I am getting starting building a Japanese model railroad.
Is there anyone out there interested in sharing ideas?
Does anyone have suggestions for heplful online resources?
Thank you. ありがとうございます。
In which scale will you build your Japanese prototype layout?
In Japan, HO scale (which is not 1/87, but 1/80 - modeling 3 1/2" ft. gauge on 16.5mm track), seems to be the exception and not the rule. N scale is much more wide spread.
Some info on Japanese N scale in the US (and the world) you can find here:
Confessions of a Mediocre Model Railroader
Just leafe through the pages …
My numbers may be wrong. It’s happened before. But it seems that an ideal (largish) scale for Japan would be Sn 3 1/2. Which can use HO track. The true scale would be 1/64.7, actually. So it would really be "S"n 3 1/2. The 1/80 mentioned above doesn’t scale out very well.
Another option would be to do a similar thing based on N scale track: 1/118.
I’m pretty sure a certain modeler will join in with some extensive info on the subject. And I look forward to it.
Ed
I would suggest searching Japanese language model railroading websites, there are tons of them in Japan. I know there a ton of videos on Youtube regarding Japanese model railroading and Japanese trainwatching.
Ed - you are right, Japanese HO (sometimes called HOj) does not equate correctly, but it is 1/80 - for whatever reason.
Japanese N scale is also incorrect at 1/150, it should be 1/118 or slightly larger than TT scale at 1/120.
Thank you for your quick reply and very helplful link.
I am modeling in N scale.
Yes, I have enjoyed Japanese Youtube videos on model railroads, which can also be very informative. Thanks.
tomikawaTT could probably give you some good advice, since I’m pretty sure he models Japanese rail. If you’re looking for the trains themselves, Kato and Tenshodo make some nice stuff.
http://www.katomodels.com/index_e.shtml
http://www.tenshodo.co.jp/models/tabid/114/Default.aspx
Here’s a pretty good list of manufacturers I ran across: http://raicho.home.xs4all.nl/model/manufacturers.html
It’s based in Washington DC, but likely has members in all kinds of places given the transitory way of life many have in DC,
http://www.japanrailmodelers.org/
“Sorry, No Overrseas Sales” buhttp://www.railgallery-r.com/t you may have ways to deal with that. My wife uses workarounds all the time to get stuff here. Speaks Japanese fluently, which helps, but looks like you at least write it:
Hoped to have the Seikan Tunnel webcam, but it’s gone. They’re rebuilding it to handle the Shinkansen, so maybe something to replace it when finished?
Random picture I’ll just leave here. I was posting in a totally different foirum here and had the bottom part of that post end up here. Fixed that, but this thread gets a leftover pic for some reason. Fair enough, I’ll dedicate it to all the Japanese fans of narrowgauge railroading and modeling around the world.[:)]
BTW, it’s a limited space throughout, but right here the overhead clearance to model in is just 10", yet it seems rather more spacious within the space constraints, something which modelers in Japan usually face. HOn3 makes a good compromise for those who want something larger than N. There’s even snap tarck made by Kato, available through Blackstone.
At least the pic now has context.[8D]
what can be more Japaneese than a maglev model train (maybe someone can translate?) No mention of the scale…
http://www.japantrendshop.com/linear-liner-maglev-train-toy-p-2899.html
Thank you for your post.
With assistance, I have been able to purchase Kato products from Amazon Japan. However, I would be interested to know what “workarounds” your wife has found. ありがとう。
最近、私は KATO キハ20ローカル線 を買いました。
Thank you for your very helpful links.
I am a big fan of Kato, but I did not know about Tenshodo. I also appreciate the list of manufacturers.
I have been looking for an N scale castle for my layout. I think there is a modeling community in Japan separate from railroads, but it’s a challenge searching the Internet in Japanese with my limited language skills. Any suggestions? Thanks.
You’re welcome.
She’s not used them recently, but there are proxy buyers or brokers who will buy and ship stuff from vendors who ordinarily do not deal with overseas orders.
You mention Amazon.jp. Her experience has been that they oridinarily do not ship games, videos, or toys overseas, although they do books and stuff. This has something to do with those annoying regional copyrights. Perhaps your “assistance” for the Kato stuff can help with other vendors?
She mentioned that several of the auction sites also provide such services to overseas buyrs. I know ebay had something like that (but may have recently sold that line of biz IIRC from n article.) She said yahoo.jp has such a service.
There are a number of businesses doing business world-wide.
I bought my Japanese model railroading stuff mostly from
If Hobby Search does not stock the item you look for, it´s probably not available anywhere else.
Good prices, too!
Thank you very much for your suggestion.
Hobby Search looks like an excellent source.
Thank you, Mike.
I have also had items delivered to a Japanese address.
おかげさまで助かりました。
Hi everybody,
I just started this discussion about a week ago, and I have been surprised by the number of views (almost 700). I am still not sure if I can reply to my own post, but I will give it a try.
Many readers of this discussion probably know a lot about Japanese railroads; however, I thought I would provide a little background which might be helpful when planning a layout. Trains (and subways) are very much a part of daily life in Japan, much more so than in the United States. There is a train station in almost every city and town in Japan, and the train station is the center of activity in the city or town.
Like in the United States, Japanese passenger and freight trains often share the same tracks. However, freight traffic seems to be limited to the off peak times for passenger trains. Container freight trains are very common. Japanese freight trains are typically shorter than United States freight trains and seem to run faster.
Shinkansen trains have there own dedicated tracks, which are often elevated.
Does anyone else have information about Japanese railroads that would be helpful for planning a layout?
There is a rather small, but highly active group of model railroaders who have chosen Japanese trains is their theme.
You will find their platforme here
Sir Madog,
Thank you for another very helpful suggestion.
I briefly reviewed the jnsforum.com site you directed me to through the link. I enjoyed the photos of your “Kibune-guchi” gorge module.