What unlikely releases do you want?

[ED75-775]

15 hours ago, disturbman said:

Afaik, the MA E10 is to scale. Only problem, it commands a rather hefty price on the second hand market.

There's one currently on Zenplus right now for ¥29,326 ($362.43NZD). That very definitely confirms your statement!

 

4 hours ago, Kamome said:

Kato’s 9600 hasn’t been produced since 2002 so crying out for release. Not owning one, I couldn’t say if tooling needed updating but seemed a solid model. 

Having looked at both Toyoyasu's informative website and my conveniently-to-hand Kato catalogs, the 9600 was last available between 2009 and 2013. This was a 1:144 scale model though which looked pretty good for what it was, but might need some subtle reworking to get it down to the approximately 1:150 scale Kato prefers to use today, and update some of the details in the process. That would also be a good opportunity to design a version with the early production "S" running board ahead of the cab which no manufacturer has ever attempted - for either the 8620 or 9600 classes.

 

  

 

According to Japanese Wikipedia, the "S" shape cab (in my photo on the left) was only applied to the first eighteen 9600s and twenty-four 8620s before they switched to the classic 'Otoji' shape (to use the Japanese Wiki term, that could just be a really whacky translation though!) with the running board square to the cab front before dropping down and curving at the leading edge, as shown in my photo on the right. Presumably this made them easier to build, though to my eye it's not as aesthetically pleasing. It would be great to see Kato take the challenge on and attempt it!

 

Alastair

 

[bill937ca]

It shouldn't be unlikely at all.  The Toyota JPN Taxi is now not just in Tokyo but all over the country from Sapporo to Nagasaki. Reportedly 60% of taxis are now the JPN Taxi. For comparison the JPN taxi is smaller and cheaper than the traditional London taxi.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_JPN_Taxi

 

https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/トヨタ・ジャパンタクシー

 

 

 

 

[Englehart]

E131 anyone? 

https://imgc.eximg.jp/i=https%3A%2F%2Fs.eximg.jp%2Fexnews%2Ffeed%2FTrafficnews%2FTrafficnews_109618_1728_1.jpg,zoom=600,quality=70,type=webp

 

[yokohama]

 

Hello.

1.Tokyo Monorail (1000, as shown) 
Tokyo Monorail is released as a kit from Fujimi model.
display model.

Manufacturer official site

https://www.fujimimokei.com/item/items/4968728910222/

2.Keio 6000 5-door set.
brass etching kit only

Manufacturer official site
https://www.treasuretown.co.jp/?pid=131433146

3.Odakyu Monorail

It was once sold.

 

Odakyu Trains

http://www.odakyu.jp/program/info/data.info/8172_8177002_.pdf

 

[Steve]

Kato could produce more Steam Loco Types.

 

Even as a fan of 1970s JNR, I would buy a modern EMU or DMU with "Uma Musume" Commerical or Collab Prints on it; I love those cute Anime Horse Girls...

 

Edited September 6, 2023 by Steve

[bc6]

Kato JR E231-500 SERIES CHUO-SOBU.

[ATShinkansen]

With Kato’s new Big Boy release, I’d like to see it released as “The Big One” from Galaxy Railways.

[cteno4]

I stopped myself from buying a big boy a few times, but I’m afraid I could not stop myself from the big one! 
 

jeff

[SL58654号]

I would love nothing more than to see a KATO 58654 and coaches in their "Aso Boy" livery. My hobby store rumored to me that they'd release it eventually after the SL Hitoyoshi.
I'd prefer a green 58654 with plain chimney, not the mock diamond stack.
Or better still, in a blue livery like this brass model.

 

I'd really love to see more "Okajoki" SL in N gauge, too.
American locomotives like Class 900, 950, 5900, 6600, 9200, 9700 and many others built for Japan, as I love the look of American engines with buffers and screw couplings, and a few British examples like Class 1480. 
Of course, I'm in love with good old 'Yoshitsune' who does have a MA model. I have to get to Umekoji to see this beauty. 

Edited September 11, 2023 by SL58654号

[SL58654号]

On 9/7/2023 at 1:00 AM, Steve said:

Kato could produce more Steam Loco Types.

 

 

Which ones? In terms of "modern" SL I can't name too many besides the C53 or the D60.

[Steve]

13 hours ago, SL58654号 said:

Which ones? In terms of "modern" SL I can't name too many besides the C53 or the D60.

 

6750, 8900, B50, C59, D50, D52

 

Especially the D52 would be nice.

Edited September 11, 2023 by Steve

[katoftw]

Thats some obscure locos there. MicroAce has done a few of those in low volume.

 

Tomix is more likely to pick any of those up before Kato. But Kato has been picking up more locos in past years.

[SwallowAngel]

On 9/11/2023 at 7:25 AM, SL58654号 said:

Which ones? In terms of "modern" SL I can't name too many besides the C53 or the D60.

Yeah, a C53 would be especially nice, I don't even care what variant, they all just look lovely. 

However I do think it's about time somebody picks up the C51. I NEED  an imperial version (or whatever the spec currently at Umekouji is named) in my life. Heck, I would even go through the trouble of ordering one from the Kyoto station shop if it meant I could get that specific variant...

 

[SL58654号]

11 hours ago, SwallowAngel said:

Yeah, a C53 would be especially nice, I don't even care what variant, they all just look lovely. 

However I do think it's about time somebody picks up the C51. I NEED  an imperial version (or whatever the spec currently at Umekouji is named) in my life. Heck, I would even go through the trouble of ordering one from the Kyoto station shop if it meant I could get that specific variant...

 

So would I to get a C53 in my collection, streamlined or not! I'd like 8630 by KATO Kyoto, but they're an arm and a leg by now. C51 239 would be nice, too.
I'm going to Umekoji or bust. As you are German, have you seen Eisenbahn-Romantik's program on the museum roundhouse?

[SL-san]

12 hours ago, SwallowAngel said:

Yeah, a C53 would be especially nice, I don't even care what variant, they all just look lovely. 

However I do think it's about time somebody picks up the C51. I NEED  an imperial version (or whatever the spec currently at Umekouji is named) in my life. Heck, I would even go through the trouble of ordering one from the Kyoto station shop if it meant I could get that specific variant...

 

Of course Microace did produce C53-43 streamlined version in 2001 and again in 2008 and C53-45, C53-30, C53-65 and C53-45 at various times between 2001 and 2008.  Microace released C51-276 (which had done Imperial Train duty) in 2012 with crossed flags etc.  Second-hand examples of these models come up on Japanese auction sites from time to time and that's where I bought mine!

Graeme

[Steve]

10 hours ago, SL58654号 said:

As you are German, have you seen Eisenbahn-Romantik's program on the museum roundhouse?

 

Fun Fact; I saw this just yesterday... 😄

 

Too bad, the Umekoji part was too short for my taste.

[Oxbox]

I'd love to see a new release of the Nambu branch line 205-1000 series, there was a Tomytec Railway Collection release over a decade ago but the quality of the few I've seen pop up is quite lacking (Nambu Line decal with the musical notes is just a paper sticker, etc). On a related note, I'd also love a Tsurumi Line 205

 

Edited February 18 by Oxbox

[kenjidm]

Splatoon train that just came out in Japan

 

https://www.gonintendo.com/attachments/image/44324/file/medium-93b90348fbcee8f21d3e4c6b730c25bc.webp

[Kamome]

Have any of the big 4 manufacturers ever released Kuki 1000? A bit short lived as a concept alongside the Kumu 1000 piggyback trucks, the Kuki hauled tanker trailer loads introduced in 1986 by JNR and finally discontinued sometime in 2000.

 

Seem to have a fascination with differing types of freight at the moment. Images found with turquoise and white trailers with Nisseki Mitsubishi Refining logo (now Nippon Oil, Eneos)

Edited May 28 by Kamome

[cteno4]

Very interesting. I’ve never seen them. How did they get the trailers on these depressed center flats?

 

jeff

[Kamome]

I've not found any evidence of loading and unloading procedures but must have been challenging, although this persevered for 14 years. I've found a few further images here of Honmoku in Yokohama.

 

https://expechizen.exblog.jp/11105789/

 

Did find some interesting comments from a chap that worked for one of the hauliers using the 4T piggyback trucks. Apparently the iron powder being thrown off the pantograph was very difficult to remove from the trucks that were near the loco ends of the train. Might have to model that onto my Tomix HO versions. 

 

Update

Still not been able to find any photographic evidence of Kuki 1000 loading but have it on good authority it was done by a lifter due to the trailers being loaded back to back, not yet determined whether specific for the job or general purpose.

 

If anyone comes across photos of Kuki 1000 in any of the Japanese railway periodicals, please let me know.

Feel I need to get myself a 3D printer.

Edited June 1 by Kamome

[cplchanb]

reissue of the 500 series type EVA 

[Dillon]

For Japanese Steam, RASS(羅須地人鉄道協会) models in n scale by KATO, for American Steam, Canadian Pacific 2816 n scale model by KATO, I mean, the tour is this enegine is operating is popular and I feel like KATO USA could capitalize that.

[JR East]

I would be happy to see a re-release of the Kato JR E655 including the Imperial Car. 

[Kamome]

11 hours ago, JR East said:

I would be happy to see a re-release of the Kato JR E655 including the Imperial Car. 

Agreed and sorry to sound like a broken record but would be nice if Kato ran all of their previous Imperial trains and relevant locos. 

 

Imperial Train No. 1

DD54 early Imperial Train version

DD51 842 

EF81 81

EF58 61

I appreciate there are many other locos suitable but these are the ones I'm aware of that Kato produced and came with royal chrysanthemum and flags.

 

5 car 157 series with Kuro 157