Kato May - June 2023 New
KATO’s N gauge model of the “Seven Stars in Kyushu” (JR Kyushu) is a testament to our state of the art technology.
This train is the first ever full-scale cruise train, which assumed operations on October 15th, 2013. It can be seen operating between various sightseeing spots on Kyushu, and its concept is “travel to find a new life”.
The train consists of seven series 77-7000 cars and the dedicated DF200-7000 locomotive. Its shiny body gives a sophisticated impression. Our scale model fully recreates the elegant flair of this luxurious cruise train. Besides the train’s distinctive exterior appearance, its carefully crafted interior is visible through the windows on the suite cars and on the rear car. The interior is elaborately reproduced and includes details such as the inside colors varying from one car to the next, stained glass details and a piano in the lounge.
The Series E6 Shinkansen “Komachi” Bullet Train started service in 2013. Initially, it was nicknamed “Super Komachi,” but after the railway schedules were revised in 2014, all trains of this type started to be operated by Series E6 and their names were unified as “Komachi”. In answer to the increase of foreign passengers with large pieces of baggage, the storing rooms were adjusted by removing parts of windows in car no. 13, 15, and 17.
The train cars Series 838 were developed as a replacement for the Series 381 to constitute and make the Express "Shinano" more streamlined and cooler in preparation for the then planned Nagano Olympics. They were released in 1994 as JR Tokai's pendulum-type express train cars. Following the Series 381 "Panorama Shinano," various compositions of 6, 4, or 2 cars of series 383 including the streamlined Nagano-bound front car Kuro 383 and other front cars with gangway door openable for train combination are in operations.
Kato will make KIHA 81 and KIHA 82-900 in HO scale.
KIHA 81 made the debut as the first group of the first diesel limited express series KIHA 81 drawing “Limited Express Hatsukari” in the unique form with front engine and pulled later various limited expresses at the top.
KIHA 82-900 emerged by converting the top car of the first version of KIRO 80 in 1968 and later. It is featured window layout it had when it was used as a 1st class (green) car. After it was operated as limited express “Inaho”, “Tsubasa” and “Hitachi”, it was transferred to Hokkaido and ran as “Okhotsk” and “Hokuto”.
Both of them contributed much to the modernization of passenger train transport by building up the network of JR limited expresses.