Fujisan View Express makes its debut in april

[splifdfx]

Stumbled randomly upon this annoucement : a new Fuji Express train will make its debut on the 23rd of april this year.

 

 

 

Annoucement : http://www.fujikyu-railway.jp/news/info.php?no=132 (JP)

Dedicated page : http://www.fujikyu-railway.jp/fujisan-view-express/ (JP)

Article with a bit more details : http://hirota2015.blog.jp/archives/52919379.html (JP)

Random article in english : http://www.japanstation.com/the-new-fujisan-view-express-to-make-spring-debut-this-april/ (EN)

 

More pictures : http://response.jp/article/img/2016/04/06/272997/1037946.html

More pictures of the interior : http://www.sankei.com/life/photos/160406/lif1604060021-p1.html

 

Designed by the infamous Eiji Mitooka, it seems to be a JR 371 series given the Fuji Tozan Densha treatment : wood inside, red and gold paint outside.

I'll replace the former 2000series Fuji Express which was withdrawn from service on the 7th of February.

 

What are the chances that it'll be released as an n scale model ?

 

Anyone in Japan willing to get to the debut ride and take pictures ?

Edited April 17, 2016 by splifdfx

[kvp]

This set was the only 371 series ever made and i'm surprised that it didn't have the usual fuji cartoons on it.

[miyakoji]

here it is on a test run

 

[katoftw]

Wow these blood red trains with gold writing are starting to get common.

[Densha]

This set was the only 371 series ever made and i'm surprised that it didn't have the usual fuji cartoons on it.

Well, Fujikyu has the former Odakyu 2000 RSE they restyled into the Fujisan Ltd. Express cartoon style as a replacement for the retired 2000 series (the two ex-JR East 165 series EMUs). The 371 series train set will not be running on Fujisan Ltd. Express services, but will be used for the new Fujisan View Express service. Both services have their own trains specified to their completely different target groups.

Edited April 17, 2016 by Densha

[Ochanomizu]

Hello,

 

I am looking forward to the model.

[bill937ca]

Fujisan View Express and others.

 

 

 

[JR 500系]

aaarrggghh I want the model badly...

 

Fujikyu hasn't had a model for a long time, especially for painted liveries. The last one was from Kato:

 

 

 

But the 2000 series are retired... The former RSE didn't get a model too:

 

 

Now I certainly hope to get one for this!  :)

[railsquid]

Fujisan View Express and others.

 

 

 

 

Wow, that's a nice tasteful and restrained livery, are Fujikyu losing their touch or have the Swiss flag decals not yet been applied? ;)

[kvp]

Imho they are going through 2nd hand sets way too fast lately. Maybe because these sets have so little extra life left in them or newer ones are cheaper, but comparing a 'new' Fujikyu set's usage to the runtime of the green frogs in Kumamoto, it's too short. Model companies just couldn't follow it with the usual 2-3 years production timeframe.

[Densha]

Fujikyu hasn't had a model for a long time, especially for painted liveries. The last one was from Kato:

That's not really true. There's been quite a lot of Fujikyu releases over the years, including special livery ones. They are mainly made by Tomytec though: http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/search?typ1_c=104&cat=&target=organization&searchkey=Fuji+Kyuko+%28Fujikyu%29

[JR 500系]

That's not really true. There's been quite a lot of Fujikyu releases over the years, including special livery ones. They are mainly made by Tomytec though: http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/search?typ1_c=104&cat=&target=organization&searchkey=Fuji+Kyuko+%28Fujikyu%29

 

Yap. They look great too, but still missing the metal feel and working head/ tail lights of the Kato/ Tomix/ MA/ Greenmax ones...

 

It would be great if GreenMax would do the 371 in the new livery or the former RSE in the Fujisan trademark livery... Both would be great. If MA would to do this, i'm thinking of a rocket price which might be putting me off a little...

[Densha]

You're completely right on that, but with some trains I've given up the wait for proper models from Kato/Tomix/etc. If there's a specific model I really want and it's only available from Tomytec, I still buy it. But that's just me.

 

I think amongst all manufacturers, the chance that MicroAce will be doing the new Fujikyu expresses is the biggest. Mainly because MicroAce already has the molds for the 371 series and because these are typical trains you'd usually expect from MicroAce. That said, MicroAce's prices have become so unreasonably high lately that I doubt I will ever again buy any model from them.

[Guest keio6000]

If anybody is looking for the tomytec fujikyu ex 201 series set which is a bit htf now theres one on yahoo jp now.