My observations on the new, re-released Crane Car (KF-08). The best Train vehicle Plarail/Tomy/Trackmaste/Hit etc ever released.
This is exactly a match for the original that came exclusively in 2009 in the "Protect the Rails, Track Maintenance Set". This very detailed Crane is exact and they must have used the original molds. There is only one difference. and that is how the 2 vehicles connect.
The original has a long white, rubber like, sealed doubled ended coupling where the two cars can not be separated. This new version has an exclusively long hard plastic coupling that can be 'un-coupled'. I am not so sure this was a good idea as this exclusively made can easily be lost leaving the owner without a means to couple up short of a hand made one. The rubber of the original made it very flexible so I am wondering what there reasoning was for the replacement unless they heard complaints. The longer length is needed so the outriggers would clear the support car going around curves. If anything they should have made one end of the coupling a sealed circle like the normal ones so it wouldn't easily get lost.
I must admit that I was hoping that a new release would have improved upon the connection points for the cranes boom along with the movable roof cover for it. These easily pop off and with rough handling by children can be lost or damaged but no changes were made as this is an exact match. You see many for sale in the Japan Auctions with either parts or both missing.
One other thing to mention on this beauty is the fact that neither can have anything coupled after it. There is now where a coupling can go on the rear of the Crane Car so this would have to be the last cars in your rake of rolling stock running on the rails.
Below is a picture showing the comparison of a regular coupling next to the longer couplers that come with Plarails DD51 and DE10 Diesels. Then the longest one is what comes with this crane.
I love this Crane and love the fact that they didn't cut corners as it has six wheels to simulate the need of carrying a heavy piece of machinery along with the weight it would be lifting.
![[Image: DSCN0551.jpg]](https://i.postimg.cc/w3QdDh2H/DSCN0551.jpg)
![[Image: DSCN0557.jpg]](https://i.postimg.cc/cr1Ghrk3/DSCN0557.jpg)
This is exactly a match for the original that came exclusively in 2009 in the "Protect the Rails, Track Maintenance Set". This very detailed Crane is exact and they must have used the original molds. There is only one difference. and that is how the 2 vehicles connect.
The original has a long white, rubber like, sealed doubled ended coupling where the two cars can not be separated. This new version has an exclusively long hard plastic coupling that can be 'un-coupled'. I am not so sure this was a good idea as this exclusively made can easily be lost leaving the owner without a means to couple up short of a hand made one. The rubber of the original made it very flexible so I am wondering what there reasoning was for the replacement unless they heard complaints. The longer length is needed so the outriggers would clear the support car going around curves. If anything they should have made one end of the coupling a sealed circle like the normal ones so it wouldn't easily get lost.
I must admit that I was hoping that a new release would have improved upon the connection points for the cranes boom along with the movable roof cover for it. These easily pop off and with rough handling by children can be lost or damaged but no changes were made as this is an exact match. You see many for sale in the Japan Auctions with either parts or both missing.
One other thing to mention on this beauty is the fact that neither can have anything coupled after it. There is now where a coupling can go on the rear of the Crane Car so this would have to be the last cars in your rake of rolling stock running on the rails.
Below is a picture showing the comparison of a regular coupling next to the longer couplers that come with Plarails DD51 and DE10 Diesels. Then the longest one is what comes with this crane.
I love this Crane and love the fact that they didn't cut corners as it has six wheels to simulate the need of carrying a heavy piece of machinery along with the weight it would be lifting.
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