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MicroAce - New Releases


disturbman

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ToniBabelony

Ladies and gentlemen. MicroAce has announced its new release plan for September to November. This will be horrendously interesting.

 

  • A0373 JR Kyūshu 783 Series Renewal Ltd. Express Kamome, 6 car set: ¥27,000;
  • A1066 Sangi Railway 801 Series, 3-car set: ¥14,500;
  • A1068 Izu Hakone Railway 1100 Series, Red livery, 3-car set: ¥14,500;
  • A1069 Izu Hakone Railway 1100 Series, Standard livery, 3-car set: ¥14,500;
  • A3664 JR Kyūshu 783 Series Midori/Huis Ten Bosch livery, 8-car set: ¥37,500;
  • A8360 Keihan 800 Series First delivered type, 4-car set: ¥16,700;
  • A8362 Keihan 800 Series New Symbol-marking, 4-car set: ¥16,700.

http://www.jp-ngauge.info/ngi/2014/06/micro-ace201491-d322.html

 

Yes, you heard that right. Finally the Keihan 800 Series will be released as a model! A 4-car 16-meter train that has some serious street-running and sharp curves on its original route (let's see if MA can make it run through at least R140 curves). Maybe the perfect train for those wanting to run a full-size EMU on their tram layout. This train is going on my 'want' list pronto.

Edited by Toni Babelony
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Oh!  O_o Kyushu!

 

Luckily not my region...

 

Still awaiting for more painted trains, especially the new E3-2000 livery...

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Yes, you heard that right. Finally the Keihan 800 Series will be released as a model! A 4-car 16-meter train that has some serious street-running and sharp curves on its original route (let's see if MA can make it run through at least R140 curves). Maybe the perfect train for those wanting to run a full-size EMU on their tram layout. This train is going on my 'want' list pronto.

Oh no my moniezzz.... MA I hate you I already can't afford to buy the 213 Marine Liner this summer and now you're giving me this. >_<

The Keihan Otsu lines are my second focus after JR Shikoku because of the small selection of short trains that look really great. I now have the 350 series and the 600 series, and Tomytec will release the 600 series with K-ON ads this winter (according to schedule). This would be a great addition...

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Maybe the perfect train for those wanting to run a full-size EMU on their tram layout.

 

Somehow I should try to find a reason against it. Maybe this one: my platforms are too short.

Or simply I have to forget everything and buy one just because it looks great. :)

Edited by IST
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Mudkip Orange
  • A8360 Keihan 800 Series First delivered type, 4-car set: ¥16,700;
  • A8362 Keihan 800 Series New Symbol-marking, 4-car set: ¥16,700.

 

I guess I didn't really need that 300 dollars anyway...

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Surprizing they are annoucing monthly releases without getting their current releases out and to consumers.

 

Well getting new releases to market has been an industry wide problem since Kader Holdings took control of Sanda Kan. There have been problems at Atlas, Lionel and some European manufacturers with long delayed releases. Kader basically reduced the largest model train manufacturer to an in-house manufacturer and several other model train manufacturers failed trying to meet price points.  Delayed production causes enough problems, stopping new releases would probably put MA and other "manufacturers" out of business completely. Rapido Trains has its own factory in China, but this seems to be rare.

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Maerklin (owner of trix and lgb) has its own factory in Hungary, so they have a chance, but prices have to be higher if they are manufacturing in Europe, which doesn't help getting new customers and higher sales volumes.

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Well getting new releases to market has been an industry wide problem since Kader Holdings took control of Sanda Kan. There have been problems at Atlas, Lionel and some European manufacturers with long delayed releases. Kader basically reduced the largest model train manufacturer to an in-house manufacturer and several other model train manufacturers failed trying to meet price points.  Delayed production causes enough problems, stopping new releases would probably put MA and other "manufacturers" out of business completely. Rapido Trains has its own factory in China, but this seems to be rare.

Yeah I get that. But if you are having trouobles getting out the last 3 months of 'new releases'. Then why start promising more?

 

One thing I love about Japan and the Japanese people, it that they pride themselves on high levels of service and delivering service and products in a timely manner.

 

But when it comes to Japanese model train companies. Throw that all out the window...

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But when it comes to Japanese model train companies. Throw that all out the window...

No, they just have to apologize a lot more than other japanese companies because of the service standards at their chinese subcontractors. As the old saying goes, you can only choose two out of three: good, fast and cheap. I prefer good and cheap and let them have a bit more time to do it.

 

 The model companies have production schedules and delays during manufacturing can only delay certain products, but not the development and announcment of new products. This also means if the chinese factories get themselves together, there won't be any additional delays with future products.

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The only apologies I get are from the retailers, not the manufacturers.

 

Is Kato stuff make in China too? Cos they have just they same type of delays.

 

Anyway, as you said. Cheap and slow is better. It is just a normal process of railway modelling.

Edited by katoftw
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Kato,

 

You have obviously never been in the manufacturing biz! It's horribly hard to keep things on schedule if you farm out any of the parts of the process. Even if you try to do as much of it yourself it can be daunting to keep on schedules and it gets costly. The smaller you are also the harder it is.

 

Delays like this happen all the time in hobby stuff like this all over the world, its a niche biz and can't spend the money big mainstream manufacturing does to make up time to hit release dates. Things like toys and cars have big set annual times when they just have to have the new product (Xmas and fall next year release) that they have to spend the money or start way earlier to hit those dates and all their processes revolve around that. But you do pay for that in the final price! Hobby companies can't afford to do that if they want to keep prices reasonable when their smaller scales mean higher manufacturing costs in the first place. Kvp is spot on with only getting two of good, cheap, or fast.

 

You just always need to assume releases will be late and they have nice surprises when they are on time. What's the rush anyway? Relax and have a beer.

 

Jeff

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Agreed, slow and cheap is good! But be sure to pre-order first! You might end up with nothing if you wait for the stock to be release and then order, cause I fear the stocks might not be enough to cover for additional orders outside the pre-ordered ones...

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You just always need to assume releases will be late and they have nice surprises when they are on time.

Thats what I do now. 12 months of pre-orders, and only 1 has been delivered on time.

 

As for the relax/beer comment. I dont find anywhere in my previous posts where I am getting worked up about it.

Edited by katoftw
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Yeah I get that. But if you are having trouobles getting out the last 3 months of 'new releases'. Then why start promising more?One thing I love about Japan and the Japanese people, it that they pride themselves on high levels of service and delivering service and products in a timely manner.But when it comes to Japanese model train companies. Throw that all out the window...

From this, you seem perturbed not all releases happen on time. And not getting apologies from the manufactures. Just pointing out the realties of manufacturing. Can't see why it's of huge concern thus the relax comment. No worries.

 

Jeff

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Guest keio6000

Ladies and gentlemen. MicroAce has announced its new release plan for September to November. This will be horrendously interesting.

 

 

Still no keio 8000/9000 released.  Delayed now.. what... 3 years and counting?

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Toni, why'd you post a picture that makes me want to spend all the savings I've been making? But yeah it really does look damn nice!

Funny that I actually also own the Kiha32 from the pics, although in a different livery.

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ToniBabelony

Toni, why'd you post a picture that makes me want to spend all the savings I've been making? But yeah it really does look damn nice!

Funny that I actually also own the Kiha32 from the pics, although in a different livery.

 

Shush. You want it. I want it to substitute my other 16m rolling stock. There are many reasons to buy/preorder it. The price is pretty good as well!

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