Wanted - Long Time - Last One - Its Over!

[Super]

There have been two trains that were last on the long list of trains that we own or have owned that have proved difficult to obtain. They just weren't available at a price I could fathom. One, which is the most expensive and hardest to acquire, I have decided not to pursue. I had a chance just recently to buy one in its box for a decent price but I passed on it as I have decided that it wasn't really my kind of train and the only reason I wanted it was that it was different and I wanted to be the only boy on the block with one. My better judgement overruled my want over need in this case and I have no regrets.

On the other hand, I had almost given up hope of acquiring this last one as the prices always went over what I was willing to pay. That is up until recently. This was another case in the Japanese Auctions where a seller listed the item as Used only because it was old and stored long time but was in fact new in a sealed box. And to my great surprise I won the auction at about half of what this train had sold for in the past. It even went less than a lot of used ones listed and sold in the auctions. Lucky, in the right place at the right time.

Ladies and gentleman I am proud to announce the latest purchase and last vintage Plarail train for our collection....

The JR West Kiha 181 Hamakaze new in its box. I don't know how many they made for this release or if it was part of some special edition but they seem to be hard to find and when they are listed snatched up quickly. I just love the looks of these diesels with their overhead dual lights that remind me of a 60's Cadillac. Shown in the last picture with his little brother the Kiha 181 Sea Breeze, also in our collection. As far as I know there were only three styles of these Kiha 181 released by Plarail. We had a couple of the third one which was red and tan but I sold them off as the color scheme did not appeal to me.

Ahhh...I can breathe now.

Well, another thing off of your bucket list, Super. Congrats.

Well done super, I've never heard of these but they are really attractive trains! Congratulations!

Congrats! Last purchase right?

Congrats! Last purchase right?

If we know Super, that's a no.

[ripley802]

Out of curiosity what was the one that you have decided to pass on?

That is a lovely train, full of character and as you say those lights are superb reminding you of tail fins on many iconic cars of the past

I even like the colour schemes, which is a surprise as sometimes the PlaRails can be a bit odd in terms of colours, but these ones are lovely.

Overall congratulations Super!

[Super]

Congrats! Last purchase right?

Not last purchase totally. Since the main reason for using the Japan Auctions was to get the hard to find trains not normally found in other parts of the world, I don't see the need anymore to go through the expense. Just the last purchase from the Japan Auctions.

Out of curiosity what was the one that you have decided to pass on?

That would be the Ultra Q

That is a lovely train, full of character and as you say those lights are superb reminding you of tail fins on many iconic cars of the past