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12th June, 2005 |
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CONTENTS
Other Pages
Index page of previous Product & DVD
RELEASE INFORMATION
NEWS |
EDITORIAL
This issue announces MicroAce's planned releases for November, and it's great news is you are a JR Kyushu fan !!! Along with the Kiha183-1000 sets due out next month, there are some really interesting trains in this part of Japan. May was also the first anniversary of this Newsletter - so thanks to all those that have been aboard from the start :-)) 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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10th June 2005 Bandai announced their 4th release in the 'Working vehicles' range for July - this will be 5 each of the 2 different large 3 axle delivery trucks as done in the 1st release, but all in different companies paint schemes. More details to follow ... Tomix have some nice pictures on their web page now, of the trucks in their 1st 'Truck Collection' series MicroAce announced their releases for November 2005, as follows .... A4950 701-100/1000 series EC 4+2 car set (Sendai area -
Silver with red/white/green stripes) - „19,800 Here is a small poster showing these items. Kawai will release 2 new freight cars in July ... KP223 Taki35000 Series bogie tank car x2 ('Japan Oil'
old colour scheme) - „2,500 9th June 2005 MicroAce's June releases will be on the 16th, as follows ... A5110 Osaka City 20 series EC 21 type 6 car set (Midousuji line) The other 4 DD15 & DD51 snow plough sets have been put back to July, and the EF510 and 115 sets have been put back to August. Greenmax announced 3 versions of the JR Hokkaido Kiha150 cars, for release in July. 4902 Kiha150-0 series DC (Furano line) - „7,500 7th June 2005 Kato announced the re-release in August of the following ... 10-423 313-3000 series EC 2 car set and new models ... 8046-1 Yo5000 series guards van 2nd June 2005 Kato announced the re-release in August of the 8 car 0 series Shinkansen set. 7th June 2005 Kato released the 2 car Wara1 & Tora45000 series FC sets. 1st June 2005 Modemo released the 'Meiji' advertising Enoden 1500 tram. June 2005 Kato 10-231 E231 series EC 8 car powered set (Tokaido line)
This is the Kato version of the new E231 trains that are gradually taking over the Tokaido line, running south of Tokyo. Tomix have had their version of the same train out for quite some time now. The train is usually always 15 cars from Tokyo, with 10 or 5 car sets continuing further depending on demand. This train had two double deck green cars. Special price for this month for this 4 car set will be A$499.00. The normal retail would be A$590.00 and the MSRP is A$680.00. If a 15 car set is too long for you, I may be able to do a deal on a 10 car set. Stocks of these monthly specials will be limited, and will be sold on a 'first paid - first allocated' basis and the separate sets are not available individually at these special prices. July 2005 - MicroAce Osaka subway Midosuji line
10 car set
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Railway Journal #465 (07/2005)
The major topic this month is 'Night Trains, a losing breed that never loses popularity', and articles includes trip reports on 'Akebono' and 'Hamanasu' and the JRW Sakai line. Also reviewed is the new N700 Shinkansen, the JRE E531 suburban set and the new 923-3000 Dr Yellow. A technical article covers the factors involved in the recent fatal Osaka derailment. Modemo NT47 Enoshima 1500 type 'Meiji Xylish'
Another item in what seems to be Modemo's quest to allow us to model the Enoden completely :-) This is a version of the 1500 2 car set with colourful advertising signs for Meiji confectionary. The car itself is a creamy yellow, with a different multi-coloured scene on each side. As this is pre-numbered as 1502/1552, all you have to add are the destination signs. There are also a couple of small details part that need to be added on the roof. Like all the Modemo tram models, a little black paint to hide the mechanism inside makes a lot of difference. The unit runs smoothly and quietly like all those previously released in this range. Tomix 92292 Kiha58 series DC 4 car set 'Sakyuu'
Another item in Tomix's ever-increasing range of colourful diesel car sets. This is the JR West 'Sakyuu', that runs from Okayama to Tottori. It is a 4 car set with a white body, and two different purple coloured stripes bordering a turquoise lower half. The set consists of 2x Kiha58 cars, 1x Kiha65 car, and 1x Kiroha28 green car. The green car is actually only half a green car, and is a new molding - even the interior is two different colours. As an item from their 'High Grade' series, this set has TN couplers as standard, as well as other details items to be fitted underneath. There is a radio antenna that can be mounted on the roof if you are modelling later years, and you have to take to the roof off and drill some locating holes to do this. The wheels on this set are blackened, and it runs smoothly and quietly. There are a choice of two different commerative headboards that can be attached to the front, as well as a number of destination signs. There is also a sheet of non-Tomix window blinds that can be attached to the doors.
Keiyo & Uchibo lines
Company : Teichiku Records Keiyo & Sotobo lines
Company : Teichiku Records I am reviewing both of these items together, as they really go together as a set. This pair gives anyone the chance to take a trip nearly all the way around the Boso Peninsular, only missing out on the small section between Awa-Kamogawa and Tateyama. Both items are basically the same format, so I will review them together. The E257 sets were first introduced on the Chuo line to replace aging 183/189 sets, and in late 2004 extra sets were built for the express services on the above two lines, also replacing 183 sets. They are made up of 5 car sets, that can be coupled together if needed. Both of these express services run from Tokyo station using the Keiyo line as far as Soga, where the Uchibo line goes around the western side of the peninsular, and the Sotobo line goes across to the eastern side. 'uchi' actually means 'inside' and 'soto' means 'outside'. Whilst you do not get much of a view of the sea, you do get a look at what it is like in the more rural coastal areas of Japan, and the way the landscape gradually shifts to big-city Tokyo. After a short introduction showing the seaside scenery and trains run-bys, we get a menu of 4 items ...
'Sazanami #7' - this trip was done on 30/11/2004
leaving Tokyo at 11:30am. While some people think that cab-view videos are boring, it can't be the case in Japan, as they are the most popular format of train video, and in my case it gives me a view that I would not get unless I had the time to take a ride on that line, AND hold a camera continuously taking professional quality footage !!! |
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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.