When I hear the word “Thunderbird”, I instantly think of the classic Ford vehicle, e-mail software or perhaps the name of a superhero.
For Toritetsu (Railway photographers), Noritetsu (train riders), ekibentetsu (train food eaters), Sharyotetsu (expert on trains) or Mokei Tetsu (train model collector), “Thunderbird” is the white futuristic train with the blue stripe. Better known as the 683-4000 series.
Suprisingly, the 638 series, which is a dual-voltage Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) train type operated by West Japan Railway (JR-West) on limited express services in Japan since 2001.
It began with the 683-0 series and 54 cars of six (six car trains) and six (three car trains) were built in 2001-2002. An additional 87 were build for the 683-2000 series and for the 683-4000 series, a total of 108 cars were built in 9-car (12 trainsets). These trains were based on the original 683-0 and instead of a blue stripe, features a crimson red stripe and another in aqua blue.
Hokuetsu Kyuko developed the 683-8000 aka “Hokuetsu Express” or the “Snow Rabbit” in order to displace 485 series EMU trains owned by JR East used on the “Hakutaka”.
Aside from shinkansen, there are two limited express trains made prior to 2000 in white that have captured my attention. The “Thunderbird” and the “Shirasagi” (white heron). Post-2000, then the 885 series (which looks like an American space shuttle) is big on my bucketlist.
The difference is the 683 Thunderbird is known for its flattened head end, while the 681 Shirasagi is know for its curved head end. It may be a surprised to people that the 685-2000’s were once called the “Shirasagi”.
JR West 683-4000 series EMU, at Ogoto-onsen Sta. / Source: Wikipedia, photo by Tennen-Gas
The 683 Thunderbird is a limited express train service operated by the West Japan Railway Company (JR West) since 1995 between Osaka and Kanazawa or Wakuraonsen in Japan, using portions of the Tokaido Main Line, Kosei Line, Hokuriku Main Line, IR Ishikawa Railway Line, and Nanao Line.
JR West 681 series 0 series Limited Express “Shirasagi”. Source: Wikipedia/photo by MaedaAkihiko
The 682 Shirasagi is a limited express train service in Japan operated by the West Japan Railway Company (JR West) since 1964. It runs between Nagoya and Kanazawa.
I chose to get the KATO 10-1745 N Gauge 683-4000 Series Thunderbird Renewal Car Basic Set.
This is the possibly the fourth release of the 683’s by KATO. The 2004 released (10-483) featured a logo with gray towards the first and the last windows. Also, the 683 would feature two different ends. One similar to the flat 683 (renewal) and the 681 style of curved head-end.
The 2009 release featured the 683-8000 “Snow Rabbit” and by 2017, a renewal car of the 683 was released.
In July 2022, we have the renewal car and the old color versions released (using the same type of design of the original classic 683-0 series). You get four cars including the front and end of the 683-4505, the Moha 583-5405, and the Saha 682-series.
Also, the current interior and painting have been renewed sequentially since 2015. So, all seats are blue on all train cars except the front head-end.
In addition, this set features a newly developed slotless motor as standard. By adopting a newly developed slotless motor, it demonstrates smoother and quieter running performance than existing motors.
For the most part, it was a train I wanted for being simplistic but yet having a front and rear end that looked modern. It has always been my take of the 683-4000 series.
I have seen photos of the 683’s coupled and I know that KATO featured their upcoming new 2023 version of the E353 Azusa Kaiji being coupled. I wish they were able to do that with the Thunderbird.
But the train rides smoothly, no problems with coupling and tested it on both KATO and TOMIX tracks and it works just fine.
But is it perfect? Not exactly. When it runs, it runs well….but the front car on turns tends to get derailed, you can see the lamps not working and that you will need to readjust the front train in order to get it to line up on the tracks correctly. Otherwise, you’ll notice the second motor car really carrying it across the track. Making it look like everything is fine, but without the lamps on, you know it’s not.
So, it takes a bit of fussing and lining each car correctly.
Also, the body mount close couplers are a bit fragile, so do not force the coupling, you really have to be gentle or else the bottom black part will pop off and you will need to put back the coupler in there (hopefully it doesn’t get lost in your train layout). Part of me is tempted to use one small tiny dab of modeling cement on the black sections keeping the couplers intact to prevent it from popping out. It should hold on tightly but I’ve had it pop out several times on the same car. Could be that plastic portion only. Not sure.
The Pantograph especially is quite fragile, so be careful with it as that connection on that bottom portion of the Pantograph is not affixed as well I would hope, small tabs are there but it’s not holding as tightly. You touch the pantograph, one corner or one side can come off. I will need to use rubber cement to fix that (just a wee tiny bit).
I really do like the detail! And I do like how their are blue seating while the main front car has beige seating.
The three front head lamps are nice and bright. But the rear lamps are not as bright and a bit dim. Wish it was a bit brighter. Speaking of lamps, the Kumoha 683-5505 (which is the last car for me), has an on/off switch for the headlight and taillight lamps.
But overall, I do like the KATO 10-1745 N Gauge 683-4000 Series Thunderbird Renewal Car Basic Set. The aesthetics and how it runs and the reproduction for this new release was well done. But I can’t ignore the little issues with the Pantograph and the coupler popping out which I could fix, but those are something you should worry about out of the box.
Slight fussing with getting things to run smoothly on the tracks (KATO to TOMIX). I recommend this train for double tracks if you have curves, although I have tested it on a single track and it worked fine.
The train is DCC friendly and for the most part, aside from the two issues I had, it’s a very good train. I like that flat front and rear end. I like the simplistic white/black and blue colors way better than the white, blue gray of 683 past.
The details are also awesome and again, I really do like this train, just a few issues and it could have been perfect.
