2010/03/04|
Currently, there are multiple N-scale manufacturers secretly(?) planning to release a certain train. A train, not one so gorgeous as the bullet train or the limited express, but one people near the rails use every day for commuting to work or school etc, a commuter train that is active everyday. And that is... 
The Tokyu Corporation series 8500 train!
The Tokyu Corporation is a Private rail that has rails in Tokyo and Kanagawa. The series 8500 is Tokyu's commuter train, which made its debut in the 1975. It is a model change version of the 8000 series, which debuted earlier, designed to ride onto the Hanzomon Line of Eidan Subways (the current Tokyo Metro). For Tokyu, this is the group with most number of cars produced. Tokyu has given birth to the fully stainless-steel car trains such as the series 7000, with the technological assistance of an American train maker, The Budd Company. The trains after that series, such as the series 8000 and 8500 are also made following that path. With that characteristic in mind, the series 8500 was awarded with the 'Laurel Prize' by the Rail Fan Association (Tetsudo Tomo no kai). This was awarded in consideration for the level of technology used as a commuting type train. The series 8500 had been deployed mainly on the Den-en-toshi Line, and was also provisionally used on the Toyoko Line at one point. From 2003, they started to be used as a direct-train to the Tobu Isesaki Line/Nikko Line, passing through the metro Hanzomon Line, and can be seen within the Saitama pref. A few years ago, repositioning had begun with the release of the new type train series 5000 new. However, in the year 2010 at this point, they are still running on the Den-en-toshi Line and Oimachi Line. Now, with this repositioning, some cars were transferred to Nagano Electric Railways (Nagano Pref.), Chichibu Railways (Saitama Pref.), and Izukyu Corporation (Shizuoka Pref.). These transferred cars are being modified to suite the environment of each railway. 
Also, as a matter which I should especially mention, its also gone across the seas and been exported (transferred) to Indonesia too. They are used as [Express] and Economy AC (air conditioned car) in Jabotabek (term for the metropolitan area surrounding Jakarta), the trains with higher fare. Apparently it costs about double the fare of the normal economy train to ride. Right, this series 8500 has reached its 35th anniversary this year, so lets list up the current related products! [GreenMax] From GreenMax, a pure series 8500 has been (or partially planned to be) released. Tokyu Series 8500 (Basic 5-Car Set)  (on sale)
Tokyu Series 8500 Middle Car (Add-On 5-Car Set) (on sale)
These two are commonly known as the [Economy Kit Series], practically the same as the general plastic model kit; a model construction kit. You simply assemble, paint, place on stickers/decal etc, apply clear coating, and finish up by attaching the windows, trucks, power unit, and pantograph for completion. This is categorized as one of the relatively easy kits. This uses a original style of the series 8500 as prototype. It also comes with the front parts for the series 8000 as extra parts, so you can choose to turn it into either one, depending on how you assemble it. Tokyu Series 8500 Den-en-toshi Line 5-Car Total Set w/Motor Car (Basic 5-Car Set, Assemble Kit) 
Tokyu Series 8500 Den-en-toshi Line 5-Car Set (Add-on 5-Car Set, Assemble Kit) 
Tokyu Series 8500 Den-en-toshi Line Standard Formation Set w/Motor Car (Basic 4-Car Set)
Tokyu Series 8500 Den-en-toshi Line Middle Car for Add-on (Add-on 6-Car Set) 
These are items we are taking reservations for at present, the pre-colored kits and completed model series. The pre-colored kits, as they are basically fully painted, you just need to stick on the stickers or decal, clear coat it, then appropriately assemble the parts for completion. A completed models are planned to be released this time, too, so I would recommend this one if you don't have the time to assemble it yourself. Oh and for your information, the prototype is different to the economy kit series introduced earlier. They reproduced the cars known as the [Light Weight Cars], produced after the 13th production. This has the technology from the Budd Company, with Tokyu applying their own original improvements, to make the car lighter. To tell apart the original and the Light Weight, pay attention to the following: 
This is the photo of the actual train on the packaging of the GreenMax Economy Kit Series, but if you look really closely..., 
Have you noticed that comparing the two area circled, the shape of the roof (the curve) between the front and back, and the height of gutter is different? If you can tell this difference, you really know your stuff. So in a simpler term, basically you can tell the original, as it's the one with sharper edge roof. The Light Weight is the one with rounder roof with gutter at a slightly lower position. As you can see, there are changes applied depending on the time of production. The Tokyu 8500 series runs on 10-car formation in Den-en-toshi line, and 5-car formation on the Oimachi Line. For example, in the case of Den-en-toshi line, the 10-car formation doesn't necessary mean that all 10 cars are the lightweights. There are some with the few end cars, starting with the leader-car, to be the original, and has the lightweights in between them to make up the 10-car formation. For those that like to enjoy the N-scale with specific numbered formation, the coexistence of the original and lightweight is something very deep. At present, in the year 2010, there are around 20 series 8500 running in 10-car formation, and with each having a variable make-up of formation; you have to research on your own if you want to replicate the formation to this extent. So with this in mind, those who already had lightweight cars, the announcement for the release of the series 8500 Light Weight Cars by GreenMax must have made their day. [Tomytec] There are some Tokyu series 8500 that had been transferred to local railways, and in the Railways Collection, the Nagano Electric Railways 8500 series and Chichibu Railways series 7000 are scheduled for release. A customization for it to be able to run on a 3-car formation has begun on the actual train, with customization plans for it to run as single car train, and also to be able to run in the colder environment. The Railway Collection Nagano Electric Railway Series 8500 (3-Car Set) 
Nagano Electric Railways series 8500 hasn't changed in appearance too much since its time in the Tokyu (tho stating this may be misleading...). The Railway Collection Chichibu Railway Series 7000 (3-Car Set) 
On the other hand, the Chichibu series 7000 had its stripe color changed, with semi-automatic door button installed etc, with obvious difference from its time at Tokyu. Also, the first formation to be made in the Railway Collection is a mixture of the original car and the lightweight car, so you will have the chance to show off your knowledge. [Amagi Modeling Idea] Parts created to combine the former Tokyu series 8500 (which had been transferred to other local railway like the previous Railway Collection) with the GreenMax Economy Kit have been released by Amagi Modeling Idea. Chichibu Series 7000 Non-penetrating Front Parts Set 
The second formation of Chichibu Railway series 7000 has a middle-car that has been attached with the driver's room to be used as the leader-car. This set comes with the distinctive flat front parts. Nagano Series 8500 Non-penetrating T6 Formation Front Parts Set 
Within the Nagano Electrical Railways series 8500, the 6th formation (Formation T6) is a distinctive formation with a middle-car reformed for use as the leader-car. At a glance, it's quite similar to the normal leader-car of series 8500, but there are slight differences such as the removal of the Operation number indicator. [Bandai] Tokyu series 8500 has been appeared again in the popular B-Train Shortie Series, after a long time. This is very much recommended for those who want to easily get a hold of series 8500 to play with. B Train Shorty Tokyu 8500 Series (2-Car Set) 
This is a pure Tokyu series 8500. looking at the prototype, it seems they have modeled this one after the original type. As a B-Train, this is a 'return' after several years. B Train Shorty Tokyu 8500 Series -Summer of Izu Color-(2-Car Set) 
Within the Tokyu series 8500 for the Den-en-toshi line, there are 3 trains with special decoration, and one of the three is this 'Summer of Izu'. Just as the series 8000 that had being transferred to the Izukyu, the same Hawaiian Blue stripe had been used. The formation number is called [8614F], and is it's first time to be released in B-Train. *I'm sure there are many of you that already knew this, but this 8614F was the formation that could be seen (slightly) in the episode 11 of [Lucky ☆ Star] **Also, the same colored series 8000 exists in Jabotabek, but this is due to it becoming a 'Summer of Izu' during its time in the Toyoko Line, and was sent out with that coloring. Sorry for the article being a bit long, but as each company is turning this series into models, I say you should check them out too! By Kapinozuka |
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