Painted Trains

[Krackel Hopper]

One of the many things I find fascinating about Japanese trains is the art.  Train design/architecture aside (which are also bland in the USA), about the only "painting" you see on trains in the states is graffiti.  When I stumbled across the KIHA 40 fox/crab/squid set, I was hooked!  Since then I've been trying to track down some of these unique painted trains/locomotives.

Does anyone know if someone has made an N-scale KIHA 40 "Wrapping Train" (I believe that's the name anyway)..



I've started to compile a list, I was hoping that others might be able to add to..

Brand           Model #   Type                 Name
Tomix     92931   KIHA 130         Hidaka Pony Train
Kato           10-919   201 Series         Sikisai 4 Seasons (new color)
Kato           10-912   201 Series         Sikisai 4 Seasons (old color)
Kato           10-238   165 Series         Mount Fuji Express
Micro Ace   A5915   KIHA 40/48         Fox
Micro Ace   A5916   KIHA 40/48         Crab
Micro Ace   A5917   KIHA 40/48         Squid
Micro Ace   A8715   DE10                 Dolphin
Micro Ace   A0424   103 Series         Train Has Eyes
Micro Ace   A0317   781 Series         Doraemon
Micro Ace   A8625   KIHA 40         Ge Ge Ge No Kitaro
Micro Ace   A8626   KIHA 40         Kitaro
Micro Ace   A8627   KIHA 40         Medama Oyaji
Micro Ace   A8628   KIHA 40         Neko Musume
Micro Ace   A8629   KIHA 40         Nezumi Otoko
Micro Ace   A0364   KIHA 185         Island Express
Micro Ace   A1852   12 Series         Origami

[Shashinka]

Always had a soft spot for the KiHa 40.

[disturbman]

There is many many more.

- http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10014658
- http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10052634
- http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10055599
- http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10051375
- http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10032416
- http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10032415
- Not this one but I think microace had a painted Marine Liner (http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10030252 ; http://www.microace-arii.co.jp/poster/2006.html the may poster)
- http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10040383
- http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10081509 
- http://www.tomytec.co.jp/tomix/products/n/92938.htm


Are JR Shikoku 113 Series eligible to this list (each is wearing a unique paint scheme)?
- http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10063417
- http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10053610
- http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10053609

And this too:
- http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10042804

Then I will hesitate to include all the Joyfull Trains set...

[disturbman]

Found this, I don't know the item number:

http://page9.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/k116102170

[cteno4]

Arrgggg, this is killing me, i remember seeing something on these somewhere, but i cant put my finger on it now! they are fantastic! i am wondering if it was a body made by someone else that you drop on a tomix kiha. translation says platts + tomix, so could be a platz body, would figure as they like to do the more colorful containers. maybe a japan only thing where it is only in the smaller specialty places. its irritating me though as i know i have seen this before!

Found this, I don't know the item number:

http://page9.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/k116102170

its a bit sad to say  that i have just about all of the trains listed below... these trains royally hooked me early on and i have been collecting everyone i can get my hands on. also at least a dozen painted trams as well.

Also must add one of the grand-daddies of painted trains, Doraemon!

http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/image/10054250a/20/1

hey i had missed the Clannad E231 series, good find! may have to break down and order ems from hobbysearch on this one... tempting to put the decals on a real n train, but the sobu line E231 are not in circulation... guess i could cheat with another line! it is tempting!

it would be really great to get decal kits to do up regular trains into painted trains. would take some licensing i bet and might be most of the cost/work for the manufacturer with some of these franchises. one of the JRM members is looking into getting some of the images at higher resolution for the anime shinkansens. while matthew was in japan some of the club members in our sister club in Iwate had made their own, but the resolution of the artwork they got was pretty rough even at N scale size.

cheers

jeff

cheers

jeff

[Krackel Hopper]

Thanks guys!

This is just the kinda stuff I was looking for.  While the revival colors are unique, and do deserve to be noted, I was thinking more along the lines of the "themed" painted trains..

Of course, now that you've shown me this.. I have been told by the lady of the house that we NEED to get the NHK train.  A few months ago, when I started getting into this hobby, she made a comment about "if there is a Domo train..." and now I see that yes, there is a Domo train.

Thanks to this forum, I now have a "how-to" on using the yahoo.jp auctions.. which I will be needing to get the NHK train!  Ever since I have found this hobby, my wallet has been sorely disappointed with me.. heh 

[cteno4]

Krackel,

also lurk ebay as well as that is where i got mine about a year back. came from someone's collection that was getting out of trains and got it at a very good price. takes some pertinence, i thought it would never come up, but it did!

cheers

jeff

ps still waiting to find the space world version (A0643)! one of the few i have not tracked down and may end up as a yahoo auction search!

[scott]

Anybody know what the story is with the train painted with boars and trees? From one of Kitayama's pictures that I just saw, I think it's on the Eizan Electric Railway.

[SubwayHypes]

i like that e231 with the school girls on it too bad its only in B scale

[westfalen]

Here's a different painted train, I wouldn't have believed it except there is a photo of the real thing on the box. Anyone for this one?
http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10037238

[Martijn Meerts]

That sure is colorful, and quite expensive considering there's no motor in it (according to the description...)

[cteno4]

There is no motor in the steam engine as its prototypical! the prototype is just a reconstruction that has to be pulled around by another loco. the POMPA train was a sort of mobile trade show for the public on i think electronic technology mainly by i think Hitachi. if someone would like to try and do some translation i could post a scan on the insert, i think it has some info on the prototype.

anyhow i got this when it came out as we were having a debate on the jrm layout as to if we would run thomas trains on the layout at shows to engage kids. then i saw this and it was a good compromise as its sort of thomas like, but real and has an interesting story with it with the non functional show engine (having good talking points with public displays is always really great as you can engage them so much more!). in the end we have found that kids, even little ones get totally wowed by the japanese trains w/o having to revert to thomas! even the really little ones seem to recognized there is something cooler going on with the japanese trains.

of course then we have goji as well so that helps grab both the little and the big (read adult) kids and he of course is prototypical...

cheers

jeff

[Toni Babelony]

Talking about painted trains; Tomytec are going to release the two Shikisai (四季彩) versions of the 201 Series from the Umeda-line in April! The price will be around 5,000 Yen, so a quite nice price for some unique trains. Note that there is an old and new colour and that the sides have different window arrangements! A good alternative for the long sold out Kato Roundhouse versions.

http://ngi.blog.eonet.jp/photos/20110204_tomytec/001.html

[David]

anyhow i got this when it came out as we were having a debate on the jrm layout as to if we would run thomas trains on the layout at shows to engage kids. then i saw this and it was a good compromise as its sort of thomas like, but real and has an interesting story with it with the non functional show engine (having good talking points with public displays is always really great as you can engage them so much more!). in the end we have found that kids, even little ones get totally wowed by the japanese trains w/o having to revert to thomas! even the really little ones seem to recognized there is something cooler going on with the japanese trains.

Why not run this (after installing a power unit) then. It's prototypical Thomas!

http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10112516

http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%95%E3%82%A1%E3%82%A4%E3%83%AB:Fujikyu-5000.jpg

[cteno4]

Why not run this (after installing a power unit) then. It's prototypical Thomas!

http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10112516

http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%95%E3%82%A1%E3%82%A4%E3%83%AB:Fujikyu-5000.jpg

yep got it (actually i picked up two, dont tell), but have not yet powered it, but hope to do so soon! only problem is the thomas stuff on it is so small its hard to see from a few feet, but still great fun. fun talking point that there is a thomas land in japan as well!

Doreamon always has to be out as he is such a big hit with the kids. that train is great as it is very bright and all the characters large so they can be seen well from a distance and enough kids have seen the series to recognize it or at least that its a cartoon character and i think they really like the fact that cartoons and trains are coming together (frankly the same here for the 6' 4" 8yr old)!

i forgot to bring to the last show the Meitetsu series 1000 with the kids art for the local area and attractions! only could fit 2 crates of trains into the car going to the show so forgot to dig this one out to show off to the kids! its now one of my favorite and i think the kids will appreciate the use of kids art.

http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10061891

theres also a second thread for some reason on painted trains here

http://www.jnsforum.com/index.php/topic,2324.0.html

cheers

jeff

[cteno4]

Talking about painted trains; Tomytec are going to release the two Shikisai (四季彩) versions of the 201 Series from the Umeda-line in April! The price will be around 5,000 Yen, so a quite nice price for some unique trains. Note that there is an old and new colour and that the sides have different window arrangements! A good alternative for the long sold out Kato Roundhouse versions.

http://ngi.blog.eonet.jp/photos/20110204_tomytec/001.html

tony,

oooohhhh thanks for spotting this. i have the old roundhouse set but the new scheme will be nice to have as well!!!

its nice tomytec is getting into the painted trains more and more as usually its microace and hard on the wallet! also nice as pretty cheap to grab the train then power later to spread out the hurt! also kind of fun doing a little building doing the upgrade. heres to more tomytec painted trains!!!

http://japanrailmodelers.org/photos/_trains/pages/page_41.html

yes im jeff and im a painted train adict...

cheers

jeff

[Krackel Hopper]

Here's a different painted train, I wouldn't have believed it except there is a photo of the real thing on the box. Anyone for this one?
http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10037238

I've been considering getting this train.. but the price tag is rather steep for a set with no motor!  Even prototypical!

Talking about painted trains; Tomytec are going to release the two Shikisai (四季彩) versions of the 201 Series

That is great!  RapitBunny got me the old color roundhouse set for our anniversary!  At the Tomytec price - I may get a 2nd "old color" to go with the new color!

I am impressed by Tomytec going after painted trains!

Hi Jeff!  My name is Jon, and I am a painted train addict too.

[cteno4]

LOL i expect the two of us should never get together or way too much mutual enabling might go on...

I got the Pompa when it first came out and the exchange was better, but even then it was almost $200 so it was one of the most expensive trains  have, but really do love it. very colorful and also playful engine but still prototypical!

cheers

jeff

[Krackel Hopper]

LOL i expect the two of us should never get together or way too much mutual enabling might go on...

I got the Pompa when it first came out and the exchange was better, but even then it was almost $200 so it was one of the most expensive trains  have, but really do love it. very colorful and also playful engine but still prototypical!

Out of curiosity, what do you tow the Pompa train with?  HS mentions EF58, C58 & C57.  Does the paperwork give any better specifics?  Like was it a brown or blue EF58?

Also, do you know how the train was towed?  Was the running engine coupled to the C11?  Or coupled to the last passenger car and the C11 on the trailing end?

[cteno4]

i would just use whatever we had around at the show to pull it (sometimes stealing the engine thats hauling containers). you have to haul it from the rear as it has a dummy knuckle coupler on the front of the c11

the only other specific info in japanese is on the HS page

http://www.1999.co.jp/itbig03/10037238k.jpg

it might be the text that they have translated. ill post the link on the translation page and see if anyone has some thoughts.

cheers

jeff

[Krackel Hopper]

While this thread has some attention again..

Any thoughts on when MicroAce will finally do the Asahiyama Zoo Train?


(bigger picture here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asahiyama_Zoo)

I wonder if it's a licensing issue?

I want it.. I've decided, outside of painted trains and MoW equipment.. of which I'm collecting anything fun.. the area I intend to focus on is Hokkaido.

[cteno4]

id whip out the cc for one!

may be or they may have a long list of painted trains to do! they seem to be in re-release mode right now and fewer new ones...

my dream is to create a wall display case that i can store all the painted trains in on display!

cheers

jeff

[cteno4]

microace, please...

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/GeErF4CxzY8" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/GeErF4CxzY8</a>

jeff

[Martijn Meerts]

pretty please with sugar on top :)

[bill937ca]

Kiha 40-2118 4th Kitaro Train and Kiha 40-2115 New Nezumi Otoko Train back in stock.

http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10132905

http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10132907

[Dani]

I own this Kato 10-922 Mangattan Liner II:



Post ==> http://clubncaldes.blogspot.com/2011/02/jnr-205-series-mangattan-liner-ii.html

Cheers,

Dani.

[nightshade]

that looks nice
got the thomas 2 car set from tomix last summer (still need the power chasis - this november)







one of few that i have (own some japanese and some us commuter trains)

[cteno4]

anyone know what this one is? never saw this one! perhaps euro?

http://cr-railway.web.infoseek.co.jp/romeo50.JPG

caption on the main page says "Boarding LRT 2 Farewell, and Akatsuki"

http://cr-railway.web.infoseek.co.jp/india04.html

it hurts when you find one you dont have! took me 5 years to get the space world train!

cheers

jeff

[Krackel Hopper]

I think that's got to be Euro - there are a couple other Euro trains on the previous page.  Lucky for me, I don't collect the Euro painted too.. some of those Kato (HobbyTrain) locos are beautiful, but quite expensive!

I know what you're talking about.. I've been looking for one of the Akabe (Cow Train) sets for a while.. preferably the 485 Series.. but any.. HobbySearch just "re-released" the 789 Series today.  When I got home from work I noticed it, and it was already sold out!

Did you make sure to pre-order the Asahiyama Zoo Train?
http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10164000

[cteno4]

Krackel,

hey thanks i missed that! that was one we were hoping for! maybe someone is following jns for ideas!

i guess im going to have to put the card down on that one!

jeff

[Martijn Meerts]

I need me one of those zoo trains as well.. Luckily its only coming out in March, my credit card should've recovered from the December shopping spree by then ;)

[cteno4]

yeah i figured it is 2012! luckily there have been few trains lately that i have wanted to buy.

this really looks like a good one! quite colorful, maybe more so than doreamon.

jeff

[Martijn Meerts]

I quite like the design of the Kiha183 as well, so even without the paint scheme it'd be an interesting train to have.

And well, the world will blow up towards the end of 2012 anyway, so might as well buy some more trains and enjoy until then =)

[cteno4]

its a nice looking train, bit of a big tuff looking train -- sort of a bulldog stance. think the zoo painting will make it fun and it is a big canvas for images like this!

jeff

[Martijn Meerts]

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Asahiyama_Zoo_Train

Looks fantastic ...

I wonder if I should starting thinking of doing a "painted layout", running only painted trains, and painting all the houses and everything as well =)

[Krackel Hopper]

The painted trains are one of the things that really got me hooked on Japanese trains.

My collection is mostly painted & MoW (snowplows, Dr. Yellow/Dr. Tokai) with a few regular but unique looking trains like the Rapit, Yufuin No Mori, & 789 Super Hakuchō.

A full-on painted train layout could be interesting.  It would have to be carefully executed because something like that could easily go so far overboard as to look ridiculous or an eye-sore.

[scott]

Anybody know if there's a model available of this semi-painted train from the Ueda Electric Railway's Bessho Line?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jam_jasmine_jade/5243565308/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/41695846@N07/4381684594/

[cteno4]

scott,

ooh nice one, thanks! ive not seen that as a model. sooo many painted trains in japan its amazing!

cant wait for the zoo train!

jeff

[nightshade]

gonna see if i can get the power chasis for my train tommorow

seen a ge ge ge kitaro train on sale .... ( plan on going to akihabra tommorow and check the 3 hobby stores there, might stop by in shibuya to ) seems they also sale used trains in all those shops too....    will see what i come up with (manga liner from above post new is 12000 yen..... bit much  )

[Krackel Hopper]

I need to add a few trains to my wishlist!

I stumbled across these today while I was looking at something else.

Hokkaido Lavender Tour Train:
http://www.1999.co.jp/10047426

and since I'm starting to focus/learn about Hokkaido..

Hokkaido Ice Drift Tour Train:
http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10047427

Then there's this.. because who doesn't want a train with fruit?
http://www.1999.co.jp/10040066

I'll have to start stalking Yahoo Auctions JP.. doubtful I'll see these on Ebay..

[keitaro]

i actually would like an 800 series of this one :) i think kumo would also love this ?

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/ajrfFNM3Jzw" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/ajrfFNM3Jzw</a>

[cteno4]

Ooh nice, if only tomix or Kato would do this train! They really are not into painted trains like this except from tomy tec some, unfortunate.

Jeff

[Martijn Meerts]

Looks more like something MicroAce would do, but they haven't done an 800 series at all yet..

One thing to keep in mind as well, is that whoever would do a Pokemon 800 series would likely have to pay up for the Pokemon license, which probably isn't going to be cheap. On the other hand, I doubt a Pokemon train would sell bad ;)

[cteno4]

yeah the licensing fees could be a simple flat fee or a horrible percentage. i do think its one that folks would pay the premium for though, most all painted trains sell very well, but i could see that kato and tomix probably want much larger numbers for a run than microace does so they may not be able to sell out a run easily at a higher price. it wis something they have already tooled though, so presumably a short run for a pokemon train would not be horrible cost to them if they could think about selling it out well. hot sellouts like that also are always good buzz!

jeff

[bill937ca]

This looks like ex-Keio, ex-Iyotetsu stock on the Choshi Electric Railway. Wonder where they found the money for paint? Selling rice cakes? Note that track bed. Its not Kato!!  

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/yqsu3Bl61Dg" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/yqsu3Bl61Dg</a>

Photographers notes:

New Year's Day morning in 2012, in the Choshi Electric Railway's annual "Diamond sunrise" train service was held by. Narita Express Line JR "sunrise barking" Rapid - "first sunrise Choshi" in a way that fit in, trains started from Choshi Station from 4:00 - 32 minutes, 56 minutes from 3:00 Togawa station.

In response to transportation 多客, this system became operational in 2000 as well as two diamond-shaped sunrise last year, each organization has been the head puts up special mark. 2001 is organized around a different design, organization 2002 is the same design front and rear head mark.

In the first sunrise of the bottom line and say, Even the weather is seen soon in Japan and the sunrise seen 犬吠埼 that (laughs).
"Date taken" 2012.1.1

[Webskipper]

Kato 14-801-8 Green Portrams are painted. Designs are from the school children.

http://www.katomodels.com/n/tlr0600/

[cteno4]

they are very fun, i actually sold off my kato portrams to buy one of these instead! i had enough of the plain ones from the tomytec, but this one with the kids eco design was just too fun!

jeff

[cteno4]

just noticed this on one of iso8's videos, anyone know which painted train this one is?

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/Yi6Nf4_SZLc" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/Yi6Nf4_SZLc</a>

looks like the time link does not auto embed properly, here it is to load with at the correct time

http://youtu.be/Yi6Nf4_SZLc?t=17m58s

cheers

jeff

[disturbman]

It's the JR Shikoku 2000 Series in "Anpanman" livery. I would love MicroAce to do this... Been waiting for years.

[cteno4]

Cool, thanks.

It's a really nice looking train! At least the zoo train is coming soon.

Jeff