I'm running simple DC. I think you or someone else posted a picture of a tram in another thread. I remember the discussion. It was pretty cool!
I found it! It's a Kiha diesel railcar. There's several versions of it, it looks like. Kiha82 (Model Train) Item picture1
Dick, Thanks, that's an inspiration. Looks like I'm in the market for a Fleischmann ten-wheeler. Didn't mention I have 2 Tomix Japanese prototype light 2-8-0's (tender drive) and Bachman 2-6-2 shells slip right over the engine. Makes a great small consolidation (also have 5 of the Kato ones-yet to be redone). Take Care Ernie C
I might have posted these before somewhere, but anyway, Micro Ace Chichibu Railway boxcab and limestone hoppers on the Nekotani Dentetsu, my 3'x2' Japanese layout.
That's a cool little loco. How does Micro Ace compare to Kato as far as running quality? Also, There was a video of a train (I think it was the Blue Train?) that had a large group of railfans in Japan. I like the looks of the loco...reminds me of an older Hino or Isuzu truck with the retangular headlights.
I found it. It's an EF66, but the one I found isn't the correct version. Of course, like everything else I like, it's "long sold out" lol EF66 First Version (Model Train) Item picture3
I have both MicroAce and Kato and they are both very good. The thing is MicroAce produces some trains that Kato doesn't and visa versa. As far as converting to DCC both aren't hard to do.
I have a few foriegn trains myself.. TGV's are my favorite, but anything that runs on a track I kind of have a love for..
I have a Series 0 Shinkansen, a Super View Odoriko, and some sort of blue commuter/interurban train. My dad brought them back with him from the first Gulf War. I bring them out from time to time at the club. At some point I will convert them to DCC. They are all almost 20 years old.
A bit like comparing Kato with Atlas or LL, not quite Kato but not too bad either. And like Bernard says below they make some odder prototypes that Kato pass over because they tend to do smaller, more limited runs. Plaza Japan have a couple, looks like the DCC friendly mechanism so should take the same decoder as the PA1. JR Electric Locomotive Type EF66 Early - Kato 3047-3 - eBay Kato, N Scale, Model RR, Trains, Toys Hobbies. (end time 01-Oct-09 11:06:18 AEST) I installed a decoder in the Chichibu boxcab, had to hardwire it in but it wasn't a difficult job.
Like these two versions of the Yufuin Forest Express from Kyushu, and squid, crab and fox decorated Kiha 40 railcars from Hokkaido.
I love it when the Japanese do special decorations for their trains. I'm going to have to dig out my 201 series "Shikisai" sets and add those to the list of things I need to photograph. Do you have the Doraemon set? That Yufuin Forest Express reminds me of the Odakyu "Romance" trains out of Shinjuku Station in Tokyo. I want to get a front seat ride on that! My MicroAce Keio 7000 Series set arrived yesterday and I'm going to try to get some photos this weekend. I've never had any problems with MicroAce and you are right, they do a lot of steam and more niche/small run models.
Westfalen - I thought you were going to post a photo of the MicroAce Nakai train. I've been looking at for that train for awhile and have found it twice but at a very high price. The other thing about MicroAce is that they produce a limited run on some of the trains they manufacture, so if you see something you like from MicroAce, I wouldn't wait on it, they might not re-stock the item. I've made that mistake with the Nakai Rapid train.
Ah, see, this would be a weak spot for me! That fox train is kawaii! God help me if there's a model train with the girls from Lucky Star or Miku Hatsune on it. That would too hard to turn down!
The EF66 is a fast freight locomotive but might have hauled some of the night passenger trains. I believe those would be 20 Series blue cars. (And stay away from the Morning Musume girls . . . . )
I think you're right. That was the video I saw, an EF66 pulling a blue train with tons of railfans taking photos. Of course, I could always find a steam loco and a few passenger cars and say it's visiting the US, much the same way The Flying Scotsman did.
Like this? Either the blue sleeping cars or a string of Japanese container cars, or how about the "Fresh Fish Freight Car Express"? http://www.katomodels.com/product/nmi/tobiuo_e.shtml
A fresh fish train...how cool is that? lol I like the Rap-T train a lot. My son said it looked like a submarine to him.
