Robiwon, what is your normal ETA from HLJ? Here in Hawaii, the usual times are 11 days for SAL, 5 days for EMS, and around 3 days for FexEx.
I am waiting on a package from Hobby Terra in the Ukraine, and they usually take 11 days. Today is day 13, so I shoudln’t worry based on your unusually long wait time!
Hope your Lotus is in transit and not sitting idle at an airport in Japan!
The last time I ordered from them was before the ban on Bandai Star Wars kits. It took about 13 days. Id hate to have to order it from somewhere else and pay twice as much for it. I got mine for about $24, most other places want over $45.
Oh well, it’s giving me time to clear out the my Star Wars stash of kits. I ordered a small red SMT LED to mount to the interior roof to bathe the inside with a red glow.
It always took me a while to get my stuff from them, then again from Japan to the US east coast is pretty far. I’ve got some stuff in my private warehouse with them now, hopefully they’ll get the last item in soon.
I’m sure it will be in your hands soon now that the Christmas rush is over.
The other thing that worries me now is they are also the shop I have my 22 inch Eagle pre-ordered thru. I wonder how long it will take to ship once they come in.
Robiwon,
Is it better to order the Eagle kit from Japan? How does the kit price and shipping compare to buying it in the US? Postage for very large kits from Japan tends to get expensive.
My bad, I pre-ordered the Eagle from Hobbylinc, not HLJ. I keep getting the two confused, LOL.
Actually the order I’ve got running at HLJ right they’ve calculated as thirty bucks or so for S&H. Still I’m still getting the order cheaper, for example Tamiya’s 1/32nd A6M5 Zero:
Squadron Mail Order: $130.40
Sprue Brothers: $130.49
HobbyLink Japan: $59.82
And there’s a bunch of stuff I ordered I don’t think anyone in the US even carries.
BTW: G, is shipping to Hawaii from Japan any cheaper than shipping to the continental US? I’d think it would be at least quicker.
Gamera, I’m not sure if it is any cheaper to ship to Hawaii. I usually pay about 20%, but it can go below 10% if I order a lot of small accessories, and up to close to 30% for just kits.
Ah ok, thanks, just wondering!
After almost a full month in transit, it shipped Dec 4th, the kit arrived Jan 2nd. Just gave it a quick once over here at work and I have to say it looks great! Its definately engineered for them to do a street version for sure. All the sub parts are on seperate sprues and the body itself is completly stock. All holes are flashed over so another clue they will do a street version.
I’ll post pictures after work tonight.
here is a hemmings blog link to 1 of three used in the movie FOR SALE!
http://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/dealer/lotus/esprit/1668735.html?refer=blog
As the Lotus is not street legal, it seems the only way a bloke can entertain a date in 1977 style is with Stromberg’s cushioned escape pod…but I don’t see one of those listed.[^o)]
Robiwon: Cool, glad to see you happy with the kit! I may have to order one of my own.
Jake: Ouch, not sure I can scrape up a million bucks but very cool all the same!
Left my phone at work yesterday so didn’t get the pictures. I promise I will have some tonight. I’m at least lighting the cabin with a nano red LED. I have an idea for the base I’ll make for it. More on that later.
Here are some pictures. Very nice kit. Body is straight and crisp. The way the kit is tooled, they can definately do a street version.
Fujimi just announced that a street version of the Esprit S1 will be out in mid Feruary!!!
Ohhhhhhh thanks for the photos Robiwon! I was looking forward to them and somehow I missed them when you first posted them. [:(DD]
A street version is pretty darn cool too!
Thanks for the heads-up Robiwon! It’s cheaper than the “Bond Car”, so I’m assuming it’s a straight automobile kit without the flat underside (no royalties?). More joy for Collin Chapman/Lotus fans!
Now I’m torn - do I buy one and get rid of the old Nichimo kit? I recently bought a 1/18 die cast car versiion of Bond’s Lotus as well. Decisions, decisions…
Thanks, you guys are welcome! I just pre-ordered it from HLJ.
I used to have the old Nichimo kit and had been looking for another one. Just couldn’t bring myself to drop the $50-$70 on eBay that they go for. Glad I waited! I’m sure this will be a straight curbside kit based on the low price, but that’s O.K. I don’t mind doing a few easy projects now and then, LOL.