JAM 2009 Show report

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The staff at the Green Max stand (photo: NGI)

Green Max most interesting new product is the Meitetsu 1600 class Express EMU. Most Green Max new-releases concentrate on private railway EMUs, no new accessories are announced

Green Max Meitetsu 1600 EMU (photo: NGI)

Kawai stand at JAM 2009 (photo: NGI)

Kawai showed their upgraded cement tank cars. The upgraded cars now have etched handrails and walkways. More upgraded freight cars will follow later. The Taki 3000 tank car is a new model from Kawai, and is expected to be of the upgraded quality.

 Kawai: upgraded and new models (photo: NGI)

Micro Ace stand (photo: NGI)

As always Mico Ace had an enormous display of models, both new and re-releases.

JNR 117, 200 class Shinkansen, Postal van (photo: NGI)
  Hokuso 9100, Izukyu 2100 and JNR D52 (photo: NGI)
261-1000 DMU, JR 301, 789-1000 EMU (photo: NGI)
Meitetsu 5500 commuter EMU (photo: NGI)

Super Bellz, a team of Japanese musicians / entertainers at the Tomytec / Tomix stand (photo: NGI)

Many new items, such as again a new series in the 'Bus Collection' and 'Tetsudo Collection' A nice bus model is the long-distance coach with panoramic windscreen. In the 'Tetsudo Collection' there's now a series of old JNR types, such as the 80 type EMU. Very nice is the Toyama Portram modern LRT vehicle. A special motorising kit is also available. The conversion of the display model into a running model is as simple as possible: just swap the chassis. New buildings: a range of 3 church models, rather uncommon for Japan, where Buddism and Shinto are the most prominent religions. New Sabo Collection items: a figurine that can hold a train destiniation board and a case with a 'rollfilm' display, as is common on buses and trains.

Tomytec: Sightseeing bus, Church (photo: NGI)
Tetsudou Musume container set, Police cars (photo: NGI)
Palm trees, bridge kits (photo: NGI)
   Minivans, Toyama Light Rail chassis and trams (photo: NGI)
Tetsudou Collection 11, Temple set (Shinto) (photo: NGI)
Sabo collection: Rollsign, Sabo Girl (photo: NGI)

Good news for HO-scale modellers and collectors. Aclass is a new name and the models announced look promising and fill the gaps left over between Kato and Tomix and the smaller manufacturers like KTM and MR-Endo. Aclass follows the common japanese HO-practice of 1:80 scale models on 16.5 mm track. Power is the common 0-12V DC (analog control). More information at http://www.dcraft.co.jp (Japanese language)

Aclass, a new name in HO (16 scale) (photo: RC-Awaza)

The famous model train sore at the Ginza, Tokyo, announced a few new models in a variety of scales. Most striking was the introduction o a range of 'Z' scale models.

Tenshodo: Z-scale (photo: RC-Awaza)
Tenshodo: HO-scale EF58s and ED51 51 electrics (photo: RC-Awaza)

A new name. This firm specialises in models of construction machinery and had just announced their second series. The forklift model pictured is made after a heavy TCM type used to move containers in freight yards.

Maruka: TCM heavy forklift. (photo: NGI)

Well-known for their 'Shorty' train models. Each year a few new model are added to the range. These trains are meant as collectables, but can be motorized with a Kato kit.

Bandai Shorty train (photo: NGI)