Well, I went an did it. I ordered a Tomix Asakaze Blue Train to go with my EF66. A 7 cars set at $165. I figured I had the money and the yen to dollar exchange rate is pretty good right now. And at least it's not a pre order. They have it in stock. I can't wait!
Funny you should mention the Asakaze. I just got a Kato 10-368 Asakaze 20 Series train off of eBay and it is sweet. I took the picture last week but didn't get time to get it posted. (And I like to string these things out so I don't bombard the thread with lots of pictures at once.) Did you get the 24 Series set? I think Asakaze is a great name for a train - "The Morning Wind." I was planning on using an EF58 as I think that is about the prettiest Japanese electric locomotive. An EF66 would be a little bit later in the timeline. Too bad the various JR units are getting rid or have already gotten rid of their "Blue Train" sleeper trains. Andy Tetsu Uma ("Iron Horse")
My new Kato D51 498 having a run on the club layout today. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WvF0rK57JQA
This is the one that I ordered: J.R. Limited Express Sleeping Cars Series 24 Type 25-100 `Asakaze (East Japan Railway)` (7-Car Set) (Model Train) 15%OFF Tomix 92793 Passenger Car N Scale|1/150 There's an add on set that I might at a later date to go with it. That would make it about the same length as my Kato Cali Zephyr.
She's a nice runner with what appears to be good pulling power. I guess that traction tire on the number 3 driver is paying off. You said this has a DCC friendly mech and space in the tender for a speaker, right? That's the one I was thinking of. It should look good with you EF66. I'm going with the 20 Series. To paraphrase Amercian Pickers, "Sometimes the best time to buy Japanese railway models is when you see them." Andy Tetsu Uma
I used this Japanese guy's instructions to install an MRC 1637 sound decoder except I couldn't find a miniature plug to go between the engine and tender so I just hard wired it. It's in Japanese but if you run it through a translator you can make sense of it. The MRC 1637 is not the best sounding decoder I've heard but it fits the space in the tender, I haven't checked a Micro-Tsunami for size yet. ‚c‚T‚P ‚S‚X‚W‚ւ̃TƒEƒ“ƒhƒfƒR[ƒ_[“‹Ú
My Japanese is too rusty. I let my wife handle the complicated translations. It will be awhile before I do anything with my "Degoichi." If you try the Micro-Tsunami, let me know how it goes. Are the newer Kato passenger more DCC friendly for lighing? Andy Tetsu Uma
Funny you should ask, my Cassiopia set arrived today, it was sent from Japan on the 29th December, SAL can be slow sometimes. I was hoping they might be retooled but it seems to be the same as previous runs with no special provisions for DCC, I haven't taken them apart yet but the instruction sheet says they take the standard Kato lighting kit. The new Hokutosei sets on the other hand seem to be new tooling with slots for FL12 function decoders in each end car to operate the tail lights and drumheads and in the dining car to turn the table lamps on and off. It's still a nice looking train though.
I have been lusting (is it okay to say that?) for a Blue Train for a while now. I originally wanted a Hayabusa but they were sold out at Hobby Search. I found a video on You Tube of a Blue Train with only six cars so my seven car Asakaze should be fine. Now, I just need to get some JR container cars for my ED75...
Cassiopeia I know we've discussed the Japanese Cassiopeia sleeper train before but that's before I had mine. This is an EF81 (Kato 3021-4) in Cassiopeia colors with the train (Kato 10-399 & 10-400). The EF81 has been replaced fairly recently by an EF510. The train runs between Tokyo and Sapporo on the island of Hokkaido. I have never had the opportunity to ride this train but I believe Westfalen said that the front is shaped like the back so they don't have to turn the train when they change power at (?). The Blue train sleepers are being phased out if they have not been already but Cassiopeia seems to be popular with tourists, Japanese as well as international. Riding this train is on my "to do" list for when I next go to Japan. Here's a picture of the lounge looking out at the locomotive. And here's one with the new EF510. (I gotta get me one of those!) Andy Tetsu Uma
The motive power is changed at Aomori and Hakodate, an EF510 hauls the train from Ueno (Tokyo) to Aomori, an ED79 through the Seikan Tunnel to Hakodate, due to cab signaling and other requirements in the tunnel, where a pair of DD51 diesels take over for the remainder of the run to Sapporo because of the non-electrified section between Hakodate and Muroran. Both changes are at stub ended stations so the new power just couples on what was the rear of the train. The three times a week Cassiopeia shares the Tokyo - Sapporo route with the daily Hokutosei which uses the blue cars. The remaining locomotive hauled sleeping car trains in Japan are Cassiopeia: Tokyo - Sapporo (three nights a week) Hokutosei: Tokyo - Sapporo Twilight Express: Osaka - Sapporo (four nights a week) Nihonkai: Osaka - Aomori Akebono: Tokyo - Aomori (via west coast) The Akebono seems to be the most endangered of those remaining.
I picked up my Tomix Asakaze today. All I can say is WOW! Not only are the cars sweet, but they came in a plastic case about the size of a book. Very nicely done! My Kato Cali Zephyr came in a cardboard box. Tomix has really impressed me.
Ahh young Skywalker, you learn more of the dark side . . . the bookshelf case. Seriously, they (bookshelf cases) are excellent for storage (particularly in a Japanese apartment/condo) and will hold up to about eight cars. The bigger sets, including the Cal Zephyr and the larger TGV sets come in the big box packaging. I personally think this is due to the display track that is included. Andy Tetsu Uma
I bought two Kato bookshelf cases, you can get empty ones, to put my Super Chief in. Do Kato need to put the display track in their U.S. sets, does anyone use it as such? I appreciate getting some 'free' Unitrack but the Japanese style bookshelf cases would be nice. I guess it exposes more people to Unitrack though.
I know I would appreciate being able to put the boxes on a shelf along with my other Kato trains without the boxes sticking out. Four Cal Zephyr sets plus the TGVs is starting to get a little crowded. I don't suppose they need to include the Unitrack in those sets but it once came in handy. When we were moving, I needed to set up a test track and all my stuff was packed. Display Unitrack from a Cal Zephyr to the rescue. Andy Tetsu Uma
Liked this set, last time I saw it! And that was maybe 15 YEARS ago! Just acquired the entire 3 part set! JR M250 Super Rail Cargo, 4 car powered set http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190502608667 JR M250 Super Rail Cargo, 4 car add on set http://cgi.ebay.com/Kato-JR-M250-Super-Rail-Cargo-4-Car-Set-Add-On-10-566-/370484971185?pt=Model_RR_Trains&hash=item5642a006b1 JR M250 Super Rail Cargo, 8 car add on set http://cgi.ebay.com/Kato-JR-Series-M250-Super-Railcargo-8-Car-Add-On-10-228-/370484971162?pt=Model_RR_Trains&hash=item5642a0069a With tax return back, I decided to take advantage, and get the complete set! I thought it was a wicked looking train from the beginning!! Now, 15 years later, I finally managed to get my hands on the set! Yeah, costing me a pretty good chunk! But, what are my chances of finding this set again, if I lost out? Did that with the Kato TGV, but when. Bought one, then sold it. Decided that wasn't very bright, so I found another set, that I still have! Just gotta see about adding DCC to set, once I recieve it! Enough for now. My bedtime!
The Super Cargo set is really nice but installing a decoder will be a little tricky. I know of another forum that specializing in Japanese trains and has a photo step by step process for installing a decoder for this specific train. Is it alright for me to post the link?
I might have said this before in this thread, but...this is going to get addicting. I ordered some JR container flats a couple of days ago. These won't be in a fancy case as they're a mix of Kato and Tomix cars. Still, they look good behind my ED75.
Keith - here is the link to the JNS Forum that will show you a photo "step-by-step" process of installing a decoder in the R M250 Super Rail Cargo train. It's in the middle of the page. Hope this helps. Installing a DCC Decoder for Motor
