Kato - New Releases

[chadbag]

On 12/10/2024 at 1:35 AM, disturbman said:

As a side note for the Yuros of the forum, the VT18/BR175 are under an export ban to Europe. The sets will be sold as Lemke exclusive and can only be gotten locally.

 

Looking at it on Amazon JP now with a delivery address in Japan, there is only one seller listed for the complete 6 car set and they're selling at an inflated price inside Japan.  120,000 yen.  (DB AG)

We'll see once it is released what happens to it inside Japan.

 

[maihama eki]

I picked up both the E655 5-car set and the Emperor's car maybe more than 10 years back.

 

It seems both will be available again. The 5-car set has a new Kato item number, 10-1991. The Emperor's car is the same item number that I have, 4935-1.

https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/11168382

https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/11168383

[JR East]

4 hours ago, maihama eki said:

I picked up both the E655 5-car set and the Emperor's car maybe more than 10 years back.

 

It seems both will be available again. The 5-car set has a new Kato item number, 10-1991. The Emperor's car is the same item number that I have, 4935-1.

https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/11168382

https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/11168383

I've ordered them at RGR as it was one one of my must have I was chasing and second hand prices were ridiculously high. 

[cplchanb]

On 2/5/2025 at 3:38 AM, JR East said:

I've ordered them at RGR as it was one one of my must have I was chasing and second hand prices were ridiculously high. 

yup same here. I was looking for one for the longest of times so i had to jump on it as soon as the announcement came. 

[Lessigen]

https://ngauge.jp/kato-sm20250219/

 

Plenty of pics of the Osaka 323 with 2025 Expo wrap, Alps loco sets and a bunch more. Too bad it's practically impossible to get the 323 outside of Japan with the copyright export ban, I would love to have one in my collection.

 

I do also hope KATO does re-release a Re 460 some day - I did not realize they already made one previously until writing this post - I would like to have one alongside their Hobbytrain IC2000/2020 offerings as an alternative to paying the outrageous pricing for a Fleischmann or Minitrix...

[Lessigen]

New KATO posters for April through August, including a Hobby Center exclusive. Interestingly some commemorative train sets to celebrate the 60th anniversary of N Scale: https://www.katomodels.com/product/n/n60th_local_sen

 

https://ngauge.jp/kato202508/

https://ngauge.jp/hck202508/

 

Edited March 7 by Lessigen

[cplchanb]

11 hours ago, Lessigen said:

New KATO posters for April through August, including a Hobby Center exclusive. Interestingly some commemorative train sets to celebrate the 60th anniversary of N Scale: https://www.katomodels.com/product/n/n60th_local_sen

 

https://ngauge.jp/kato202508/

https://ngauge.jp/hck202508/

 

already preordered those 2 60th ann sets!! 😁

[Lessigen]

6 minutes ago, cplchanb said:

already preordered those 2 60th ann sets!! 😁

 

Same here! The diorama they took the pictures of the units on are really beautiful. I'd love to see it in its entirety.

[drt7uk]

Is there any more news regarding their intended release of the E8 Series?

[Wolf]

4 minutes ago, drt7uk said:

Is there any more news regarding their intended release of the E8 Series?

No

[ED75-775]

One to watch out for - Mr. Kato himself has announced on his Facebook page that Kato is developing a new model of the Rhaetian Railway Ge6/6 I 'Crocodile' locomotive. The post featured a short video of the sample model in operation, as well as advising that the model will be on display at Intermodellbau Dortmund (10-13 April). Presumably more details will be released at the same time.

 

Alastair

[Lessigen]

New product posters! E8 Series Shinkansen (plus a special edition) finally revealed + release of 87 Series TWILIGHT EXPRESS MIZUKAZE (not the special edition)!

Other items include the HB-E300, 885 Series "Around the Kyushu" and a re-release of the M250 Series.

All items have a expected release date of August 2025.

 

https://www.katomodels.com/product/n/e8_tsubasa MSRP ¥ 27,500

https://www.katomodels.com/product/n/mizukaze_slm MSRP ¥ 20,900 (Basic 4-car) + ¥ 19,800 (Addon 6-car)

 

https://www.katomodels.com/product/n/hb_e300_buna MSRP ¥ 15,620

https://www.katomodels.com/product/n/885kei_2nd_around_vc MSRP ¥ 20,900

https://www.katomodels.com/product/n/m250kei_pc MSRP ¥ 15,730 (Basic 2-car)+ ¥ 12,430 (Addon 4-car) + ¥ 22,660 (Addon 8-car)

 

https://ngauge.jp/poster/kato202508_404/

 

Pinging @drt7uk as you were asking about info of the e8 release

Edited 13 hours ago by Lessigen

[drt7uk]

7 hours ago, Lessigen said:

New product posters! E8 Series Shinkansen (plus a special edition) finally revealed.

Pinging @drt7uk as you were asking about info of the e8 release

 

Thanks so much for flagging that and tagging me in. My pre-order has gone in immediately at HobbySearch!

[Section31]

10 hours ago, Lessigen said:

New product posters! E8 Series Shinkansen (plus a special edition) finally revealed + release of 87 Series TWILIGHT EXPRESS MIZUKAZE (not the special edition)!

Other items include the HB-E300, 885 Series "Around the Kyushu" and a re-release of the M250 Series.

All items have a expected release date of August 2025.

 

https://www.katomodels.com/product/n/e8_tsubasa MSRP ¥ 27,500

https://www.katomodels.com/product/n/mizukaze_slm MSRP ¥ 20,900 (Basic 4-car) + ¥ 19,800 (Addon 6-car)

 

https://www.katomodels.com/product/n/hb_e300_buna MSRP ¥ 15,620

https://www.katomodels.com/product/n/885kei_2nd_around_vc MSRP ¥ 20,900

https://www.katomodels.com/product/n/m250kei_pc MSRP ¥ 15,730 (Basic 2-car)+ ¥ 12,430 (Addon 4-car) + ¥ 22,660 (Addon 8-car)

 

https://ngauge.jp/poster/kato202508_404/

 

Pinging @drt7uk as you were asking about info of the e8 release

 

Nice releases. I saw on Khaho facebook page. Bought the e8 and the express mizukaze.

[Lessigen]

3 hours ago, drt7uk said:

 

Thanks so much for flagging that and tagging me in. My pre-order has gone in immediately at HobbySearch!

 

58 minutes ago, Section31 said:

 

Nice releases. I saw on Khaho facebook page. Bought the e8 and the express mizukaze.

 

My pleasure! I'm actually waiting for TOMIX to announce their version of the E8 before deciding which one I want to pre-order. Interestingly, I noticed that the KATO version doesn't explicitly state it's DCC-ready in the description like they usually have for their models these days. I don't know if it's an unintentional omission but if it isn't DCC-ready for whatever reason, that does incline me more to choose the TOMIX version.

[Section31]

20 minutes ago, Lessigen said:

 

 

My pleasure! I'm actually waiting for TOMIX to announce their version of the E8 before deciding which one I want to pre-order. Interestingly, I noticed that the KATO version doesn't explicitly state it's DCC-ready in the description like they usually have for their models these days. I don't know if it's an unintentional omission but if it isn't DCC-ready for whatever reason, that does incline me more to choose the TOMIX version.

 

There are too many new trains being introduced in Japan (to replace the aging trains). It will be awhile but of course i have my eye on the e10, chou line maglev and the tobu 80000.

 

Though i honestly wish kato not hobbytrain would do models of all the stadler rail products that are being introduced in europe and rest of world.

Edited 6 hours ago by Section31

[drt7uk]

I'm a little confused by what's meant by this, anyone else understand?

 

"In addition, Hobby Center Kato offers a powered bogie with traction tires that is convenient for running the E8 Series Shinkansen on its own (28-281 E6 Series Shinkansen [Komachi] Powered Bogie (with Tires))."

 

And

 

"Considering coupling with the E5 series, the 11th car (E811) is equipped with no traction tires and a coupling mechanism at the front. This allows you to recreate the coupled operation of the E8 series + E5 series just like the real train."

 

Why would an end car have traction tires anyway? It's not motorised?

 

Surely the motorised car (12th car, E828) does have traction tires?

 

I have a gradient on my layout so it's important it does!

Edited 2 hours ago by drt7uk

[drt7uk]

Well I say that, the gradient is the standard Unitrack gradient (going from ground to elavated) so you've got to assume that it'll be able to handle it with or without traction tires. And it's only 7 cars long on its own so not that heavy.

[Kingmeow]

4 hours ago, Lessigen said:

I noticed that the KATO version doesn't explicitly state it's DCC-ready in the description like they usually have for their models these days. I don't know if it's an unintentional omission but if it isn't DCC-ready for whatever reason, that does incline me more to choose the TOMIX version.

 

Always check the manual if/when it's available.  That's the definitive source on whether it's DCC ready or not.

[disturbman]

@drt7uk

 

Set up is likely like the E6. The E6 comes without traction tires as Kato assumes modellers want to run it coupled with the E5. For those who want to run it alone with gradients, they offer a replacement bogies with tractions tires.

The rest is likely just auto-translation blurps.

Edited 36 minutes ago by disturbman

[drt7uk]

15 minutes ago, disturbman said:

@drt7uk

 

Set up is likely the E6. The E6 comes without traction tires as Kato assumes modellers want to run it coupled with the E5. For those who want to run it alone with gradients, they offer a replacement bogies with tractions tires.

The rest is likely just auto-translation blurps.

 

Sorry @disturbman, did you mean the set up is likely like the E6? As in, the E8 won't have traction tires?

[disturbman]

Yes, "likely like" was my intended phrasing.

Edited 31 minutes ago by disturbman