Hello everyone, Kapinozuka here.
Due to unexpected circumstances, I couldn't write the blog the other day. Sorry about
that.
It seems that the Hobby Show Report had somewhat finished on our Hobby Search
Blog...
But I received these words from the heavens.
"Hey hey, the article for the Railway Models isn't up
yet.
This is a serious situation we have here, unacceptable.
Now, we can't have the blog just flowing along as if nothings wrong now, can we?
I would give a lecturing to you young fellows, but I'll just leave a frank advice to
pick up the Railway Models exhibits."
So I guess I have no choice but to bring you a report of the Railway Models exhibits,
from the limited amount of images left that our staff, Lady Tomeko has photographed
for us.
[Limited Edition] Kiha52
-100 Diesel Car (Ooito Line) 3-car Set
The Ooito line somewhat popping up in discussions, but this is the set of 3 cars of
the Series Kiha52 no.100 with the paintwork of the Ooito line on each car. The red one
to the left is called the [Capital Region Color], with a different coloring to the
orange of Chuo Lines and Osaka Loop Line. The combination of beige and blue on the
middle is the [DMU old standard color] obviously different to the Suka Coloring of the
Yokosuka Line etc. but the colors have been very nicely reproduced.
The one on the very right is scheduled to be the white and green combination Ooito
Line Original Coloring, but this prototype display doesn't have the green coloring on
it yet, being purely white for the time being.
The Kiha52 of the Ooito line has all retired due to the Service Plan Adjustment taken
place this Spring, and regarding the
the normal coloring car
115, it has been decided to be preserved and displayed at the Former Tsuyama
District Building, becoming a small enjoyment to the diesel multiple unit fans.
[Limited Edition]
Container Wagon Series Koki107
The N-scale container set from the Railway Container Transportation 50th Year
Anniversary freight trains from Nov.2009 that has been reproduced. It has been colored
light green to match the image from the JNR days, matched with the new container
freight car Koki107 mixed into the set. We don't see the green containers these days,
so this feels somewhat original.
btw. it was displayed in 10-car formation, but this set only contains half
that, 5 car formation. The remaining 5 are planned to be sold at the JR event as a
limited edition item, so by combining them both, you can make a full 10-car
formation. Also, the event to be held in omiya, the [Railway Appreciation Fair
2010 (22nd/05)] is scheduled to sell the item directly.
JR Series 455 (Training
Car) (3-Car Set)
This is the series455 training car that I've introduced on the
blog of 15th/04. The
prototype was displayed in a state as shown in the image, fully painted. As discussed,
it has two white lines running through the sides, with the writing "Training Car" in
kanji. The leading car on the other side is supposed to be the Kuya455-1 mobile
classroom ver. ...... but sadly there is no image of it. Sorry about that.
Let's just leave that aside. With vivid coloring, the body customization, antennae and
steps for staff etc. has been reproduced with great detail. Very well done, as
expected from the HG model of Tomix.
Takamatsu-Kotohira
Electric Railroad Type3000 (Retro Coloring)
Type 3000 of the Takamatsu Kotohara Electric Railways, commonly known as Kotoden.
Being the original electric train of the Kotoden, there is still one present, kept for
events. At the moment, Kotoden mainly uses the trains brought from the Keikyu, Keiou,
and Nagoya metro, but it would be great if these nostalgic cars by the company itself
could be kept for a very long time to come.
Right, Tomix will be producing the model in HO scale. There was a
standard coloring
version sold before, but it sold out very quickly when it hit the shelves. I have to
say, it was made very well. And the retro coloring this time, we have received pre-
orders that even exceeds that standard version, so this is something to look forward
to.
J.N.R. Diesel Locomotive
Type DF50 (Vermilion Early Period) *Prestige Model
Due to be released as another HO-Scale, the JNR Diesel Locomotive type DF50. The brown
and vermilion has been decided for a re-release in over a long time, but as a Prestige
model, this is the first.
The Prestige Model is a series with greater detail and accuracy than the normal items,
with great care on small parts, such as the use of metal parts for the whistle above
the control room. As such, the production period and amount are limited, so it is
worth checking out.
When you are around my age, hearing a Japanese Diesel locomotive will bring a orange
DD51 or DE10 etc, so the box type DF50 looks rather original. However, we will leave
the story of Japanese Diesel locomotive to another time, as that can be talked about
for ages on its own.
I also found this while looking through the images, pay close attention to the circled
areas.
This is the Wireless Power Unit [N-WL10-CL], a new design of Railway Model
controller.
The standard railway controllers takes power from the plug at the wall, and changes
the current to that for the railway model, running this to the rails through the
feeder line, and cause the train set the rail to move. With such structure, the
controller naturally end up fixed on a set place... but the wireless power unit from
before has the control parts separated, allowing you to control your train freely from
a distance.
Apparently it even has 16 channels prepared, to prevent mixed signals too. So that
basically means you can have up to 16 people playing at once. So we aren't talking
dual-lane or multi-lane, but 16 lanes worth at once controlled with wireless, so can
even be used on a small event or on a large layout!
It seems very exciting, and is scheduled for release this summer!
Next up...
This display is of the [
Wide Tram Rail]
series, a brand new rail series. It is derived from the Wide PC Rail, reproducing the
track of the tram. It will be great for the Railway Collection
Toyama Light Rail,
Kumamoto City Transportation Bureau,
Okayama Electric
Tramway, and
Manyo
Line etc. a track suitable for trams. And it has already began taking pre-orders,
too.
By positioning roads and building around the Wide Tram Rail, you can easily develop a
city.
And Kapinozuka has noticed a certain thing at this point.
Taking a look at the bottom left corner of the image, I've zoomed in on the image with
the following image consecutively shot, take a close look and compare them.
Heres a hint: Shizutetsu Justline.
Have you managed to work it out?
Here is the answer below. If you look at the Shizutestu Justline Bus at the bottom
left corner, you can tell that second image shows that the bus has changed position
slightly.
Now, this is actually the new system that Tomytec has been developing under the name
[Moving Bus Collection]. It slows down at the bus stop, pulls over to the left and
stops temporary. Once people finish getting onboard few seconds later, it starts
mobbing again... such small gimmick has been incorporated.
I believe there will be more details due to be announced later, but it will be awesome
to create a layout with the track bus running alongside a tram on the Wide Tram Rail!
Right, to finish it all off, a revision of the displays by the main Railway model
manufacturers from Shizuoka Hobby Show. Unfortunately, there are no images for it.
★ Kato
[N-Scale]
-D51 498
Currently preserved by JR East, a steam locomotive that is active in events even to
this date. The Series 12 passenger cars etc. are probably nice to have it towing.
Unlike the D51 that's currently on sale by the same company, apparently this will be
produced properly at 1/150 scale.
-DD54
Could be the most surprising item announced this time, the DD54.
The small numbered Diesel locomotive that was active on the Sanin Main Line,
Fukuchiyama Line etc. the EF80 of the east, DD54 of the west, they are both on par
regarding their plainness.
-Series 24 Sleeper Express [Hokutosei]
The model of the Hokutosei as it is currently running.
At present, it is formed with half half of the passenger cars owned by JR East and JR
Hokkaido each.
So of course, let's recreate the current Hokutosei with the EF510-500!
★ Tomix
[HO-Scale]
-EF510 Hokutosei Color
Unexpectedly, the EF510-500 will also be made into a model in HO-Scale too! That's hot
stuff there.
This locomotive has been mentioned in the
article of
6th/03/2010.
-EF510 Red Thunder
The Hokutosei is popular, but the JR Freight version of the main house is also to be
made as a model.
[Control Unit]
-Wireless Power Unit
★ Tomytec
[The Railway Collection]
-JNR Series 70 Chuo West Line 4car set
-JNR Series 70 Hanwa Rapid 4car set
The Chuo East Line (Suka color) and Niigata color has been on sale,
but this time, it's the Chuo West Line and Hanwa Line Rapid versions to be made as
models.
[The Bus Collection]
-Moving Bus Collection Basic Set
-Moving Bus Collection Power Unit
★ GreenMax
[N-Scale]
-Nankai 10000 Series [Southern] Pre-Completed Model & Unassembled
Kit
The main trains on league with Rap:t of the Nankai Main Line, Southern has been
announced for production, as a pre-constructed complete model, or a unassembled kit!
Although the Nankai Electric Railways were a large private railway 'til now, they
didn't have many completed railway models produced, but it is slowly becoming
lively.
-Tokyu Series
8500 `Oimachi Line Color` (5-Car Set) (currently taking Reservations)
Becoming a hot topic even on Sun Red, the Oimachi Line.
The orange gradation band has been properly reproduced too.
-Keioh 6000
Series Old Coloring Pre-Painted Kit
Kapinozuka can't help picturing the man from the opening of [Taiyo ni Hoero (Roaring
at the Sun)] whenever I see this train.
-Keihan
Series2400 First Car Old Paint Pre-Completed
Keihan Series 2400 1st car, the old coloring version this time.
The part to look out for the 2400 series is the simple, slim body, but the air
conditioner lined up on the roof are also not to be missed.
So yeah, many text there, but that just shows the content of the exhibition was very
thick and interesting!
By Kapinozuka,
Photography by Tomeko