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9th July, 2005 |
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CONTENTS
Other Pages
Index page of previous Product & DVD
RELEASE INFORMATION
NEWS |
EDITORIAL
There have been many release date changes recently - please check
the 'Release Information News' pages for details. Also the full
details of the Tomix E4 MAX Shinkansen models have been announced -
see the 'Latest Release News' section for details. 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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9th July 2005 Here are picture of the items in the 4th release of Bandai's 'Working Vehicle' series. Isuzu Giga FX2
from top-> bottom L-> R Hino Profia 6x2 Cargo
from top-> bottom L-> R 6th July 2005 Kato gave the dates of release for the following new items... 12th July 2005 - EF64-37 series EL (brown) Many other items have had release dates changed - see the 'Latest Release News' section for full details - however the main ones are .. 485 series EC 'bonnet' sets & EH500 series EL (3rd
type) back to September. They also announced the release of the following new items ... August 2005 September 2005 November 2005 They will also re-release the following ... September 2005 Tomix announced the details of the long-awaited
E4MAX Shinkansen sets. Release date is still scheduled for November 2005. There a different FOUR sets - don't ask me why it is done this way !!! Tomix also announced the re-release of the following ... 115-1000 series EC 4 car set Some other items have had their release date changed - see the 'Latest Release News' section for full details - however the main ones are .. 24.25 series PC 'Hokutosei' sets and individual cars back to August, and the 200, 300, 400 & E3 series TEC sets back to September. 7th July 2005 Kawai surprised us with 2 unannounced freight car releases. KP222 is a set of 2 Hoki5700 Series bogie covered cement hoppers (Onoda).
KP255 is a set of 4 Taki35000 Series bogie tank cars (NRS).
Kato News #96 was released.
5th July 2005 Kato released the next series of Diotown figures. 24-232 is a set of policemen and 'lost' travellers.
24-233 is a set of 2 postmen on bikes and a small postvan.
30th June 2005 Tomix released the EF81 series EL (JRKyushu) ...
and EF81 series EC 2 car set (JR Freight).
Kato re-released the 24.25 series Blue train sets and individual cars - 10-067, 10-068, 5021-3, 5022-3, 5023-5. 29th June 2005 Tomix released the 4 car bonnet type 485 series EC set, as well as the previously released 485 individual cars.
Modemo released the Hakone Tozan Moha2 series 2 car set.
Tomix re-released the 2146 EF210-100 series EC. 28th June 2005 Kato released the Kiha82 series DC set - this has a flywheel drive and is DCC 'friendly' !!!
27th June 2005 Tomix re-released the 2771 So80 yellow crane car set Kato re-released the 10-251 7 car Yamanote line 205 EC set.
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Railfan 08/2005 (#532)
This is a super issue if you are a Shinkansen fan !!! The main article is on the Nozomi services, and covers the changes from the introduction of the first 300 sets until now. it is interesting to see how that service has gone from 1 per hour to 8 per hour (now more than all the Kodama & Hikari services added together). Then there is a photo essay on the line all the way from Tokyo to Hakata, as well as details of all the rolling stock used on this service. Also there is an article on the current 4 & 56 car 100 sets, and how they were made up from the original 16 car sets. Another interesting article covers the Tsukuba Railway, which opens in August, as well as the many & varied colour schemes used by Tokyo's private railway companies. Kato 10-238 Fuji Kyuko Railway 'Fujisan Express'
This train was originally the JR East 165 series EC 'Panorama Express Alps' Joyful train and when it was retired it was bought by the Fuji Kyuko Railway, a short private company to the north west of Tokyo. However Kato have not just repainted their original release - there are some body changes as well !!! The set is made up of 2x three car sets and both are powered !!! It seem that the Fujikyu does not run this as a 6 car set - this also means that Kato have not put working couplers on the end cars. The cars are white, with around 100 (yes 100) DIFFERENT cartoon figures of Mt Fuji, all blue with white tops and red mouths. The two powered cars run very smoothly and quietly, however the reversing head/tail lights are not very bright. The wheels are blackened. There is a couple of small parts to attach to the roof, as well as a sheet of destination and car number stickers. Certainly a brilliant and eye-catching colour scheme, and a head-turner on any layout !!! Tokyo's Colorful Trains
Company : Highball Productions Readers in another group may have already heard about this new release, so sorry if this is old news. This is footage of various trains around Tokyo in early 2005, taken by an American guy who does videos of trains in the US, and has recently ventured overseas to broaden his market. With such an enticing title, it is shame the cover does not match the name !!! At first the disk gives you options to play all, or go to the menu. The menu has 9 items, relating to the locations covered. However the chapters on the disk are as follows ...
Picture quality is good, with very little camera movement evident except for on the train ride. The sound is variable, with a lot of background and (wind?) rumble. There is some commentary identifying a few of the trains and their locations. In some locations you see the same trains coming and going too many times, when a variety of different trains would have been nicer. Also the close angle of shots taken of trains passing a platform can be disconcerting. The pronunciation of many place or train names is wrong, and even some of the screen titles and information given about the trains is wrong. As one of the very few (if not the first) Japanese rail titles in English, this could have been a real winner, but in my personal opinion, there are too many negatives. However if you are interested in what the rail system is like in the Tokyo area, and haven't been there before, this would be an interesting & useful video for you. July 2005 Tomix 100 series Shinkansen 16 car set
I am clearing out older stocks before the release of the newer models next month, so it gives YOU a chance to pick up a bargain !!! This is a 92624 (not available any more) 7 car set + the individual cars to make up a full 16 car train in the correct configuration for a 'G' set with restaurant car. As a 'demonstration' set, the roof details and car numbers have been applied, otherwise this set is as-new. As well as the one in the set, one of the individual car is also powered, so there is enough power to pull the full train on any layout. If you have the space to run a full 16 car Bullet train, this set is a great way to add to your fleet at a huge saving over original cost !!! Special price for this month for this 16 car set will be A$450.00. The normal retail would be A$650.00 and the MSRP is A$750.00. 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. |
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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.