Popondetta - New Releases

[disturbman]

You have to keep in mind that not every manufacturers can have the economy of scales of Tomix or Kato. I think 34k is still totally acceptable for that model. And Popo models are rather impressive quality wise.

[Cat]

10 hours ago, disturbman said:

You have to keep in mind that not every manufacturers can have the economy of scales of Tomix or Kato. I think 34k is still totally acceptable for that model. And Popo models are rather impressive quality wise.

 

Oh yes, that will factor in to eventual decision.  Being used to Shorty sticker prices though, it is a very big jump; even buying Bandai motor units on YAJ!
 
The only full size ones we have to date is a pair of Hitachinaka Seaside Railway Kihas,   Being Tomytec, had to splurge and buy a motor chassis for that too.  I presume for 34K, Popondetta at least includes a motor...
: 3

[cteno4]

Yes the pretty much necessary higher prices from small manufacturers is always going to give a bit more pause to the mouse finger! I know its happened to me with micro ace and definitely green max trains in the past. Granted ive broken down down and then and spent more per car on a few green max 2 and 4 car painted trains. Desire overweighing price is always going to be really personal. That being said my favorite train is also still my most expensive to date i think.

 

jeff

[Cat]

Makes me feel good about what we paid for Bandai Shorty motors!
=^,^=

[disturbman]

38 minutes ago, Cat said:

The only full size ones we have to date is a pair of Hitachinaka Seaside Railway Kihas,   Being Tomytec, had to splurge and buy a motor chassis for that too.  I presume for 34K, Popondetta at least includes a motor...
: 3

And directional lights, and a nice red book case.

Also, you do know you are not going to pay 34k, right? 😉

[Cat]

3 hours ago, disturbman said:

Also, you do know you are not going to pay 34k, right? 😉

With a lighting pack and shipping, that's a good rough ballpark to start with.

[bc6]

But for 12 cars I think its worth the price they are asking. 

[Tony Galiani]

The last Hobbysearch email I received indicated they were selling them for Y30,900.  So a slight bit better than 34,000.

Tony

[Cat]

5 hours ago, bc6 said:

But for 12 cars I think its worth the price they are asking. 

Two different separate sets of 6 cars.
 
Hmm, 1999 would not be a good place to pre-order this, even if they had the interior lighting set in stock, can't combine pre-orders with other items.

[bc6]

1 hour ago, Cat said:

Two different separate sets of 6 cars.
 
Hmm, 1999 would not be a good place to pre-order this, even if they had the interior lighting set in stock, can't combine pre-orders with other items.

Oh ok yeah $200 for 6 cars isnt good lol. 

[cteno4]

Yep why the small gulps there… but I succumbed to temptation and my preorder is in… my worst was like $230 for a greenmax 4 car set, but that was when the exchange rate was upside down to what it is currently.

 

jeff

[bc6]

Hobby Search has them for pre-order now. 

https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/search?typ1_c=104&cat=rail&state=&sold=0&sortid=7&searchkey=Osaka+Metro+Series+400

[maihama eki]

I bought the Toei 6500 Borg Cube for Y33000, so you know I had to order this sci-fi-tastic one as well despite the price.

 

I opted for the 406-07 train set over the 406-04 set (4 being an unlucky number in Japan).

 

I've been happy with Popo quality so far. I have 3 or 4 of their sets now.

[disturbman]

6 hours ago, Cat said:

Hmm, 1999 would not be a good place to pre-order this, even if they had the interior lighting set in stock, can't combine pre-orders with other items.

Arguably, Hobby Search is never a good place to order. They lack the flexibility of some other shops and are offering some of the smallest discount on the market. For these sets, they don't even offer any discount. The 30900 jpy they charge is Popondetta's recommended retail price without Japanese sales tax (see bottom of poster).

Edited February 15 by disturbman

[Madsing]

Amiami at ¥27,870

 

https://www.amiami.com/eng/detail?gcode=RAIL-36152

[Cat]

AmiAmi with 6 interior lights added comes in at ¥32,850, then add shipping.  So yes, mental ballpark of 34k is in the right range.  WIll continue to meditate.
 
I've only done a basic pre-order with AmiAmi long ago.  Not finding any clear info in their FAQ on whether or not in-stock items can be ordered and shipped with pre-order — yes, no?
 
I've bought a lot from 1999.  The large stock of so many different items is great for one-stop shopping and the single shipping for the mix is a huge savings all its own!

[disturbman]

They can if they are in-stock/orderable when the pre-ordered items are released. If you select "combine with monthly shipment", you can order something else at release and combine it with your pre-order. I haven't ordered with them in a while, but that's how I used to do.

[Cat]

Hmm, bit of a crap shoot then.  I suspect there will be a run on the lights when the trains arrive.

[Yavianice]

@Cat just buy a bunch of lights from KHAHO. KHAHO produces the lights for Popondetta in a different color and Popondetta sells them at a high premium. Recommend you do this before cheeto benito bans any imports from tsjaiina.

 

 

[Cat]

Those may be cheaper before paying for a second round of shipping, or fees to go through Buyee or whatnot for consolidation.
 
But at this point, I can mark myself safe from this impulse buy.  Had already calculated the ongoing job insecurity here at home with the ripple effects of all the slash and burn going on, so the wise course is to rein in hobby spending somewhat for the foreseeable future.
 
And we already have one very lovely large (for us) train when there's space to run it — the full Shorty Cassiopeia!

[Lessigen]

According to the conversation I had with KHAHO on Whatsapp this evening it seems like the going rate is HK$175 + ship (HK$80 for Canada) for the 7pcs. Makes it quite a bit cheaper than buying from AmiAmi but I'm not sure of the shipping prices for a comparable lighting kit bundle (like the 1561) from AmiAmi as I can't make an account right now due to maintenance.

 

Btw, this is the item in question, according to them. It's not listed as Popondetta, but that's what they told me is compatible with a Popondetta 1560: https://www.khahostore.com/products/鉄製所-窄tomix用進階形室內燈n-scale-interior-lightadvance-versionfor-tomixmicroace-narrow/

[Cat]

7 piece set at AmiAmi is ¥3,870 + shipping.  At culrrent rates: 26USD, 199HKD without shipping.
https://www.amiami.com/eng/detail/?gcode=RAIL-33308&srsltid=AfmBOoqNf4Pu47pdFVCqVMUH9MVTTa_Foz6x1Vdoc6hOv3C36lKMPWl2

[disturbman]

I caved in. I love so much quirky trains that I couldn't pass on that one. Even more since it runs on the Chuo line and I have a sentimental attachment to that line.