Just back from Japan, two weeks with kids chasing/riding Shinkansen up and down the country… the 500 series is even more spectacular in the flesh than the photos suggest. Came home with a bunch of N scale models.
As regards high-speed trains in O Scale, Kumata are the people to talk to. But it's very much a case of 'if you have to ask the price you can't afford it': a four car starter set of the 500 series retails for over US $8,000:
http://www.kmt.co.jp/en/models/500/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
They do some other Euro high-speed stuff; scroll to the bottom of the above page.
Yes, I'm looking for the Tenshodo Series 500 in HO. Any offers for sale, or leads, please get in touch!
Couple of teaser pics:
That's the E5 series 'Hayabusa'. 200mph cruise.
And these 500 series are what they use for the slow, stops all stations service. Restricted to only 175mph. Not to be unpatriotic but… they must take one look at Acela and fall around laughing…
(Oh and in 40 years and 7 billion passengers the Shinkansens have had ONE derailment (due to an earthquake!), and NO passenger fatalities or serious injuries. Fastest average speed between stops: 162MPH. On-time performance? Average delay 16 seconds...)
Mike
http://www.corestore.org
'As I walk along these shores
I am the history within'