I tend to use 1x 10 HO scale stripwood that I stain, although I have used a few laser-cut crossings.
But I model Colorado narrowgauge. I suspect wood RR grade-crossings are rare except way back in the hills in Japan, though. Probably more often concrete or "rubber" panels would be expected.
I'll try to remember to ask my wife about that, as she'll likely know.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
What did you use for the grade crossings?
-Peter. Mantua collector, 3D printing enthusiast, Korail modeler.
You're welcome.
The roads, etc came out really well. That's just the right shade of gray to have them look realistic without the complications of weathering.
Mike,
Thank you for your message and the link to the Railway Museum's very informative website.
Hi Everybody,
I recently found online an easy and inexpensive way to make streets for a layout. I used this techique to make streets for a temporary N gauge layout (below). Since I was pleased with the results, I thought I would share this method with the group.
Supplies:
1. Grey foam sheets (Creatology, 12"x18",$0.99 each)
2. White water-based paint pens (Craftsmart, Fine $2.69 (2) and Wide $7.49 (1))
I purchased these supplies at a Michaels store, but I think they are also available online. I used Google Earth to find examples of streets in mid-size Japanese cities. I then used a ball point pen, ruler and hobby knife to cut the foam sheets. (I think the sheets are 1/16" thick.) I then used a ruler and the fine tip paint pen to draw the lines. (I think oil-based paint pens will dissolve the foam.) Remember that in Japan they drive on the left. I used the wide tip paint pen to make the crosswalks. I did not glue the streets to the layout, so I can rearrange them for future layouts. You can, of course, glue the foam to a layout. I experimented with "Tacky Glue," which worked fine. You can also paint the foam with acrylic paints. I experimented with white foam, which I painted light grey, to make sidewalks. I have seen examples online of more realistic streets using the same foam. (I would be interested to hear what other techniques people have used to make streets using foam -- or other materials.)
I hope this is helpful.
JR SVI am using instructions from mlehman (thanks!) and Steve Otte to try to post a photo in this message. Hopefully, you can see it. Kuha 181 (1965) This is a photo of a Kuha 181 Electric Railcar of the Japanese National Railways, built in 1965. It is in the Railway Museum in Omiya...
That's a great pic, SV. My wife has been there, just last spring, as well as to its earlier incarnation in Tokyo. She brought back a fabulous guide book sold there, lots more great pics and diagrans, etc, but text is Japanese. It's definitely on my bucket list when I finally make it over there.
The hall for this display is huge, with a turntable in the middle and exhibits like in your pic radiating outward from it. There are also simulators where you can drive a Shinkansen and more conventional trains.
Here's a link to the museum's English website:
http://www.railway-museum.jp/en/
tgindy,
Thank you for your suggestion of the eBay store "Plaza Japan." I took a look at it and was surprised by the nice selection. I will definitely keep it in mind as an option.
Hello Everybody,
I am using instructions from mlehman (thanks!) and Steve Otte to try to post a photo in this message. Hopefully, you can see it.
This is a photo of a Kuha 181 Electric Railcar of the Japanese National Railways, built in 1965. It is in the Railway Museum in Omiya, which is near Tokyo. The Japanese National Railways (JNR) is the predecessor of the Japan Railways Group (JR). (You will probably notice that this is the same photo that I used for my avatar image.)
"Sir Madog wrote the following post yesterday:
vsmith: I just picked up something very unusual
Be careful - that stuff is addictive! Instead continuing with your big one, you may find yourself building enough small "shorties" to fill a room!"
Too late, I'm already working on my 6th and 7th microlayouts, in 12"x16" in N scale and 24" x 24" in G scale underway. This Bandai thingie will something for later this winter to play around with.
Have fun with your trains
vsmithI just picked up something very unusual
Be careful - that stuff is addictive! Instead continuing with your big one, you may find yourself building enough small "shorties" to fill a room!
JR SV I am getting starting building a Japanese model railroad. Does anyone have suggestions for helpful online resources?
I am getting starting building a Japanese model railroad. Does anyone have suggestions for helpful online resources?
eBay store, Plaza Japan, is N Scale "eye candy!"
For example, good 'N' steam is hard to find, but you can get JNR (Japanese National Railways) prototypes for less than $100 US; motorized chassis for under $35 US (you find "your own" engine shell), and; Japanese traction or diesel is under $65 US. Japanese 'N' at 1:150 will work on United States 'N' track at 1:160.
Detail on Japanese structures (Tomytec, Rokuhan, Greenmax, Tomix, Kato, etc.) is quite nice for N Scale, and the prices are reasonable.
For what it worth, I've settled on 'N' Peco track (an English product) instead of Atlas (due to manufacturing shortages) for the N Scale CR&T, and; there'll be at least one JNR steamer on the layout with its smooth-running mechanism.
Also, from Plaza Japan: I'm going to convert a firehouse (Tomytec Firehouse A #036) as a rural traction station (note space "under building" for tracks), and; convert a bank (Tomytec Bank #035) to become a union station for CR&T's traction + PRR passenger interchange -- To go along with my Greenmax platform (including subway-style steps), and Greenmax freight station kits. Here is CR&T's prototype inspiration for its union station.
Conemaugh Road & Traction circa 1956
Hi JR SV,
Looking forward to your road technique. Steve Otte has a sticky at the top of the general Discussion forum page that details how to post pics here. Basically, you host images on a pic sharing site (I use ImageShack, but lots of options there), then when you post the links they provide for your pic in forum posts you click on the middle image of the mountains in the middle menu bar right above where you enter the text here in the New Reply form (or in your original post if you're starting a thread.) Clicking the mountains button brings up a dialogue box where you paste the URL the image host generated for your pic. Once you hit enter, the pic is embedded in the post reply form and you should see it just as it will appear once you post the message.
BTW, that's a good tip on having stuff sent to a Japanese address if you can arrange it so someone will forward you the package from there. This also works for most vendors that seem to limit stuff to sales inside Japan.
みなさん、こんにちは。
I have been offline for about a month, but I am planning to be back soon with an easy and inexpensive way that I found to make decent roads for a layout. It won't win any modeling awards, but it's practical and flexible. (First I need to figure out how to add photos to my posts.)
じゃね。
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.
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
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?
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。
Thank you very much for your suggestion.
Hobby Search looks like an excellent source.
There are a number of businesses doing business world-wide.
I bought my Japanese model railroading stuff mostly from
Hobby Search
If Hobby Search does not stock the item you look for, it´s probably not available anywhere else.
Good prices, too!
JR SV 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 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。
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.
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.
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
George In Midcoast Maine, 'bout halfway up the Rockland branch
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.
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:
http://www.railgallery-r.com/
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?
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.shtmlhttp://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
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Yes, I have enjoyed Japanese Youtube videos on model railroads, which can also be very informative. Thanks.
Thank you for your quick reply and very helplful link.
I am modeling in N scale.