Rare - Red Suspension Bridge.......Not!

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I have always seen on occasion a Red Suspension Bridge Listed on the Japan Auctions and was interested in obtaining one because it had to be rare because I had not heard about it and it would go with the other 3 variations of Suspension Bridges I already had. This Red Bridge looked identical to the Tomy's except it was red with yellow supports. I thought it was strange that the 'Crowns' as I call them were never pictured. The crowns go on top of the 2 towers but I figured that maybe these bridges were the first rendition of the and they added them on the next 3. I never bid on the ones I had seen in the Japan Auctions because the least they were asking was 4500yen I thought it to be too much especially when you add in the double shipping and all the Fees.

While nosing around on the AliExpress web site I saw the same bridges new at, what I thought, was a ridiculously low price so I bought 2 of them because our collection had 2 of each of the other versions (Green, Orange & Blue). When they arrived it was somewhat obvious that these were Knockoffs but very well done. The plastics are not up to Plarails but just a notch below which is acceptable to me. I put them together and they looked good. I figured I would swap out the 4 normal yellow risers with the better Tomy version just to make the bridge a bit better..........this is when I discovered.........................

The Yellow Knockoff risers, which look like a perfect Tomy match are.........1/4" taller so the Tomy ones won't fit as the lower portion of the red bridge is also 1/4" taller. This will make adding the bridges to a Layout problematic because it won't perfectly line up with other tracks and risers leading up to the bridge and sloped rails would be sloped a little high which is still workable. My plan was to mix and match the different bridge colored sides with other versions for a unique look like mix the red and green for an Xmas feel but that idea is now out the door.

So this wasn't rare at all which would probably explain why I could never find any Tomy info on it especially what set it may have come in. There is currently one listed in the auctions for 4600yen but I got my 2 from AliExpress for a grand total...now get this,...including Delivery for....1000yen less than the 4600yen that they are asking in the auctions....and thats for 2, including shipping. So I am glad I didn't pay high for what I thought would be a very rare Bridge.

Sorry for the long story.