Tomytec Kumamoto 9700

Tomytec will be releasing a model of the Kumamoto City 9700 series articulated tram in march 2011.
Like the previously released Portram/ Centram the shell fits on the TM-LRT01 powered chassis. Two colours will be available, early livery (white/light blue) and late livery (white/black).

Introduced in 1997, the 9700 series were the first low-floor trams in Japan. I think they have quite a European look, as they were build in Japan under license from German manufacturer Adtranz.

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Fresh tram news

From N-Gauge Information:
In spring 2011, Tomytec will be releasing a model of the 2000 series tram in Kyoto and Matsushima liveries. If I understand it correctly, a new chassis is being developed for this tram, which will be adjustable in lenght. This would make it great news for modelers, definately worth following!

And then there's also news from Modemo. Plans are to develop a model of a 5000 series Hiroshima 'Green Mover' LRV, a Siemens Combino. The tram will have a flywheel and working head and tail lights. A model which will undoubtedly look good on many European layouts as well.

Good modeltramnews just keeps coming these days :)

Some (new) products

A couple of N scale tram-related products I recently learned about:

New from GHB International is this model of a Birney Streetcar, in the double truck variety. Prices of this nice model start at $ 39,- for an unpainted shell and $ 59,- for a motorized model, add $ 16,- for a working trolley pole. A painted model will cost $ 20,- extra per colour. But for that, you can get the model in any livery you like. I'm shure this model will find its way to many US trolley layouts!

Finescale und mehr does these brass N gauge tram rails, both in a NEM (=N standard) and finescale variety. A package costs € 23,-, which is enough to make a meter of track. Not a bad price! Note: the cobble stones have to be ordered separately.

Speaking of tram track, Tomix Wide Tram Track is slowly becoming available in online stores. Hobby Search lists the following items at the moment:
0113 - Rail Joiners
1790 - 140mm straight 2x
1790 - 70mm straight 2x
1796 - R140 curves, 2x 30 degrees, 2x 60 degrees
1797 - R177 curves, 2x 30 degrees, 2x 60 degrees
91085 Mini rail basic set
91086 Super Mini oval set

And another new model!

According to Kato's production scedule this cute little tram should be available soon. Apparently, Kato is re-releasing their Pocket Line series, giving it a fresh new look here and there. The toy-like model could be an interesting base for kitbash projects. Unfortunately, it uses the 2-axle tram chassis, which is not know for its good performances, but then again, the retail price is just under €30,-!

A new tram from Bachmann?

Rumour has it that Bachmann will release a completely new model in N scale, the Peter Witt streetcar. Apparently, the model comes DCC equipped, at a price of about $ 140,-. I'm not that familiar with American traction, but I definately like the looks of this tram! See a picture of the model here.

Join the N scale traction group to discuss this subject!

CENTRAM (2)

And they are out! Tomytec's Tetsudou Collection CENTRAM model appears to be another gem. The motorized model is available for little under €50,-. A bargain for such a great running tram. The CENTRAM is available in white, silver and black.

Available on eBay through Plaza Japan.

A peach from Tomytec

A little package from Plaza Japan arrived today. It contained this beautiful model of the Okayama Railway 9200 series ´Momo´ (which means peach in Japanese) from the Tomytec Tetsudou Collection. Like the previously released PORTRAM´s, the tram body easily slides onto a TM/LRT01 chassis, making it an excellent runner. No problem at all with turnouts and tight curves.

The body is coloured light grey (a little metallic even, or is that just the light reflection?), making it, at least in my opinion, a more appealing model than the PORTRAM. It doesn't have such a clean look. I really like the livery it comes in, which was designed by the famous Japanse designer Eiji Mitooka. The biggest difference with the PORTRAM is the extra door at the rear end. This makes the tram more convincing for right-hand traffic.

I think the front also looks a lot better. I has many nice details. Especially the headlights stand out. Pantograph and roof details are identical to the PORTRAM.

I'm sure this model will be a real eye-catcher on any N scale tram layout. At least it will be on mine :)

CENTRAM

And they keep coming, those Tomytec Tetsudou collection trams! To be released this month are three new 'CENTRAM' units, which, in real life, operate on a very short loop line in central Toyama. Available colours will be white, silver and black. Like other Tomytec trams, these come as display models, which can be motorized using the TN-LRT01 chassis.

Tram tracks

Untill recently, making your own tram track was really your only possiblity if you were modelling in N scale. Now the street track systems appear to pop up everywhere. An overview of the currently available options:

Tomix street car track kit

The easiest way to convert an existing layout (using Tomix mini and super mini track) into a paved tram layout, is to use a couple of these kits. All concrete-coloured parts slot into the underside of the tracks, except for the parts which fit in between the rails, these have to be glued in place. It's also possible to cover 90 degree crossings and points, although quite a lot of the points remains exposed. A set includes parts for 140mm straight track, and 103, 140 and 177R curves. Two sets are needed to make an oval. Apparently, a second set in asphalt colour will be released in 2010.

• 3076 Street car track kit, concrete
• 3079 Street car track kit, asphalt.

Kato UNITRAM system

This system, released in 2009, is made out of highly detailed double-track components which match Kato's Diotown scenery system. Big plus of the system is that it comes with catenary masts. As far as I know, only a base and a starter set is available at the moment. The base set includes a Unitram oval, (2x 124mm straight, 4x R180 curve), some UNITRAM road plates and an accessory set. Total dimensions: 682 x 620mm. The starter set also comes with an AC adapter and a red PORTRAM. Undoubtedly, track components will be available seperately in the future. Points and crossings are unavailable at the moment.

• 40-900 UNITRAM starter set
• 40-800 UNITRAM basic track set V50

Tomix wide tram track

The third option are the yet to be released wide tram tracks from Tomix. Measurements of the components are the same as the components made with the street car kit, but these have been pre-made.This system should be more flexible than the Kato one, as it also allows to make single or triple tracks. No easy way to attach catenary masts though. As with the Kato set, no points or crossings are available for the time being.

• 91085 R103 oval set
• 91086 R140 oval set
• 1790 2x 70mm straight
• 1791 2x 140mm straight
• 1795 2x R103 60 degree curves and 2x R103 30 degree curves
• 1796 2x R140 60 degree curves and 2x R140 30 degree curves
• 1797 2x R177 60 degree curves and 2x R177 30 degree curves
• 0113 connection pieces for normal Tomix track
  

Some great new models

My name is Jes and I'd like to share my experiences with tramway (trolley) modelling on this blog. Welcome! For all of you who have been, like me, under a rock the past year (well, at least, in modeltramland that is), here are some highlights of all new available tram models in N scale (which are many!).

First of all, and I'm very excited about this one, there's the all-new Düwag M/N type M6 from Hobbytrain/Lemke. Three liveries will be available: Bogestra, Mülheim/Ruhr and Nürnberger Verkehrsbetriebe. I particularly like the yellow/white/grey Mülheim livery. Release date and price: unknown at the moment.

Then, there's the re-release of the an old favourite, the Arnold Düwag 'strassenbahn'. Again there will be three different liveries: Creme with 'Jägermeister' advert from Bochum, creme with 'Persil' advert from Düssendorf (apparently only available form Menzel's Lokschuppen in Düsseldorf), and the yellow/blue Essen livery.

From Tomytec there are three new trams for the TM-LRT01 chassis, like the Okayama railway variant on the left. Also available: the red Manyosen MLRV 1000 and the red/white Kumamoto type 0800. The design of the three new trams is similar to the PORTRAM series.

Finally, the good old Bachmann PCC trolley. Now in five new variants: Cincinnati, New York 3rd Avenue, Kansas City, Toronto and St. Louis Railways. At the left the Toronto livery.