2014 James

James is to be redesigned by Plarail into a new CGI look. He now runs on a AA battery in the locomotive and his tender is unpowered. it looks like the 2012 James but with better and painted details. Here is the link if you want to pre-order yours: http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10271489

There are two similar models at the moment similar to this upcoming release. One is the 2013 Plarail Talking James:
http://tttetrackmaster.wikia.com/wiki/Fi...(2013).jpg

The second is the James from the pack, James and the Amusement Park Freight Cars
http://takaratomy.co.jp/products/plarail...ase_04.jpg
http://takaratomy.co.jp/products/plarail.../index.htm

This is what the James will look like, only without the decorations. I love this model and i think its one of my favourites. The drive unite of both the Talking OT-03 and Decorated James is the same as Connor's.

What do you think guys? Are you going to get the new James? I am

Cool, I believe I've seen that one! Nice model, but in America, those get pricey!

James is going to come with a brakevan, as seen here: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BlLQWnICMAI0Tbd.jpg:large

It will be interesting to see the comparisons between this James and the TrackMaster 2012-2014 James because they look so similar at first glance. It was a surprise to see a major redesign for one of the main Plarail engines, but I don't see why it had to be just James over other engines apart from being the most popular tender engine.

[Super]

Thanks Tales for the great information.

I like the looks of the white plate under the boiler. And if they are using the bulky new Connor type flat drive with battery on board the engine wouldn't the whole boiler have to be bigger and quite possibly longer? I wasn't too impressed with the new type flat drive as in Ucwepns 2014 Connor Review it didn't look too fast. Will like to see a review of the new James when hes released. Keep us informed.

[Ucwepn]

It does have the same drive as Connor, the new James looks very much oversized, I have to say I'm not very interested in it.

Is that plarail Winston on the side?!?!?

That is correct. Winston is also being released, however, I'm not sure that it will be motorised. Also one thing I noticed is that the original Plarail TS-05 James has the whistle on the firebox, which is wrong. They seem to have corrected it with the 2014 james.

Now about the face:
http://i1.ytimg.com/vi/8oSbgo7rDGM/hqdefault.jpg
http://img.amiami.jp/images/product/main...-14918.jpg

They look somewhat different actually. regardless of the design and the firebox, I still love it.

Here are a few useful videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foACJOq6LZU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHj4pi_PEPo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CuUhMhhHUcg

Is that Plarail Winston on the side?!?!?

Yes he is going to be included in the "Let's Create! Thomas Rail Visual Scene Set", but that is for another discussion. He is not motorized, he is made like a truck.

http://takaratomymall.jp/shop/g/g4904810812548/
The exact release date for Plarail James, Thomas Go Out Solid Map, Let's Create! Thomas Rail Visual Scene Set, and the Thomas Pounding Mountain Set is July 10th, so get ready to find all of them online from that date.