As of June 2025, we still do not have an official model number for the Torpedo Class COLOR SHARP nor its standard drafting versions. But I did finally got a hold of both the clear barrel versions and put some questions to rest. L-R:
COLOR SHARP ver. in 0.5mm with silver chromed grip.
- Red, Green, Blue, Brown, Orange, Yellow from the 6-color set. Middle ring only says ‘COLOR 0.5 Mitsubishi’ and has no adjustable function.
- Clear model with adjustable middle ring. The cutout can be aligned to your choice of 6 colors
DRAFTING ver. in 2 sizes with black or color matching grip. These have adjustable middle rings to displa ylead degrees from 3H to HB.
- Clear model in 0.3mm
- Black, Dark Green, Light Blue, Red in 0.5mm
Since I have so many tubes of vintage leads, I loaded up the drafting models in 3H down to HB.
Here’s a look at the brass clutches. They are identical across the range. The clear 0.3 model is not significantly different aside from core diameter.
After disassembly, the other key difference is seen in the way the middle ring is constructed:
• The standard COLOR models have a 3-piece metal ring with separate chamfered edge pieces for the top and bottom.
• The clear COLOR model has the same 3-piece ring but with a cutout to display the selected lead color. Due to tight fitment, the applied sticker is just thick enough to prevent removal of the upper chamfered piece.
• Both the clear and solid colored drafting versions use a simpler 2-piece construction for the ring. Only the lower chamfered piece is separated. The upper chamfered edge has been machined as part of the main ring, which has just enough clearance to slip past the printed lead degree sticker.
So… I had thought it would be ‘easy’ to swap the rings and customise my own shades of COLOR SHARP, e.g. adding a black, light blue and dark green to a silver grip. But the change in parts for the middle ring has made this too risky because of the likely damage to the lead degree stickers.
What I really wanted, hoped? to see was a 0.7 or even 0.9mm model, but so far, it’s just 0.5mm across the board except for the wierd 0.3 with clear body.