Kato - New Releases

[bill937ca]

Hobby Center Kato is releasing a special Pocket Line Series Chibi-Totsu Set DB BR169 Style (3-Car Set) in December. HS does not show the usual new release poster for this model. 

 

https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10923260

 

https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/image/10923260/30/1

[JR 500系]

Latest from Kato hot off the oven

 

 

Guess that's good news for me! It's a great chance for those who missed out on the 883 series ~

 

Edited November 4, 2022 by JR 500系

[Giugiaro]

I was planning on going for the 10-1237~10-1239 JRN 581 set next month, but now I'm wondering what to do now.

 

This looks like a re-release, but the numbers don't match the set I had on the Wishlist.

[cplchanb]

11 hours ago, JR 500系 said:

Latest from Kato hot off the oven

 

 

 

Guess that's good news for me! It's a great chance for those who missed out on the 883 series ~

 

Whats new for the 500 Series? HS1999 specs dont indicate anything new like the slotless motor...

[bill937ca]

HS specs are just a straight copy off the Kato Japan website.     Dealer pages usually are a copy of the manufacturer..   https://www.katomodels.com/product/n/500kei

 

Try inquiring to a dealer like RG Rokko.

 

Edited November 4, 2022 by bill937ca

[Dave K]

Kato introducing lots of new stuff today, 4 November.

 

A nice birthday present for me!

 

 

Dave 

[jappomania]

@cplchanb

 

mm... this time is a W4 formation (previous W3) and for what they wrote the mold of the rooftop is new (anti skid now is molded like in Tomix, the previous was only painted in (too dark) grey, the high voltage connector betwen cars now is correctly molded (or that's what I understood) for each car, (from Tomix it was done a small part included like separate mold, Kato in the past omitted this particular)

http://www.speedsphere.jp/RailRoad/Shinkansen/Tec500SeriesModelReview04.aspx
(maybe) a new led headlight board (an upgrade like the Zero series?) and I don't understand when tey talk about "the characteristic features of the car's shape such as its aerodynamic front part and cross section have been thoroughly recreated".
maybe the nose now is painted better whit the blue band till the the tip of the nose? (but this was already improved in the last release....
http://www.speedsphere.jp/RailRoad/Shinkansen/Tec500SeriesModelReview03.aspx

side/roof car numbers and other improved (I think just remain the destination/service stickers, all the rest is factory painted, less work for Geomatrix... no more separate decals to find..

 

better than the previous, obviously, but that's enough for buying another one? mmmh... maybe.....

 

Ciao!

Massimo

 

 

Edited November 4, 2022 by jappomania

[Wolf]

Wish they would just add DCC Friendly to new releases, urgh 

[katoftw]

5 hours ago, cplchanb said:

Whats new for the 500 Series? HS1999 specs dont indicate anything new like the slotless motor...

The price increase over the outgoing sets is new.

[jappomania]

8 minutes ago, katoftw said:

The price increase over the outgoing sets is new.

I think this time we are lucky, considering the price increase for Tomix E1 next release

https://blog-imgs-153-origin.fc2.com/s/p/e/speedsphere/202207_TomixE1-02.png

(maybe somebody in Takara Tomy saw the sell price on yahoo auctions.... 😂)

 

the renewed Kato 500 is not so bad at the end (or it becomes dangerous but if you have all 3 ☠️)

Kato 500 Nozomi from Hobby Search for 16 cars

 

1999 > 29640 JPY
2006 > 30590 JPY
2023 > 31050 JPY

 

 

 

[Kamome]

The HO EF510 is a very low cost introduction into HO at usually around ¥10000 at the usual discounted sites. It’s a heavy loco, twin bogie mounted motors and head and tail lights and runs super quiet.

 

As with their EF81, Kato are again releasing the upgrade parts set, which now has wipers, omitted from the previous upgrade parts set. The previous wiper parts were metal etched in yet another separate parts set, with a very short production run when this model was first released.   These new ones are inaccurate plastic moulded ones from the closest looking ones they produce on another model. 

 

 

The ex-Cassiopeia livery one would go well with my ex-Hokutosei blue one but seems like a missed opportunity not to produce the Kyushu EF510-300 as well. 

Edited November 4, 2022 by Kamome

[Giugiaro]

10 hours ago, Giugiaro said:

I was planning on going for the 10-1237~10-1239 JRN 581 set next month, but now I'm wondering what to do now.

 

This looks like a re-release, but the numbers don't match the set I had on the Wishlist.

 

OK, so Kato Models has both last year's 583 [10-1237] and this year's 581 [10-171] pages translated to English, and the new 581 set does mention the inclusion of a slotless motor.

 

[200系]

@GiugiaroBoth sets represent a different prototype:

 

-> 10-1237/1238/1239 represents a 1979~1986 Aomori based 583 series formation as used on the Tōhoku main line and Jōban line between Ueno and Aomori.

-> 10-1717/1355/1239 is a representative 1980~1982 (10-1239 includes Aomori based cars) Mukō Machi based 581 series formation as used on the Sanyō (Kansai->Kyūshū) and Hokuriku main line (Ōsaka/Nagoya->Kanazawa).

 

While both the 581 series and 583 series are part of the same family of National Railway sleeper/express type EMUs, and as such are very similar to each other, there are a number of differences between both series which makes them somewhat dissimilar as well. 

 

Now of course this wouldn't be one of my posts if I didn't dive a little deeper into the history of both, so let's dive into a little deeper into the fascinating world of the National Railway sleeper/express type EMUs.

 

-> 581 series

 

Built in September 1967 and March 1968, a total of 50 cars were built, which were arranged in four 12 car formations, with 2 cars as reserve. This would consist of 9 KuHaNe 581 type cars, 12 MoHaNe 580 type cars, 12 MoHaNe 581 type cars, 12 SaHaNe 581 type cars and 5 SaShi 581 type cars. As they were intended for sleeper/daytime limited express services in the west of Japan, primarily between Ōsaka and Kyūshū (Hakata, Kumamoto and Ōita), the MoHaNe 580 and MoHaNe 581 type cars were fitted with dual voltage equipment and were capable of running under both 1.5 kV DC and 20 kV 60 Hz AC overhead power. They would originally be based at Minami-Hakata and/////. They would be used for services between Ōsaka, Hakata and Ōita, though later timetable revisions would also see them used on services to Kumamoto and Nishi-Kagoshima as well as Kyūshū bound services starting in Nagoya or Kyōto respectively. The opening of the last section of the Sanyō Shinkansen in March 1975 meant the need for Kyūshū bound limited express service services using the Sanyō mainline was pretty much reduced to zero. As a result, as of the Spring 1975 timetable revision, all 581 series cars would be transferred to the Kyōto Mukō Machi ward. Though they would still be mainly used for Kansai/Chūbu area Kyūshū night trains, they would also be used for a daytime limited express services to Kyūshū, as well as daytime limited express services between Nagoya and Toyama/Kanazawa (this would be changed to Ōsaka-Kanazawa after the 1978 timetable revision).

 

With the need for night trains decreasing even further as the 1970's progressed, by 1980 rationalization plans saw a further reduction in scheduled night services to be enacted with the November 1980 timetable revision. As the 581 series and 583 series were judged to be less than ideal for these services when compared to locomotive hauled trains using 24 series passenger cars [note 1], introduced since the early 1970's, the National Railroad preferred to use locomotive hauled trains over continued use of the sleeper EMU types.

As a result, with the autumn timetable revision of November, 1982 sleeper services were cut to the point where at least seven 12 car formations would become surplus. The four 581 series formations, as well as their reserve cars, were stored after November 1982 and were officially scrapped between October 1983 and January 1984 after 15 years of (active) service. In terms of disposition, the MoHaNe 580 type, MoHaNe 581 type, SaHaNe 581 type and KuHaNe 581 type (KuHaNe 581-1~KuHaNe 581-9) cars would be converted for use as 715 series 0 sub-type AC only (60Hz) cars intended for suburban services on the Nagasaki and Sasebo lines (With the exception of SaHaNe 581-3 and SaHaNe 581-5 which would be converted to KuHa 715-1108 and 1114 (715 series 1000 sub-type) respectively, which were to be used in the Sendai area instead). The surplus SaShi 581 type cars, SaShi 581-1~SaShi 581-5, would be scrapped and dismantled in February 1985 (SaShi 581-5) and March 1986 (SaShi 581-1~SaShi 581-4), after which the 581 series officially ceased to exist.

 

-> 583 series

 

Built between June 1968 and March 1972, 384 cars would be built. Though based on the 581 series, the 583 series was built for services in both west and northeastern Japan. To facilitate this they had a number of changes when compared to their older sisters, both from an operation perspective as well as a technological one. As the west of Japan uses a different line frequency compared to eastern Japan, 60 Hz west of the Fuji river, 50 Hz to the east [note2], these units would have to be able to run on both frequencies. As such, for the 583 series the main transformer fitted to the newly introduced MoHaNe 582 type cars would be a dual voltage, dual frequency capable model resulting in 1.5Kv/20Kv 50Hz/20Kv 60Hz compatible cars. As part of the 583 series formations were intended to be based at Aomori, cold resistance measures were installed which included different traction motors, from the standard MT54 to the snow resistant MT54B type, pantographs (PS16H instead of the standard PS16), main transformers (TM10 type->TM14 type (later replaced by the silicon oil based TM20 type to get rid of the PCBs used in the TM14 type)) etc. Another change, which was perhaps a bit more visible, was the change in horn covers. KuHaNe 581-1~KuHaNe 581-9 (581 series) used the standard grated covers as used by other warm climate types (think 153 series, 165 series, 111/113 series etc) while KuHaNe 581-10~KuHaNe 581-41 (583 series) and KuHane 583-1~KuHaNe 583-30 had the valve type, hinged covers as used by other cold climate types (115 series, 183/189 series, 711 series etc.) [note3]. The 583 series formations would be based in Aomori as well as Minami-Hakata, with the Aomori based cars being used to form 13 car formations for services between Ueno and Aomori via both the Tōhoku main line and Jōban line. The Minami-Hakata based cars would be used to form 12 car formations which were used to supplement the existing 581 series formations mentioned earlier.

 

The Minami-Hakata based 583 series formations followed, more or less, the same story as their older sisters, and they would be transferred to the Mukōmachi ward with the spring 1975 timetable revision  with the exception of 13 cars which were transferred to Aomori instead of Mukōmachi.

With the 581 series scrapped, a number of 583 series cars Kyūshū bound services on the Sanyō main line would end in 1984, with the remaining Mukō Machi ward based formations being used exclusively for Ōsaka -> Sea of Japan services to Kanazawa and Niigata. Surplus cars would be remodeled into suburban stock for use on the Nagasaki/Sasebo lines (715 series 0 sub-type), Hokuriku main line (419 series) and Tōhoku main line (715 series 1000 sub-type). A total of 63, former 583 series cars would be converted into 715 series cars, 16 of which (former KuHaNe 581 and SaHaNe 581 type cars) would be converted to the earlier mentioned 715 series 0 sub-type (AC only, 20Kv 60Hz), while 47 cars (former KuHaNe 581, SaHaNe 481, MoHaNe 582 and MoHaNe 583 type cars) would be converted into 715 series 1000 sub-type cars (20Kv 50Hz) for suburban services in the Sendai region. 45 cars would be converted into 419 series cars, which were the dual voltage, dual frequency equivalent of the 715 series, suburban units intended for temporary (they were intended to be used for 8 years, in the end they lasted for up to 28 years...) service on the Hokuriku main line.

With the spring 1985 timetable revision, all services except the newly established (night time) express Kitaguni between Ōsaka and Niigata would end, with the remaining Mukōmachi ward 583 series fleet being reorganized into six 10-car formations by the winter 1986 timetable revision, with the surplus cars being scrapped. JR West would inherit these formations after the National Railway split on the 1st of April, 1987, and would continue to use them for Kitaguni services for another two and a half decades, they were scrapped between 2007 and 2013.

 

The opening of the Tōhoku Shinkansen in June 1982, and especially the extension between Ueno and Ōmiya which opened in March 1985 would affect the Aomori based 583 series in more or less the same fashion as their Mukōmachi based sisters. Only SaHaNe 581-51 would be converted into KuHa 418-1 with all other cars being former Mukōmachi based cars, but by the March 1985 timetable revision the first reserve cars were to be scrapped. All 13 Aomori based SaShi 581 type cars would be scrapped in October 1985 (SaShi 581-6 and -8) and March 1986 (SaShi 581-7, 11, 12~14, 22, 23, 28 and 31~33 ). In addition to the SaShi 581 type cars, MoHaNe 582 type (MoHaNe 582-1~3, 7, 13, 23, 29, 30, 38, 46 and 47), MoHaNe 583 type (MoHaNe 583-1~3, 7, 13, 23, 29, 30, 38, 46 and 47 [Note4]), SaRo 581 type (SaRo 581-4) and SaRoNe 581 type (SaRoNe 581-37) cars would be scrapped between December 1986 and February 1987, reducing the total number of cars to 141, which were divided into 14, 9-car formations, 5 of which could be extended into temporary 12 car formations if the need arose. This was the situation at the time of the National Railway split, with the Aomori ward, and all 583 series cars based there inherited by JR East.

 

JR East would keep the Aomori based formations more or less as they were until the mid 1990's. Surplus cars were scrapped in 1990 but the number of formations would remain constant until 1994 when the number of formations was reduced to 12. "Mass" scrapping of the Aomori based formations would take place between 1995 and 2000 with only two 9-car formations, and 6 additional cars (used for extending the 9 car formations into 12 car formations should there be a need to), with both formations retiring in December 2002. One formation would be transferred to the Akita Vehicle Centre on the 3rd of December, 2002, while the other (formation N1+N2) was shortened to 6 cars and transferred to the Sendai General Vehicle Centre on February 24th, 2003. The 3 leftover cars of formation N1+N2, as well as the 6 additional cars were scrapped on the 2nd of July, 26th of August and 2nd of September, 2003 respectively. The 9 car formation transferred to Akita would be used for extensive vibration tests on the Ōu and Uetsu main line between 2003 and 2006, ending up in an appalling state by 2006. She would receive a much need body renewal between 2006 and 2007, though as MoHaNe 582/582-79 and SaRo 581-33 were in a really bad condition, these cars would be scrapped. The newly formed 6 car formation would be used for special trains between 2007 and 2011 when she was replaced by formation N1+N2 on the 18th of August, 2011. The formation itself would be scrapped on the September 22nd of the same years, while N1+N2 would remain in service until September 2nd, 2017 as the final 583 series train to be retired.

 

The 581 series and 583 series in Numbers

 

In order to visualize the text above, and as an accompanying piece to the text, I decided to add the basic data related to the lifecycle of both series. 

The first section catalogues the different car type of each series as assigned, or otherwise present, at the specific ward. For each car type I've included their function, completion date and road numbers which were present at that specific ward at any point during their service life. A list of formation compositions is included in the second section, which I hope helps visualize the way these formations were organized, and how this would change over the years.

 

Minami-Hakata ward->Mukōmachi ward

 

581 series cars:

 

KuHaNe 581 type

Type: Tnc (Trailer control sleeper)

Built: September 4, 1967/September 9, 1967/September 14, 1967/March 23, 1968

Numbers: KuHaNe 581-1~9

 

MoHaNe 580 type

Type: Mn (motor ordinary sleeper) 

Built: September 4, 1967/September 9, 1967/September 14, 1967/March 23, 1968

Numbers: MoHaNe 580-1~12

 

MoHaNe 581 type

Type: M'n (motor ordinary 'equipment (forms married pair with MoHaNe 580 type [Note4]) sleeper)

Built: September 4, 1967/September 9, 1967/September 14, 1967/March 23, 1968

Numbers: MoHaNe 581-1~12

 

SaHaNe 581 type

Type: Tn (trailer ordinary sleeper)

Built: September 4, 1967/September 9, 1967/September 14, 1967/March 23, 1968

Numbers: SaHaNe 581-1~12

 

SaShi 581 type

Type: Td (trailer dinner)

Built: September 4, 1967/September 14, 1967/March 23, 1968

Numbers: SaShi 581-1~5

 

583 series cars:

 

KuHaNe 581 type

Type: Tnc (Trailer control sleeper)

Built: March 22~September 28, 1968/February 14~17, 1970

Numbers: 1968~1970: KuHaNe 581-18~21, 27~41. 1970~1987: KuHaNe 581-10~41

 

KuHaNe 583 type

Type: Tnc (Trailer control sleeper)

Built: June 1st, 1970~March 9, 1972

Numbers: KuHaNe 583-27~30

 

MoHaNe 582 type

Type: Mn (motor ordinary sleeper)

Built: June 25, 1968~March 9, 1972

Numbers: MoHaNe 582-17~22, 32~55, 66~78, 85~90 and 101~106 (103~106 were transferred to Aomori in March 1975)

 

MoHaNe 583 type

Type: Mn (motor ordinary sleeper)

Built: June 25, 1968~March 9, 1972

Numbers: MoHaNe 583-17~22, 32~55, 66~78, 85~90 and 101~106 (103~106 were transferred to Aomori in March 1975)

 

SaHaNe 581 type

Type: Tn (trailer ordinary sleeper)

Built: March 23, 1968~March 9, 1972

Numbers: SaHaNe 581-21~35, 38~45, 47~50 and 54~57 (-57 was transferred from Minami-Hakata to Aomori in March 1975)

 

SaRo 581 type

Type: T (trailer green car)

Built: August 23, 1968~ March 9, 1972

Numbers: SaRo 581-8~21, 24~27 (-24 was transferred to Aomori in 1985), 29, 30, 34 and 35

 

SaShi 581 type

Type: Td (trailer dinner)

Built: June 26, 1968~ March 9, 1972

Numbers: SaShi 581-10, 11, 15~21, 24~27, 29, 30, 34 and 35 (-35 was transferred to Aomori in 1975)

 

Conversions:

 

SaRoNe 581 type

Type: Tn (trailer green car sleeper)

Converted: February 20, 1985~March 30, 1985

Source: SaHaNe 581-25, 48, 49, 50, 55 and 56

Numbers SaRoNe 581-1~6

 

SaRo 581 type 100 sub-type

Type: T (trailer green car)

Converted: October 15/December 20, 1989

Source: SaRo 581-12, 27 and 34

Numbers: SaRo 581-101~103

 

 

581 series formations, bold car types are 583 series cars:

 

1967~1968 formation (car number 1 is at the Kyūshū side, number 12 at the Kansai area side):

 

(1)KuHaNe 581

(2)SaHaNe 581

(3)SaHaNe 581

(4)MoHaNe 580

(5)MoHaNe 581

(6)SaShi 581

(7)MoHaNe 580

(8)MoHaNe 581

(9)SaHaNe 581

(10)MoHaNe 580

(11)MoHaNe 581

(12)KuHaNe 581

 

1968~1975 (for the 583 series formations MoHaNe 582/583 type cars were used as opposed to MoHaNe 580/581 type cars)

 

(1)KuHaNe 581

(2)SaHaNe 581

(3)SaRo 581

(4)MoHaNe 580

(5)MoHaNe 581

(6)SaShi 581

(7)MoHaNe 580

(8)MoHaNe 581

(9)SaHaNe 581

(10)MoHaNe 580

(11)MoHaNe 581

(12)KuHaNe 581

 

1975~1982 (for the 583 series formations MoHaNe 582/583 type cars were used as opposed to MoHaNe 580/581 type cars)

 

(1)KuHaNe 581

(2)MoHaNe 581

(3)MoHaNe 581

(4)SaHaNe 581

(5)SaRo 581

(6)SaShi 581

(7)MoHaNe 580

(8)MoHaNe 581

(9)SaHaNe 581

(10)MoHaNe 580

(11)MoHaNe 581

(12)KuHaNe 581

 

Mukōmachi ward 583 series formations

 

1975~1985 12 car formations

 

(1)KuHaNe 581

(2)MoHaNe 582

(3)MoHaNe 583

(4)SaHaNe 581

(5)SaRo 581

(6)SaShi 581

(7)MoHaNe 582

(8)MoHaNe 583

(9)SaHaNe 581

(10)MoHaNe 582

(11)MoHaNe 583

(12)KuHaNe 581

 

1982~1985 10 car formations

 

1)KuHaNe 581

(2)MoHaNe 582

(3)MoHaNe 583

(4)SaRo 581

(5)SaShi 581

(6)MoHaNe 582

(7)MoHaNe 583

(8)MoHaNe 582

(9)MoHaNe 583

(10)KuHaNe 581

 

1985~1986 12 car formations

 

(1)KuHaNe 581

(2)MoHaNe 582

(3)MoHaNe 583

(4)MoHaNe 582

(5)MoHaNe 583

(6)SaRo 581

(7)SaRoNe 581

(8)MoHaNe 582

(9)MoHaNe 583

(10)MoHaNe 582

(11)MoHaNe 583

(12)KuHaNe 581

 

1986~2013 10 car formations (formations B01~B06)

 

(1)KuHaNe 581

(2)MoHaNe 582

(3)MoHaNe 583

(4)MoHaNe 582

(5)MoHaNe 583

(6)SaRo 581

(7)SaRoNe 581

(8)MoHaNe 582

(9)MoHaNe 583

(10)KuHaNe 581

 

Aomori Ward

 

583 series cars:

 

KuHaNe 581 type

Type: Tnc (Trailer control sleeper)

Built: March 22~September 28, 1968/February 14~17, 1970

Numbers: 1968~1970: KuHaNe 581-10~17, 22~26. 1970~1987: X

 

KuHaNe 583 type

Type: Tnc (Trailer control sleeper)

Built: June 1st, 1970~March 9, 1972

Numbers: KuHaNe 583-1~26, 29, 30 (-29 and -30 were transferred from Minami-Hakata to Aomori in 1975)

 

MoHaNe 582 type

Type: Mn (motor ordinary sleeper)

Built: June 25, 1968~March 9, 1972

Numbers: MoHaNe 582-1~16, 23~31, 56~65, 79~84, 91~100 and 103~106 (103~106 were transferred from Minami-Hakata to Aomori in March 1975)

 

MoHaNe 583 type

Type: Mn (motor ordinary sleeper) 

Built: June 25, 1968~March 9, 1972

Numbers: MoHaNe 582-1~16, 23~31, 56~65, 79~84, 91~100 and 103~106 (103~106 were transferred from Minami-Hakata to Aomori in March 1975)

 

SaHaNe 581 type

Type: Tn (trailer ordinary sleeper)

Built: March 23, 1968~March 9, 1972

Numbers: SaHaNe 581-13~20, 36, 37, 46, 51~53 and 57 (-57 was transferred from Minami-Hakata to Aomori in March 1975

 

SaRo 581 type

Type: Tn (trailer green car sleeper)

Built: August 23, 1968~ March 9, 1972

Numbers: SaRo 581-1~7, 22~24 (-24 was transferred from Mukōmachi to Aomori in March 1985), 28, 31~33

 

SaShi 581 type

Type: Td (trailer dinner)

Built: June 26, 1968~ March 9, 1972

Numbers: SaShi 581-6~9, 12~14, 22, 23, 28, 31~33 and 35 (-35 was transferred from Minami-Hakata to Aomori in March 1975)

 

583 series formations:

 

1968~1979, 13 car formations

 

(1)KuHaNe 583

(2)SaRo 583

(3)MoHaNe 582

(4)MoHaNe 583

(5)MoHaNe 582

(6)MoHaNe 583

(7)SaShi 581

(8)MoHaNe 582

(9)MoHaNe 583

(10)MoHaNe 582

(11)MoHaNe 583

(12)SaHaNe 581

(13)KuHaNe 583

 

1979~1986, 13 car formations

 

(1)KuHaNe 583

(2)MoHaNe 582

(3)MoHaNe 583

(4)MoHaNe 582

(5)MoHaNe 583

(6)SaRo 583

(7)SaShi 581

(8)MoHaNe 582

(9)MoHaNe 583

(10)MoHaNe 582

(11)MoHaNe 583

(12)SaHaNe 581

(13)KuHaNe 583

 

1986~2002, 9 car base formation

 

(1)KuHaNe 583

(2)MoHaNe 582

(3)MoHaNe 583

(4)MoHaNe 582

(5)MoHaNe 583

(6)SaRo 583

(7)MoHaNe 582

(8)MoHaNe 583

(9)KuHaNe 583

 

1986~2002, 12 car temporary formation (bold types are added cars)

 

(1)KuHaNe 583

(2)MoHaNe 582

(3)MoHaNe 583

(4)MoHaNe 582

(5)MoHaNe 583

(6)SaRo 583

(7)MoHaNe 582

(8)MoHaNe 583

(9)MoHaNe 582

(10)MoHaNe 583

(11) SaHaNe 581

(12)KuHaNe 583

 

Sendai Vehicle Centre 

 

2003~2011, formation N1+N2 -> transferred to Akita Vehicle Centre on the 18th of August 2011

 

(1)KuHaNe 583-8

(2)MoHaNe 582-106

(3)MoHaNe 583-106

(4)MoHaNe 582-100

(5)MoHaNe 583-100

(6)KuHaNe 583-17

 

Akita Vehicle Centre

 

December 3rd, 2002~June 1st, 2006 (vibration/ inspection limit test train

 

(1)KuHaNe 583-20

(2)MoHaNe 582-12

(3)MoHaNe 583-12

(4)MoHaNe 582-79

(5)MoHaNe 583-79

(6)SaRo 583-33

(7)MoHaNe 582-6

(8)MoHaNe 583-6

(9)KuHaNe 583-5

 

April 16th, 2007~September 22nd, 2011 (special trains)

 

(1)KuHaNe 583-20

(2)MoHaNe 582-12

(3)MoHaNe 583-12

(4)MoHaNe 582-6

(5)MoHaNe 583-6

(6)KuHaNe 583-5

 

 

Formation N1+N2, August 18th, 2011~September 2nd 2017 (special trains)

 

(1)KuHaNe 583-8

(2)MoHaNe 582-106

(3)MoHaNe 583-106

(4)MoHaNe 582-100

(5)MoHaNe 583-100

(6)KuHaNe 583-17

 

 

So, long story short, though my response may have been a bit overkill for the question being asked, I do hope this at least helps to explain the differences between both sets in a somewhat understandable fashion. If I in the process may have helped to enthuse anyone within this community for these wonderful units, even better😅. That being said, I hope this may have helped,

 

Cheers!

 

[Note1] The sleeper/express type National Railway EMU series had proven to be somewhat of a mixed bag for the National Railway. In order to allow for the seats to be converted to lower berths, box seating as used on ordinary express and suburban units which was obviously less comfortable than the "simple reclining type seats" installed on the newer limited express type units being delivered only a couple years after the 581 series was introduced (the 485 series and 183 series). Similarly, the conversion between daytime and sleeper configuration was said to be rather labour intensive, while the berths were less comfortable than the regular berths on newly built sleeper cars (like the 24 series mentioned). Being used on long distance services during the day and night also meant they were covering rather extensive distances without any downtime in between, resulting in high mileage and as a result they were ageing much faster than comparable rolling stock.

 

[Note2] A holdover from the early days of electrification in the 1890's. Though the first use of electricity in Japan had been using direct current to power street lighting, and had been introduced by Tōkyō Dentō (precursor of the current TEPCO) in 1887, the first power plants generating alternating current would lead to a split which continues to this day.

Ōsaka Dentō, established in 1888, would be the first electric company in Japan to generate alternating current as opposed to the direct current being supplied by Tōkyō Dentō, Kōbe Dentō and Kyōto Dentō. They would be using equipment supplied by Thomson-Houston, an American company which would end up absorbing Edison's General Electric company shortly after, for their first power plant in 1889. The Thomson-Houston equipment supplied single phase AC at the normal American frequency, 60Hz. With AC proving to be the superior choice, Tōkyō Dentō would built their own AC generating station in 1893, using equipment supplied by AEG, which generated AC at the common European frequency of 50Hz. The expansion of both electric networks eventually developed into the split system of today.

 

[Note3] Some of the early 583 series KuHaNe 581 type cars still used the warm climate type horn covers.

 

[Note4] National Railway new performance type units pretty much universally used married pairs for their motor cars, known within the National Railway as the MM' system. This meant two motor cars shared the equipment needed for propulsion, which in the 583 series case meant the MoHaNe 580/582 type cars were equipped with the Pantographs, main controller, resistors, line breakers etc. while the MoHaNe 581/583 type cars carried the transformer, rectifier, compressor etc. As a result, though National Railway formations weren't operated as fixed formations, with cars being regularly exchanged between different formations and the exact composition of a certain formation not infrequently changing with every inspection cycle (hence why the word "set" is not really applicable to National Railway EMUs), as a rule of thumbs, married pairs were generally kept together for the entirety of their service lives. This practice has been retained for the most part up till today, though exceptions do of course exist.

 

 

[bill937ca]

Video from Kato.  28-227 How to install the interior light to the vehicle incorporating the 300 series power unit

 

28-227 Small modification is required when installing the interior light into the vehicle with the 300 series power unit. In this video, we will explain how to incorporate the interior light and the necessary processing methods. The 28-227 300 series power unit is an optional product that increases the power vehicle (2 motors) of the 10-1766 300 series 0 series Shinkansen "Nozomi" to enable smoother operation on slope sections. The recommended built-in vehicle is "8th car 315-20". (In addition, although the seat shape and window arrangement do not match, it can also be installed on "Car No. 9 319-20".)

 

 

[disturbman]

Scratching my head as to why Kato didn't thought of making this plug-and-play. But whatever, I also don't understand why they designed two different tab systems so that the motor cars and non-motorized chassis are not easily interchangeable on all cars. The others manage it, not sure why they can't.

Edited November 9, 2022 by disturbman

[Yavianice]

how interesting, I always thought the "bump" in the diffuser always was supposed to go into the slot on the roof. Mind blown.

Not that it matters; HKTILC lights for the win.

[Wolf]

4 hours ago, Yavianice said:

Not that it matters; HKTILC lights for the win.

 

Amen

 

I also join Team #wtfkato? for not implementing interchangable systems.

 

Still thanks for posting the Video!

[Kamome]

Shigemon’s usual new product update video from Hobby Centre Kato. 

 

 

Can’t wait for my Hitoyoshi to arrive. 

Edited November 19, 2022 by Kamome

[Kamome]

More Kato Propaganda to help you part with your cash. This time their Kyushu offerings.

 

 

[AbaZ33a]

On 11/4/2022 at 2:09 PM, jappomania said:

@cplchanb

 

mm... this time is a W4 formation (previous W3) and for what they wrote the mold of the rooftop is new (anti skid now is molded like in Tomix, the previous was only painted in (too dark) grey, the high voltage connector betwen cars now is correctly molded (or that's what I understood) for each car, (from Tomix it was done a small part included like separate mold, Kato in the past omitted this particular)

http://www.speedsphere.jp/RailRoad/Shinkansen/Tec500SeriesModelReview04.aspx
(maybe) a new led headlight board (an upgrade like the Zero series?) and I don't understand when tey talk about "the characteristic features of the car's shape such as its aerodynamic front part and cross section have been thoroughly recreated".
maybe the nose now is painted better whit the blue band till the the tip of the nose? (but this was already improved in the last release....
http://www.speedsphere.jp/RailRoad/Shinkansen/Tec500SeriesModelReview03.aspx

side/roof car numbers and other improved (I think just remain the destination/service stickers, all the rest is factory painted, less work for Geomatrix... no more separate decals to find..

 

better than the previous, obviously, but that's enough for buying another one? mmmh... maybe.....

 

Ciao!

Massimo

 

 

Sometimes I wonder why KATO choses certain formations for there Shinkansen's. Personally I would have chosen either the W1 formation or the W8. W1 would have given the opportunity to recreate pre revenue service test runs conducted in 1996, and W8 was the last running 16 car formation 500 series until March 2010. W4 is pretty unremarkable and so was the previous W3. Then again maybe I'm the only one who cares about these kind of things 😝.

[jappomania]

2 hours ago, AbaZ33a said:

Sometimes I wonder why KATO choses certain formations for there Shinkansen's. Personally I would have chosen either the W1 formation or the W8. W1 would have given the opportunity to recreate pre revenue service test runs conducted in 1996, and W8 was the last running 16 car formation 500 series until March 2010. W4 is pretty unremarkable and so was the previous W3. Then again maybe I'm the only one who cares about these kind of things 😝.

 

W1? I hope no 🤨, with this version they correct some errors, if they mark it W1 they add new ones (a fake like Tomix)

there are some difference in the nose section (not only the "hokuro" and on the bogie cover panels), my W1 from Tomix (kitbashing from junk base) is at 90% ready (rooftop decals JR WEST W1 for cars 2-15 and thirt panto on car 9), but I still i have doubts if modify .. 64 bogie panels 😩 and how to repaint better the parts where the JR500 logo has been removed (that's required for the test run formation)

more or less, all the pre-series trains have small or big difference, so you can have two choice; like Microace - full and correct reproduction of prototypes like 100NS X0/X1 or like the rest of the world, put just the car number and pass over the smallest difference (and maybe I pay with 99 euro notes 😂)

I like this game "finding difference", is a good exercise like sudoku of cross words

 

ciao!

Massimo

 

[marknewton]

On 11/5/2022 at 12:45 PM, 200系 said:

I do hope this at least helps to explain the differences between both sets in a somewhat understandable fashion. If I in the process may have helped to enthuse anyone within this community for these wonderful units, even better😅

I was already enthused, I have a 9 car formation in 1/80 scale by Tomix, but thanks to your post I know a lot more about the 583s than I did before. As you say, they're wonderful units.

 

 

Thanks again, and all the best,

 

Mark.

 

 

[AbaZ33a]

1 hour ago, jappomania said:

 

W1? I hope no 🤨, with this version they correct some errors, if they mark it W1 they add new ones (a fake like Tomix)

there are some difference in the nose section (not only the "hokuro" and on the bogie cover panels), my W1 from Tomix (kitbashing from junk base) is at 90% ready (rooftop decals JR WEST W1 for cars 2-15 and thirt panto on car 9), but I still i have doubts if modify .. 64 bogie panels 😩 and how to repaint better the parts where the JR500 logo has been removed (that's required for the test run formation)

more or less, all the pre-series trains have small or big difference, so you can have two choice; like Microace - full and correct reproduction of prototypes like 100NS X0/X1 or like the rest of the world, put just the car number and pass over the smallest difference (and maybe I pay with 99 euro notes 😂)

I like this game "finding difference", is a good exercise like sudoku of cross words

 

ciao!

Massimo

 

Of course all of the "preceding car" details would have to be made correct. I didn't mean to suggest to simply change to the W1 formation on the mass production specification of the current version without the proper changes. I don't think it would be difficult for KATO to make the preceding car changes as they don't require very much extensive retooling. Then again I guess it would require less work to keep it a mass production formation, but I still think W8 would have been a better choice as it was the last 16 car formation on Nozomi service. I'm considering purchasing this new version and altering the car and formation number to the W8, otherwise the W4 formation won't be accurate after 2008 as it was decommissioned for V formation alterations. As W4 I won't to be able to run it with my TOMIX N700 0 "Z36" but again, maybe I shouldn't care....

Edited November 23, 2022 by AbaZ33a

[jappomania]

5 hours ago, AbaZ33a said:

Of course all of the "preceding car" details would have to be made correct. I didn't mean to suggest to simply change to the W1 formation on the mass production specification of the current version without the proper changes. I don't think it would be difficult for KATO to make the preceding car changes as they don't require very much extensive retooling. Then again I guess it would require less work to keep it a mass production formation, but I still think W8 would have been a better choice as it was the last 16 car formation on Nozomi service. I'm considering purchasing this new version and altering the car and formation number to the W8, otherwise the W4 formation won't be accurate after 2008 as it was decommissioned for V formation alterations. As W4 I won't to be able to run it with my TOMIX N700 0 "Z36" but again, maybe I shouldn't care....

 

 

mmhh...🤔

I'm not so sure about mold retooling can be so cheap, removing material is simple but adding is not so easy (my experience is dated -'92 - and limited to washing machines control panels 😋 )

rooftop modify can be used for future developements (first release was 20 years ago and I don't think the 500W history ending with the 2023 release), instead mantaining mass production specification permit to release the rest of the fleet, if you modify all for W1 this will be the only you can re-run in the future (that's why 100 X0 has never been re-released)

instead I agree at 110% with you about W8, I don't care too much about timeline but I know it is something that a lot of people respect and is a specific branch of modeling

fortunately the W8 decals aren't so hard to find, it was one of the car formation number included in the old Tomix release (92082 or 92306 or.. boh?, I need to see..I let you know...)

there is just to verify if the decals coverage is good enough over the original printed on the shell (dimension, same gray tone...)

 

p.s. Kato, after the 300 kit for second engine, the led+lower chassis kit for old Zero, maybe one rooftop upgrade kit for the oldest release? (like the Tomix E3 R17 kit), buth after who buy the new one? just me?

 

 

Edited November 23, 2022 by jappomania

[200系]

5 hours ago, marknewton said:

I was already enthused, I have a 9 car formation in 1/80 scale by Tomix, but thanks to your post I know a lot more about the 583s than I did before. As you say, they're wonderful units.

 

You're more than welcome, Mark! As a fellow Shōwa era Japanese railway connoisseur, I had a tinny suspicion you might be interested as well 😉.

 

They absolutely are, aren't they? Interestingly enough, it was actually the 581 series which was the first Japanese train I actually fell in love with as a young kid, and as such was one of the series which started it all for me (as well as the 381 series, 485 series, 183 series, Odakyū 3100 series and the EF66 type, my interest in the shinkansen wouldn't take form until much later, though I fell in love with the J.N.R. shinkansen much earlier (I'm sensing a theme here😅)). 

 

So, you're more than welcome and same to you.

 

3 hours ago, AbaZ33a said:

and W8 was the last running 16 car formation 500 series until March 2010.

 

Date of scrapping =/= last running, it simply means the car, as this happens on a per car basis, has its car registry removed at that specific date and as such ceases to exist in any official capacity. This doesn't mean it was in active service up till that point, nor does it mean dismantling starts at that exact point, or necessarily at all, but it is removed from the books at that point and as such is no longer registered as in active service. For formation W8 that was indeed on the 10th of March, 2010 at which point the surplus cars were scrapped. However, her last scheduled service was as Nozomi 6 operating between between Hakata and Tōkyō on the morning of the 27th of February, 2010.

The actual last Nozomi services were to be operated by formation W1. She would operate both Nozomi 6 between Hakata and Tōkyō as well as the return trip, Nozomi 29 between Tōkyō and Hakata on the 28th of February 2010. Nozomi 29 would actually be the final, scheduled, 500 series Nozomi service and was treated as the official last run. Formation W8 was forwarded from Tōkyō to Hakata on the evening of the 28th of February, so that would technically make it the final W formation to operate under its own power, however this was of course a non-revenue movement. Interestingly enough, while out of service since the last run, formation W1 wouldn't be scrapped until 2012, with the first 6 cars being scrapped on the 30th of January, 2012, while the remaining 10 cars wouldn't be scrapped until the 28th of March, 2014.

 

This disparity between date of scrapping versus date of dismantling or last day in active service is actually quite common in Japan and isn't all that unusual for the shinkansen either. For example, JR Tōkai ended 100 series services on the Tōkaidō Shinkansen in September 2003, with the official last run being on the 16th of September, 2003. Yet formation G47 was only forwarded from Tōkyō to Hamamatsu on the 2nd of February, 2004 and would be scrapped on arrival at Hamamatsu. Similarly formation G49 though detained since the 16th of September, wasn't scrapped until January 2004, while formation G50 wasn't scrapped until the 1st of March, 2004. The same was true with the 0 series, as forwarding of the out of service formations after the official last run would continue into January 2009 with both R61 and R68 being scrapped on January 23rd, 2009, more than a month after the last run. The last 200 series formation, formation K51, would be scrapped on June 3rd, 2013 yet she hadn't seen service since the March 2013 timetable revision. And to give an example which is more closely related to the topic at hand, the 500 series V formations V5 and V6 were scrapped on the 12th of March of this year, yet formation V6 had been out of service since the summer of 2018 and was detained at Hakata-minami since that time. Formation V6 was dismantled in September of this year, while formation V5 is slated for, but hasn't been dismantled yet.

 

Similarly, on the conventional side, as an example out of service E351 series formations were forwarded to the Nagano vehicle center under their own power, even after they were removed from active service, as they need an active vehicle registration in order to legally operate on the mainline, with the cars being scrapped on arrival at Nagano (a very common practice for Japanese railway companies). This is also one of the reasons why for example most retired Kantō area commuter/suburban rolling stock which was already scrapped at their assigned vehicle center are transported to their dismantling site behind a locomotive rather than under their own power (if they aren't scrapped at the Tōkyō center, as Tōkyō does have a dismantling site they use) , as they wouldn't be legally allowed to operate under their own power anymore, even if they were technically still able to operate under their own power (*). 

 

This is something you should always keep in mind when using a roster, the date mentioned is probably not going to be the last date in service for that specific car, so unless you can manage to find this specific date always treat it as it should, as the exact date the car itself lost its active vehicle registry, nothing more, nothing less.

 

Cheers,

 

Sander