to2leo Posted October 3, 2009 Share Posted October 3, 2009 No sure if this is posted yet but Popondetta is making all the sets available for pre-order. Prices are in Japanese Yen http://www.popondetta.jp/asp/cgi-bin/shop.php?forward=cst&num=10001 14-801-1, 4, 5 富山ライトレールTLR0601（赤） MSRP 9975, Pre-order 7481, shop 7980 40-900 ユニトラムスターターセット (Starter Set) MSRP 32550, Pre-order 24412, shop 26040 40-800 ユニトラム路面軌道基本セット(V50 set) MSRP 18900, Pre-order 14175, shop 15120 Link to comment
Concept Model Trains Posted October 6, 2009 Share Posted October 6, 2009 Hobby Search have listed the Unitram range for preorder. http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10100322 http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10100321 http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10100318 http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10100316 http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10100320 Link to comment
disturbman Posted October 6, 2009 Share Posted October 6, 2009 Same goes for Hobby Word. - http://www.hwjapan.com/sh/KAT2009100601.aspx - http://www.hwjapan.com/sh/KAT2009100603.aspx - http://www.hwjapan.com/sh/KAT2009100602.aspx - http://www.hwjapan.com/sh/KAT2009100605.aspx - http://www.hwjapan.com/sh/KAT2009100604.aspx Release date... december. Link to comment
David Posted October 6, 2009 Share Posted October 6, 2009 That's a big price difference. I've ordered from Hobby Search before and was pleased, any difficulties for foreigners ordering from Hobby World? Link to comment
disturbman Posted October 6, 2009 Share Posted October 6, 2009 Nope, I'm more than happy with them. The service is nice, you can even get in contact with them in english and they give you the opportunity to choose SAL or EMS shipping. Since I discovered HW I avoid to order at HS. Link to comment
bill937ca Posted October 6, 2009 Share Posted October 6, 2009 Release date... december. Aeh, but Kato's releases are often late. December probably means December 28th, the last work day before the country shuts down for New Years. Link to comment
to2leo Posted October 6, 2009 Author Share Posted October 6, 2009 Bill is probably right but I am still hoping HW Japan's Japnese site for the release date of 2009/11/下旬発売予定 is correct! http://hobbyworld.aoshima-bk.co.jp/scripts/hw/yoyaku.aspx?sc=28 Also, searching the HW's Japanese site has made me realised that HW, like Popondetta, also deduct the service tax for Overseas customer in their English site. Another reason to buy from HW? Link to comment
bill937ca Posted October 6, 2009 Share Posted October 6, 2009 Also, searching the HW's Japanese site has made me realised that HW, like Popondetta, also deduct the service tax for Overseas customer in their English site. Another reason to buy from HW? The tax seems to be deducted by everybody but Tokyo Rail. But he's often got what the others no longer have because he sells at full retail. It wasn't too long ago that there were virtually no discounts in Japan. Link to comment
bill937ca Posted October 6, 2009 Share Posted October 6, 2009 Bill is probably right but I am still hoping HW Japan's Japnese site for the release date of 2009/11/下旬発売予定 is correct! http://hobbyworld.aoshima-bk.co.jp/scripts/hw/yoyaku.aspx?sc=28 Another thing that often happens with Kato is that very popular items are short shipped. It's a family business and the plan is the plan. I'm not sure how much demand there will be for these items apart from a few hardcore. Then again Kato is not the only hobby company that has short shipments. It also happens with Corgi. I've seen re-releases be 1-3 months late which I find hard to understand. You issued it before, why is it late? Kato's not the only one. MicroAce issued a Kintetsu 8000 EMU set which was supposed to be released in January, then February, then March, then April, then June and it was finally released in August. Why? Maybe they had to change factories and start over. At least one factory did go bankrupt in China over the last year. Link to comment
cteno4 Posted October 7, 2009 Share Posted October 7, 2009 Unitram track is now ready for pre-orders for november release. Basic Set Oval hobbyworld $140 http://www.hwjapan.com/sh/KAT2009100605.aspx hobbysearch $180 http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10100320 Starter set with oval and tram and power pack hobbyworld $241 http://www.hwjapan.com/sh/KAT2009100604.aspx hobbysearch $310 http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10100316 ------------------- Kato portrams are out for pre-order for november release. Again hobbyworld comes in with a great pre-release price! Hobbyworld $74 http://www.hwjapan.com/sh/KAT2009100601.aspx http://www.hwjapan.com/sh/KAT2009100602.aspx http://www.hwjapan.com/sh/KAT2009100603.aspx Hobbysearch $95 http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10100318 http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10100321 http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10100322 cheers, jeff Link to comment
disturbman Posted October 7, 2009 Share Posted October 7, 2009 Moderation: I created a dedicated subject for this. The same information was being repeated again & again. Now everything is centralized and easily visible for anyone. Link to comment
cteno4 Posted October 7, 2009 Share Posted October 7, 2009 sorry didnt find the other posts when i did a quick search. draw back of the forum system when things split, grow, evolve... cheers jeff Link to comment
bill937ca Posted October 7, 2009 Share Posted October 7, 2009 Unitram track is now ready for pre-orders for november release. ------------------- Kato portrams are out for pre-order for november release. Again hobbyworld comes in with a great pre-release price! But you know as of this morning there is still nothing on Kato's production schedule. http://www.katomodels.com/distribution/schedule_e.shtml Link to comment
disturbman Posted October 7, 2009 Share Posted October 7, 2009 No need to be sorry Jeff, you were not the only one and as you point it out this things happen when the information and the dicussions are spread over different threads. edit: Bill I'm more confident in the retailers website than the official website of any producer. Link to comment
bill937ca Posted October 7, 2009 Share Posted October 7, 2009 edit: Bill I'm more confident in the retailers website than the official website of any producer. Of the five items only the red Portram tram and the starter set are scheduled for November release according to HS. The other cars and track set are December releases. Link to comment
Bernard Posted October 7, 2009 Share Posted October 7, 2009 Release date... december. Aeh, but Kato's releases are often late. December probably means December 28th, the last work day before the country shuts down for New Years. Bill - Does Kato take in account the Christmas rush and some of the items might be Xmas gifts? Link to comment
disturbman Posted October 7, 2009 Share Posted October 7, 2009 In Japan? Isn't Xmas a lover's day in Japan? Link to comment
bill937ca Posted October 7, 2009 Share Posted October 7, 2009 Aeh, but Kato's releases are often late. December probably means December 28th, the last work day before the country shuts down for New Years. Bill - Does Kato take in account the Christmas rush and some of the items might be Xmas gifts? I don't think so. Release dates are often at the end of the month. Japan doesn't celebrate Christmas. Most year end gifts in Japan are for New Years so December 28 works. Ive been burned twice with December releases. A Kato "December" release (actually a re-release appeared in February) and another I canceled when I realized it wouldn't come until the New Year...and it was ordered in May for October release!! These dates aren't cast in stone. Usually they don't go over the fiscal year end of March 31st, but that doesn't really help in this case. Link to comment
Bernard Posted October 7, 2009 Share Posted October 7, 2009 What I'm really implying is that Xmas is a big time of year for retailers especially for trains. I know most Japanese don't celebrate Christmas, but what about the other countries Kato supplies to? There might be a lot of disappointed people who ordered the Kato Portram as a Xmas gift for someone only to find out it will be arriving very late. Link to comment
disturbman Posted October 7, 2009 Share Posted October 7, 2009 I'm not sure they are a lot of them compared to the Japanese market. It will certainly be different if we were speaking about a special release of an american loc or train. Link to comment
bill937ca Posted October 7, 2009 Share Posted October 7, 2009 What I'm really implying is that Xmas is a big time of year for retailers especially for trains. I know most Japanese don't celebrate Christmas, but what about the other countries Kato supplies to? There might be a lot of disappointed people who ordered the Kato Portram as a Xmas gift for someone only to find out it will be arriving very late. The Japanese have a totally different view point. The gifts you may see in JR Tokai Christmas ads are the equivalent of Valentine's Day gifts in the west. Christmas eve is the romantic date. Christmas Day is just another work day, another rush hour. December 28 is the start of the homeward rush and even there the important holiday dates aren't until January 1-3 when everyone goes to the Shrine to pray. There are gifts given at New Years, but these generally are obligation gifts. Year end is also bonus time and bonuses are not linked to performance for cultural reasons having to do with face. I suspect those that choose to spend their bonus on toys are not in a position to do so until late December. Holidays like New Years are some of the busiest days of the year for the railways. While most stores are closed on National Holidays, department stores which are often owned by railways are open (i.e. you can go there for your holiday model trains ). Remember the 9 million model railroaders in Japan versus 500,000 in North America? We are just barely on the radar. Link to comment
Hobby Dreamer Posted October 8, 2009 Share Posted October 8, 2009 Thanks guys for the relevant links, prices and comparison prices! I quite optimistic about Kato's venture as the Unitram track is the best tram track I have ever seen in any scale (and I have found about 12 over the years). They are sure to produce more than ovals and likely will produce additional trams. The track is well thought out, looks very contemporary and , if one did not know, it is almost spot on for Japanese tram track. Thanks Again Rick Link to comment
to2leo Posted October 8, 2009 Author Share Posted October 8, 2009 I am just really :grin that the starter set will come out at the end of November! If this is true, I will be among the first to line up at Tam Tam in Akihabara or Chiba! It is very interesting that there are 9 million vs. 500 000 in NA. I wonder if I can get pre-owned Unitracks on the cheap in 2nd hand stores. Link to comment
to2leo Posted October 8, 2009 Author Share Posted October 8, 2009 More confirmation about Nov release. http://ngi.blog.eonet.jp/n_gauge/2009/10/kato20091006-ef.html 40-900 ユニトラムスターターセット 富山ライトレールTLR0601（赤） 32,550円 14-801-1 富山ライトレール TLR0601（赤） 9,975円 Link to comment
bill937ca Posted October 8, 2009 Share Posted October 8, 2009 Unitram fans don't loose it. :blob1: http://popondetta.com/blog/2009/10/2_5.html Link to comment
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