Plarail Sets That Could Have Been Better

Mister No

The days of big and fancy Plarail sets are obviously long gone, but even these days there are still some interesting ones on offer. For example, I liked this big bridge from the Hokuriku Shinkansen set. I’m not a big fan of bullet trains (neither real nor model), with some exceptions, but the bridge is only available in this set, so…

The question arises whether some sets could have been better. Was it a missed opportunity to offer a really high-quality and interesting set? I think this is one of those.

First: the train. This shinkansen in “ES” quality is really crappy. It looks cheap; the middle car is too short, but the worst thing is that almost all the train design is actually transferred to the buyer to complete. With a bunch of included stickers, of course. Everything is stickers: lines along the entire train, even the headlights. I gave up on these stickers because it’s too much. Fun fact: Tomy produces a normal version of this train, but they put this ES semi-finished product in the set. Why? (Are there any other “ES” sets?)

The bridge is really nice and massive and will look good on any layout. In addition, it is possible to combine it with other elements and sets, which is fine. I’ve used that bridge in many of my videos. But when you look at it closely, its main flaw is immediately visible: the arrangement of electrical masts (overhead line equipment) on both sides of the track suggests that it should be a double-track bridge. But it is not. (Plarail rail & scenery elements are rarely made for double-track lines.)

The station should also be covered with large and small stickers, but considering its appearance and size, it is unlikely that this would improve anything. The station is half the length of a straight track, but it is also only half of a half of the station. On the back side, you can see the holes that testify that, if another such station were placed behind this one, perhaps a station of at least adequate width would be obtained, although it would still be much too short. As it is, this station would definitely win the competition for the most miserable Plarail station.

So, a set that, with just a little effort, could and should have been better, but it wasn’t. Does anyone else have similar experiences with some Plarail sets?

Super

Oh I completely agree. Another set that quickly comes to mind (which there are several) but is in the Pros & Con category.
The Plarail You Drive! Grip Controller Speed Yellow DX Set Train (shown below). Pros are, a fantastic RC train with controller, the Red Shed and the 4 Elevated Rail Piers, A combo Pro/Con is the flat half side Station (like you alluded to in the above set) a Con, but the Pro is that it is longer and can accommodate the whole train for passengers to get off and on a Pro. Not sure if that station comes apart so it could be place back to back though. The long station doesn’t need a Stop&Go rail because the remote control can stop and start the train itself. Another Con is the Flat sided green trees.

Something I personally would have liked on your set above is the ability to connect Tomy/Plarail Road Tracks if one so desired to be able to run Motorize Vehicles on both sides of that elevated bridge. I also like that the Dark Gray Piers (6???) come in the set also. Neat video Mr No, without these one would have no idea what some of these sets come with.

Like you, I am sure there are more…what say the BPT’s membership…Do you know of any sets that meet this criteria?

Mister No

Good example, Super! The station in that DX set could, I think, be the same one from the Hokuriku set, except you get 6 of them, so they are the right length (= 3 straight tracks). That raises the question of why they only put that one half of the station in Hokuriku?

I would add to your description the special switch/crossing (the one next to the red shed), which is not sold as a separate element, as far as I know. I don’t have that element and I even thought about buying this set because of it and, of course, the controller (and other things you listed)…

I also believe that it is an OK chassis (one that can be put in many other Plarail locomotives), so the controller can be used to control other trains, if someone (like me) doesn’t like the train that comes with this set. By the way, flat sided trees are halves that can be connected, so they look better.

Super

There is an almost exact set with the exact crossover double rail in in ‘Plarail You Drive! Grip Master Controller E5 Series Shinkansen Hayabusa DX Set’

You are right about the chassis swaps on those RC engines. I had bought the E5 that just came with the train and controller just so I could swap out the chassis. I then sold the train with a regular chassis. There is also another RC with just the train and controller for others who are interested. Don’t know if there are any more.

Mister No

It should also be noted that the E5 set does not have the new R-29 S-shaped track (maybe it hasn’t been invented yet), while the one with the yellow bullet train has two such tracks…

Super

Good eye Mr No, I completely missed those.

Super

Mister No, did you have any troubles with the DD51 tandem running in the video or does it have your added weights?

Mister No

I didn’t have any major problems. The second locomotive, although it has extra weight in it (a few coins), if you look closely, at 1:56 still lifts off the track slightly…

Super

Oh yes, now I see it. I don’t know if it would make a difference (maybe not) or that I changed them because of some problem. But on all my DD51’s and DE10’s I replace the extra long rear couplers that come with both units with regular length couplers because I didn’t like the longer space between the two engines or any rolling stock being pulled and have found no problems. Wonder if that makes any difference for you? I would think that the same thing would happen if you removed the Dummy engine and replaced it with an Express Coach as I think that the wheel base and weight would be similar. In fact, I just weighed them and the Dummy engine comes in at 2.0 oz and an express Coach at 1.6 oz, strange as my undeveloped mind would tell me that the lighter one would have more trouble with navigating the tight circumference of those U-Turns.

chrisjo

Super I replace the extra long rear couplers……

It has to make a difference. Just imagine for a moment what would happen to a 2-car going around a u-bend if the connection between them were 4″ / 100mm long. I’m not sure that in the case of long vs. short coupler the difference would be significant though.

The effect of adding weight to the second car is less intuitive. My feeling is that adding it above the coupling axis is likely to make things worse, just as having it below the coupling axis will make it better. If it’s more-or-less the same height above the track as the coupling, i.e. on the chassis bed, then it will probably help keep the trailing car on the rails, but too much will tend to make the leading powered car less stable.

Someone who can remember their school physics lessons better than me might be useful in this case - I might ask my son.

Mister No

You know, changing the coupler crossed my mind (it seemed to me that a longer coupler should be added to avoid leaning the second engine in tight turns), but when I solved the problem (almost completely) by adding extra weight to the second engine, I gave up. Maybe I’ll try next time. 😊

Super

chrisjo remember their school physics lessons

LOL…I manged to finagle my way out of any Physics, Algebra, trigonometry, science, biology, classes my whole time in high school. I managed to only take the class that I was interested in and that was called ‘Shop Math 1 & 2’ 😁 I would be interested in hearing more though.