Sunday, November 26, 2006

EF200; my favorite locomotive

Today I would like to introduce to you the Japanese locomotive I love the best. Its type name is EF200, JR Freight's DC locomotive.


We can see the letter "INVERTER HICH-TEC LOCO" on the side face of EF200. That means EF200 is the first electric locomotive with AVAF controlled induction motor in Japan. It was just revolutionary high-tech improvement.

Its declared power runs up 6,000kW, to be the top by world narrow gauge. However, there is no substation facilities to supply enough electric power for EF200 to bring out his maximum power in Japan. After its roll out, the plan of build-up substations was retracted because of economical reasons. That also brought its quantity production to a halt.

Consequently I should say EF200 is star-crossed. However I can still enjoy to see EF200 taking an active part, with its European appearance keeping distance from Japanese traditional locomotive such as EF65.


VRM3 features EF200 as a single package. It is also included in Limited express collector's edition 3.

Wednesday, November 22, 2006

MuraP's "Construction of elevated line"

MuraP won the second prize, which was also the winner of the screenshot division of I.MAGiC layout contest 2006. His great work was as follows.


The above picture is microcopied for saving my web space. You can get the original one archived as an LZH file is here.

This was the first time to institute the screenshot division in the contest. He had been famous as the top of the screenshot makers among Japanese VRM users, so everybody seems to accept the result. Of course I do. Maybe you, too.

Sunday, November 19, 2006

Maru's desktop N layout

Do you remember that I introduced to you a Japanese modeler who had completed his N desktop layout based on my blueprint drawn with VRM? Today I would like to show you about another person who did it!

His name is Maru (his screen name). Click here, and you can jump to his weblog written in Japanese.

Yesterday, I received an e-mail from him, attached several pictures of his N desktop layout. I soon noticed his layout based on one of my blueprints. You can see more pictures here.


According to him, this is the first experience for him to construct N layout. The potential of VRM and my activity gave him a boost to try his initial experience of N layout. That is just my great pleasure.


For European BSP users, I built BSP layout based on his work. Click here, and you can get the ZIP archive. That's one small layout for men, one giant leap for Maru. :-P

Friday, November 17, 2006

The result of layout contest 2006

On 17th November, I.MAGiC announced the result of VRM layout contest 2006 on their official website as follows.

  • Winner;
    "Modern local landscape" by Sakurahayabusa
  • Second places;
    "JNR Ina line" by Okinotorishima
    "Summer day dream" by Keimei
    "Construction of elevated line" by Mura-P

Today I would like to introduce to you the winners' work; "Modern local landscape" by Sakurahayabusa (his screen name).


Click the above thumbnails, and you can see the large pictures.

As the author gave the name to his work, his layout just shows you "Modern local landscape" in Japan. I give my guarantee that you can see the quite similar landscape if you visit some local cities in Japan. "Modern local landscape" and the author; Sakurahayabusa, is really eligible for the prizewinner of VRM layout contest 2006!!

Tuesday, November 14, 2006

Shinkaisoku; a new comer of BSP supporters

I found a Japanese VRM user preparing a package-limited VRM layout for BSP. His name is Shinkaisoku (his screen name). His weblog is here.

You can read an English article written by himself about his layout here. In it, he calls himself "new fast." Originally, "Shinkaisoku" is one of the train categories in Japan just like "limited express" and so on. It is generally translated to "special rapid service" (in the case of JR West) or "new rapid train" (JR Central) in English. However, we should call him "new fast," because he says that his screen name is quite not related to the train category.

As soon as he opens his work to the public, I will report about it. Wait a bit.

Saturday, November 11, 2006

Twilight Express; my favorite train

Today I would like to introduce to you the Japanese train I love the best. Its name is "Twilight Express;" the night train between Osaka and Sapporo. It takes more than 21 hours to reach the destination. It is the longest drive among Japanese trains.

- Twilight Epxress -

Twilight Express is not the way to travel but the purpose. Between Osaka and Sapporo, it takes only 2 hours by plane. It's much faster and cheaper to make use of the aircraft. However some people allow themselves to get on Twilight Express. Because they find out irreplaceable value and experience from the travel of Twilight Express. They appropriate the exclusive locomotive and coach painted dark green for Twilight Express. Not only the appearance but also the interior and services are special.

The inner wall is chic woodgrain. Soon after riding on the train, a cabin boy delivers a welcome-drink to our room.

- ghost in Twilight Express -

A deluxe salon car and a restaurant car are included in the train. In the restaurant, we can enjoy french full dinner.

- Salon car -

- Restaurant car -

Twilight Express runs through the Seikan Tunnel, which is the undersea tunnel between Honshu and Hokkaido island. While running through the tunnel, we can enjoy talk-show about the Seikan tunnel by the conductor.

- Talk-show by the conductor-

I have ever taken a ride of Twilight Express twice with my wife. Each time we really had a great pleasure and satisfaction of the rail trip.

Twilight Express is very popular among Japanese railfan. Of course, VRM features Twilight Express.

- Twilight Epxress on VRM3 -

- Twilight Epxress on VRM4 -

Twilight Express sometimes runs as the chartered train for the party of tourists. On 10th November, I took a picture of it. The locomotive is different from the usual running. It is EF65-1000(PF), included in Bahnsim PRO package.

- Twilight Epxress with EF65PF -

Wednesday, November 08, 2006

I.MAGiC announced the detail of Limited express collector's edition 3

I.MAGiC announced they would release Limited express collector's edition 3 on 24th November.

According to their announcement, Limted express collector's edition 3 will include the following rolling stock.

These cars were sold as single packages of the additional rolling stock only by web-order; their I.MAGiC Direct shop service. Limited express collector's edition 3 is sold not only by web-shopping but also at the store. The price has not been announced yet. That will be much cheaper than the total cost of these single packages.

However you do not have the official way to get it from abroad at present. Unfortunately bhv; the distributor of Bahnsim PRO seems to have already lost their motivation of the business. I strongly hope anybody else to stand as a candidate of a new distributor of VRM series in Europe and the other countries.

Monday, November 06, 2006

Caldia's picture book English version

Friday, November 03, 2006

Junichi's aerial tramway

Junichi names his recent continuous cropping "vehicle series" ; which is the trial to construct non-railway by VRM. He released the 4th work, an aerial tramway.

Click here, and you can jump into his weblog "Jun's monologue" written in Japanese, but you can enjoy several great screenshots.