Hello to everyone,
I’m new at this forum but I have been modeling Bullet trains and have designed my layout for it. In the USA I know this type of modeling isn’t very popular but are there any other member that do model or collect these type of trains?
Thank you
G’day Bernart, welcome aboard.
As far as I know there are only two forum members who seriously model Japanese railways. I’m one, and a bloke called Chuck, who goes by the screen-name of “TomikawaTT”, is the other. Neither of us model Shinks. Chuck models the JNR circa 1964, and I model the Toyama Chikohu Tetsudo circa 1980.
But it’s good to hear of another Japanophile. Why not tell us about yourself, and what you’re up to?
Cheers,
Mark.
Hi Mark,
I first got interested in the Japanese RR when I was on assignment to cover the Nagao Olympics is 1998. The trip from the Tokyo Airport to Nagano took 71/2 hrs. By a stroke of luck I was able to get catch a Shinkansen back to Tokyo, it only took 3 hrs and was the most comfortable ride I ever had. It was also in Nagano that I bought my first Kato Shinkansen set. A few years ago I start building my layout and if I can figure out how to post photos I would be happy to share my roster with those who are interested.
Thanks for the welcome, I think we’re in the minority when it comes to Model Railroading.
First, find a photo hosting site. I use Photobucket.com. It’s free and easy to use. You can upload your photos from your computer to Photobucket then show them in the forum using IMG tags. That part is as easy as falling off a log. To insert a photo into your post simply enter [ img]photoaddress[ /img] (remove the spaces). That’s all there is to it.
Konnichi-wa, Bernart. Welcome to the forums.
As Mark said, I’m era-correct for the first Shinkansen, and many people have asked why I don’t include it. In 1964, the only route was Tokyo-Osaka, parallel to the 1067mm Tokaido-sen. I’m modeling a thinly-populated mountain valley at least 50 kilometers away from the closest Shinkansen route.
I admire your courage in taking on the Shinkansen’s infrastructure. Tetsudo Mokei Shumi has published a few hyperdetailed infrastructure modules over the years. I could only imagine (and shudder over) trying to build an entire operating layout to those standards. By comparison, the rolling stock is easy (even if the latest Shinkansen end units look more like inverted coal scoops than like bullets.)
I, too, remember the Nagano Olympics - but mainly for Picabo Street’s performance and the temporary NBC television studio on the grounds of a centuries-old temple. Of course, I caught it on the tube, not in person.
Once again, welcome.
Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
Chuck,
Do you have any photos of your layout, it sounds really interesting. I’m not being prototypical it more of a free lance style layout.
It could be an interesting model. But given the speeds they operate at wouldn’t the trip around the layout be over before it starts? Unless you’ve got a space like a C5a hangar there just isn’t enough room. Or you could run those trains at a scale 30mph to make the runs last longer but that wouldn’t seem terribly satisfying either…
Regards,
Charlie Comstock
Wow, Charlie, let me take an wild guess here, you’re not a fan of the Shinkanesn trains? Okay nothing like stating the obvious. Companies like Kato, Tomix and MicroAce manufacture and sell thousands of these sets a year, from what you’re posting, do you want them stop making these sets? I hope not because other people like myself enjoy them.
I think you’re forgetting the cardinal rule in any hobby, the reason you do it is to have fun. Every other rule after that one is menial by comparison. My layout and trains give me hours upon hours of enjoyment, so I have achieved my main goal.
I shutter to think what you would have posted if I stated that I’m modeling “Thomas the Tank Engine” What he’s not real?! It wouldn’t matter, I would still take great pleasure in doing something that makes me or for that matter, other people happy.
I am just curious. Abviously a change from what could be considered the same old american fare is a factor, but what are the reasons the three of you decided to model Jappaneese railroads? While Model Railroader is a US Magazine, and therefore obviously has a strong US. Bias, its refreshing to see models of railraods in different countries.
I can see that conversation. Um excuse me Boeing? Uhh, you wouldn’t happen to be done with your 747 assembly plant woudn’t you? Oh you’re not? Anybody got dibbs on it for when your done?
James
James,
Thanks for the nice welcome. What got me interested in the JPN RR was having ridden in these trains at the 1998 Nagano Olympics (Forgot to say Picabo Street is a really nice lady and also liked by her fellow competitors) And also it is different. When I was in Japan and went to a LHS I saw the “other” beautifully crafted trains that Kato makes and bought my first sets then and there.
I was very surprised that Model RR mag in the March issue went all the way to Tokyo to feature a layout design of an American prototype. For me it would have been more educational to feature a layout indiginous to the country they were in. There are a lot of Railroads in Japan, it would have been interesting to learn something about them through a model RR layout.
Sorry, I guess I didn’t communicate very well. I think those bullet trains are insanely impressive pieces of engineering. But since I like to run trains in a (somewhat) prototypical manner the issues of length of run become important for me.
I’d guess duration of run isn’t important for you. So have at 'em.
And yes, I’m not interested at all in Thomas and his pals and even less interested in Hogwarts, but under rule #1 if that’s what you like then have at 'em.
Keep modeling dude.
Charlie
Little known fact - there is one place on the original Shinkansen route where train speeds are not excessive, or even impressive. The stretch from Tokyo station on the original route parallels the original narrower-gauge line - if you can call two lines with equal frequent and sharp curves parallel. The bullets couldn’t really fly until they reached less densely populated country beyond the border of Tokyo-to.
That wouldn’t help my modeling. At closest approach to my up-country valley the Shinkansen had long tangents between 2 kilometer radius curves, and was demonstrating how it killed the lucrative air traffic JAL/ANA used to enjoy between Tokyo and Osaka.
These days, with new airports farther from the city centers, it would take about the same RAIL travel time to travel from downtown Tokyo to downtown Osaka as it would take to fly. Now add in check-in, airport security, loading, taxi, flight time…
Score one for high speed rail!
Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
Sniff… That’s beautiful. I like High Speed and will work them in any way I can.
Charlie,
Apology accepted. I recently worked on a film about the children of Dafur and after that experience, I realize how lucky most of us are. Whatever makes you happy, just do it and consider yourself lucky that you can.
Fair question, but I should point out I’m not an American - although I did spend many years modelling US railroads! [:D]
Like Bernart, I became interested in modelling Japanese railroads after visiting the country. But in my case, as impressed as I was by the Shinkansen, it was the multitude of private electric railways that I found most interesting. Some are a large operations with hundreds of miles of track, whereas others are dinky little outfits that might go a few miles.
The other thing I found irresistable was the bewildering variety of rolling stock. I think it’s an article of faith with Japanese carbuilders that no two cars should be alike! They range from futuristic streamliners that look as though they belong in a Buck Rogers story, to ancient wooden interurbans.
The variety is endless.
Cheers,
Mark.