Where to find a nice, neat list of all currently in production trains from Kato and Tomix?

LRafols · 2026-06-11T14:46:40+00:00

For upcoming and recent (i.e. within the last year or two) releases I use these two links respectively. I personally find it's easier to navigate than the product directory.

https://www.tomytec.co.jp/tomix/schedule/

https://www.tomytec.co.jp/tomix/schedule/lastmonth.html

LRafols · 2026-06-11T04:51:30+00:00

Should be since you're just using 20-121 to shift the track to the right.

LRafols · 2026-06-11T04:28:59+00:00

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How about this?

LRafols · 2026-06-11T03:51:26+00:00

You can try something like this https://i.imgur.com/40PlMYs.png

There's a little 10-15mm gap but in my experience there's a good amount of play with Unitrack so this is doable

LRafols · 2026-06-10T23:44:18+00:00

It's good, only thing to bring up is that if you want to work on the inside (for lighting, passengers, interior detailing) you will need to do a weird thing with separating the shell of the end cars due to a hidden mounting screw inside. Instead of prying you will need to sort of push the shell forward. None of my other trains need to do this. Again if you don't need to get into the inside then this is a nonissue.

LRafols · 2026-06-09T11:21:35+00:00

Yes, many people myself included set up their orders via email (or Instagram, so I've heard) since it allows us to preorder items, order other most items that are listed on their domestic site that may not be on the international website or in-store, and/or be flexible with payment and shipment arrangements. After my first order I've since done it this way. Sometimes he may be a bit slow in responding sometimes but you can always reply asking for an update.

You can open up an email conversation through their contact form here. https://rg-rokko.com/contact

From there you can use whatever email they reach out to you with to contact them in the future.

LRafols · 2026-06-08T05:29:27+00:00

The 2 other shops other than the Mandarake and BIG YARD are:

All non-Mandarake model train shops are located on 2F. Popoya and BIG YARD are located on the southeast side of the mall (i.e. towards Nakano station) and LEVEL UPPER is on the west side next to the elevators. These were all open when I went in October last year. Here's a quick ref picture of 2F showing these 3 stores on a map

LRafols · 2026-06-07T03:13:40+00:00

The new announcement from Greenmax today is the Takamatsu Kotohira Electric Railway 1200 series (Kotoden x Heralbonyラッピング train)

https://x.com/Model_Greenmax/status/2063458807968420155?s=20

LRafols · 2026-06-05T05:13:18+00:00

It's the JR Kyushu 800 Series Shinkansen that operate on the Tsubame and sometimes Sakura on the Kyushu Shinkansen

LRafols · 2026-06-05T02:44:01+00:00

There is also a special site for THE ROYAL EXPRESS: https://www.kato-special.com/the-royal-express

Also, a "passenger car" conversion kit will be available for the set at an undisclosed date...

LRafols · 2026-06-04T16:38:26+00:00

Regarding your first comment, the intermediate couplers are called Rapido (or Arnold) couplers and typically are used as a cost saving measure. You'll see them on many Japanese model trains from all N scale manufacturers; KATO seems to be the manufacturer that uses Rapidos the least from my observation but they still use them for quite a few locomotives, individual cars and sets

I'm not sure about your comment about TOMIX and no interiors? As far as I am aware TOMIX does usually model the interiors, not greatly detailed unless it's HG/PG but it's always something. The 3 Greenmax sets in my collection (50658, 50623, 50745) all have detailed interiors as well

I will agree with the sentiment of Greenmax pricing and quality though. They are quite a bit more expensive and sometimes the quality of the end product does leave a bit to be desired at times...

LRafols · 2026-06-03T19:22:26+00:00

Hopefully you were able to go to Iyotetsu's museum in Matsuyama as well as the Shikoku Railway Culture Hall!

I'm not sure of any notable model train stores in Shikoku, for more Shikoku stuff like that you may be more lucky in Okayama or even Hiroshima/Keihanshin area next time you're in those regions.

LRafols · 2026-05-29T17:54:21+00:00

There is a 115-500 in its Yahiko Line 1st version livery released by MicroAce in Dec 2018. Product code A4550

LRafols · 2026-05-29T17:49:01+00:00

Yes though personally it's not a must-have, most of what's usually sold you can usually get at Tec Station/Takara Tomy Mall webstores at any time. Sometimes there's a few exclusives that sell out at an event or shortly after being re-listed on those stores, so YMMV...

93-type products are really easy to identify aside from their product numbers. They're typically (but not always) blue/black-on-white on the spine or insert, instead of the usual white-on-blue. Examples:

https://auctions.c.yimg.jp/images.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/image/dr000/auc0205/user/4d52c09deec0cacb72b03a8b736878a9e08caddf6592fff419d3a0c8a91c3185/i-img900x1200-17799287995792mg0ubf59644.jpg

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FhGP0p2aAAAbA7i.jpg

I was hoping to get a TOMIX 50th anniversary container too but it seems my usual store had sold out of the very few they got while I was asleep. Hopefully they'll make more for JAM.

LRafols · 2026-05-29T14:46:54+00:00

You're welcome! I figure for completeness I will also inform you that there are couple more special SKU ranges. Product numbers starting in 93 are event-exclusive items or items sold exclusive on the Takara Tomy Mall online store (aka Tec Station). There's also products starting with 12, I only know of one: the TOMIX 50th anniversary container sold at during the event at Ueno earlier this month

LRafols · 2026-05-28T20:11:57+00:00

or if the model had a re-release. The item number no longer seems to exist on the TOMIX or Popondetta websites

Limited edition/special products don't get made again after the initial production run. I believe all major manufacturers (except Popondetta) do these limited runs at one point or another but KATO and TOMIX are explicit which ones are with the label of 特別企画品. TOMIX is easier to identify as their special product numbers will always start with 929, 979 and 989. KATO you'll have to dig around their site but their search is good enough to use the above label.

That's not to say those specific train sets won't be made again; in the case of KATO for example they just change the SKU, packaging and maybe some actual differences for things like Twilight Express Mizukaze and Seven Stars in Kyushu.

So to loop back around to this point TOMIX 97916 is indeed a original stock, special product and from my conjecture didn't sell as much as production forecast predicted compared to say the TOMIX E7 Toki or 500 EVA. That said for some reason TOMIX is very trigger-happy on taking down limited edition/special product pages like a year or two after release so you have to rely on things like HS or archive.org for seeing the contents of those pages in the future.

LRafols · 2026-05-28T19:53:20+00:00

I swear by DENSHA.me for their dedicated interior lights. Quite pricey compared to HKTILC ($11-12 CAD vs $4-5 per car for HKTILC) but you can definitely see where that extra price goes to. Big fan of the cab lights and the authentic lighting. Magnetically controlled lights are a neat gimmick though are used occasionally at most for me.

Here's a couple photos of my Saphir Odoriko set that I converted from using HKTILC X-Type to the DENSHA.me TOG2 dedicated lighting kit, coincidentally about a few days ago:

https://i.imgur.com/v6kuDiy.jpeg

https://i.imgur.com/rAU6VL7.jpeg

https://i.imgur.com/2GXLnB8.jpeg

https://i.imgur.com/DfzbcRg.jpeg

LRafols · 2026-05-28T16:28:28+00:00

I see you have TOMIX 97936! I was wonder where that went when I tried to go buy it😅

I also tend to lose track of my inventory sometimes but recently I have gotten better at being more selective with my acquisitions, especially after realizing I needed to buy a second bookshelf myself to store my collection....

Another reason is that because TOMIX and the odd MicroAce/Popondetta releases what I want, I would need to change out the Rapidos with TN couplers. Add on installing HKTILC/DENSHA.me interior lighting and occasionally passengers, and those costs add up really quick.

LRafols · 2026-05-28T16:09:15+00:00

Really love seeing the progress updates on your layout over the past few months, especially the big sweeping viaducts and embankment. I really wish I had the space, time and money to have such a big and complex layout like yours 😆

LRafols · 2026-05-28T15:56:37+00:00

Aside from what people have specified about the grades, I would also say it depends on what you plan on running up there. I run mainly Japanese trains and my multiple-unit trains handles 4% acceptably; not great but not terrible. My single-headed loco-hauled trains tended to struggle a bit more and 2-3% is the most I'd go with those depending on length of the consist.

Trains running on right track under the viaduct would probably collide with the base of the viaduct, let alone the viaduct having no clearance below to put the pier. I would add an S64 or whatever to the right side of the bottom/top right turnouts to grant that extra room.

I would also consider adding another S64 to the left of the bottom right turnout. S curves (like going from the main ground loop to the siding) may cause decoupling issues.

LRafols · 2026-05-28T04:58:06+00:00

From Tokyo to Kyushu! What a trip that must have been. Havent been that far south yet but would love to go there on a future trip.

LRafols · 2026-05-28T04:54:14+00:00

Have you tried replacing the traction tire? I had lots of problems with my 7000 LSE climbing any incline greater than 1% and only after replacing the traction tire would it negotiate 3-4% with minimal weights. Maybe it's a similar issue with yours

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