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10th May, 2005 |
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CONTENTS
Other Pages
Index page of previous Product & DVD
RELEASE INFORMATION
NEWS |
EDITORIAL
Firstly it has been a very quiet couple of weeks, with most Japanese companies on holiday for 'Golden Week'. However now they are back, we have lots of changes to Kato's release schedule, and don't forget that you can look at the Release pages any time by following the links on the left. They may get updated more often than the newsletter, and the date on each page shows how recent the changes are. The most recent changes have the catalog number in RED. I have been nominated as a notorious Japanese train fan for a magazine article in a Japanese computer magazine, whereby they highlight a person who has a serious interest in something Japanese, although they are not a Japanese person. You have to answer 100 questions, and the article will be in the July issue of 'Windows100%' magazine!!! If you have any comments about this service, and would like to make suggestions as to what you do or do not want to see included, please free free to let us know. If you are paying for something, we would like to know that you are 100% happy with what you are getting, and that it is fulfilling your needs. Please write to the Japanese Model Train News Yahoo! discussion group with any comments you may have. This newsletter is available by subscription, unless you are a customer of 'Japanese Model Supplies'. Normal rate is US$1.00 per month, payable 12 months at a time in advance. The 12 month subscription period will be from June to May inclusive. We hope to supply at least one issue per week, more if there is more news. We believe this amount is good value, and very modest for the amount of information you will receive - it represents (per month) a lot less than just 1 coffee at a 'trendy' cafe (eg Starbucks), or a burger & fries at a family restaurant (eg McDonalds). Please do not reveal the page addresses to non- members. If they want to see it, they are free to take out a subscription like every one else. Also please note that the contents of this publication are
copyright, and may not be reproduced without permission. |
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May 2005
Tomix 92292 Kiha58 series DC 4 car set 'Sakyuu' This is another in Tomix's release of multi-coloured Diesel car sets. It has two Kiha58's, a Kiha65 and a Kiro28 (a different green car version to previous releases). This is a 'High Grade' model and as such is fitted with TN couplers as standard, as well as other extra detail items. It is run by JR West on the Inbi and Tsuyama lines between Okayama and Tottori, and is an attractive white and turquoise colour with violet & mauve stripes. The green car has a series of diagonals with mixture of colours. Special price for this month for this 4 car set will be A$245.00. The normal retail would be A$295.00 and the MSRP is A$335.00. Stocks of these monthly specials will be limited, and will be sold on a 'first paid - first allocated' basis.
June 2005 - MicroAce Osaka subway Midosuji line 10 car set 
?? days to release :-) 9th May 2005 MicroAce will release the following in May ... 10th May 2005 16th May 2005 8th May 2005 Rumours are that Kato will re-release the E231-500 series EC Yamanote line cars in a 5 car set and a 6 car add-on in August. It seemed stupid to release them all as single cars the first time anyway !!! 5th May 2005 There have been many changes to Kato's release schedules. Due out on the 10th is the re-release of the M250 Super
rail Cargo sets, and the first two in the new Diotown figure sets
(shoppers and people in park). 2nd May 2005 Here is a better poster of the new Tomy 'Truck Collection' series #1, due out in July.
9th May 2005 Kato re-released the Diotown city tree set. This set is also suitable for the Diotown Park set. 28th April 2005 Greenmax released the 3 car add-on set for the Meitetsu 2000 series Nagoya Airport train. 27th April 2005 Tomix released the following .... 92293 455 series EC 3 car set (Tohoku area) Kato released the 'Green Snake' EF58 and passenger sets ... 3048 EF58 series EL with large windows (Green/Yellow
stripe) 25th April 2005 Kato released the Thalys TGV set ... as one of the few (2 actually) non-Japanese N scale trains I own, I managed to get one of these, so even though it is not Japanese, if anyone wants a review, please ask ....
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Railway Journal 06/2005
Once again we have a cover with the Odakyu 50000 VSE on it !!!! The main topic this month is "The role of rail transport in domestic tourism and examples of tourist transportation". The main article covers a journey on the new Odakyu train, as well as describing the train and its features. Also included is the trains used in the Kinki region north of Osaka and Kyoto, as well as a feature on the Izukyu Railway and it's rolling stock. Tomix 92293 455 series EC 3 car set (Tohoku area)
The 455 series was very active in the Sendai area until recently and they were affectionately called the 'Green Liner'. Many sets were refurbished with sealed beam headlights, so in these sets the main set has normal round headlights, whereas the add-on set has the twin sealed beam lights. This is a 'High Grade' model and as such is fitted with TN couplers as standard, as well as other extra detail items. You have a choice of 3 different combinations of antennas and whistles, and 4 different vent covers on the front. The detail around the pantographs is excellent. There is a sheet of rub-on car numbers, as well as a sheet of destination stickers. The wheelsets are blackened and the power car runs smoothly and quietly. The headlights on each cab car can be switched on or off. The main set comes in a 6 car box, so you can fit the add-on set in the same carry case. |
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(ADVERTISING) This information service is sponsored by ... Japanese Model Supplies o New and second-hand Japanese trains As mentioned above, this service is sponsored by 'Japanese Model Supplies', the only Japanese-only model train and other hobby item supplier in the world, outside of Japan. Other suppliers have recently been broadening their ranges, and supply other things like computer games, and Chinese & European trains - 'Japanese Model Supplies' will always stay with Japanese-only products. It is often difficult to source these type of items and get accurate and timely information in English, when you do not live in Japan, cannot read Japanese web pages or do not have any contacts there. We have the facilities to access this information and these products, and whilst based in Australia, currently supply customers all over the world, including Australia, New Zealand, England, Scotland, Ireland, France, Germany, Holland, Belgium, Italy, Sweden, Switzerland, Israel, South Africa, Canada and the USA. Therefore you will find that the items you see presented are not just 'fantasy' items that get released in Japan and you have no way of acquiring them - 'Japanese Model Supplies' CAN get these items, and CAN ship them to anywhere in the world (unlike some other retailers of Japanese model trains, who refuse to ship to the USA etc) !!! See their web page at the address listed above for all the information on what has been
produced and how to get it. If you are in Japan, and visit the Osaka area, I recommend you take the time to visit "Railcraft Awaza". They have a large range of products available, together with friendly advice and service (but only in Japanese). Some photos on this site are taken by them and appear with their permission. For details of their shop location, see their web page at ... |
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Abbreviation |
Explanation |
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TEC |
Shinkansen (Bullet train) |
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EC |
Electric car (EMU) |
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DC |
Diesel car (DMU) |
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PC |
Passenger car |
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FC |
Freight car |
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SL |
Steam loco |
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EL |
Electric loco |
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DL |
Diesel loco |
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Page contents copyright 2005 - Doug Coster
Photos copyright of the respective manufacturers & Railcraft Awaza Osaka.