There have been rumors circulating for quite some time about a Tamiya 1/48 B-17, both here in Japan and abroad. There was a recent posting quoting an English magazine stating that Tamiya will be releasing “something big” this year, instigating all kinds of speculation (which, of course, is great fun!)
At Tamiya World here in Osaka, I asked the Tamiya guys what the “big somethng” was going to be, and if in fact it was going to be a 1/48 B-17. They frantically searched their computers and even made a phone call, and finally replied that, as far as they knew, there was nothing “big” coming out in their aircraft line any time soon, B-17 or anything else.
Of course, it’s also entirely possible that they just don’t know yet.
Anyway, just thought you’d like to know what the boys at Tamiya World had to say on the subject.
But for you happy treadheads out there, they did confirm that their new 1/35 Op Telic Challenger 2 goes on sale May 26!
hope they were just giving you a run around. would love to see a 1/48 b-17 with tamiya quality. would be a wonderful addition to the kits already available.
If it’s true I’m ready to pre-order!
A b-17 in 1:48 would sure be a master-piece addition to any WWII a 1:48 collection. I’m sure it will sell for years to come.
That B-17 rumor was started two years ago on the first of April.[:-^][:0] It sure seems to reappear on that date though. But maybe wishfull thinking has got the job done! I know if it is, mine is already ordered!
a cruel joke if it is a joke. must have been started by an armor builder if it is a joke. j-hulk rescue us. say it is real, say it will happen. tears are forming in my eyes as i post this.
Nice work from our mole on the inside, J-hulk. If Tamiya wanted to show Trumpeter some serious competition, a 1/48 B-17 would sure send the right message. It would be a huge seller.
I didn’t give much credit to the Tamiya B-17 rumor until modeling buddies here in Japan (with better connections to the “source” than I) started talking about it matter-of-factly. Still, even here, it’s just a rumor…
For the latest Tamiya info, sign up for their email newsletter:
Shouldn’t cost any more than their big jets: the F-4 series, the F-15s, or even the old F-14. Ya never know, though.
They gotta know there’s a huge demand. With all the controversial armor they’ve been releasing lately, I’d think they’d jump on a sure winner like the B-17.
You’d only hear grousing from the B-24 crowd then! (Oh no, don’t bring up that age-old feud!!!)
Sorry, I was actually talking about the 1/32 F-4s, F-15s and F-14.
My point was that if those kits sold well at those prices, so would a 1/48 B-17 at or around the same price.
Funny, I see ALL of my money going to Japanese coffers! Good reason for that, though…
Well, not entirely true. I still eat as much McDonald’s, KFC, and Domino’s Pizza here in Japan as I ever did back in the States!