I.MAGiC announced Limited express collector's edition 3

I.MAGiC announced they would release Limited express collector's edition 3 at the end of November 2006, according to I.MAGiC VRM news Vol.60; released on 28th September.

It will contain some of Japanese rolling stocks which were ever released as an additional package. At this time, I.MAGiC said that they would pick up as follows.

• Shinkansen Series 700-7000; Hikari Rail Star
• Shinkansen Series 500
• Series 885; EC for limited express
• Series Kiha 40; diesel car
• EF 200 DC electric locomotive

It remains to be seen its price and sale date.

Battle fleet for BSP is coming soon

My latest work against Junichi's battle fleet is coming soon.
Now I'm putting the final touches to it. Please wait a bit


The battleships in the above picture are constructed from only the parts included in Bahnsim PRO package. That means BSP users can see them on their own desktop.


By the way, Junichi built even an air craft carrier with VRM3 at last! Click here and you can see the screenshot on his weblog. And more, click here. You can enjoy the movie which gives you an experience of a pilot of a combat aircraft.

What is written in Japanese?

You can see Japanese characters of the faces of some BSP parts. I do not know why the developer did not replace them with European letters. I guess that it is very difficult for you; European BSP users, to read them. Well, let me explain.

The first one is "Paylon." There you can see very large red character.


We Japanese read it out as follows.


"den" means "electricity." "sen" means "line." So "den sen" means electric line. "ni" is an auxiliary word to show an object. "chu i" means "caution" or "watchout". Therefore, "den sen ni chu i" means "watch out the electric line."

The second case is "Bahnstg." There you often see the following display hanging from the ceiling.


We read it out as follows.


It has no meaning because it is the name of a station. I wonder you know the name of "Yamanote" as the well-known loop line in Tokyo; the capital of Japan. "Shinyamanote" is just parody. The station named "Shinyamanote" is unreality.

The last case... you can see it in places; "Lokschuppen," "Bahnbüro," and "Cleaner."




We read it out as follows.


"an zen" means "safety." "dai ichi" means "the first." So, "an zen dai ichi" means "safety first." It was originally the direct translation from a hot slogan in America at the beginning of the 20th century. "Safety first" means we should give preference to safety over the other factors; productivity, quality, and profit. It has already been an established Japanese maxim. We always see these four characters at construction fields, industrial factories, and railroad sections.

ghost's desktop "Canal Zone" layout

You know JR Kwansai is going forward his work; our collaborative N layout. It is better for your enjoying his building log more that you also have the same one in your BSP layout collection.

Here it is; a zip archive including a layout file for Bahnsim PRO.



The original blueprint was drawn with VRM4; the upper version of VRM3/BSP. Besides, it was based on TOMIX Fine Track rail system which is included in VRM3-1/4 and VRM4-2. About TOMIX Fine Track, see also the thread in Willi Leopold's forum; written in German and English. He is very interested in it.

BSP includes I.MAGiC's rail system. It has quite different length and curvature from TOMIX Fine Track rail system. I built this layout named "Canal Zone" for eye appeal. Therefore, a part of rails do not connect to the main loop correctly. However, it looks like the original layout; excluding one size larger than the original one.

JR Kwansai started work of our collaborative N layout

A few days ago, I introduced you my layout plan book drawn with VRM. I have already completed three N layout and some vinettes, based on blueprints from VRM. Here, you can read each of building logs via automatic translation. However, they may be cramped for you because I left a lot of Japanese slang.

By the way, I would like to show you the other case to make use of VRM for the helpful tool for constructing N layout. VRM is also very useful tool as sharing solution of N layout design. Because VRM generates the blueprint and the 3D CG rendering at the same time. We can easily share the concept and image of N layouts with the other people by making use of VRM.

Today, I introduce you a energetic person who proved that.
His name is JR Kwansai(his screen name). His weblog is here, written in Japanese.

JR Kwansai has ever completed his N layout based on the blueprint that I designed with VRM, without any direct communication with me. You can see his work here. My blueprint is here. Compare them. I'm sure you will be as surprised as I was. This case proved that VRM is really useful tool to share our know-how for constructing N layout.

Please enjoy movies of JR Kwansai's layout; real one and virtual one.

Real; recorded by JR Kwansai


Virtual; produced by ghost

And now, he started work for his new layout, based on my blueprint. He also started to write the building logs. He seems to write in both Japanese and English. I strongly recommend you to watch his work.

Junichi's battle fleet

Junichi's VRM3 battle fleet started on a voyage.
Click here, and you will know what I mean.

I have also constructed VRM3 layouts with ships built up from several parts.
I'm showing you them as my VRMovies as follows, powered by YouTobe.

My ships were constructed some little time ago, in July 2004 and June 2005.
They are not as dense as Junichi's. :-P

Junichi's battle fleet apparently provoked me!
I should increase armaments against him!
So now I'm trying to build my new layout with BATTLESHIPS for BSP package.
Declaration of war is coming soon. Just wait a while!!

ghost's Geistburg layout

My latest work titled "Geistburg" is a layout of a large terminal with a cathedral.


The cathedral is constructed with "Boden-Werkzerg" and customized "Struktur," as same as the samples I showed you before here. The dome of the terminal is built up from more than 200 "Stahlbetonbongenbrücke." The fountain in front of the cathedral is 24 "Br-P feiler" buried in the ground.


Brick style parts are also made a lot of use; the old castle on the hill, the ramparts around the town, and so on.


Click here, and you can get the ZIP archive including the layout file. Enjoy it with your Bahnsim PRO. Even if you do not have BSP, you can enjoy the movie here.

ghost's desktop layout plan book

VRM/Bahnsim PRO complies with standards specification of N gauge model train. So we can make use of VRM in order to draw a blueprint of N gauge model train layout.

Since January 2004, I have introduced examples to show the VRM potential as a support tool for constructing model train layout, on my website named "VRM->N"; means from VRM to N gauge. Today I lead you to one of the section of the website. It is titled "desktop layout plan book." As it's name suggests, there are various blueprints of N gauge layout, especially its size is 600 x 900mm; generally called "desktop layout" in Japan.


Click here, and you can see the contents via automatic translation. There are more than 10 large pictures. Click one of them, and you can see the details, explanations, and blueprints.

My purpose is not only to show the VRM potential but also to recommend model train fan to be a VRM user. I know some people that began VRM through my website.


In spring 2005, I published a book titled "VRM, designing and constructing model train layout" via Kohgakusha; one of well-known computing book publishers. This book is based on my website; "VRM->N," however it got few distribution. :-P

I.MAGiC released Limited express collector's edition 2

On 9th Semtember, I.MAGiC began to sell Limited express collector's edition 2 on their web site. It includes all parts and cars included in VRM3 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th package. The price is 9,600yen (about 65 euro / 102 CHF).

At the same date, they released I.MAGiC VRM News Vol.58, the latest of their mail magazine. In it, they announced that the next package of their EuroExpress will be "DB structure set." I guess they meant that they would release these parts at last.

I.MAGiC released talent 644

On 7th September, I.MAGiC released Talent 644 as the newest title of their EuroExpress series into Japanese market. The price is 2,000 yen (about 13 Euro/ 21 CHF). Click here, and you can see the product introduction, written in Japanese.

Unfortunately, right now there is no way for European people to get it legally. As I tell you, I.MAGiC seems still to have strong concern with European market. The release of Talent 644 also shows their ambition. However, they have not enough power and money to cultivate oversea market by themselves. Has bhv lost their own motivation yet?

MuraP's ultimate screenshots

Today I introduce to you some screenshots recently talked-about among Japanese VRM users. All of them were brought out by MuraP (his screen name). He seems to have no website or weblog. Junichi put his works in the Internet as deputy for him.

Put simply, MuraP's layouts look much higher density than any other layouts opened to the public before. Seeing is believing. You must see with your own eyes by clicking the following URI.

• Curved bridge 1
• Curved brdige 2
• Industrial zone
• Yard
• Elevated station with arch
• MM21

He makes full use of rich parts included in all packages of VRM3. I must say that it is not so easy for you to follow his practice, because BSP includes not many parts. However, I'm sure that his work shows the maximized potential of VRM3 and makes you excited.

I.MAGiC holds VRM layout contest 2006

I.MAGiC has held VRM layout contest every year since 2002. On 31th August, they announced starting of VRM layout contest 2006.

According to the application guidebook (written in Japanese), unfortunately only the user that lives in Japan and registered as a valid user, can take part in the contest. If you feel a strong hope for taking part in the contest, please write to me via e-mail attached your BSP layout or screenshots. I can be your agent. The closing date is 20th Octorber. The result will be opened to the public on 17th November.

For your information, I show the previous winners as follow.

• VRM layout contest 2002
  
  The winner; Tatsuo
  
  
• VRM layout contest 2003
  
  The winner; YokaTomi
  The 2nd places; Shioji, Kyuko303M, and ghost
  
  
• VRM layout contest 2004
  
  The winner; Keimei
  The 2nd places; Shioji, Torulane and ghost
  
  
• VRM layout contest 2005
  
  The winner; Shioji
  The 2nd places; Okinotorishima, 45-50s, and ghost

Click the titile of the contest, and you can jump into the result page of each contest. You can see several screenshots there.

ghost's MOB layout

My newest work; "MOB" is derived from Montreux Oberland Bernois in the Switzerland.


MOB is the narrow-gauge railway connecting Montreux and Zweisimmen, well-known for the southern edge of Golden Pass line between Montreux and Luzern.


Especially, Golden Pass Panoramic is very popular among tourists. It has panoramic sheets under the cab at each end of the train. The locomotive is sandwiched at the center. I assign series 251; which also has panoramic sheets above the cabs.


Click here, and you can get the ZIP archive including the layout file. Enjoy it with your Bahnsim PRO. Even if you do not have BSP, you can enjoy the movie here. In the movie, you see the train not included in Bahnsim PRO. It looks like Ge 4/4 III and Golden Pass Classic, doesn't it?


Well, please love my sheep for ever.