100 Series Shinkansen The topic of the 100 Series Shinkansen came up recently and I don't remember if we discussed it previously. In any event, I hadn't upload any pictures so to remedy that . . . This is the Kato 10-354 set. There are two add-on sets (10-355 & 10-356) to make a full 16 car formation. Some data on the 100 Series: built between 1984 and 1991, the 100 Series was originally used on the Tōkaidō Shinkansen (Tokyo-Osaka) and the Sanyō Shinkansen (Osaka-Fukuoka) starting in 1985. Withdrawn from "frontline" service, some of the units have been put together in new, smaller formations for other runs and presently still is service. Top speed was between 137 mph and 143 mph, depending on the type of set being operated. It should be noted that on the 16 car sets, not all cars were powered. I personally think the 100 Series is cool because of the double deck cars. (My Burlington Route upbringing showing through.) Andy Tetsu Uma
< takes another potato chip but I can stop any time I want > They do look sweet um, er, would that be "salty". I guess that answers an unasked question. The "0" series did not have double deck? Oh well, maybe some day I can get a set. Maybe not.
The Super View Odoriko is high on my list of possible next acquistions. That set came from the factory with interior lights, correct? (And I try to keep the chips out of the house.)
The 0 series were all single deck. One of the double deck cars in some 100 series had a full service dining car on the upper level, they were still in service in 1990 and it was an experience sitting down to dinner and watching Japan speed past outside the window. I've always thought the 100's were the best looking Shinkansens. According to Kato's 2011 catalog the Super View Odoriko has factory fitted lights. I think I've put this up before but any excuse is a good one. I took this trip on the SVO in June 1990 when it had only been in service a week. [video=youtube;FkoSHqmLmQY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FkoSHqmLmQY[/video]
That's a really nice train. I like the kid's area. And, at the end of the video, what was the orange and green train on the left?
I just tested / ran my "Super View". as of the moment only a bit of the powered car had lights, (plus the headlights). Is there a switch I need to put on?
Steve, If it is like my Kato Narita Express with factory lighting, the answer is no, there is no switch to turn on. Using DC, the lights get brighter the faster you go. As for how it works with DCC, I cannot comment as I have no experience. Andy Tetsu Uma
Tonight I turned out all of the lights and red lined the "Super View": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEuZCf8V0PY [video=youtube;QEuZCf8V0PY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEuZCf8V0PY[/video] Hmm, I think I need a "lights on" vid so folks can see the train itself. Stand by: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ip6u-EVaYz0
Thanks! I'm open to any and all feedback, (positive or negative), on making the vids. I'm using a sub $100 Kodak C182.
A little off topic but do you have a tripod? I picked up one of these mini tripods and really like it because I can get down close to the action for a run-by or just a closeup. Sony Mini Tripod Andy Tetsu Uma
Kato/Lemke Thalys PBKA TGV (10-918) Though I've never ridden one, I have a soft spot for TGVs and among the best looking in my opinion is the Thalys PBKA TGV. This is the new ten car articulated Kato/Lemke set 10-918 with the new logo that I photographed a couple weeks ago. I know very little about these but a little checking showed they run between Paris, Amsterdam and Cologne and share some of the route of the Eurostars between Paris and London. The two power cars put out a max of 8800kW (almost 12,000hp) and are good for service top speed of 186mph. Andy Tetsu Uma
I've always liked the Thalys color scheme compared to the rather drab grey the TGV's wear these days.
Quite the opposite to super fast Shinkansens: a new company came to the market in Germany with four-wheel Italian box cars with triangle roof (that's the correct expression???:tb-confused. Very nice cars, up-to-date detail, and of the kind you need more than one. And they are "Made in Germany", which is not too common these days... Pictures might follow but not sure when. The manufacturer's website is www.mw-modell.de
They look nice but the price is very German though (no offense intended to Germans), when you can get a two car set of similar Japanese boxcars by Micro-Ace for $13-14.
I did a little comparison between the peaked roof Italian boxcars and some Tomix brand Japanese Type Wamu 70000 boxcars, also with a peaked roof. Similar in configuration (4 wheel boxcar), the Wamu 70000 has ribbed ends while the Italian boxcar is a little larger, appears to have braced ends, and has buffers. Both have (hideous) Rapido couplers and the level of detail looks similar, at least in these pictures. Now for price, two of the Wamu 70000 will run about $16.00 U.S. while the German-made Italian boxcars run about $71. 70 for two (including VAT). Tomix Type Wamu 70000 FS Güterwagen Typ F, ohne Bremserhaus, Wagenset 2 Wagen Andy Tetsu Uma
We should keep in mind that these italian cars are a first model of a new firm that tries to get a place in the market. These are limited models of a quite special prototype and not really mass products. So for me it is obvious that they have to have a higher price to cover the costs. For those who are interested, there is a company located in Belgium named L.S.Models who follows a similar strategy, offering very high quality models in rather small series. L.S.Models are produced by Modern Gala in China., their logo is displayed prominently on the boxes.