KATO Anime theme n scale passenger cars?

[Dillon]

Odd but short question, since I like anime and plan to operate my layout at my local convention, did KATO make some anime theme passenger cars? I know they did the EVA Shinkansen a while back, and I was wondering if they made any other anime theme products since it would be good for operating my layout at the convention.

 

Thanks for reading.

 

-Dillon Trinh, The Little Nevada

[katoftw]

Tomix and Greenmax do most of the Anime theme stuff.  Kato and MicroAce rarely go there.

[Dillon]

13 minutes ago, katoftw said:

Tomix and Greenmax do most of the Anime theme stuff.  Kato and MicroAce rarely go there.

Gotcha, thanks

 

Well rip

Edited May 23 by Dillon

[chadbag]

Having said that I have several KATO E231 in "anime" livery -- one Sumikko Gurachi and one Rila Kuma.  Also have a MicroAce Rapi:t Sumikko Gurachi train.

 

Also have a KATO Girls and Panzer train as well.

 

I do see more on the Tomix side, especially Tomytech.

[bill937ca]

These require licensing from the producer and are not all that common.

 

Kato 10-922  Series 205-3100 Senseki Line `Mangattan Liner II` (4-Car Set) (Model Train) but it's a Manga train.

https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10110217

 

Limited Edition] Lupin The Third Wrapping Train - J.R. Type KiHa54-500 Updated Car (Hanasaki Line) One Car (w/Motor) (w/Headlight(One Side)   [Lupine the Third generation] anime. Green Max Kiha 54 base.

https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10586074

 

 

[bill937ca]

Tomytec has released a fair number which are  more like minor railway interurbans than main line trains.

 

K On!

https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10297984

https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10316321

 

Sound! Euphonium

https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/11068615

https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10956492

https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10573809

https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10421200

 

`Tetsudou Musume` Railway Daughter  Some are trams.

https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10364782

https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10233528

https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10233527

https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10501591

 

These generally are all sold out.  Setting up an account with a proxy agent will provide access to the Japanese domestic market.

[bill937ca]

Rilakkuma character trains.

https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10246583

https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10247213

[disturbman]

10 hours ago, Dillon said:

Well rip

Why RIP? Tomix, GM and MicroAce models are as good as Kato's. There is no reason to limit yourself to Kato.

The MA Keikyu Sky Train x Summiko Gurashi is currently on sale at AmiAmi. Though not technically an "anime-themed" train, it's plenty cute and a beautiful train in itself,
https://www.amiami.com/eng/detail/?gcode=RAIL-30978

Otherwise @bill937ca is right, you will need to use a proxy service to hunt for some specific anime-theme trains. But all painted trains are usually hard to find and can cost a pretty penny, like the MA Seibu 3000 series Galaxy Express. It's better to pre-order them.

[Beaver]

Don't forget B-Train Shorties also includes some anime trains and are trivially easy to assemble, and there have also been some proper kits, especially of the Keihan Otsu wrapping trains, which include large sheets of transfers for the artwork (may be difficult to apply accurately to the body shell due to their size).

[Dillon]

4 hours ago, disturbman said:

Why RIP? Tomix, GM and MicroAce models are as good as Kato's. There is no reason to limit yourself to Kato.

It's not that, I was worried about how compatible are the models in terms of coupling since I like to operate different models in one train and if I need to switch out the couplings, which is going to be a big project all in itself the other company models look very great and thumbs up to Tomix and the others.

[Beaver]

Don't they all come fitted with the standard Arnold 'Rapido' type by default? Yes, the means by which the couplings are attached differ but this is not a problem unless changing to another coupling type such as Kato knuckles or Micro Ace miniature Shibatas or the like.

 

If you have personally standardised on a coupling other than the default Arnold then I recognise that there is an obstacle there for you and apologise for being a nob.

[disturbman]

On 5/24/2024 at 3:05 PM, Dillon said:

It's not that, I was worried about how compatible are the models in terms of coupling since I like to operate different models in one train and if I need to switch out the couplings, which is going to be a big project all in itself the other company models look very great and thumbs up to Tomix and the others.

How big is your layout? xD

I have to say, I'm not free enough to mix rolling-stock like that and make "Frankenstein" long consists. I prefer to run them alongside one another. In the case of the set I linked, I would perhaps run it coupled with another 4-car Keikyu train, like irl, but that's already a relatively long train.

@Beaver Complicated subject. MA and GM multiple-units come with Rapidos. Depending if the sets are high grade or not, special editions or not, Tomix trains come either equipped with their proprietary kinematic TN couplers or with Rapidos. Kato mostly uses their own proprietary kinematic short couplers nowadays. All brands except Kato are compatible with body-mounted Tomix TN couplers. It's always possible to equip non-Kato trains with Kato pocket-mounted couplers.

Personally, I prefer to equip them with TNs and to not mix Kato and the other brands. But I don't mind mixing GM/MA/Tomix if I can justify it. There are always a few combinations possible, like running Tomix JR Hokkaido Kiha 40 with a GM JR Hokkaido Kiha 54, or running a GM Keikyu coupled with a MA Keikyu, but I normally only keep one motor per train as otherwise it can lead to headaches when running DC.

[Dillon]

41 minutes ago, disturbman said:

How big is your layout? xD

Not really big.

 

41 minutes ago, disturbman said:

I have to say, I'm not free enough to mix rolling-stock like that and make "Frankenstein" long consists. I prefer to run them alongside one another. In the case of the set I linked, I would perhaps run it coupled with another 4-car Keikyu train, like irl, but that's already a relatively long train.

Understandable, though where I’m from the passenger consist is usually mixed and match depending on the heritage operation, and that’s perfectly fine, we all have our own preferences on what we want on our train and operation, isn’t this what the hobby is about? No disrespect.

Edited May 29 by Dillon

[cteno4]

Yep @Dillon the hobby is about what you enjoy doing! There are the spectrum from those that have to make sure the car numbers are in perfect match/order to those who like to mix it all up. No right way or wrong way, just the way you enjoy. Things get unfun fast when it’s you must do it this way comes in.

 

as others have noted it can be difficult with couplers to mix and match much, but it can be done. Most prototype Japanese passenger consists are pretty uniform. Older loco drawn passenger cars had a bit more variety of consists. With the advent of DMUs and EMUs the consists became pretty uniform and stayed together a lot more.

 

jeff

[Dillon]

16 minutes ago, cteno4 said:

Yep @Dillon the hobby is about what you enjoy doing! There are the spectrum from those that have to make sure the car numbers are in perfect match/order to those who like to mix it all up. No right way or wrong way, just the way you enjoy. Things get unfun fast when it’s you must do it this way comes in.

 

as others have noted it can be difficult with couplers to mix and match much, but it can be done. Most prototype Japanese passenger consists are pretty uniform. Older loco drawn passenger cars had a bit more variety of consists. With the advent of DMUs and EMUs the consists became pretty uniform and stayed together a lot more.

 

jeff

Agreed.

[disturbman]

3 hours ago, Dillon said:

Understandable, though where I’m from the passenger consist is usually mixed and match depending on the heritage operation, and that’s perfectly fine, we all have our own preferences on what we want on our train and operation, isn’t this what the hobby is about? No disrespect.

Obviously. Your railway, your rules. I was not advocating for your to change your way of doing, just somehow lamenting that I had not your freedom of thoughts.

I'm quite curious about how you run your trains. Do you have examples of your mixed consists?

Edited May 29 by disturbman

[Dillon]

26 minutes ago, disturbman said:

I'm quite curious about how you run your trains. Do you have examples of your mixed consists?

No photos, but I have mixed Milwaukee Road, SP, and UP cars mix and matched them once before.

 

Mostly passenger excursions.

[disturbman]

Ah... That explains a lot. You approached this question from an American position and we all answered from a Japanese one. We should have taken "passenger car" literally, due to the international nature of the forum, I think we all read it as meaning "passenger trains".

In that case, afaik, I'm afraid you won't find any anime-themed passenger cars. Japan has been running multiple units for many decades and passenger cars are relatively rare and mostly pre-date the innovative liveries that we have become accustomed to. There might be a couple of random anime-themed passenger excursion cars, notably an Anpanman one, but none has been produced in model form. All anime/kawai models are multiple units.

[Kamome]

4 hours ago, disturbman said:

All anime/kawai models are multiple units

Indeed. As Japan prioritises passenger traffic over freight like many other countries, multiple units have become the norm. This probably enables better acceleration and braking meaning you can run services closer together. There are very few loco hauled trains these days other than special steam services or special rail tour events which are railway related rather than anime themed. 

 

SL Hitoyoshi did do some Kimitsu no yaiba events due to a movie having a similar looking steam train. This is not available in model form although there was a pura-rail version. 

 

Otherwise there are a few painted diesel cars like the Yuru camp and Evangelion

 

https://www.tomytec.co.jp/tomix/products/n/8609.html

 

https://www.tomytec.co.jp/tomix/products/n/8610.html

Edited May 29 by Kamome

[Dillon]

On 5/29/2024 at 11:55 AM, disturbman said:

In that case, afaik, I'm afraid you won't find any anime-themed passenger cars. Japan has been running multiple units for many decades and passenger cars are relatively rare and mostly pre-date the innovative liveries that we have become accustomed to. There might be a couple of random anime-themed passenger excursion cars, notably an Anpanman one, but none has been produced in model form. All anime/kawai models are multiple units.

ah okay, no big deal.