箱庭登山鉄道 (Hakoniwa Tozan Tetsudou)

This is the first of my series on blogs and websites on the construction of small layouts. This is the main focus on this blog for now, so I thought kick off with some very high quality stuff here.

In my opinion, this layout is a superb example of what can be achieved in a small space. The layout is already quite finished by now and the author (tanaka_ace) has started constructing a module. It was one of the first I found on the internet when I was searching for inspiration, and what a find!

The Hakoniwa Tozan Tetsudou (箱庭登山鉄道) is obviously a reference to the Hakone Tozan Tetsudou (箱根登山鉄道) which runs from Hakone Yumoto (/Odawara) to Gōra. A railway with steep grades and switchback make a great base for a great little layout.

What is probably most interesting, is the approach to building in phases and modules. The author doesn't do everything in one go, but has decided to build every part in extreme detail. This of course involves quite some kitbashing (ex. 1 and 2), but also a great deal of scratch building (ex. 1, 2 and 3). Even some moulding! All buildings, street lights, lanterns, etc. are actually lighted (example of lights being built in and the modular systematic workings) and give the layout an amazing atmosphere. Personally, I really like it when the builder of a layout goes so far as to put lights in everything that should produce some amount of light. It gives a layout so much more suave.

Details, like the use of Japanese toothpicks as temporary catenary poles and the use of materials that not everybody thinks of when constructing a layout. Another example is the use of multi-coloured sponges for the famous hydrangea flowers that can be found along the original Hakone Tozan line. These are very good ideas that inspire me for future projects!

As for the operation and track plan, this layout is obviously a point-to-point operated layout, like it's big brother, with switchbacks and steep grades. Trackwork is mainly Tomix FineTrack, with a few flex tracks and modified track pieces. The size is a standard 900 x 600mm, like one sees very often with Japanese layouts.

So, why not take a look and judge for yourself at: http://tounosawa.exblog.jp/

This is a repost from 12.05.2010

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Beer of the post: Aecht Schenkerla Rauchbier (Smoked beer);

Location of consumption: Musiktruhe, Bonn Altstadt, Germany. One of my favourite and most visited bars in Bonn (Mostly thanks to the cosy bi-weekly get-together of Japanese exchange students, Japanologists of university and those interested. Sometimes even a teacher drops by);

Probably already one of my favourite beers. It's a dark brew (my favourite) with a nice full flavour and a special heavy smokey after taste. Whenever I'm in the Musiktruhe I just order a 'Schinkenbier', because of the distinctive after taste of smoked ham. One can only drink so much of it because of the strong flavour, so it's not a great beer to consume in large amounts. But that's okay with me. Thanks to that old-skool German phenomenon, the Rheinheitsgebot, this is an honest beer without any additives (which you find all to often in other beers), so when drinking it, it gives off a somewhat safe feeling that it doesn't produce a massive hangover the next day.

It certainly isn't everybody's to drink and enjoy. But then again, I tend to prefer the odd over the general taste.

Cheers!

Toni