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The N Scale Origin Story 2: MicroAce EF64
Technically, this wasn’t chronologically next in line. But since this was all very close together in 2012, I thought I should stick to the locomotives today and next time I will talk about the very first EMU purchase I made. That one is a proper mystery rollercoaster of a tale, so that will be number 3.
Rather pleased with the experience of the EF81 by Tomix, it was joined (after the very brief EMU ownership, more details tomorrow) by a book set of 20 series sleeper coaches. Those in the know will see that it was not the correct era by any stretch, but I was new and learning all the time about the trains as they appeared on my shelf. It was a wild experimental time as far as these vehicles went and so far so good.
But I felt very quickly that I needed to add to the loco roster for a bit of a change up. In this time I had a good couple of options for shops to look through, so it was the time to go to store #2. The trains were upstairs and mostly consisted of OO scale British. So it was a very dangerous time as far as things went.
I noted that the very limited N scale did have a pair of locos by a company called MicroAce. Now as I mentioned in the first part, I had no prior experience with Tomix but at least I knew that because the mega corporation Tomy were behind it I could at least confidently try it. MicroAce was a complete unknown however, so this was a bit of a dive into a new territory.
Now these were a pair of EF64s numbered 37 and 42. The nature of MA production means that each release has all the numbers and details set as is and have a limited production run. I noted later on that MA are a very good brand if you want that strange one-off type that Tomix and Kato may not make. Parts outside of Japan are not the easiest to locate, luckily I have again not required any as yet for these two. 42 was purchased first and then 37 as once again the running was near faultless. Not as refined or maybe as quiet, but the difference was very much negligible to the EF81.
These pretty much shared passenger and freight duties between them and have helped my house have a Christmas tree railway as well. I have now passed 42 ownership to my partner, who insisted I should not buy anymore trains… unless she got one next. Only too happy to oblige there!
If there was a ranked league table of Japanese manufacturers, I would put MicroAce at a very close third. Sometimes the detail does look a little bland and doesn’t seem to be quite the right proportion. The parts availability does worry me, which has meant one EH10 is now only on one power unit. So far I am still very happy to purchase them though, the EF64s really led the way to helping their cause.
Tomorrow, I tell the tale of the EMU and… well, it’s a doozy.
