Japan's Micro Apartments

A friend of mine posted something about a small apartment here in the US with hidden storage, closet space and loft bed among other items to make the small space livable.

I love these little spaces with cool space-saving designs. I also love the buildings themselves - modern and interesting. I might have to scratch build some for Shizuka. I made an effort at one point, but just didn't put the time in on it that was needed to make it work properly. I'll give it a go again now that I have a little more patience with the build process.

Nagoro: Valley of the Dolls

Whoa....

A woman in a remote part of Japan makes life-sized dolls and poses them around the remote village she lives in. 37 residents. Over 300 dolls. :::shiver:::   :) 

"Ayano Tsukimi (64) is living in Nagoro, a village in eastern Iya on Shikoku, one of the four main islands of Japan. Not many people are still living there. For those who die or move away, Ayano Tsukimi is making lifesized dolls in their liking and puts them in places that were important to them. The dolls are scattered around the whole valley.

She is married, but her husband and daughter are living away from her in Osaka. She's living alone with her 83 year old father in the house of her family."

VIDEO

Valley of Dolls from Fritz Schumann on Vimeo.

Rios Tam Interview

Hong Kong resident and model railroader Rios Tam was nice enough to meet with me via WebEx to talk trains. I was meeting very early and Rios was meeting late in the day, so please forgive my sleepy tone at times. I really needed to be on my second cup of coffee instead of my first. :)

Rios has been into the hobby for a relatively short time, but he and his girlfriend have made some major progress on their main layout - the third for them.

I've put together some supporting graphics to go along with the audio portion, but I've also included a simple version of the audio file in case you would like to listen via iPhone, iPod or other MP3 players.    The MP3 can be found here.

There are also additional links that Rios provided below.

http://www.youtube.com/user/riostam

http://rios.co/

http://instagram.com/riostam#

Enjoy!

Little Display Layout

http://rios.co/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/rioswing_staticlayout1_02.jpg

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Links : http://rios.in/KWpoxj

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http://rios.co/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/rioswing_static2_fishing_04.jpg

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Links : http://rios.in/LEv8Bg

First Mini Layout with KATO CV1 + Tomix Bus Running system

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Second Mini Layout with Tomix R150 + Tomix Bus Running system

http://rios.co/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/rioswing_citylayout_027.jpg

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Links : http://rios.in/YjdAf4

Z Scale Display layout

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Links : http://rios.in/ZUfGXy

My Main Layout Track Plan

http://rios.co/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/200x100_3.jpg

DIY Optical Fiber Railroad Cross

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Links : http://rios.in/Q0JpsX

DIY Wooden Bridge

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Links : http://rios.in/WYJ0pD

Layout Overhead Lighting System

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Links : http://rios.in/WD2ZJ7

Layout Cover System

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Links : http://rios.in/WVrQYU

Buildings LED lighting System

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http://rios.co/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/rioswing_biglayout_jul_24.jpg

http://rios.co/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/rioswing_biglayout_jul_25.jpg

Links : http://rios.in/XNTlGS

Layout Backdrop

http://rios.co/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/rioswing_static_layout2_car_11.jpg

http://rios.co/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/rioswing_static2_fishing_02.jpg

http://rios.co/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/rioswing_modeltrain_background_01.jpg

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Links : http://rios.in/TW2908

DIY Optical Fiber Signal Light

Video : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiKYC5oNo30

http://rios.co/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/rioswing_diy_trafficlight_01.jpg

http://rios.co/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/rioswing_diy_zeon_char_train_11.jpg

Links : http://rios.in/134EMCM

Modular Layout 1

http://rios.co/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/rioswing_snowlayout1_08.jpg

http://rios.co/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/rioswing_snowlayout1_38.jpg

Links : http://rios.in/15A1h3h , http://rios.in/13ESHNr

Modular Layout 2

http://rios.co/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/rioswing_modularlayout_floatice_01.jpg

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Link : http://rios.in/13JuJ3A , http://rios.in/1cxcFlL

Method on Storing the Modular Layout

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Display CD Rack Layout

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Link : http://rios.in/1fFiRLb , http://rios.in/19tY7lZ

Dust preventing system for the CD Rack

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Using Transparent Plastic sheet and fixed with a Strong Magnet.