Where to get Kato Shinkansen sets in the UK?

[nathan70000]

Hi,

I have always had a bit of a fascination with the Japanese 'Bullet trains' and I would like a model of the original O-Series Shinkansen. However I am struggling to find one in any scale for a reasonable price. Ideally, I'd want the Kato O-Series Shinkansen starter set with track and controller, but they seem to be as rare as hen's teeth in this country. There is a used one on eBay right now but the model is scratched and the pantograph is damaged, and nowhere am I going to find a new one. Does anyone know where I could get this set in the UK, preferably south of £200? Is there a reasonable HO version available? Could Hornby/Bachmann/Rapido tackle it seeing as one is technically part of the National Collection?

[RBAGE]

The National Railway Museum has one in York. They seem to have developed a habit of giving stuff away so it might be worth having a word.

[nathan70000]

I'm afraid much like Hornby's Class 800 Hitachi test train limited edition it is useless to me as it does not come with matching coaches

[RBAGE]

I'm afraid much like Hornby's Class 800 Hitachi test train limited edition it is useless to me as it does not come with matching coaches

You got me.

[Bilbo]

http://www.gaugemaster.com/search_results.asp?searchtitle=Search+Results++%3E+shinkansen&searchstring=shinkansen&currentpage=1&style=main&andor=View&OB=&method=kws&strType=

 

Is this of interest , they would be your best bet.

[nathan70000]

Seems to be the only place. It says 'Available to order' on the item, I take it that means they have none in stock but can order them in from Japan?

[dullsteamer]

In HO, you have two choices. Lima made a rather basic 4-car set as part of their range of JNR models back in the late 60s/early 70s. The body shell mouldings weren't too bad, but the mechanism wasn't anything special. You can still find them for a reasonable price online, branded as Lima or Playart.

 

The other option is the recent Series O models made by Japanese manufacturer Zoukei Mura.

 

http://www.zoukeimura.co.jp/products/srs01_0shinkansen.html

 

These models are very accurate, very well detailed, and feature a 21 pin DCC receptacle. Their performance is superb. When first released, the RRP for the basic four-car set was ¥45000.

 

All the best,

 

Mark.

[wollastonblue]

Have you spoken to Wellington Models?

 

Another suggestion is looking for the sets from a japanese store like http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/rail/, or http://banzaihobby.com/ . 

 

Usual disclaimer no commercial ties to any of the above. I have used Hobby Search from Japan to the UK, for Tomix equipment.

[Steven B]

Have you tried Plaza Japan's eBay store? They've got several N Gauge Tomix O series model in stock.

 

Kato (and Tomix) models tend to get produced in batches with a few years between batches. You may find you need to keep and eye on the Kato website(s) to see if/when then do another release of the O-Series trains.

 

Happy modelling.

 

Steven B.

[jjb1970]

If you want an HO one, then as well as the aforementioned Zoukei Mura model which is superb you can also find KTM brass examples on Ebay fairly regularly.

[Claude_Dreyfus]

As mentioned, you will struggle to get hold of one in H0 - although Model Train Plus have some listed (although not in stock).

 

https://www.modeltrainplus.net/collections/ho-scale-others-new/products/zoukeimura-srs-ho-gauge-shinkansen-series-0-hikari-4-car-basic-set

 

 

For Kato Bullets,you can do a lot worse then this chap. No 0 series listed though.

 

http://www.traintrax.co.uk/kato-japan-gauge-kato-japan-multiple-units-c-26_41.html?page=1&sort=3a

[oleander]

On 21/06/2017 at 01:29, dullsteamer said:

In HO, you have two choices. Lima made a rather basic 4-car set as part of their range of JNR models back in the late 60s/early 70s. The body shell mouldings weren't too bad, but the mechanism wasn't anything special. You can still find them for a reasonable price online, branded as Lima or Playart.

 

The other option is the recent Series O models made by Japanese manufacturer Zoukei Mura.

 

http://www.zoukeimura.co.jp/products/srs01_0shinkansen.html

 

These models are very accurate, very well detailed, and feature a 21 pin DCC receptacle. Their performance is superb. When first released, the RRP for the basic four-car set was ¥45000.

 

All the best,

 

Mark.

Hi
as Mark has said there is two but he missed one . KTM brass. I have all 3 models lima ,KTM and Zoukei Mura.
I can say by far the newest model by Zoukei Mura is the best. The quality is out of this world. It is not cheap . I got the main 4 car set the add om 4 car set and one extra moterised car. So thats 9 cars 3 with moters and that was 97000 yen or about £760. Lucky for me I was in Japan on work .Note this model is for the Japanese market only .
N gauge there is only Kato
Ktm
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/KTM-Tenshodo-Shinkansen-Bullet-Train-4-teilig-1-80-Spur-HO-ohne-OVP/192677034801?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

 

The Zoukei Mura add on set
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ZoukeiMura-HO-Scale-JR-Shinkansen-Bullet-Train-Series-0-Add-On-Model-4-Car-Set-A/162801170269?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649

 

If you need any photos please ask
John

 

[Steamysandy]

Another place to try is Traintrax ,a dealer in Kato nGauge who has a website and has direct connections to Japan.

There are a number of modellers of Japanese trains in this country and there is a web site for Japanese n scale modellers with a world wide following.

I watch it regularly