Railway Writer Picks 10 Model Trains From 2026 First Half
The selection reflects which 2026 first-half releases left the strongest impression on a writer who favors small layouts and short consists, giving buyers a curated reference before the August convention.
Reporting from 1 source: Dengeki Hobby Web.
Railway model writer Wakabayashi Kenya selected 10 N gauge and HO scale products that stood out from releases and announcements between January and June 2026. The list covers KATO, TOMIX, and Popondetta items, including the KATO Kiha 181 series in JNR color and the TOMIX JNR KumoHa 40. The picks appear ahead of the International Railway Model Convention in August.
Railway model writer Wakabayashi Kenya has published his personal picks for the most striking N gauge and HO scale products released or announced in the first half of 2026. The list of ten appears ahead of the International Railway Model Convention, held at Tokyo Big Sight from August 21 to 23.
Wakabayashi, who keeps a small layout at home and prefers small cars and short consists, chose items across manufacturers and regions. His selections include the KATO Kiha 181 series in JNR color with JR specification, the KATO JR East E721 series, and the TOMIX JNR KumoHa 40. Several picks were already hard to find at the time of writing.
- KATO Kiha 181 series JNR color / JR specification: Released in March as 5-car and 3-car sets; already hard to find
- KATO JR East E721 series: Released in May with small-diameter wheels for low-floor body
- KATO Aoi Mori Railway Aoi Mori 703 series: Released in June, shares base with E721 series
- KATO Abukuma Express AB900 series (yellow): Released in June, shares base with E721 series
- TOMIX JNR KumoHa 40: Selected for its impact
- Popondetta Osaka Metro Chuo Line 400 series: Selected for its impact
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 1 cited source below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.