When the Japanese national rail system introduced the standard KiHa 58 DMU sets they were initially produced in the JNR orange and cream livery chosen for DMU vehicles. All this changed when the new private JR regional companies introduced a plethora of colour schemes on these units to represent an area or particular line that they serve.
The Kato model has only been available on the mainstream market in the "as new" ex works orange and cream livery, however Kato did produce a few years ago a run of these models in white enabling the more artistic modeller to repaint them into a chosen colour scheme, I am now down to my final pair of white units and i am pondering as to what livery to get them repainted into, im spoilt for choice but these are my last two!, I will update the blog when the final scheme is chosen.
After spending several months away from home, due to a new water supply being laid, I am now back and starting to commence some work on the layout during the winter nights. During the summer period no new rolling stock has been obtained, and I will now be looking via my various Japanese sources to see whats available.
The latest release in 1/80 from our friends at TOMIX is that of a nice four car type 181 express DMU set in the colours of JR West and used on the Hamakaze service. I decided against this model when it was available in JNR red and cream and the wait was worthwhile, all we want now are some modern style diesel express units, to complement this gradually being withdrawn old JNR rolling stock.
When the Japanese national rail system introduced the standard KiHa 58 DMU sets they were initially produced in the JNR orange and cream livery chosen for DMU vehicles. All this changed when the new private JR regional companies introduced a plethora of colour schemes on these units to represent an area or particular line that they serve.