Vol. 2 - No. 22

8th November, 2005

   
 CONTENTS

LATEST RELEASE NEWS

NOW AVAILABLE

LATEST PUBLICATIONS

PRODUCT REVIEWS

DVD REVIEWS

Other Pages

Index page of previous Product & DVD
reviews & Newsletter Back issues

RELEASE INFORMATION NEWS 
Tomix
Kato
MicroAce
Greenmax
Modemo
Others

 EDITORIAL

Well, this is the month that the long-awaited Tomix E4 MAX Shinkansen sets have been scheduled to be released - personally I can't wait and I have ordered 3 sets !!! 2 will run together, and the other one will run with a 400 series Tsubasa set.

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.


***** from TOMIX *****

23 days to release :-)

Latest Release News

7th November 2005

Kawai announced two new freight car sets for release this month, that we will all love !!!

KP256A Hoki9800 Series bogie tank car x4 (Kirin Beer - Yokohama)
KP256B Hoki9800 Series bogie tank car x4 (Kirin Beer - Kobe)

4th November 2005

Modemo announced another version of the Enoshima 300 series tram, a NT52 version of 305/355 with single headlamp.

2nd November 2005

Tomix announced their releases for the next couple of months ...

November 2005 ...
92768 Odakyu 50000 VSE series EC 10 car set
E4 MAX TEC sets
EF510 series EL (2 types)
2759 Koki 200 series FC
92240 EF81 series Ll + Twilight Express PC set
2619 Hakone Tozan 100 series EC
50 series PC's

December 2005 ...
92941 Kiha181 series DC 3 car set 'Sayonara Isokaze'
92273 JNR 485-300 series EC 6 car set
92263 EF210 series EL container wagon set
92080 EF65 series El Blue Train set
92234 DE10 series DL freight car set
92268 E2-100 series 3 car set 'Hayate'
115-1000 series cars
Kiha28/58/65 series DC's
92260 E231-500 series EC 3 car set
92150 E231-1000 series EC addon set B
2101 EF65-1100 series EC
Koki104/50000 series FC's

January 2006 ...
92934 DE10 series DL special edition container wagon set
92942 Sanriku 26 series DC 2 car set 'Sanriku Shikaze'
2218 DD51 series DL JR Freight
2702 JNR Yo8000 series FC

1st November 2005

Kato announced their releases for the coming months ...

mid November 2005
7008-3 DD51 series DL (warm type).
10-276 700 series TEC 4 car set.
10-277 700 series TEC 4 car addon set.

late November 2005
10-260 EF58 EL 4 car Anniversary set
8030 Wafu29500 series FC
8034 Wamu480000 series FC 2 car set
8042 Koki200 series Container wagon with 2x UT11C tank containers

early December 2005
7009 DF50 series DL

late December 2005
10-253 101 series EC 10 car set Anniversary set
201 series ECs (Chuo line)
183-1000 series EC main & addon sets

January 2006
7008-2 DD51 series DL 'Hokutosei' version
7008-4 DD51 series DL JR Freight variation 'A'
Kiha20/25/26 series DCs
10-498 731 series EC 3 car set (JR Hokkaido)
10-499 Kiha201 series DC 3 car set (JR Hokkaido)

February 2006
6043 Kiha110-100 series DC (powered)
6044 Kiha110-100 series DC (non-powered)
10-347 Kiha111/112 series DC 2 car set
10-267 209-500 series EC 6 car set (Keihin Tohoku line)
10-268 209-500 series EC 4 car addon (Keihin Tohoku line)
Waste of time really, as Tomix already released this model earlier this year, and MicroAce have had their version out for years !!!

24th October 2005

MicroAce announced their tentative releases for April 2006 ...

A0351 115-3000 series EC 4 car set (Setouchi colour - Cream with blue stripes)
A0358 115-3000 series EC 4 car non-powered set 
A0460 115-300/3500 series EC 4 car set (Shonan colour - Green / orange)
A0464 115-300/3500 series EC 4 car non-powered set 
A0453 117-0/100 series EC 4 car set (old JR Central colour - Cream with orange stripes)
A0456 117-0/200 series 4 car non-powered set 
A0454 117-0/100 series EC 4 car set (new JR Central colour - Cream with orange stripe)
A0457 117-0/200 series 4 car non-powered set 
A1560 EF57-5 series EL + 10/43 series PC 7 car set (Kakkoda)
A1561 10/43 series PC 4 car addon (Hakkoda)
A1562 EF58-136 series EL + 10/43 series PC 7 car (Chokai) 
A1563 EF16-27 series EL + 10/43 series PC 6 car addon (Chokai)

(back to top of page)


Now Available

8th November 2005

Kato released the 7008-1 DD51 series DL (cold type).

4th November 2005

Kato re-released the 8018-2 Ku5000 car carriers with 6 cars, the 8025 Wara1 2 car set and the two (red & orange) Eizan 900 series 'Kirara' sets.

31st October 2005

Kato (Roundhouse) released the multi-coloured Senseki line 205-3100 series EC 4 car set with 2-way seating.

28th October 2005

Tomix released the Kiha130 DC set.

27th October 2005

Kato released the Saikyo line 205 series EC 10 car sets with 2x 6 door cars, and the supplementary 2x 6 door car packs.


26th October 2005

Tomix released the Odakyu 10000HiSE series EC 11 car set, and 'The Bus Collection' #7.

25th October 2005

Kato re-released the 3019-5 EF65 EL.

24th October 2005

Tomix re-released the 2132 JR East version of the EF81 EL, and the Taki5450 tank car.

(back to top of page)

Latest Publications

M-Train 

Another new magazine from Ikaros - this is #1, but there is no indication of the frequency ie when #2 will be out. I suspect at least quarterly. The "M" in the title is based on the Japanese word for the title (mintetsudo) which is one way of saying "private railway". So this means the magazine has no JR stuff at all in it. There is a real mixture of small articles about many different lines and there are many pictures on each page - about 1/4 of them are colour. Highlights include pictures and details of every train (Keikyu and others) leaving Shinagawa between 10 & 12 one morning (nearly 40 !!!), and a database of all the 'big 16', 3rd sector and other smaller companies and details of all the expresses used on private lines.


(back to top of page)

Product Reviews

Kato Diotown Old Type Commercial Buildings (pt 1)

(pictures of these items appeared in the last Newsletter)

23-454 - local post office

This wooden building suits a corner location and is an unfortunate pale pink colour, with a light gray tile roof and silver multi-pane windows. There is a red pillar box and a signboard outside the front. The front door is pale blue. The enclosed rear yard has a small iron lean-to and there is an covered staircase leading to the second floor. A variety of post office signs and advertising are provided on the sticker sheet, as well as yellow warning stripes for the parking area at the front of the building. 

23-455 - public hall

This building has quite as large footprint, allowing for off-street parking, however the building is also separate to the base, and can be used without the 'yard'. The building is a tan colour, with a cream section at the top of the walls, a red iron roof, and silver multi-pane windows. On top of the roof is a loudspeaker apparatus. The front entrance has a large porch with cream brick pillars. The front and 2 side doors are painted a light green. A sheet of stickers gives you a variety on names to put on the buildings.

23-456 - taxi depot

This iron clad building has pale cream walls, and a light blue iron roof. The front of the office has a two story section above the workshop. Two types of sign boards are provided for the front of the building - one has a large green & yellow striped awning and the sign if very large showing a scenic picture and a map of the are. The other has a pre-printed company name, and you can also attach a map of the area. Also supplied are two black taxi cars, but the quality of these is about 1/10th of the Tomy 'The Car Collection' ones !!! The interior has quite a number of items near the open front door, which beg to be painted and super-detailed.

23-457 - transport company office

This small two story stone building is a dark but bright yellow, with a light gray tile roof and silver multi-pane windows. There is a cream coloured extension on the back of the buildings. There is also a tan awning over the white front door. The famous Nittsu name and logo are amongst the name signs provided on the sticker sheet.

Like all of the buildings Kato have done so far, a little extra painting of things like downpipes, electrical wires and junction boxes, and extra detailing will make these structures stand out on your layout.

This is the first in a series of older type commercial or public buildings - the next batch of Police Station, Bus Depot, Government Office & Bank are due early next year. As always, if you buy these items from Japanese Model Supplies, I can supply free of charge translations of the sticker sheets, so you know where everything goes !!!


(back to top of page)

DVD Reviews

Dr. Yellow

Company : Vicom/Nippon Sharyo
Title : DR. Yellow
Number : DR-4839
Time : 87min + 90min
Zone : 2
Format : NTSC 4:3
Price : „6,500

This DVD would have to be the most fabulous releases this year, and the most eagerly awaited item on a topic that has not been covered before, except for the Freight Train DVD last month !!!

It is a 2 disk set, and Disk 1 contains ...

  • a brief history of the Tokaido/San'yo Shinkansen, including unseen MOVIE footage of the 1964 inaugural run !!!

  • lots of shots of T2 & T3, as well as the other test vehicles used pre 1964

  • interior details of each car of the T3 train

  • cab rides on T3 from Nishi-Akashi to Okayama and Hiroshima to Shin-Iwakuni (in the rain, so you see nothing :-(

Disk 2 contains ...

  • full construction details of T5 cars 4-7 by Nippon Sharyo.

  • delivery (by road and boat) of T5

  • interior details of each car of the T4 train

  • interior details of each car of the T5 train

It is interesting to see all the gadgets these train have on board, and to actually see a set being put together - it is just like a model kit, with pre-assembled walls, floor, roof, end, and the nose cone !!!

For those readers not familiar with the nomenclature ...

  • T2 is the JR Central 922-10 Dr Yellow set (model by MicroAce)

  • T3 is the JR West 922-20 Dr Yellow set

  • T4 is the JR Central 923-0 Dr Yellow set (model by Tomix)

  • T5 is the JR West 923-3000 Dr Yellow set

T4 replaced T2 in 2001 and T5 replaced T3 earlier this year.


(back to top of page)

 

(ADVERTISING)

This information service is sponsored by ...

Japanese Model Supplies
PO Box 24
Northmead 2152
Australia

o New and second-hand  Japanese trains
o Robots & Gundam 
o Gashapon & Shokugan collectibles 
o Dolls & Figures
o Radio Control
o Tools & accessories
o Plastic Kits - Ships, Planes, Cars, Bikes, Military
o Railway books & monthly magazines

Web page

email

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 ... http://www.rc-awaza.com

 

(back to top of page)

 

Abbreviation

Explanation

TEC

Shinkansen (Bullet train)

EC

Electric car (EMU)

DC

Diesel car (DMU)

PC

Passenger car

FC

Freight car

SL

Steam loco

EL

Electric loco

DL

Diesel loco

     Useful Links


E & O E - best viewed 1024x768 or higher
Page contents copyright 2005 - Doug Coster
Photos copyright of the respective manufacturers & Railcraft Awaza Osaka.