Prototype for a Microace DE10?

[Morian Miner]

I bought this guys several years ago because I loved the Matto Factory (dolphin) paint scheme. But I've never came across any information about the prototype for this. Can anyone tell me when and where these units operated? Or is this a fictional paint scheme?

[railsquid]

Never heard of it - what's the model number?

[bill937ca]

The prototype was JR West DE10. I think Matto Factory was a JR West maintenance depot (which may now be called Kanazawa comprehensive vehicle plant).  Here is a HS listing. I didn't locate any prototype photos.

[railsquid]

That matches what the description in the listing says.

 

From the listing, the MicroAce number is A8715 and the description says the dolphin livery was applied around 1994.

 

To be honest, since the1990s I think there are have been enough outlandish real paint schemes that model manufacturers don't need to invent their own ;)

[Morian Miner]

Thanks for the info. I never paid attention to the HS description.

[Nick_Burman]

The prototype was JR West DE10. I think Matto Factory was a JR West maintenance depot (which may now be called Kanazawa comprehensive vehicle plant).  Here is a HS listing. I didn't locate any prototype photos.

 

Matto Works, located SW of Kanazawa on the Hokuriku Main Line. The loco must have been the shop switcher.

 

Cheers NB

[miyakoji]

I did some googling for this last night, no luck.  I'll try again later.  I like oddball liveries, especially when a prototype actually exists :)