0:03 / 13:37 Model Train Making Process. A 73-year-old Japanese artisan crafting model trains for decades.

[Mike C]

I just watched this video.

 

[Ace-Garageguy]

Thanks for posting that.

For those not familiar with the model railroad hobby, shortly after WW II, Japanese craftsmen became the world leaders in producing exquisite brass locomotives at a time when "Made in Japan" had the same negative connotations as "Made in China" has today.

Companies like Pacific Fast Mail imported brass locos and later cars and accessories into the US, at costs that were high relative to the crudely cast metal and later plastic American offerings, but were staggeringly cheap for the quality.

Although quality was generally quite high, it could be inconsistent (and early Japanese electric motors and drivelines weren't always the smoothest). But overall the Japanese products rivalled the best that top-tier American scratchbuilders were turning out, and over time the drives improved drastically.

Later on, many Japanese brass models incorporated beautiful brass lost-wax detail castings from US companies like Kemtron, Cal Scale, and others.

Today, Japanese craftsmen continue to turn out some of the world's best brass railroad models, they have been joined by several Korean firms, and vintage Japanese brass railroad models are expensive and very collectible.

https://brasstrains.com/Classic/Trains/Scales/HO-Scale?showsold=True&page=8

Edited September 24, 2024 by Ace-Garageguy
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

[Brian Austin]

Brass model production moved to Korea, which I don't believe has a model railroad hobby market of its own.

Edited September 24, 2024 by Brian Austin

[Brian Austin]

I posted a similar video in the spring but it's slightly different.  The artisan speaks (with subtitles) about his craft.  The one posted above is longer, and you get to see the equalizing links in action.  Pretty neat.

 

 

Edited September 24, 2024 by Brian Austin

[Ace-Garageguy]

Asian-made brass locomotives: a whole lot of info in one place.

https://www.steamlocomotive.com/model/HO-data.php?data=brass

[Brian Austin]

Fun site to browse through painted and unpainted brass.

https://www.brasstrains.com/Classic/Trains/Scales/O-Scale?showsold=True

[Brian Austin]

And another seller

https://resourcedrails.com/collections/brass-models

[Ace-Garageguy]

12 minutes ago, Brian Austin said:

And another seller

https://resourcedrails.com/collections/brass-models

Good site. But beware. There has been a spoofed site using the same name listing vintage train stuff at prices "too good to be true".

They take your money and your card info, never ship anything, and try to buy stuff on your card.

I haven't checked lately, so they may be history, but I posted a warning here when I almost got suckered on an A-B-A set of custom painted brass Alco PA/PB locomotives.

[Brian Austin]

You can still get etched brass kits made in Japan.

https://universe777.thebase.in/items/77829924

[Brian Austin]

I was unaware of the potential problems with Resourced Rails.  Thanks for the heads up.

Ordering from brasstrains looks tempting, but so far I haven't found anything in my budget range.  ?

[Brian Austin]

Some more etched brass kits (1:80 scale on HO track) by World Kogei.

Steeplecab electric

https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10697567

Much smaller steeplecab 

https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10814717

[Brian Austin]

Now to circle this thread back around to the beginning, here's the website for the artisan profiled in the videos.

https://inamimodel.jimdofree.com/

Not much in the way of pictures, unfortunately.

Edited September 25, 2024 by Brian Austin