32nd Annual Railway Model Show at Matsuya Ginza

[bill937ca]

HS has a report on the 32nd annual Railway Model Show at Matsuya Ginza during late July.  Not much on Kato yet, there may be more pages to come.

 

Spoiler (Tomix, Tomytec, Green Max, Modemo, Kato)

 

http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/blog/1007223'>http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/blog/1007223

 

Part 1 (various layouts and displays)

 

http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/blog/100722

 

Part 2 (more displays)

 

http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/blog/1007232

 

Micro Ace-JR

 

http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/blog/1007242'>http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/blog/1007242

 

Micro Ace--JNR

 

http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/blog/100724

[David]

Apart from some diesels at the end, did anyone get the impression that Tomix's lineup is almost a carbon copy of what is already out or annouced by Kato?

 

Also a confirmation that the new Kato power pack is mainly aimed at HO scale, rather then being some kind of advanced N scale controller.

 

Most of the Microace stuff wasn't new, but up until now we've only seen prototype photos instead of models.

[westfalen]

Those Kawai old time passenger cars look suspiciously like the old Bachmann cars.

[David]

I thought they looked similar, but not identical, to Athearn passenger sets, but the reason is they are based on almost identical prototypes. The Bachmann excursion cars also have similar features, but again this is because most American (where the Japanese cars where imported from) passenger cars followed the same form follows function design due to the need for ventilation and low platform height. Of course it wouldn't be a total surprise if they did use an older Bachmann molding. Kawai already sells Bachmann Plymouth switches as "C" type switchers (even though the wheel arrangement was probably wrong for any Japanese prototype).

[to2leo]

If I am getting those old timer passenger cars, I would wait for Athearn.  It is one of the few US brands that does not disappoint in terms of quality vs. price.

[David]

The Athearn sets are long out (many sold out, it took a while for me to complete my CP set). They came as a single 50' coach and a 4 pack (coach, business, baggage, combine I think) in a number of road names. There was also some 36' sets representing even earlier prototypes, though the details seemed largely the same. I'm not sure how prototypical the details are (they seem to use a lot of generic detail and roadname lettering) but it's a descent looking set.

 

My only comments about the Athearn old time heavy weight sets (McHenry couplers) are that the plastic wheels are not very free running at all, and the cars themselves weigh a ton (the original wood prototypes where heavy too). Only very heavy locomotive models (large diesels) or locomotives equipped with traction tires are effective at pulling the full set - it's kind of scary watching an Atlas MP15DC spinning its wheels trying to pull 5 passenger cars.

[to2leo]

@David

 

You might be happy to hear they are releasing a new block of them.

http://www.nscalesupply.com/ath/ATH-Passenger-Overland.html

[David]

Oh good, more Canadian National sets. My LHS has been trying to get rid of their stack of CN overland sets for ages, even when marked down. By comparison getting a Canadian Pacific set is nearly impossible.

[to2leo]

hahaha you might want to let Athearn know about that!

[westfalen]

I thought they looked similar, but not identical, to Athearn passenger sets, but the reason is they are based on almost identical prototypes. The Bachmann excursion cars also have similar features, but again this is because most American (where the Japanese cars where imported from) passenger cars followed the same form follows function design due to the need for ventilation and low platform height. Of course it wouldn't be a total surprise if they did use an older Bachmann molding. Kawai already sells Bachmann Plymouth switches as "C" type switchers (even though the wheel arrangement was probably wrong for any Japanese prototype).

I was thinking of the cars made for the 4-4-0 like in this set. http://www.bachmanntrains.com/home-usa/products.php?act=viewProd&productId=3381 They've been around for many years (since 1979) but I don't know if they've been sold in Japan before.

[David]

Ok, yeah, those are the exact same molds. I had to find a larger image (try the Prairie Flyer Set, same thing, yellow paint scheme). Exact same windows, exact same under carrage pieces, exact same trucks, exact same set of railings. Same moldings near and under the roof detail. Yes, Kawai has again bought some Bachmann stock and painted it another scheme. At least this time there is a believable prototype.

[westfalen]

Makes you wonder which came first, the chicken or the egg, are they Japanese cars disguised for the US market or vice versa.

 

But back O.T. Any more news from the show?

[bill937ca]

Makes you wonder which came first, the chicken or the egg, are they Japanese cars disguised for the US market or vice versa.

 

But back O.T. Any more news from the show?

 

I haven't seen anything more.  Guess we'll have to wait for JAM. 

[westfalen]

They are holding JAM two days before I arrive in Japan, very inconsiderate of them.

[bill937ca]

More Micro Ace--private railways.

 

http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/blog/1007263

[gmat]

If you are in the area, MacDonalds near Shimbashi has a series of toy trains that come with the Happy Meal. Got a handout while at another Macs.

Best wishes,

Grant.

[bill937ca]

Finally, here is the Kato report.  There are Unitram expansion sets, but two of the three sets are pavement sets.  No switches or crossovers.

 

40-821 Unitram Expansion Set City Corner

40-804 Unitram Endless rail expansion set

40-820 Unitram Expansion Set Townscape

 

http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/blog/1007283

[westfalen]

It's good to see some more Unitram pieces coming, but Y4,620 for two straights?

[bill937ca]

The latest installment, this time from the Modemo booth.

 

http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/blog/100731

[sleon]

You might want to take a look at my photos from Tokyo train stores and the Matsuya Ginza show. I was in Japan on vacation and got to do some shopping.

 

I don't have a blog for this, but Jerry Quinn published the first installment here: http://quinntopia.blogspot.com/2010/08/tokyo-hobby-shops.html

 

Steve Leon

sl@leonhouse.org