Can anyone HO-ok me up with a Kei Truck?

[EB421]

If I modelled Z, there's some lovely 3D printed models on eBay. (Found through a comment on this forum). If I modelled N, they're ten-a-penny. But I'm struggling to find any in 1/87 - or even 1/80. Given the point of a Kei Truck, I sadly find 1/64 too big.

 

Like @AhmadKane I just want my car in my scene. 🥲

 

If anyone could point me in the direction of any commercial model I've not found, I would be most grateful. Also, Jaguar X-Type. Can't find my first car any more than the second. I can find lots of Smart Car's though, so I guess the correct answer is to buy one of those? And then buy a 1/87 model of it! 🥁🥁-Tsch.

 

Any help would be appreciated!

 

Edited February 9 by EB421

[bill937ca]

Very little available in HO. N scale is the overwhelming market leader in Japan, with market share in the 70%-85% range. Tomytec makes some HO models, but all recent models are buses. There were some general vehicles but that was over a decade ago.

 

https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/list/3065/6/1?Make=Tomytec

 

TGW (Tsugawa) has offered some Japanese vehicles but not the Kei truck. 

https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/list/3065/6/1?Make=TGW+(Tsugawa)

 

Most HO vehicles offered by Hobby Search are imported models.

[cteno4]

Have you looked around shapeways? It’s frustrating to use their search function, but there are some odd Japanese vehicles folks have put up there. If not in your scale you could ask the seller to do it to your scale desired. Some do this.

 

jeff

[Beaver]

On 12/16/2023 at 3:04 PM, bill937ca said:

Tomytec makes some HO models, but all recent models are buses. There were some general vehicles but that was over a decade ago.

 

https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/list/3065/6/1?Make=Tomytec

 

TGW (Tsugawa) has offered some Japanese vehicles but not the Kei truck. 

https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/list/3065/6/1?Make=TGW+(Tsugawa)

 

Additionally they are all 1/80.

 

For 1/87 Japanese outline the only real option is models of imported foreign vehicles (eg; original VW Beetle). I also use 1/80 motorbikes with the idea that they are not big enough as objects in scale for the size difference to be obvious.

[EB421]

By the way, meet "Rover 2": My Suzuki Carry Kei Truck!

 

 

Well sort of. Technically this is a "Bedford Rascal", the 1980's version of my Kei Truck. Close enough!

 

 

It's kind of become the theme to have family cars around for the layout. Mother drives a Golf, father drives an Audi, my Niece is obsessed with the Triumph Herald and the Suzuki is mine.

 

We don't have a Beetle though. That's meant as a reference to the Antarctica Beetles from the Australian Antarctic Expeditions. Some pictures of the originals can be found on "Just Kampers" if you're interested,

 

https://www.justkampers.com/jkblog/the-beetle-that-conquered-antarctica-232/

 

And Calum of Raasay did a fantastic video on them too.

 

 

Now I need to find some tiny, tiny expedition decals for it! Also hm, did you know Japan has something similar? The DA16T truck that superceded my DA63T had a special one-off made for JARE, and lives at Syowa base in Antarctica too! Maybe I should get a little blue Kei Truck made as well to go with the Beetle...

 

Edited February 9 by EB421
added some extra detail.