish they'd grow up. We're all adults here, time to act like it. I don't live in a gated community by any means, but everyone here is at least respectful of everybody else. I don't get how you don't see it if you're the only person in the room acting a fool. Technically the deadline for the Rad classes for fall semester has already passed so am waiting to hear if there is any coursework I can do FOR the program without being formally accepted INTO the program yet, but worst case scenario it's January and not August when I start. I did not pay the $56 extra (yes, seriously ) to have the train shipped DHL so used the cheapest method with insurance, said it could take up to 2 months. Bought it at the end of May and still haven't seen it yet. Will post a pic or eleven when I do.
The next time the yutz is standing there with a ballbat take pics. That is a misdemeanor crime in most states and depending on circumstances can even become a felony.
he's fine, I have cameras on the garage so there'd be no he-said, she-said if he ever acts on it. I think he's an idiot but full well knows the difference between stirring the pot and felony assault or even attempted manslaughter. That, and I have my Sig on my hip now when I go out. No way I'd ever aim center mass, but a 124gr HST to the shin would be a pretty unfun day, and am betting he thinks it too I'm almost 50, afraid bullying and intimidation attempts are kind of futile at this age lol
Paul, I am retired law enforcement. If the threat involves any need for you to use a firearm, it is deadly force anywhere. Shoot center mass, if you are in fear of harm. Great taste in firearms by the way.
Yeah, I know - said it almost as a joke then a few minutes later meant to come back and delete it because some things you probably shouldn't joke about. I'm prior military, had CC training before Ohio said 'nah, ANYBODY can carry now, what could go wrong?', and have done a few tac courses (TDI has a fantastic 2-man if anyone is around these parts!) so I know - if you raise it, it's to use it. I'll own that one - dumb thing to say outloud. I'm not a huge handgun person, I have mostly rifles but I don't spend money on cheap ammo. Never have. My Sig M17 is my only handgun that I shoot (I have two collectors pieces but have never fired), but it is one of the nicest 9mm I've ever used. I did a couple of 3-guns with friends when I first got it, is crazy reliable - have never had a single jam. To be fair, though, it's never been fired outside of a range either, so not a ton of consecutive rounds, and with match ammo to boot. and before anyone asks, yes - the laser on the light is turned off It's been zero'ed, but it's far too silly for a compact imo.
think I may try to get a couple of cars painted today so I have something train-related to talk about for a change
