Availability of Tomix track products in the US.

[Catt]

Hi guys, my N layout will feature street running down the main street in my town.Tomix has exactly what I need to make this project easier.so I am wondering if any one knows of a dealer/distributor in the US?

[randgust]

Walthers website has finally started to list some Tomix/Tomytec parts - make sure you search for both names.    Availability is kind of spotty.  Most of the track products appear to be out there.

You can also trust working with Plaza Japan Ebay store on most of Japanese stuff, if you can live with the shipment times measured in weeks.  Their availability is just about everything ever made and they take PayPal.   Shipping costs are reasonable.

I've tried communicating with Tomytec directly as I use a lot of their parts and chassis and finally gave up.  If you think Kato Japan is inscrutable, you haven't tried communicating with Tomytec....

[peteski]

Few years back Walthers became the "official" distributor of Tomix items in the US.  At that point they let us have a run of Tomix products, but after those sold out the supply seems to be rather poor.

[randgust]

I did get a chuckle when I did a search on Walthers and came up with basically squat searching for "Tomix" and five pages worth when I searched for "Tomytec".    I don't know of any US manufacturer that manages to confuse everybody so well with a dual-personality name, but when searching for their stuff, always use both of them.    There's probably a perfectly good explanation for it....in Japanese.

I'm not real fond of their motors (I can't tell the difference between them and some Bachmann) and I've had two go bad on me, but the overall quality of the gears, wheels tolerances, shafts, and other parts on the chassis are right up there with Kato and MicroAce.  The general design work is really, really good - well thought out. 

[peteski]

I did get a chuckle when I did a search on Walthers and came up with basically squat searching for "Tomix" and five pages worth when I searched for "Tomytec".    I don't know of any US manufacturer that manages to confuse everybody so well with a dual-personality name, but when searching for their stuff, always use both of them.    There's probably a perfectly good explanation for it....in Japanese.
 

I have one of their new Thomas the Tank engine sets made for the Japeanse market (and made in China).  The box has several TOMIX logos on the front and sides of the box, but in the back it shows TOMYTEC name and what looks like address of the company. Who knows why they use both names. TOMYTEC sounds more like a name of a product line than a company name. But they do really use some unusual names in Japan.

I know of a Japanese company named "Elephant Rocket".  You might ask what service they offer - they service Alps printers, and sell  Alps printer cartridges and other consumables. Go figure . . . 

[MK]

If you order from Plaza Japan and pay the extra for EMS shipping, the stuff gets here fast.  Many years ago, I ordered a Thomas and it arrived in US East Coast in 7 days with EMS shipping.  It's something like "Global Priority".

[Catt]

I have never ordered from Plaza Japan but I have never heard one bad thing about them.So most likely they are the one I will be ordering from.I am in no big hurry to order yet as I am not allowed to use the steps yet except the ones to get into or out of the house.

Thanks for the input guys it is appreciated.

[JMaurer1]

Another case of Walthers buying the rights to a company, bringing in one load of stuff, and then never going back...

[CoalPorter]

I order lots of things from Plaza Japan and did not think the shipping time and cost was too bad.

[narrowminded]

Another vote of confidence.  I have bought from them and it all went well.

[NorsemanJack]

Yep.  One more thumbs up for Plaza Japan!

[Snark45]

Plaza Japan  --  fast international shipping. Great communications.   +1

Harry

[delamaize]

+1
Plaza Japan is my go to for anything I need train related out of Japan.

Plaza Japan  --  fast international shipping. Great communications.   +1

Harry

[nscalbitz]

Plaza Japan  --  fast international shipping. Great communications.   +1

Harry

Yes- a local retailer and hobbyist also sources from there.
Multiple scales, well packaged (meaning secure but FULL) and quick turnaround.
IIRC good on hold orders too- waiting for stock meant a second box arrived a few days after first shipped at no extra cost.
Model scale varies tho.? 1/150 +/- ?
Regards Dave