I saw these kits listed in Japan using a 16.5mm (HO) gauge power truck out of the Kato parts bin. I'm thinking they could have some HOn30 potential with a Kato or Tomix 9mm gauge power truck. What's also nice is that they are going to be in current production. Thoughts from the group? Andy Tetsu Uma
Interesting! I do not recall any previous mention, anywhere, of these. They certainly appear as though giving a North American look would not be diffidult. The bottom photo version reminds me somewhat of an article, (Model Railroader of July, 1982), from many years ago.
I agree with Ken. The bottom model looks similar to critter type models found in the US like a Whitcomb or something similar. I'm not sure, bit I believe the market for relatively modern locomotives in narrow gauge would be much smaller than the market for narrow gauge steam locomotives. I'd be interested in a standard gauge model if I were still in HO. Sent from my LG-P930 using Tapatalk 2
They are new from Cosmic and are due in May. I do remember an article in MR about Hayden and Frary working on diesels for the C&DR which is what I thought of when I saw these. (Maybe the article Ken mentioned.) i agree that more people in the U.S. would want steam but repurposing a diesel kit from Japan is almost certainly cheaper.
Just for fun, the article I mentioned was "HOn2&1/2 diesel switcher", by John Montague. The basis for it is a Roco HOe diesel. Neat little critter. I would be curious to see where this might take us....
If I were a better model builder, I would consider taking a run at these; particularly the end-cab unit as I like the look. If nothing else, you could still put a Kato HO power truck in them and call it a day. However, I just realized there's a problem. Now that I think of it, these models follow the Japanese practice of upscaling HO to 1:80 scale. I suppose that would make them even closer to 2' gauge and almost like British OO9.
Ah. Well, that might not be truly a bad thing. Guess we can wait and see if someone steps up and creates a North American style critter from one of these.
This is the C&DR article of which I was thinking. Bob Hayden - RMC 1972 http://www.hon30.org/heavy-power-for-the-carrabassett/
Yup I have that one in my scrap book. It's the November, 1974 issue of RMC. Uses the Minitrix FM shell and chassis. This might have been the inspiration for Brick Price to do his etched brass shell kit.
With all the mechanical chassis available for N scale, you could build a really powerful and good runner with DCC easily.
