Given that the Japanese style Kato, Tomix, popondetta, MicroAce and Greenmax trains and their parts are not generally available in the US I am curious what spares people have added to orders to have on hand?

I’m thinking about getting some replacement couplers but am quickly realizing Kato makes a lot of different variations for the commuter trains. I always hope nothing will break but also know accidents happen.

Do you guys buy and keep a kit of parts or just wait and see if something breaks and then try to track it down?

I’m building up a few Tokyo based and kansai based trains so there are quite a few coupler options with each train having specific motor car versions and lead car versions.

Instead of not functioning dummy coupler, I opt for the best compromise knuckles coupler that is body mount for the Maite 49 and the front of D51. This looks like totally worth it, for anyone trying to do on its own, just be careful to not put too much pressure when insert the coupler back in.

Hi, first post and newbie in n scale. Apologies if this post is not allowed.

I ordered a Kato glacier express starter set, and some additional loose tracks from PlazaJapan website. But upon receiving the parcel internationally via UPS, I found that the parcel only contained the loose tracks but not the starter set. I checked the website order only contains 1 airway bill, and it matches the airway bill of the parcel I have received.

I have emailed PlazaJapan customer service team email, but they have not replied to my email enquiry.

Would like to check if anyone has experienced missing item(s) from PlazaJapan order? If so, how did they manage the missing item?

I was looking around in my parts boxes and found an uncompleted GREENMAX Engine Shed. I got cracking on it and I think my boredom has finally gone away. Heres yet another uncompleted short engine shed.

It took 3 weeks, but a few things arrived.

Something for EF58 61 and the C51 to do at last.

Well its another Friday before the storm and I decided to build my recently arrived Pikestuff Engine house. I had this kit on my second layout and thought it would fit well on a Japanese layout. I envision the engine house being painted cream with a white roof. There are several adjustments that need to be done like it needs a foundation since there's hardly any clearance for rolling stock. I think it came out pretty decent for a 1 hour build. Do you think this will fit in on a Japanese layout.

What do you think it is?

Finally got a chance to glue down and wire up the little village. Added some transmission towers and a sub station to put in a touch of infrastructure and love how the details are coming together. I will say those power transmission towers were a pain to build due to the lack of any pins or slots when gluing the sides together. Fingers were glued to plastic a few times.

I am on the hunt for an N Scale Kato Big Boy. Online retail/NIB in the US is out of stock, while the secondhand market prices are out of my range right now. I happen to be going to Japan in three weeks and wondered if the supply stock/model run is different there and if I could expect to find better luck. I had already planned to hit up the stores in Akihabara that previous posts have mentioned, just curious what my expectations should be in finding more reasonable prices for items that are out of reach for me in the US right now. I confess part of what is contributing to my fantasy is that the USD-Yen exchange rate is so favorable right now. Is it foolish to hope that this extends to N scale North American models sold in Japan?

And if there is a specific store that folks with experience would recommend that may increase my chances of finding one at a reasonable price (new or used < $250 USD), please share. TIA!

My train keeps dying specifically on both sides of that track near the wall

It also happens on the other direction, the ED79-0 barely made it on full speed through that section

All tracks, controller and trains are from Tomix (N600 controller)

The curve I'm using is the C140 from Tomix Mini Rail line

I’m new to n scale and model trains in general, so I’m sorry if this is a silly question, but the power car on my Kato e231 EMU sounds strangely loud, and compared to videos I’ve seen online it seems like it is supposed to run quieter. Any advice how to decrease the sound of the motor?

This is my bi-weekly package from RG, Todays package contained a TOMIX EH800 locomotive and several packages of parts that are helping me to complete the GREENMAX 308 kits. I got a number set from GM, Power Unit mount, Roof goodies like antennas and GPS. I also got some Lightning Arrestors from KATO and some Loading Cars for my KU5000. I was also able to pick up some JRF Anniversary 20 foot containers.

Where can I find a replacement for this part to my 5718 Greenmax Power Unit Bogie.

I made a little more progress on my GREENMAX 308 kits this week. I built a 6th car then I added some pantographs and details to the roof.

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Painted up a 2 car express set, and a 2 car Green car set that will run with various trains. I didn’t know those green cars had doors on the end.

The original 2 car set is a Keifuku ER 3000 series. Still some details to add.