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

TetsuUma Sep 18, 2009

  1. Grey One

    Grey One TrainBoard Supporter

    8,903
    3,622
    137
    Heads Up:

    Kato V15 Passenger Station Trackage and Such:
    http://www.katomodels.com/product/nmi/unitrack_v15_e.shtml

     
  2. chndrsn

    chndrsn TrainBoard Member

    37
    0
    13
    Australian 48 Class Locomotive - Gopher Models

    I posted before about this model being released and have just received my first two from an eBay seller who decaled them, swapped out the Rapido's for Microtrain, blackened the wheels and so on, for the list price!

    I appreciate that at AUD $240 it is more expensive than the general US and Japanese outline N Scale locomotive product, but hey guys the market is much smaller here in Australia, plus it is running on a custom designed mechanism (not an Atlas or Kato mechanism) and therefore the unit cost will always be higher. Think of it like a BLI model versus a Walthers. But in many ways it is a much better product than a generic representation of a group as the manufacturer has produced each of the four classes built.

    I think an outstanding model for Australia's first injection moulded RTR N Scale locomotive

    Apologies for the poor photo, a bit of hand shake and poor light.


    Cheers,
    Hendo
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 1, 2011
  3. Westfalen

    Westfalen TrainBoard Member

    4,094
    32
    55
    I've got to admit I'd probably pay $240 for an RSD15 so price is a relative thing. I think I read somewhere that they give a discount if you buy a four pack, that would be a good idea for U.S. manufacturers to take up.

    How do they run? The best looking loco in the world's not worth $240 though if it doesn't run well.

    I like the Freight Corp blue scheme, even my failing eyes can read the numbers.
     
  4. TetsuUma

    TetsuUma TrainBoard Member

    1,247
    14
    20
    As my experience with Australian railroads is limited at best (commuter trains in Perth), is this a model of a standard gauge or 3'6" gauge prototype? It looks like standard gauge and it seems to me that I read that the main line across the Australian continent is standard gauge but Western Australia (or at least the Perth commuter trains) use 3'6" guage. Where abouts in the country would this unit be found?

    The body does look pretty good and I, too, and interesting in how well the mech runs.

    Andy
    Tetsu Uma
     
  5. Westfalen

    Westfalen TrainBoard Member

    4,094
    32
    55
    The Alco DL531 or '48 class' as they were called in New South Wales ran in all states except Queensland (apart from the standard gauge line from the border to Brisbane) on 3'6", standard and 5'3" gauges at various stages of their careers. Australian National even transferred a few ex South Australian units to Tasmania for a while. They were originally owned by New South Wales Government Railways, South Australian Railways and the Silverton Tramway but after privatisation and sell offs they roam far and wide for several operators. This makes them a good choice for a model.
     
  6. WPZephyrFan

    WPZephyrFan TrainBoard Member

    2,454
    1,633
    59
    I had a few bucks in my bank account so I decided to order a Type 0 Shinkansen from Kato. Hobby Search shipped it yesterday. I can't wait!
     
  7. TetsuUma

    TetsuUma TrainBoard Member

    1,247
    14
    20
    I guess they were good runners. One of the aspects of this thread that I enjoy is that I get to learn about prototypes in different parts of the world. I'm not an ALCO guy by any means but it is interesting to learn where the DL531s ended up and in what configuration.

    The 10-453 set is a great model and great runner. (But geared to go almost as fast as the prototype [​IMG].) I personally don't know if the newer releases of older sets have been updated to be DCC friendly for motor and lights but if I mention it, I'm sure someone will have the definitive answer. I got my set in honor of my wife (Now there's a good excuse to use to buy a model) as they were both launched in the same year and the original is the definitive Shinkansen to her.

    That series had already been removed from service when I was in Japan and the only one I've seen close up was in static display on Okinawa. Good book on how Japan got the Shinkansen built is Old Man Thunder: Father of the Bullet Train

    Andy
    Tetsu Uma
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 3, 2011
  8. WPZephyrFan

    WPZephyrFan TrainBoard Member

    2,454
    1,633
    59
    When I tell people who don't know much about trains that I'm getting a model of a Japanese "Bullet Train", they always think of the original and it's always been my personal favorite. At 8 cars, it's about as long as I can go on my layout (I think my Blue Train is 7). I should have it sometime next week.
     
  9. Westfalen

    Westfalen TrainBoard Member

    4,094
    32
    55
    I don't remember if I've posted this video I took at Shin-Yokohama on my first trip to Japan in 1990 but just in case here it is. 0 and 100 series were all there were on the Tokaido Shinkansen in those days, even the 300's were still in the future, and you can't see trains pass through Shin-Yokohama non-stop today because even the crack Nozomis stop there.
    http://youtu.be/KVcf9Qp4WeE
     
  10. TetsuUma

    TetsuUma TrainBoard Member

    1,247
    14
    20
    Excellent video. Did you shoot that with VHS or Hi-8? I've always thought the 100 series looks like the 0 series on steroids and I noticed those 0-series were starting to look a little haggard. I was in Okinawa at that time and the only time I ever stopped in the mainland was passin' through.

    Do you know if the new release of the 10-453 set allows drop-in decoders for the lights?

    Andy
    Tetsu Uma
     
  11. WPZephyrFan

    WPZephyrFan TrainBoard Member

    2,454
    1,633
    59
    That is a very cool video! Japan must be train heaven.
    As for lights, between my CZ, Asakaze and Tsubame, I may have to invest a small fortune in lighting! I think it'd be worth it!
     
  12. Westfalen

    Westfalen TrainBoard Member

    4,094
    32
    55
    The camera I was using at the time was a Canon A1 standard 8mm camcorder, it's long ago gone to wherever dead video cameras go, I had to go to the Canon Camera Museum to find a picture of it.

    I don't know if the new 10-453 is DCC ready, I got mine second hand at an N scale convention auction way back in 1989.
     
  13. WPZephyrFan

    WPZephyrFan TrainBoard Member

    2,454
    1,633
    59
    I picked up my Type 0 today. WOW! Really, really nice!
    I also learned something today. This is my first Shinkansen and I've always thought that the powered car was at the end, like a locomotive. This has the power car in the middle, what I think might be a dining car? I'll have to take some photos in the next couple of days.
     
  14. temp

    temp TrainBoard Member

    123
    1
    10
    For Shinkansen every car/truck is powered in the prototype. For commuter EMU prototypes the ratio between powered and trailer cars is usually just below 50/50, however it is rare, except in very short EMU designs or in DMUs, for the prototype cab cars at either end to be motorized.
     
  15. TetsuUma

    TetsuUma TrainBoard Member

    1,247
    14
    20
    All the Kato Shinkansens and EMU commuter trains are that way. I would have mentioned it but thought you knew. [​IMG]
     
  16. Curto

    Curto TrainBoard Member

    397
    0
    9
    Hey Hendo, is there many Australian N scale items available? I'm Australian even though I live in New York ;)

    Cheers,

    Michael
     
  17. chndrsn

    chndrsn TrainBoard Member

    37
    0
    13
    The Gopher Model 48 is the first injection mouldeed loco specifically made mech and all for the Australian market. Others do injection moulded, including www.aust-n-rail.com. He has a number of RTR styrene wagons and many kits, including from some of the smaller operartors.

    You could also try www.frate-n,com that paint up kits and supply an appropriate mech.


    NIchael, I hope that helps, Chris
     
  18. WPZephyrFan

    WPZephyrFan TrainBoard Member

    2,454
    1,633
    59
    Ya know, every new model Japanese prototype I get makes me want another..and another.
     
  19. chndrsn

    chndrsn TrainBoard Member

    37
    0
    13
    Michael,

    Apologies I should have given you the link to "Gopher Models" which trades under its main business name BadgerBits, www.badgerbits.com.au . The "N Scale Modelling in Ausralia" web portal http://www.nscale.org.au/ will also interest you and I suspect many others.

    Cheers,
    Hendo
     
  20. Westfalen

    Westfalen TrainBoard Member

    4,094
    32
    55
    You'll be surprised how well it holds the track even at Kato's supersonic high speed with the powered car in the middle. I found mine did better with the powered car close to the rear of the train, I tried running it with the powered car second from the front on a friends layout once and at high speed it flung the rear cars off the track leaving one car hanging on a curtain a couple of feet from the layout. Since then I run my Shinkansens in the configuration Kato intended.
     

Share This Page