Tomytec TR014 and TR015 Trams Announced

Tomytec announced a couple of new trams to go along with the Tomix Wide Tram Rail at the 50th All Japan Mokei Hobby Show. Its actually one car, the Kyoto 2000 series in its former Kyoto configuration as TR015 and in its current Iyotetsu configuration as TR014. Release is set for Spring 2011 (which I read as being after the March 31 Japanese year end).

Tomytec TR014, TR015 trams

These cars were built in 1964-65 by Naniwa Koki and were acquired by Iyotetsu in 1979 and 1980. The cars are 11,700mm long, 2,430mm wide and 3,800mm. As the shortest current Tomytec chassis is 13mm, so it seems we will have a new tram chassis also next spring.

The cars vary in appearance. The Iyotetsu car has a rooftop air conditioner, and a below the dash headlight, whereas the Kyoto car predates air conditioning and has roof line headlights.

The Iyotetsu 2000s (2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006) remain active in Matsuyama on the city tram lines as can be seen on You Tube. You Tube video by Primera3232.

Tomix Wide Tram Track

The Tomix N gauge track line expanded on September 29, 2010 with the arrival of individual pieces of Tomix Wide Tram Rail at Japanese dealers. The two track sets had already been released about two weeks before. There are six different Fine Track Wide Tram packages available:

1790 Wide Tram Straight Track S70-WT (F) (Set of 2)
1791 Wide Tram Straight Track S140-WT (F) (Set of 2)
1795 Wide Tram Super-mini Curved Track C103-WT (F) (30/60 2 of each)
1796 Wide Tram Mini Curved Track C140-WT (F) (30/60 2 of each)
1797 Wide Tram Mini Curved Track C177-WT (F) (30/60 2 of each)
0113 Wide Tram Rail/Road General Joint (Set of 32)

The same joiner is used as with all other Tomix Fine Track pieces, so the tram track can be connected to any other piece of Tomix track.

There are 3 radius of curved track: 103mm, 140mm and 177mm. Two lengths of straight track are available: 70mm and 140mm. At this time there are no switches or crossovers. A solution is to continue using the Tomix 3076 or 3079 Tram Rail Accessories Kit to cover Mini-Rail switches and Fine Track crossovers. This may require some cutting and fitting.

So how does it look? The surface has a smooth gray finish. I find that the joints are more consistent and less noticeable. Each piece is 37mm wide and 6mm deep. A Tomix 5538 DC feeder is used for an under track power feed.

End view of a Wide Tram curved section.

The track center remains the Tomix 37mm standard.

The under side of a tram rail section.

Tram track snaps together giving largely seemless joints.

Tomix 91085 Wide Tram Super-Mini Rail Oval Layout Set

The long awaited Tomix Wide Tram Rail arrived in September. First on the scene were the two track packages. We will look at the 91085, aka Fine Track Wide Tram Super-mini Rail Set Oval Layout Set (Track Layout SA-WT).

Tomix Wide Tram Rail is tram track with the rail embedded in a 5mm thick ABS plastic base. Two lengths of straight track (70mm and 140mm) and three radius of curved track (102mm, 140mm, 177mm) are offered. The track center remains 37mm which would be prototypical for Japanese 1067mm gauge tram lines and many European 1000mm gauge tram lines.

Tomix 91085 Wide Tram Rail

The Tomix 91085 set gives you 6 pieces of C103-60-WT curved track, 2 pieces of S140-WT straight track, a Wide Slab DC feeder (under track) and eight connectors for holding double track together. With this you can build an oval with C103 curves

Underside of the Tomix Wide Tram Rail with the power connection in the center.

Assembling the track gives you a smooth, consistent asphalt-like surface. Using an under track feeder instead of the bulky 5534 DC feeder is a huge improvement. The tight C103 curves limit you to two axle or four axle trams but the up side is very tram like 90 degree corners. Remember the Toyama articulated cars are 4 axle units and the Toymec version is designed to run on C103 curves.

To add switches and 90 degree crossings you still need to use the Tomix 3076 or 3079 Tram Rail Accessories Kit and some cutting will probably be necessary.

In another post I will look at the individual straight and curved pieces of Wide Tram Rail.

The upside of Tomix Wide Tram Rail is a seamless running surface with under track power connection. The addition of switches and crossovers would be a nice addition. Time will tell.

Tomytec 062 Showa Apartment Building

Tomytec has recently released two modern Japanese style high rise buildings including the 062 Showa Apartment Building. As a Showa Era building it would date from 1926-1989 a period of Japanese history during the reign of Emperor Shōwa (Hirohito), from December 25, 1926 to January 7, 1989. This particular building would date from the later years of the Showa Era.

This is a style of building unique to Japanese cities as far as I can tell. Many of these buildings show up in tram videos along streets in Hiroshima and buildings of this general style also appear along private railway lines Tokyo.

Tomytec 062 Showa Era Apartment Building

The building itself is a six story structure with balconies or terraces at the front. There are two units per floor with a commercial unit on the ground floor. On floors 2 through 6 the units are entered from balconies at the back of the building that lead to doors on the brown elevator shaft. It appears buildings of this design do not have an internal corridor.

The kit is assembled in three sections each two stories high. The elevator shaft is already assembled and just needs the access shed added at the top. Most Tomytec structures can be assembled without glue using tabs. There are grooves and slots, but for this structure it was necessary to use a couple of drops of good old Humbrol Poly Cement to hold the structure together. Tabs are only used to lock the terraces in place. After gluing the main structure together, the individual balconies are then added. The whole structure was assembled in one night including time for the glue drying.

As this kit is assembled in sections it is possible to build this structure as a four story or six story building. This I believe is a first for a Tomytec Building Collection kit.

There is one unresolved issue. The elevator shaft has a tendency to list away from the main body of the building leaving a small gap that would be quite alarming in a real building. I have used double sided tape in an effort to correct this. I would like to use something less certain than the Humbrol Poly Cement in case I want to add interior details later.

The kit has provisions for lighting the structure, a separate rooftop billboard with sign applied and a decal sheet for applying signs to the commercial unit. And as a Tomytec Building Collection kit it is entirely pre-painted.

This apartment building is a long awaited and welcome addition to the Tomytec range of Japanese buildings.