A few months ago I pointed out the store in Hong Kong from which I bought some model planes, but what about model trains? I had two hobby shops suggested to me.
Concorde Hobby Shop
The first was Concorde Hobby Shop, a short walk from Sham Shui Po station on the MTR, their address is No. 331 Lai Chi Kok Road, Sham Shui Po, Kowloon. You can find their website here.
This shop is more than just model trains, it also carries items from a number of other hobbies. Their railway range was mostly products from overseas, the only local prototype was a small selection of China Railways models from the HO scale Bachmann China range.
In N scale they had a small selection of Atlas, Japanese and European models – nothing I couldn’t buy elsewhere. One thing I did end up buying was a few sets of N scale trucks and construction machinery, each being a set of 12 different vehicles as I described here.
Lee Kwon Hobbies
The next hobby shop I visited was Lee Kwon Hobbies, located at No. 36-40 Temple Street, Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon ,a short walk from the Yau Ma Tei MTR station (the shop actually faces the side street). Their website can be found here.
Unlike Concorde Hobby Shop, Lee Kwon Hobbies specialises in model railways, stocking mainly European models from the likes of Fleischmann and Roco, but a bit of the Bachmann China HO scale range. They did have a few Australian surprises in their window, including a Trainorama 49 class loco, a box of Columbia Models NOFF open ore wagons, and a few more Australian locomotives inside.
80M Bus Model Shop
The final place to visit is 80M Bus Model Shop – they have a half dozen different shops across Hong Kong. As the name suggests they specialise in model buses, but do carry some model trains.
The most interesting model their carried was this HO scale static model of an MTR A-Stock EMU, as used on their Airport Express line. With proper glazed windows and a neatly applied livery, they look mass produced except for the rather sloppy join between the cab and main carbody.
At another store I saw the same model but in the Tung Chung Line livery, and at the Hong Kong Railway Museum I saw a 3 car long train on display, made up of a number of similar looking carriages, the trailer cars being the same but with the cab removed. Unfortunately the price tag for building up an entire 7-car train would be rather steep – a single carriage is $438 HKD (around $60 AUD).
MTR Souvenirs
A more affordable model is the diecast version offered by the MTR souvenir department. In approximate N scale (1:160) these models go for around the $130 HKD mark (or $17 AUD) and came in a number of different versions – from left to right:
- Tung Chung Line A-Stock EMU
- Airport Express Line A-Stock EMU
- Tseung Kwan O Line K-Stock EMU
- Refurbished M-Train EMU
- Original M-Train EMU
The models weight a ton since they are die cast metal, and they all feature pad printed windows and paintwork. With metal wheelsets and pivoting bogies, it appears that the models will run on standard N scale track, but I have none on hand to check.
My favourite is the original M-Train EMU – there is something about 1980s railway liveries that I love. Unfortunately the A-Stock EMUs look rather toylike, as they ride slightly higher than the other types.
I assembled the entire collection after visiting a few different branches of 80M Bus Model Shop – the A-Stock EMU comes in the small box, with the K-Stock and M-Train EMUs come in the bigger one.
2021 update
And more model railways shops in Hong Kong that I’m yet to visit:
- E.Z. Transcom – Cheung Sha Wan.
- Khaho Store – Tsuen Wan.
- MoonRail – Lantau Link Visitors Centre on Tsing Yi.
- Winway Model Train – Kwun Tong.
- Beanbean Store – Causeway Bay.
Between them a small variety of China Railways prototype models are stocked, alongside Japanese and continental Europe prototype.
cool but I don’t think they sell any of the M-Stock trains (original or refurbished) anymore
I think the availability of the M-Stock trains depends on the store – the MTR souvenirs website doesn’t appear to list them, the same applies for the 80M Bus Model Shop online store. I think I was just lucky to find some remaining stock when I visited in person.
I’ll be in HK next week and this is very helpful thanks! For the MTR souvenir department, is that a store to physically buy the MTR diecasts? Or can you only buy online and redeem it at the Admiralty MTR station?
From my reading of the MTR website, it appears that you can just walk into the shop at Admiralty station and purchase the souvenirs – however I haven’t been there myself, so can’t confirm:
http://www.mtr.com.hk/eng/getting_around/services_centre.html
The buy online and pickup in person process seems awfully complicated:
http://www.mtr.com.hk/eng/shopping/payment.html
I would suggest dropping into a branch of the 80M Bus Model Shop – you should be able to find one close enough to where you are staying:
http://www.80mbusmodel.com/menu-6.html
Are you aware if there’s any HO HK trains model where it would operate under its own power? (not static) I just know that EMD G12 diesel locomotive with the green KCRC livery is available from Black Diamonds Model in Queensland, but could find other trains…ie. KTT, Metro-Cammel, Adtranz etc.
Finding powered EMU models would be difficult (that they only run in Hong Kong so it is a small market) but on the locomotive front, things look a bit better.
Models of the EuroRunner ER20 diesels have been released by both Marklin and Roco. Both locos come in European liveries, so you’ll need to repaint them yourself into KCR red and blue, and possibly fiddle with the detail parts to make an accurate model of the local version:
http://www.eurorailhobbies.com/erh_detail.asp?mn=4&ca=6&sc=HO&stock=R-68839
http://www.reynaulds.com/products/Marklin/36794.aspx
The European parent of the KTT locomotives are also available: the SBB-CFF-FFS Re 460 is made by both Roco and Marklin:
http://www.modelrailforum.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=13926
Unfortunately finding carriages to go with the above will be a lot trickier.
Another model that may be of interest are the Through Trains that use Chinese locomotives and carriages: the Bachmann China range covers the DF11 diesels and SS8 electrics, plus the 25T and 25Z carriages:
http://www.chinesemodeltrains.com/encyclopedia.html http://www3.telus.net/ChinaRail/Models.html
do they sell thomas the tank engine Bachmann there?
Are these the models you had in mind?
http://ttte.wikia.com/wiki/Bachmann
I can’t recall seeing anything Thomas related in the shops I visited, but they might be able to order in trains from the Bachmann range, since they stock other items from them. You would need to check in person to find out.
yup! okay i will call thm to check! thanks!
Are there any Marklin/Brawa or Fleischmann stockists in Hong Kong?
I’d check at Lee Kwon Hobbies first – details are above.
they sell marklin and fleischman in the lee kwon hobby shop i have marklin to and fleischman lights so yes they do.
where can I find an EMD-G12 diesel locomotive engines model which was used in HK before electric train been used. I can not find it on the web, many thanks.
Black Diamond Models in Australia do an EMD G12 in Kowloon Canton Railway green:
http://www.blackdiamondmodels.com.au/kcr.html
Otherwise repainting a Frateschi model of a EMD G12 is another option:
http://www.chinesemodeltrains.com/encyclopedia_brand.html
http://www.frateschi.com.br/web/loco-g12-g8/
Hi where in HKG can you buy N gauge models of old Chinese steam locos and carriages – if such a thing exists …
Thanks
Ken
This site has a list of available Chinese prototype models:
http://www.chinesemodeltrains.com/encyclopedia_scale.html
A company called ‘CMR Line’ does an N scale model of a China Railways DF4-B Class diesel locomotive – I saw these at Lee Kwon Hobbies.
But the only N scale steam locos appear to be a RM Class 4-6-2 by Del Prado, and the SL7 Class 4-6-2 by Microace.
hey are these models only for display or can you actually make them move? I also want to buy the mtr subway models but i dont know which hobby store.
I think the N scale-ish die cast MTR model trains would be too heavy to convert to powered models, in addition the wheelsets don’t fit normal 9mm N gauge, and there doesn’t look to be any space inside to fit a motor.
The HO scale static models might be easier to convert, as they look to be made of plastic instead.
Im currently in hk so i would like to see the prices of a cheap mtr subway model that you can actually move around and fiddle with. What are the prices and where can i buy it(address).
scratch my previous comment may i know where to get the diecast version offered by the MTR souvenir department? The ones that go for approx 180 hkd? I really need those. The metal ones. Can you find them in a specific station or where is the souvenir shop?
You can buy them from the MTR ‘Tourist Services’ counters at Admiralty Station, Lo Wu Station, Lok Ma Chau Station, Hung Hom Station, or Airport Station.
http://www.mtr.com.hk/en/customer/services/services_centre.html
Hi I am looking for replacement motor for mainline 4BB diesel loco can you help david
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