PLUM's "1/80 Chuo Line" is a plastic model that stimulates memories of the Showa and Heisei eras [Hobby Industry Inside Vol. 53

Have you heard of the hobby brand "PLUM" by PM Office A Co.　The company sells a variety of figures of "Suwa-hime," a character promoting the city of Suwa in Nagano Prefecture, where the company is based. The company has also developed plastic models of castles and shrines related to Suwa City, finished figures of beautiful girl characters, and plastic models of original robots.
In December 2019, PLUM will release a plastic model that can be called a "winning work" for the general public. It is a 1/80 scale kit of the "JR East 201 Series DC Train Chuo Line. This is not the current Chuo Line, but a plastic model of the orange train that has been in operation for a long time, from 1981 to 2010. Why now?　For whom?　We spoke with Hiroki Nakano of the Planning and Development Section, Hobby Department, PM Office A Co.

Scale models, but with room to be played with as model trains

─ I heard that PM Office A has its own factory in Suwa City, Nagano Prefecture.

Nakano: To trace back to the original, it was 10 years ago that our company's Hobby Division was established. Until then, our main business was the design and mold making of plastic parts for cars and cameras. Around that time, the Lehman Shock hit, and the president decided to launch our own brand, "PLUM," as well as the Hobby Division. All plastic models are produced at our factory in Nagano Prefecture, and I think our origins are different from other hobby manufacturers in that we started from the design and production of molds.
The Chuo Line plastic model started with the idea of applying the mold technology that produces accuracy of about 1 micron for making car parts to something on a scale. Since many other companies produce cars, ships, tanks, etc., we decided to use commuter trains, which are not often made into plastic models. Also, we used plastic to achieve precision in the fine meshes that would normally be replaced with etched parts, which also served as a challenge and research to make full use of our mold technology.

─ So you are not simply targeting model railroad fans?

Nakano: Of course, we would like to approach the world of model trains as well. Until now, PLUM products have been known as bishojo figures or plastic models of sci-fi fighter planes that appeared in video games. We have realized that there is a large and long-selling market in the world of railroads that appeals to a different user base. We are trying to create a high quality product that can serve as a benchmark for a different type of customer.

Nakano──So, is it safe to say that your products are aimed at the general public?

Nakano: Yes, we are targeting not only our existing PLUM customers, but also those who make scale models such as AFVs (armored fighting vehicles). Also, although the model is designed as a display model that does not move at all, we have taken care to make it possible to play with it side by side with other companies' model trains with simple modifications. When thinking of it as a model train, fans will want to line it up with their own cars, and they will also consider modifying it to other types of cars based on this train. Since the standards have been matched, it should be possible to make it light up and run without too much trouble by using parts from other manufacturers.


───Won't the kit include parts for electric lights and motive power?

Nakano: At the moment, we have no plans to do so, but depending on how well the kit sells, we may make some changes. If this kit is scaled down to 1/80 scale, the width of the bogie will be 13mm. On the other hand, the international track width for HO gauge is 16.5mm. In our interpretation, the track width is 16.5mm instead of 13mm. Even if you don't run the train on that width, you can place it in your HO-gauge layout and enjoy it. We have prioritized the status of the model as a hobby product over its scale accuracy, in part to expand the range of play.