Tomy PLARAIL - New Releases, August 2009

S-51 Hitoyoshi 8620 Steam Locomotive (SL)
This old style steam locomotive returned to operation in May 2009 after a 4 year hiatus for renovations and repairs. Hitoyoshi runs through Kumamoto Prefecture and is operated by Kyushu Railway Co. The SL is running one 2.5 hour trip along the scenic Kumagawa River. SL Hitoyoshi comes with 1 Pla-Kid and requires 1 AA battery.

C57-180 Banestu Monogatari Go Basic Set (SL)
The C57-180 still runs Comes with 1 Conductor Pla-Kid, mini blue iron bridge, 2 sakura (pink) trees, and 1 station. The C57-180 is run by JR East in Niigata and operates on a 3 hour 20 minute route.

Hyper Guardian Large Rotating Station (Daikaiten Station)
This repair station is meant for the Hyper Guardian series trains. It can rotate 360 degrees and can have 5 different rail routes attached to the station. The station comes with one Pla-Kid Station commander and has light and sound effects.

Thomas Basic Set
Thomas, Annie and Clarabelle with a station and mountain tunnel.

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Up!

We've got more monorail expansion sets and could not resist opening another track for both our monorails. Here's the 2-monorail, 7-train track tower initially built on the carpet. However, the soft surface combined with the weight of 7 layers of track above made the bottom track too tight to run any trains!
Looking around the room, our dinner table looked like a perfect fit for our layout. We proceeded with operation move it up to the dining table!
It would have been a magnificent feat if we were able to move the entire 8 layers of track with just 2.5 people! I really did think it would work, until we got about 3/4 of the way there, the bend around the couch maneuver didn't go as I planned....
In this case, what was trying to go up, had to come down first :P. Then the rebuild...
And finally, presenting, all 8 layers, 7 trains and 2 monorails on the dining table. Victory!!!

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Tomy PLARAIL - New Releases, July 2009

S-47 Enoden 1000 Sound Series
Tomy has modernized the look of this toy to match the actual train. Enoden makes door, train moving, and bell sounds. As with most of Tomy's sound trains, this one requires 1 C and 2 AAA batteries for the motor and sounds.

Tomica Town and Plarail Auto Braking Station
This is a train station with an automatic train crossing point. Tomica cars can climb the parking structure then free fall down to the train crossing light. The station includes buttons for real annoucments, car noises and train sounds. The crossing can be set to automatic or manual for both the train or cars. If you don't want your Tomica cars to run in an endless loop, there's a route you can set to leave the station. Tomy recommends that you use regular-sized cars instead of larger trucks, rescue vehicles, buses, or ones with tractor like treads. This station does not include a train or Tomcia cars and requires 3 C batteries.

EF200 Tank Cargo Set

The EF200 comes with 7 tank cars and 1 engine. It requires 1 C battery and is added to the line of long cargo engines like Kintaro, Red Thunder, and Momotaro cargo sets. This type of engine's wheel arrangement is known in Japan as Bo-Bo-Bo.

Plarail Starter Basic Set
This set contains a stations, train crossing, a curved tunnel (J-01) and variety of splitter, turns, and straight rail pieces.

High Speed Rail and Blue Iron Bridge Set
This elevated grey track is used primarily for Shinkansens in Japan. The blue iron bridge is also a familiar site for rail and vehicles.

J-24 Train Base
Your Shinkansen's home base finally sold separately! Previously, Tomy sold train bases in sets, like the E4 Max Train Base Set. This is the first time it's being offered as a scenary piece as described by the "J" part assignment. Line up as many as you like, the more the merrier!!

Thomas Suspension Bridge Set
Thomas and his milk tanks slowly crosses the suspension bridge, making a "gura gura" sound, swaying with the bridge.

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Tomy PLARAIL - New Releases, June 2009

Seems this month is "kissing train" month as Tomy puts out 2 pairs of Shinkansen that can be connected by magnets hidden in retractable noses. All Shinkasen engines each require a AA battery to operate. All Tomy kissing trains can be paired interchangeably.

E3-2000 Series & E4 Max Coupled Shinkansen Set
This one features the new Yamagata servicing Tsubasa (E3-2000) which went into operation this past May 2009. The E4 Max series is a double decker shinkansen.
E2 Hayate & E3 Komachi Coupled Shinkansen Set
These two Shinkasen can be seen coupled in real life. They are used in the Nagano and Tohoku Shinkansen services. They were both built beginning in 1995. E2 Hayate is featured in front with E3 Komachi coupled behind.

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Tomy PLARAIL - New Releases, April and May 2009

S-11 N700 Shinkansen Sound Series
The popular N700 Shinkansen now has a sound! It makes announcements and train moving sounds, but requires 1 AA and 2 AAA batteries.
Thomas Colorful Magareru Set (Bending Rail Set)
This vibrant transporter Thomas rail set debuts in March. The set includes 1 Thomas Engine, 1 brown passenger car, 1 Sir Topham Hatt (PlaKid), 2 inner curve rails (R-03), 1 stop rail (R-08), 3 rainbow bending rails (R-23), 1 colorful drawbridge (J-05), 1 green block tunnel, and 1 small train station with 2 trees.

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Your Creations - Now Open!

A few of you may have seen our store homepage and wondered what the 'Your Creations' section (Orange Tab) at the bottom was. Until how it has been simply listed as Under Construction but it was always intended to be a gallery of user-submitted PLARAIL layouts and designs. I am pleased to announce that the section is now tentatively open for any submissions from our readers, customers and anyone else who wants to showcase their PLARAIL layout online. It still needs more tweaking, but once we get more pictures up, we hope that it will grow into a nice display of what PLARAIL is capable of.

We'll take submissions of all your designs no matter how intricate or simple they may be. We just request that the design be 100% yours, and not random pictures that you find on the web. If you are interested in submitting an image for the gallery, please contact us at namikazetoys@gmail.com.

For now, enjoy the first few gallery entries from a friend of ours. You can see more of his layouts on his own blog at http://thomastrainworld.blogspot.com

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We're Back with some RARE finds....

Hope everyone had a merry holiday season! We've just returned from our own vacation and found a few new items to feature in our store: http://namikazetoys.com

We'd like to thank a PLARAIL fan for sending in some photos on Christmas to share on our website :), check them out when you get a chance: http://namikazetoys.com/creations.html

onto our new featured items....

Hanging Monorail Extension Set

• 6 R-01 (straight rails used in vertical positioning)
• 8 MR-01 (inner curved rail for hanging monorail)
• 14 MJ-01 (can be stacked with J-14 Yellow Bridge Legs)

Hanging Monorails (Construction Yellow and Emergency Red)

Japan does have hanging monorails, however, these are not based on any real life yellow or red monorails. The monorails debuted in 2002 and were originally manufactured in yellow, red, blue, silver, and black.

Each train is a 1 speed engine, with forward or reverse direction control switch. The on/off switch is in a difficult to access space on top the monorail, so a convenient gray 'pause' button is placed underneath for easier access when the monorail is in motion.



Hanging Monorail Support Legs

includes: 4 MJ-01 legs that can stack on J-14 yellow bridge legs

These support legs can use R-01 Straight Rails to create straight paths, but require special MR-01 Curved Rails to create a turning track. These items all debuted in 2002 and are no longer manufactured.



Pokemon Rayquaza Battle Coaster Set

The next two Pokemon sets are based off real amusement park rides. PokéPark was a Pokemon theme park in 2005 - 2006.

includes: 8 R-03, 2 R-06, 5 J-14, 2 PlaKids, 1 Rayquaza Pokemon Train, 1 Pokemon map




Pokemon Pichu Bros. Mischievous Train Set

includes: 4 R-01, 8 R-03, 2 PlaKids, 1 Pichu Bros Pokemon Train, 1 Pokemon map

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Tomy PLARAIL - New Releases, November and December 2008

Tomica and Plarail Town Set

This set combines Tomica's Town scene with the familiar blue PLARAIL train tracks. The set includes a Hokkaido train car, Tomica Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X, and a PLA-Kid racer figure. The train takes 1 - AA battery. Other PLARAIL pieces include: J-13 City Train Station (2nd level with light blue parts), J-14 bridge legs, J-15 mini bridge leg, J-06 double length slopes, R-03 inner curve rail, R-01 straight rails, R-18 A&B climbing curved rails, and R-20 quarter length rails.


West JR Shinkansen - Fresh Green 0 Farewell Set

JR Series 0 Sanyo Shinkansen Bullet Train "Fresh Green Color" set to commemorate its retirement. There are 6-car trains and includes 4 segments of an elevated rail group for display purposes. The train requires 1-AA battery, and more elevated rail to create a functional route.
Shinkansen Mega Trailer

A bullet train transport trailer! This set comes with one PLA-kid train engineer. This mega transporter uses 1-AAA battery to power the lights. It has a manual arm crane to lift and place any 3-car train into the bed of the trailer. However, the Shinkansen shown in the picture is not included.

8000 Keihan Train S-59 (express)

It's cool, it's red and cream colored, JAM ON! This train has 2-speeds and requires 1 AA battery. 京阪 (Keihan) comes from the characters 京都 (Kyoto) and 大阪 (Osaka). The Keihan Densha runs between Osaka, Kyoto, and Shiga prefectures. The 8000 series was introduced to the Keihan line in 1989.

Hyper Guardian Series - HGS-03 Fire-Liner

A new addition to the Hyper Guardian Series - Disaster and rescue vehicles. This set comes with one PLA-kid fire fighter and requires 1-AA. The last car can be expanded up into a bucket ladder. Tomy has yet to announce another 2 more Hyper Guardian Series trains.

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Tomy PLARAIL - New Releases, October and November 2008

S-45 Model 321 Commuter Train with Sound
The Model 321 West Japan Commuter Train will be making it's PLARAIL debut in October. It makes sounds when it moves. This train requires one C and two AAA batteries which are sold separately.

'Arigatou Yume no Chou Tokkyuu' Hikari Set
The iconic first generation Hikari bullet train known affectionately as the 'Yume no Chou Tokyuu' or 'Dream Express' makes its appearance in this special set which includes special track sections from the elevated rail group which was released earlier this year.

J-06 Elevated Overpass (for use with Tomica Town)
This elevated overpass is modeled after existing concrete designs and is the same length as the R-01 rail and the same height as the J-14 bridge legs. The undersection is designed especially to accomodate Takara Tomy's new Tomica Town line which further integrates the existing Plarail and Plaroad (Tomica) lines.

J-18 Railway Crossing (for use with Tomica Town)
This railway crossing combines both a roadway and railway in a compact scenery set equalling the length of a single R-02 half-length rail. Trains which pass over the crossing will trigger a chime which mimics the sound of an approaching train. This scenery piece is also for use with other Tomica Town items.

J-21 Large Railway Crossing (for use with Tomica Town)
This is a larger version of the J-18 Railway Crossing and includes four barriers which will lower as a train passes across the railway. This set piece is equal in length to a combined R-01 straight and R-02 half-length rail. This scenery piece is also for use with other Tomica Town items.

Hyper Guardian Series - Hyper Guardian Ex-Guiner
Tomy is finally releasing its Plarail Hyperguardian line starting with this mammoth Ex-Guiner. This large item measures nearly 70 centimeteres in length and requires a double-width track setup (R-04, R-05 and R-28) to move along a rail. Pla-kids can sit inside the large cockpit area and the mid-section of the forward car rotates in a 360 degree range of motion and serves as a transport section for smaller support vehicles and other Hyper Guardian trains. The rear car can seperate to hold emergency vehicles from the Hyper Guardian Tomica series. This package also includes an orange search vehicle and a single Pla-kids figure, Captain Hayate. More pictures and some ridiculously awesome video can be found here.

Hyper Guardian Series - HGS-01 Pat-Liner
Short for Patrol-Liner, the high speed HGS-01 makes its plarail debut. It includes working lights, a large cockpit for Pla-kids to sit, space to accomodate other vehicles from the Hyper Guardian Tomica series as well as a number of other gimmicks which include a blue search vehicle and a single Pla-kids figure, Officer Nozomi. More pictures and a video can be found here.

Hyper Guardian Series - HGS-02 Drill-Liner
The HGS-02 Drill-Liner is a Special Construction vehicle. Like the HGS-01, it comes with a number of gimmicks including working lights, a detachable third car which transforms into a backhoe-like vehicle with an elevated cab, a cockpit for a Pla-kid and a revolving front drill. Packaged with this train is a single Pla-kids figure, Officer Kodama. More pictures and a video can be found here.

Hyper Guardian Wide-Area Patrol Set
This set comes with the Hyper Guardian Series - HGS-01 Pat-Liner mentioned above. It's made up of a set of the newly released R-28 double width turn out rails and a set of R-04 and R-05s double with straight and turn rails. This double-width 'wide' layout is made specifically to accommodate the large Ex-Guiner and other Hyper Guardian engines.

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