Talking T Gauge

B 67 · Posted: Sat Dec 20, 2008 11:18 am Post subject:

Has anyone else been checking the KK Eishindo website lately? It doesn't seem to change a great deal, but I notice I'm now listed as a dealer on the English language section. However, I just checked the Japanese section of the site and noticed much I hadn't seen before (as I don't usually check the Japanese part).

Yes, the flex track WILL be in those long lengths after all. There's a photo of a section of track being held - and it's shown as being about 1000mm in length.

There's also a video showing the 2nd generation mechanism - with extra gear.

http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=6Jeamlag7v8
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Darren,
Stratford,
Australia.

Jax · Joined: 04 Dec 2008 Posts: 44 Location: London, UK

The text says that it will come early next year (doesn't actually specify when) and is 1000mm which will retail at 1050 (inc tax).

B 67 · Posted: Sat Dec 20, 2008 1:21 pm Post subject:

I was told the flex track would be ready in January. The page also has yesterday's date on it, so perhaps it has only just been added. I can't read the Japanese text.

The price doesn't seem to bad. Okay, it's a lot more than a similar length of Peco or Atlas HO or N flex, but I like to look at it in scale length. Besides, considering production would be a lot lower than those others, I think it is quite reasonable.

And another way of looking at it is that you could build the basic oval with a single length of T gauge flex track too. Laughing

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Darren,
Stratford,
Australia.

rmyers · Joined: 19 Nov 2008 Posts: 73 Location: Evanston, IL USA

trainspotter-usa · Joined: 04 Sep 2008 Posts: 315 Location: Minnesota

Jes · Joined: 14 Nov 2008 Posts: 27 Location: The Netherlands

It seems to me the new chassis is less noisy and smoother running too!
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Some thoughts on T

Jes · Joined: 14 Nov 2008 Posts: 27 Location: The Netherlands

I just noticed there are also some new farm animals as well as a new tool on the japanese website. It's not clear to me what it can exactly it can be used for. There's also a vehicle set B (including lorries and smaller vans) in the products overview.

More pictures of new products here.
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Some thoughts on T

Jax · Joined: 04 Dec 2008 Posts: 44 Location: London, UK

The tool: It is a duplicate, the same size as the original, as the punch that the a conductor carried in Japan.
These punches were formerly seen everywhere on the Japanese railway, but now there are few railroads which use it because it was mechanized recently. Also included in the set is a memo pad which imitates a ticket for punching.

B 67 · Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2008 7:17 am Post subject:

I noticed the farm animal set being offered by Plaza Japan. I had never heard of it beforehand and it does not appear in any of the lists sent to me by Eishindo. But I did see it in the Japanese language section of their website a few days ago.

I had read of the other tool (ticket punch) somewhere much earlier. Probably their website, but I am not sure. Glad they didn't try making this and the ticket pad to scale. Laughing

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Darren,
Stratford,
Australia.

pray59 · Joined: 05 Sep 2008 Posts: 88 Location: Fremont, CA

That's great news about the improved mechanism. I have a good feeling that T Gauge will be around a while, after seeing improvements like the extra gear, and the release of flextrack.

I hope they do a bridge like the Kato N Scale one in T.

-Robert
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-Robert Ray

Jes · Joined: 14 Nov 2008 Posts: 27 Location: The Netherlands

Another great new product!
Eishindo also announces to release level crossings in early 2009. It appears to be a modular system, available in single and double track.

http://www.kk-eishindo.co.jp/R-008-01.jpg
(from Eishindo's japanese website)
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Some thoughts on T

rmyers · Joined: 19 Nov 2008 Posts: 73 Location: Evanston, IL USA

B 67 · Posted: Fri Dec 26, 2008 10:55 pm Post subject:

If you look a bit closer (enlarge the image) you'll see that there is 'filler' between the rails. Those lines you see aren't sleepers, but lines on the road surface - sort of like tiles. To represent concrete blocks or similar I'd say.

The tubular barriers are typical of Japan (and also Taiwan, whose railways were built by the Japanese). Older ones would be made from Bamboo, or at least they are in Taiwan. Usually there will be one either side of the road. I guess in 1:450 scale, Eishindo didn't see any need to actually make them individually and simplified them. One could always cut them in half though. Wink

Go to YouTube and type Japanese Railway Crossing in the search field and you'll get plenty of examples to choose from - including this crossing that would test any motorist's patience.

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=SQpbZniLqzg

Model that one and you won't have to worry about them not opening.
Another video of the same crossing says that in peak, the gates don't open for an hour. Shocked

The 'Z' shaped plates would appear to be similar to the ones used to hold the catenary masts in place. They also hold double-track together, so fair to assume that these ones will hold the ramps to the rails.

I noticed KK Eishindo showed the crossing signs and barriers earlier on their website, so I guessed this was coming. But couldn't wait for my layout, so made my own - I hadn't made the signs and barriers yet, so now will wait for Eishindo to release theirs.
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Darren,
Stratford,
Australia.

rmyers · Joined: 19 Nov 2008 Posts: 73 Location: Evanston, IL USA

David K Smith · Posted: Sat Dec 27, 2008 4:18 am Post subject: