MicroAce - New Releases

[Ochanomizu]

Zipangu looking good.

[JR 500系]

Zipangu looking good.

Seconded that! 

 

Luckily already pre-ordered. Didn't know the golden is so beautiful with the black. And the interior green chairs with the white spots on the top is simply great detailing. Only complain is that horrible coupling spacing... 

[Densha]

...which can be resolved by getting TN couplers. :)

[JR 500系]

...which can be resolved by getting TN couplers. :)

Yap i heard about that but didnt really get into it... Can i know which couplers we arre looking at, and would the conversion be tough? I would definately NOT want my Zipangu to look like an elephant can pass through in between cars...

[Densha]

MicroAce has a list of all models at their website: http://www.microace-arii.co.jp/products/itemlist/index.html

That list has the item code for MicroAce's own couplers but these can be converted to Tomix couplers here: http://akihabara.artificial-science.org/tag/tn-coupler/

If I'm right Tomix has replaced some couplers in the years so feel free to send me a PM if you can't figure it out. You can also get discounts sometimes if you get them in 6-packs instead of separate couplers etc

I've never converted an MA model myself but they use the Tomix mount which is so damn easy to use.

[Guest keio6000]

I see microace is re-releasing the odakyu 5xxx series.  I havent looked deeply into the specifics, but my initial reaction was a bit of juvenile annoyance that now everybody has a chance to get this model which I was so proud of having gotten despite it being a relatively HTF for some time :)

Seriously though, if this is anything like their first release MA2182 (and it's likely to be virtually identical, i'm guessing, but for some trivial changes), then if you are an odakyu fan this should be high on your list - it's an excellent model by my untrained eye.

 

Now, if the MicroAce/Arii folks will just please finally listen to reason and release an Eidan Chikatetsu 8000 Hanzomon line! to complete this infuriatingly incomplete table with the only one of these that I really wanted:

 

                                                      Eidan                Tokyo Metro

6000 Chiyoda                                  Yes                       Yes

7000 Yurakucho                              Yes                       Yes

8000 Hanzomon                               NO!                        Yes

Edited August 13, 2013 by keio6000

[Guest keio6000]

MicroAce has a list of all models at their website: http://www.microace-arii.co.jp/products/itemlist/index.html

That list has the item code for MicroAce's own couplers but these can be converted to Tomix couplers here: http://akihabara.artificial-science.org/tag/tn-coupler/

If I'm right Tomix has replaced some couplers in the years so feel free to send me a PM if you can't figure it out. You can also get discounts sometimes if you get them in 6-packs instead of separate couplers etc

I've never converted an MA model myself but they use the Tomix mount which is so damn easy to use.

 

I think given the relatively high price microace charges, they should include the better couplers, at least on their EMU/DMU sets which are meant to run together always.   MicroAce has been great in picking up marketshare over the years while kato and tomix were sleeping.  Because of MicroAce's rapid release of products, one can excuse them a bit for the overall lower quality of their goods despite the higher price.  However, the use of lowest common denominator couplers just to goad us into buying proper couplers as add-ons strikes me as cheap and does nothing to engender customer loyalty unlike with Kato where I generally feel that I get more, rather than less, than what I paid for, or at least expected.  The marginal cost to add proper couplers to a typical MA 6-car set would probably be what.. 300 yen for the company, max?  On a model which otherwise sells for 22000 yen?

Edited August 13, 2013 by keio6000

[Densha]

Why MicroAce, why?! Now I just have to get the Kiha32 with square lights!

http://www.microace-arii.co.jp/poster/img/13_08_1w.jpg

http://www.microace-arii.co.jp/poster/img/13_08_2w.jpg

Pretty cool stuff this time around: JR Hokkaido 785 and 785-300 series, Odakyu 5000 series, Nishitetsu 5000 series, JR East 257-500 series (two sets), Yuuyuu saloon train (whatever that may be), and JR Shikoku KiHa 32 with square windows in the early beautiful dark red livery and in modern JR Shikoku blue stripes.

I wonder how the JR Shikoku Kiha 32's had the orange and red stripes on them...

[Densha]

Lots and lots of pics!

http://ngi.blog.eonet.jp/n_gauge/2013/08/micro-ace14jam-28d3.html

[ToniBabelony]

these are the best images I can get on my ipad.... But these are for H0 correct?

 

Same as these: http://www.jnsforum.com/community/topic/1307-microace/page-21?do=findComment&comment=86185 And no, these are all N-gauge.

[Densha]

Pics of new MicroAce stuff:

https://picasaweb.google.com/ngauge.information/201310262013MICROACE?authkey=Gv1sRgCInZsqmhipeQhgE

https://picasaweb.google.com/ngauge.information/20131102342013MICROACE?authkey=Gv1sRgCNPRjvWCotDL5wE

The E257-500 is looking cool!

[JR 500系]

HHhmmm... the 165 looks nice in that colour! Agree the E257-500 looks cool in that yellow too... Some resort trains that are.. well... ok, but what caught my eye was the キハ47 指宿のたまて箱. It looks good! Too bad it's a Kyushu train...

[Densha]

I don't think the December announcements (releases March-May 2014) were posted yet, so here you go: http://www.microace-arii.co.jp/poster/img/13_12w.jpg

On the left a couple of KiHa 40 series (JR East KiHa 40-2000 Oga Line and JR West KiHa 47-0 Renewal Metropolitan Area Colour).

But on the right a huge announcement: the JR East 701-0 and 701-5000 series. The 701-0 is not really a big deal, but the 701-5000 is the standard gauge version that runs together with the Akita Shinkansen (Super) Komachi trains on the Ou Main Line!

[Guest keio6000]

Indeed 701-500 very nice... But over jpy 10000 for 2-car sets? This is the new reality? My collection is big enough without this, thank you.

[ToniBabelony]

Indeed 701-500 very nice... But over jpy 10000 for 2-car sets? This is the new reality? My collection is big enough without this, thank you.

 

¥10,000 is the standard retail price, but places like HSJ offers them for much less: http://www.1999.co.jp/10254608 I'm also pretty sure that other shops like TamTam can do it for much less (though they don't do shipping abroad).

[JR 500系]

Probably this was missed out? 

 

Was browsing HS site and came upon these two beauties:

 

http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10258655

Isaburo / Shinpei  - I could swear i'll definitely get this train if it wasn't a Kyushu train.... Somehow, my poor memories tell me this isn't the first time Microace release the Isaburo-Shinpei? Or was that the Hayato-No-Kaze? But i could be wrong...

 

http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10258656

Mizusu-Shiosai - More info in the painted trains thread on this... 

[Densha]

The Micro Ace website didn't link correctly, but these are the new January announcements:

http://www.microace-arii.co.jp/poster/img/14_01w.jpg

Indeed the two painted KiHa 40's you mentioned, JR West 113 series 4-car sets in both yellow and café au lait Hiroshima livery (it says the yellow is a combined 113/115 consist?), Saitama Railway 2000 series, and yet again another snowplow: this time combined with a DD53.

Now comes a question. Does any of you know whether or not these JR West 113 series sets have run on the Uno Line?

[miyakoji]

 Does any of you know whether or not these JR West 113 series sets have run on the Uno Line?

I think the 113s/115s are used on all electrified lines in Okayama, but there's a difference between the Cafe au Lait and Hiroshima colors.  The Hiroshima colors I always saw on the Sanyo Main Line, which I suppose makes sense since they are based in Hiroshima or maybe even Yamaguchi.  The Cafe au Lait cars, most of which are probably painted yellow now, are out of Okayama and I think you'd be more likely to see them on the Seto Ohashi Line and Uno Line.  If you're going for accuracy, I think it would be good to look specifically for Cafe au Lait or yellow cars.  In the Micro Ace image, A9578 and A9575 are Hiroshima colors.  Cafe au Lait is this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:JRW_EC_115_series_D2.jpg

[ToniBabelony]

The Micro Ace website didn't link correctly, but these are the new January announcements:

http://www.microace-arii.co.jp/poster/img/14_01w.jpg

Indeed the two painted KiHa 40's you mentioned, JR West 113 series 4-car sets in both yellow and café au lait Hiroshima livery (it says the yellow is a combined 113/115 consist?), Saitama Railway 2000 series, and yet again another snowplow: this time combined with a DD53.

Now comes a question. Does any of you know whether or not these JR West 113 series sets have run on the Uno Line?

 

Oh damn! MicroAce is on a Mita/Namboku line binge! I love it! Unfortunately I have no money to buy any of these trains (which I all love), plus the Tokyū 3000 series will never be released by MicroAce anyway. I heard through the grapevine that MicroAce has some serious beef with Tokyū... Grrr...

Edited January 18, 2014 by Toni Babelony

[Densha]

I think the 113s/115s are used on all electrified lines in Okayama, but there's a difference between the Cafe au Lait and Hiroshima colors.  The Hiroshima colors I always saw on the Sanyo Main Line, which I suppose makes sense since they are based in Hiroshima or maybe even Yamaguchi.  The Cafe au Lait cars, most of which are probably painted yellow now, are out of Okayama and I think you'd be more likely to see them on the Seto Ohashi Line and Uno Line.  If you're going for accuracy, I think it would be good to look specifically for Cafe au Lait or yellow cars.  In the Micro Ace image, A9578 and A9575 are Hiroshima colors.  Cafe au Lait is this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:JRW_EC_115_series_D2.jpg

Whoops, you're right. That's indeed slightly different from the café au lait. So the yellow ones are actually used on the Seto Ohashi and Uno Line right? The only point here with the A9585 is that it is based in Hiroshima so possibly too far away from the service area if I understand correctly.

The only café au lait train 115 I know of is this version from Kato but I remember someone told me that 3-car formations are not used on those lines. http://www.katomodels.com/n/115kei_1000_okayama/

[miyakoji]

As far as I know, JR West has been converting almost all steel body (JNR-era) non-express rolling stock to the solid color liveries.  So, if you go with cafe au lait or yellow, you have an appropriate livery for the line.

 

As for the number of cars, that I wasn't so sure about, so I did some digging.  I found this video by OMIYAEXPRESS, check it out around 5:10:

 

Looks like 3 cars is prototypically correct.

[Densha]

Thanks for clearing this up!

I don't think I will ever be able to find that Kato set, but at least I know now it's suitable for what I want to model.

I haven't been able to find any evidence for 4-car yellow consists being used on these lines however.

[miyakoji]

Is that set sold out already?  It says it was on sale due to popularity. It must be really popular

[Densha]

Yeah it was a limited edition roundhouse set so of course it was sold out fast. Plus it was the only café au lait model ever released so far I know.

[westfalen]

I think the 113s/115s are used on all electrified lines in Okayama, but there's a difference between the Cafe au Lait and Hiroshima colors.  The Hiroshima colors I always saw on the Sanyo Main Line, which I suppose makes sense since they are based in Hiroshima or maybe even Yamaguchi.  The Cafe au Lait cars, most of which are probably painted yellow now, are out of Okayama and I think you'd be more likely to see them on the Seto Ohashi Line and Uno Line.  If you're going for accuracy, I think it would be good to look specifically for Cafe au Lait or yellow cars.  In the Micro Ace image, A9578 and A9575 are Hiroshima colors.  Cafe au Lait is this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:JRW_EC_115_series_D2.jpg

Cafe au Lait sets at Otake, west of Hiroshima, on 30 Nov and Hiroshima on 02 Dec last year, the two at Hiroshima are different sets but can't read the number of the one at Otake.  While in the minority we did see a few sets over our three days in Hiroshima.