Of interest to HO scale/16番 modelers

[bikkuri bahn]

Just want to mention that the Model RR chain store Imon (Kanto area store locations) is a decent place to pick up stuff, if not at discounted prices.  The stores tend to be very clean and uncluttered, so it's relatively easy to find smaller items.  Especially notable is their selection of parts, which are kept in cabinets which can be opened by customers- things like pantographs, bogies and bogie frames, and the like.  Also they have the harder to get paper and craft structure kits (Miyashita et al) in 16mm scale that are never offered by the big box retailers.  They also have a point card (5 to 10 percent of purchase total going to points), though likely its only for those with a Japan address.  Imon is also a model and model parts maker/supplier (like Mach Mokei in Osaka) so they are truly suppliers to enthusiasts, rather than just a mass market retailer with a hobby business catering to the general public (and their interests).

 

Shop selection and location maps (Japanese lang.)

http://www.imon.co.jp/webshop/index.php?main_page=addon&module=mt_pages&page=shop

[marknewton]

I just noticed this post - good to know about Imon. Thanks bb!

 

Cheers,

 

Mark.

[bikkuri bahn]

Visited Model Plaza Endo this past Saturday.  Located in the western suburb of Tachikawa on the Chuo Line.  About a five min. walk from the fare gates at Tachikawa Sta. It's a company outlet for Endo's higher end brass(?) rolling stock intended for the rich guys, but they do carry plastic HO scale stuff from the main line makers (Tomix. Kato. Tenshodo etc.).  But it's mainly a good place to pick up their line of PRUS series of two axle freight car kits.  I purchased a wafu 29500 brake/goods van, along with matching  marker light kit, and wheelsets.

 

http://www.mr-endo.com/plaza/plaza.html

 

wafu 29500 data:

http://totskasha.10.pro.tok2.com/101_kokutetsu_kasha/wafu29500.htm

Edited August 21, 2013 by bikkuri bahn

[Nick_Burman]

Just want to mention that the Model RR chain store Imon (Kanto area store locations) is a decent place to pick up stuff, if not at discounted prices.  The stores tend to be very clean and uncluttered, so it's relatively easy to find smaller items.  Especially notable is their selection of parts, which are kept in cabinets which can be opened by customers- things like pantographs, bogies and bogie frames, and the like.  Also they have the harder to get paper and craft structure kits (Miyashita et al) in 16mm scale that are never offered by the big box retailers.  They also have a point card (5 to 10 percent of purchase total going to points), though likely its only for those with a Japan address.  Imon is also a model and model parts maker/supplier (like Mach Mokei in Osaka) so they are truly suppliers to enthusiasts, rather than just a mass market retailer with a hobby business catering to the general public (and their interests).

 

Shop selection and location maps (Japanese lang.)

http://www.imon.co.jp/webshop/index.php?main_page=addon&module=mt_pages&page=shop

 

Imon is definitively on my "to visit" list if my trip pulls through. A friend of mine visited the Akihabara store a couple of years ago...I think the cleaning staff must be still be mopping up drool...

 

Which of their stores is the best to visit...or are they all the same?

 

Cheers NB

Edited August 22, 2013 by Nick_Burman

[bikkuri bahn]

I think the Akiba store is more N scale oriented than the Yokohama, Omotesando, or Oimachi shops.  N scale seems to dominate Akiba model rr shops- more mass market.  Different clientele than the HO modelers.