Japanese ho scale buildings manufacturers?

[Simon moore]

I'm looking for some manufacturers who produce japanese buildings in ho.

I'm totally new to japanese modelling so I'm trying to find suppliers.

 

Can anyone recommend some suppliers.

 

Cheers

 

Si

[bill937ca]

HO is a niche scale in  Japan.  Sankei paper kits are probably the most common.

 

The Hobby Search HO structures lists manufacturers I'm not familiar with.

 

https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/list/3066/6/1

[Kamome]

Very little off the shelf product for Japanese HO, especially when compared to the wealth of product for N. 

 

Most are paper kits or thin MDF type kits but there are also some plastic options. 

 

Cosmic do a lot of station area kits, platform sections, canopies, driver offices etc..

 

Echo Models produce a lot of details and other parts. 

 

M’s collection through Echo models do some nice small structures. 

 

Plum do a few paper engine shed kits and plastic details like relay boxes. 

 

Iori studio also do paper/wooden kits or structures. 

 

Pretty much all of these produced kits are available at shops like Imon. 

 

If you’re totally new and weighing up ideas, N scale maybe an easier choice, certainly to find product. HO road vehicles are another area difficult to find although images of Japanese HO layouts always look incredibly well modelled.

 

 

 

 

[marknewton]

Adding to Kamome’s list I’d mention Baiodo. They make kits of shops and houses, all of which are quite nice.
 

https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/list/3066/6/1?Make=Baiodo

 

I’m building one of their house kits at the moment:

 

 

The other building in this photo is a plastic kit by TGW/Tsugawa. It’s fairly basic, but you can either detail it or use it as a background building.

 

Something to consider is that a lot of modern Japanese buildings are simple rectangular shapes, and very easy to scratchbuild. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

All the best,

 

Mark.

 

 

 

 

[Kamome]

Ironically, that HO scale Mazda K360 in your last photo is one of many difficult to find road vehicles. @marknewton

[marknewton]

Kamome, when buying model road vehicles, I’ve concentrated on the sort of vehicles that would typically be seen around stations. Ordinary cars, taxis, small and large commercial vehicles, the occasional police car, and buses. 
 

 

 

 

Cheers,

 

Mark.
 

[Kamome]

That’s an impressive collection. The challenge i’ve had is 

a. finding vehicles for sale.

b. being of a price that is not unreasonable. (Tomytec ones are occasionally a fair price but the Time ones are 4 or 5 times their original price)

 

I do like those Subaru 360s. 

 

My collection of vehicles is comparatively small as Tomytec haven’t re run so relying on the used market. 

 

Prince Clipper Truck (mid 60s/early 70s)

Toyopet Masterline(late 50s/early 60s)

 

Police Skyline C10 Van 1968

Police Skyline C211 circa 1980

Police 2nd Gen. Nissan caravan (mid 70s-1980)

Nippon Express Hino TC30 Truck (late 60s)

 

Edited August 4 by Kamome

[marknewton]

On 8/3/2024 at 11:23 PM, Kamome said:

That’s an impressive collection…I do like those Subaru 360s. 

Thanks Kamome. I’ve sent you a PM regarding the Subarus.

 

Cheers,

 

Mark.