Kato - New Releases

[disturbman]

28-281 used to widely available at retailers. I don't expect this to change in the future. You could either get it from your favourite Japan source, J-scale on the Continent or the UK Kato retailers once the part get re-released.

Edited April 5 by disturbman

[Little-Kinder]

New stuff on the kato's calendar:

 

• Twilight express 10-1695 https://www.katomodels.com/product/n/mizukaze_slm (August)
• Yamagata shinkansen 10-2050 https://www.katomodels.com/product/n/e8_tsubasa (August)

 

 

[Steve]

Not so much this Time...

 

Hope we get more announced the next Month.

[drt7uk]

On 4/5/2025 at 7:12 AM, Kamome said:

You could check with Gaugemaster as they’re the UK distributor or indeed Train  Trax. I think it would be order-able as it’s an optional part rather than a replacement spare. Alternatively order from the regularly mentioned Japanese retailers who will most likely carry them. We’ve seen this a lot with Kato where they now offer secondary motor units for the splitting service trains. 

Thank you - I note that Hobby Search is expecting them back in stock soon, or I may pick up myself when in Japan in September

[Lessigen]

On 4/3/2025 at 7:06 AM, ED75-775 said:

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

 

KATO revealed the Ge6/6 today at the show. A video of it in action:

 

And a link to the PDF brochure featuring it and a couple of other European models KATO is also releasing:

https://www.trainsdepot.org/manufacturers/pdfs/view/3052/kato-news-neuheiten-2025_pdf

[Section31]

There appears to be more including TGV InQui. It doesn't appear to be the upcoming Avelia Horizon though. Though if it is count me 100% into ordering that thing.

Edited yesterday at 07:04 AM by disturbman

[Lessigen]

Indeed, the posters were released a little bit ago. The TGV is the Avelia Euroduplex.

The Ge6/6 comes by itself as well as with a 5-car set of the EW I's in alpine green.

https://ngauge.jp/poster/kato202509/

Edited yesterday at 07:04 AM by disturbman

[disturbman]

Little reminder to everyone to please be mindful of your quotes as they make the forum harder to read. As a general rule, you do not need to quote the message you are answering to if it's the last one in the thread. And if it's another message, you are welcome to remove what you aren't responding to or simply use the @user function🙂

 

As for the TGV, it's a normal Euroduplex, not an Avelia/TGV-M. The weird part is that it's now sold in two sets, not a full train as usual. Also, the markings are "inOui", which is a (bad) branding play with "inouï" which means "incredible/amazing".

 

edit: the price of the TGV also shot up from 35k MSRP for the Lyria Euroduplex to 48.5k for this release.

Edited yesterday at 07:31 AM by disturbman

[Kamome]

HO H5 shinkansen this time around. Didn't really see this coming, thought they'd maybe keep to the E5 but that may come back around a few months later. Will we get any additions to couple in future? They're currently developing the E8 in N. Will we see this in HO?

 

I have little interest in the alpine stock at this time but the crocodile tempts me very much.

 

Ironically, despite so many new announcements, the most exciting news for me is the return of the HO conductor crew figures which have been like hens teeth.

[Section31]

Seeing how rare asia region trains in HO are and the price is actually reasonable with the 20% discount at online preorder sites worth the risk even if e8 comes out in ho in the future.

 

Edited yesterday at 11:38 AM by Section31

[Little-Kinder]

Really happy about the inoui TGV.

 

Still hoping to get the la poste one. One day 

[Section31]

One of my targets are double decker trains so its an interesting choice though its up against budget wise the hobbytrain stadler kiss atm. See what wins out but will pickup eventually the tgv m.

 

Im guessing but the 6 car dcc version with sound/etc will be like 700euro before detax and 4car dcc version with sound/etc 500euro.

Edited yesterday at 10:23 AM by Section31

[Lessigen]

6 hours ago, disturbman said:

edit: the price of the TGV also shot up from 35k MSRP for the Lyria Euroduplex to 48.5k for this release.

 

If my math isn't off, the price of the combined set should be ¥38,500 (22,440+16,060). That seems in line with other releases like the E26 Cassiopeia re-release so I suppose it's not too bad.

[disturbman]

😄

 

You are right. Never do math first in the morning, kids. Doesn't work out well.

Then it's not that bad, no. Just a bit less than a 10% increase. Anyway, doesn't change a thing for the biggest export market for the TGV since it's now geoblock from Japan.

[Section31]

Always is the case. It is actually reasonable price as i forgot about 20% off prices.

 

I do wonder how does kato split it offering between hobbytrain/lemke and itself. Big price difference between them. I would both the Eurodual and DB Stadler Kiss easily if was Kato. However i can only choose one as its hobbytrain/lemke model (Hobbytrain 25401-25404).

Edited yesterday at 02:10 PM by Section31

[Ekiben]

Just when I thought there'd be a reprieve, Kato goes and does it again. The company has just announced the re-release Eizan Electric Railway's Deo 900 Kirara train in no fewer than three colour schemes. This was among the first trains I rode when I moved to Japan in 2000. Back then they were still pretty much brand new, and I was highly impressed by their large windows, bright paint jobs and comfortable seating. Taking this train north from Kyoto for a hike up and over Mt. Kurama followed by a soak in the outdoor hot springs near Kurama Station remains one of my greatest memories of Japan, and I still recommend it to anyone heading to the Kyoto area.

 

Maple red: https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/11197942

Maple orange: https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/11197943

Maple green: https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/11197944

Edited 22 hours ago by Ekiben

[Section31]

@Lessigen That HO scale kato isn’t bad purchase actually considering how much the endo ENDO EI121 JR 500 Series Shinkansen V 8-pack set West Japan HO. 2000ish Cad.  

 

The Endo is something else but i can get like 2-3 European train stuff for that. 

[Lessigen]

For the fellow Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends fans, KATO is releasing an OO9 scale Duke!! Duke hasn't been in the show for like 20 years, so this is super rad. Alongside face plates for the Bachmann OO Thomas. No release date for either of them yet, hopefully we'll get them this year. Tomy and KATO are really delivering for the 80th anniversary.

 

 

Edited 2 hours ago by Lessigen

[Section31]

@Lessigen Kato/Tomix has for sure. I am trying to reduce train orders (inventory building up) but they are releasing stuff i endup picking up. 

 

Still have plenty to pickup on europe side myself so really have to plan it out. Thankfully i know what i want from Sudexpress, Trix, Roco and other European brands.

Edited 2 hours ago by Section31