Falling in love - Saphir Odoriko by Kato - Unboxing

[JR East]

Hello, 

 

Yes ... falling in love at spring during the Covid remains possible. As I told you, I've received my Kato 10-1644 Saphir Odoriko in its mavelous blue box. Purchased at RG ROKKO, I ordered it together with the lighting system. 

 

For those not aware of what the Saphir Odoriko is, just drop an eye on the special JR East page and the Wikipedia E6261 Series page.

 

Let's discover now this incredible train set

 

The box

 

Délivered in a special glossy blue box ...

 

 

the train is protected in a "book"-like strong plastic container

 

 

As usual, the trainset in in a foam case, delivered with the Assy manual and the dry transfer labels for directions

 

 

One great thing is that trainset come pre-equiped with lighting trail (transparent plastic conducting light). This lighting trail is dedicted to the train as you'll discover belong. You'll have 'just' to install the copper connectors and the 11-214 leds. Just take time to install the orange filter to have this gorgeous soft lighting effect.

 

You'll notice in the picture below that I was so impatient to see the results that I didn"t clicked corrrectly two car ... Grrrrr (fixed now). 

 

Notice: you can click on each piture to see it in bigger size ... then click again to go to the original size in a separate window.

 

Let's now have a look a the cars, starting with the Car 1, a Premium Green Car

 

 

This pealy deep blue paint is incredible. I let you click on each image to see how the production is detailed. 
 

Meanwhile, if you want to see what 'Premium' means in Japan, just click here. 

 

Now, lets have a look on car 2 and 3, Green car private compartments. 

 

Going to the pictures, I noticed how this trainset is dissymetric ... Logical as the passengers must always face the see because the train is riding along the seaside.

 

 

Just look HERE how beautiful these compartments are. 

 

Hungry ? it's time to discover the car 4 which is the Cafeteria, you'll note there is no direction display, whatever the side is ... contrary to the other cars. 

 

 

Hey .... there are small illuminated lamps on the tables ... so romantic. It's where Kato is really Kato. 

 

 

Want to visit the cafeteria in real life (or next to ...) ... Click HERE. 

 

Cars 5 to 8 are 'standard' Green Cars

 

What does standard means? ... click HERE to know it

 

 

The labels of this Saphir Odoriko are really small ...; but beautiful

 

 

If you don't know how to stick them properly, just refer to this

 

 

I hope you'll enjoy this unboxing. For such a quality, this trainset is really affordable. 

 

 

 

Edited April 10, 2021 by JR East

[roadstar_na6]

Nice pictures, how did you take them? 🙂

[JR East]

32 minutes ago, roadstar_na6 said:

Nice pictures, how did you take them? 🙂

 

 

Tripod + EOS 550D (f/8 - Iso 100) + white platic background layer .... then Lightroom  for adjusting / aligning colors across pictures and crop them. 

Edited April 3, 2021 by JR East

[cteno4]

It is a beauty! I broke down and got one! Kato has gotten very good at doing the pearlescent paints, that at scale at time can come off badly. it really is a beauty.

 

@JR East you’re going to have to start shooting trains for the hobby shops, nice work!
 

Mine arrived with both motor bogies dislodged so I went about popping them back in. Shafts were out and they would not drop in so I went to remove the bottom cover but it didn’t budge, was pretty sure it would the the more modern slide forward ones, but did not want to force it. So I went to pop the shell off and man this was the tightest fitting shell I’ve ever popped off I think. Took 6 little prys in place to hold it all unlocked so it would pop apart finally! Shells have gotten thinner so I’m much more careful about wrenching them off and much gentler nowdays. Well once off I saw the bottom cover is Indeed a slide forward to unlock, it was just stuck, but got unstuck, shafts inserted and trucks remounted in a jiff. I think the tight fitting shell may have been keeping the bottom cover from unlocking.
 

cheers,

 

jeff

[JR 500系]

Beautiful review! Thanks for sharing this with us! It would make anyone grab the Saphir Odoriko in a flash just looking at all the beautiful photos you took!

 

I love how the lighting looks in the train, not too bright, just right for setting that classy romantic look!

 

Kudos to a great review! Thanks!

 

*I edited your title as it should be Saphir Odoriko, the Super Odoriko or Super View Odoriko is this fellow ~ Not as classy~

[disturbman]

Not anyone 😁 As much as I can recognize it’s a nice train, I have no desire to own a model of it. I said it somewhere else, JR East limited expressed are not my thing and I am biased against all these exclusive trains which I find... wasteful and an error.

[cteno4]

Sorry disturbman you are just in error...

 

jeff

[disturbman]

#notthefirst #notthelast

[JR East]

@disturbman - For sure, if you've in mind the Train Suite Shiki-shima, it's expensive. 

 

What I also love in this Saphir Odoriko is the price. 

 

Simple and 'stupid' comparison between French TGV from Lyon to Paris and Spahir Odoriko from Tokyo to Izukiu-Shimoda is fun.

 

 

 

Based on the current exchange rate, the Saphir Odoriko in Premium cost #90 euros and in standard green #70 euros. So you must recognize it's not an 'exclusive' train. We're far away of the fare price of the Shiki-shima or the TWilight EXpress Mizukaze. 

 

Where I disagree with you is about this remark "which I find... wasteful and an error.". If there is a market, no grabing it is a mistake. Luxury trains in the world are draining customers looking for exclusive services and comfort to discover a country (Orient Express in Europe, Imperial Russia and Luxury Transsiberian in Russia, Blue Train in South Africa etc etc....). Anyway, I understand you point of view, not all the people can love the same things or the life would be terribly dreary. 

 

 

Just to let you know, I'm not a big fan of the Shinkansen, they're fast, comfortable, with lots of nice services, but ... I'm rushing all the year long. What I love is sitting behind a windows and watch the countryside in a "slow" train. Sipping a cocktail, having a fine diner on top is my Nirvana. Unfortunately I won't be able to ride the Saphir Odoriko this year due to the travel restrictions, but I hope I can do it next time I'm in Japan (Sept'22 at least). I'll tke 2 days off just to make a trip to Izukyu-Shimoda.

 

One last thing I think those trains can be useful in Japan : the whole country has an incredible network. There are plenty of nice places along the costs, having such a train will also motivate people to discover those small town. 

 

  

 

 

 

 

Edited April 4, 2021 by JR East

[JR East]

6 hours ago, JR 500系 said:

Beautiful review! Thanks for sharing this with us! It would make anyone grab the Saphir Odoriko in a flash just looking at all the beautiful photos you took!

 

I love how the lighting looks in the train, not too bright, just right for setting that classy romantic look!

 

Kudos to a great review! Thanks!

 

*I edited your title as it should be Saphir Odoriko, the Super Odoriko or Super View Odoriko is this fellow ~ Not as classy~

 

I must thank the automatic correction .... GRRR . 

[disturbman]

I am aware it's a borderline case compared to the cruise train but it's still an exclusive or, if you prefer, premium train. All cars are green cars. The seat fee for a green seat one-way on the Saphir is 5,150 JPY compared to 4,080 JPY on a normal Odoriko service, or 2,100 JPY for a reserved seat. Compared to an eight-car E351 which has seating for 473 people, the Saphir can only seat 164 people (not counting the noodle bar).

Knowing that two sets were produced to run only two regular trains per day (and up to three additional with the temporary trains), I still find the idea wasteful.

I understand the reasoning behind it, I appreciate the train for what it is, but to me, as @200系stated somewhere else, this goes against some of the concepts I've always liked about trains.

[gavino200]

Wow! So judgy!

 

I just like how it looks. 😛

[disturbman]

Not trying to impose my view on anyone. As long as you enjoy your trains, all choo-choo-power to all of you.

[cteno4]

I thought we agreed you were just in error about all of this!? 😜

im kind of in gavin’s boat in it’s usually if I just like the looks of a train. I’m so horrid at remembering detailed facts that are not sort of functionally linked (give me a list to memorize and I will look like I have dementia, but give me a process and I’m like eidetic) that I’ve given up trying to collect trains based on where they run, period, etc, it’s just painful and poor performance for me. I enjoy the beauty of the trains and the scenes mostly, but that’s not everyone’s cup of tea...
 

jeff

[railsquid]

Not touching this one with a bargepole (unless it ever runs on the Chuo LIne, then a whole other set of principles comes into play 😉 ).

[disturbman]

12 hours ago, cteno4 said:

I thought we agreed you were just in error about all of this!? 😜

 

You agreed. I shrugged 😉