Just saw the pics and specs for the new 1/32 scale P-51D Mustang on the Tamiya News website. What is going on with model prices? It’s getting to the point where I’m gonna have to be like Hans and only build the old Monogram kits. I know I sound old saying this, but I remember being able to afford the Revell 1/32 kits in the early 70’s by saving my allowance money, and that wasn’t very much. IIRC, they were about $10.00, and the 1/48 Monogram kits were about $2.50 -$4.00.
What is it in the features below that make this kit worth $168? Engraved panel lines? Rubber tires? P/E parts included? I just don’t get whats happening with the newer model prices!
Specs and Features
1/32 scale assembly model kit of the North American P-51D Mustang.
Overall Length: 308mm, Wingspan: 354mm.
The unmistakable form of this famous aircraft is accurately reproduced based on actual design drawings of the aircraft as well as thorough study of actual examples of the aircraft.
Comes with the necessary parts to enable depiction of early-production and late-production P-51D, including:
2 types of tail sections (with and without dorsal fin)
3 types of canopies
4 types of rearview mirrors
2 types of instrument panels
2 types of seats
2 types of engine exhausts
Control surfaces (ailerons, flaps, elevators, and rudder) are all movable.
Magnets allow easy attachment/detachment of the ultra-thin engine cowlings even after assembly to showcase the detailed Packard Merlin V-1650 engine.
Parts are included to allow depiction of landing gear in retracted or deployed positions.
Landing gear tires are made from solid rubber and feature accurate tread patterns.
Comes with a display stand to depict the aircraft in flight.
A set of photo-etched parts is included to depict details such as seat harnesses and the oil cooler.
2 types of drop tanks included.
Comes with 2 pilot figures (1 seated, 1 standing) and 3 types of distinctive decal markings. A) 334th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group B) 487th Fighter Squadron, 352nd Fighter Group C) 79th Fighter Squadron, 20th Fighter Group
A 16 page full-color photographic reference manual is included<<
Tamiya has always been one of the more expensive brands…I just saw their 48th Swordfish for $90 at an on-line retailer—and that kit is fairly old by now…
At the risk of also sounding my age, everything costs more than it did in the seventies. I have some things in my stash that I didn’t have in the seventies as well, like a wife, a older house that always needs things, and a 1:1 '65 Ranchero “kit”, and on and on. Fortunately, my allowance is a lot bigger!
The new tool, highly detailed 1/32 kits are, for me, still a bridge too far, even though I lust after a few of them. There are some from Revell of Germany that are a bargain, nice detail and fit in my price range. I have their Eurofighter and Piper Cub, and they are good kits, and the Arado looks like a fun build. Judging be what I’ve seen in the Forums in general, and in the Monogram Mafia GB in particular, there’s still a lot of fun to be had with older kits. I’m looking forward to building a 1/48 AMT/Ertl A-20G that cost me under $20 and appears to be a great kit with some skill building detailing potential.
As for Tamiya, Trumpeter, and others, I just follow the sales and ebay, thinking that there are plenty of us who don’t have the play money available to pay MSRP… Sooner or later, that spendy model is going to be excess inventory, or show up at a vendors table, or on ebay.
I have talked to several retailers around the country saying they will be able to bring it in around $120-130…we will see. As far as the kit the rivit counters do not like the rivets on this kits. I have a sprue here and all it will take is some primer and that problem will go away.
1 - Inflation. Things cost more now. At least kits aren’t inflating as fast as healthcare or gas prices. If that were the case, we’d be paying like $45 for the Revellogram AT-6 Texan these days.
2 - Like it or not, Tamiya has a brand premium that allows it to price kits higher. Same as BMW vis a vis Hyundai. Or (until the last few years) Sony versus Samsung. You can get a lot of their catalog kits for around $20 without trying very hard (1/48 Mustangs, Spits, 109s, 190s, etc), but you do pay for the new stuff.
3 - The molding detail and engineering tolerances on these new kits are truly impressive. I remember when BMW released this current generation of 3-Series hearing that they had to literally create the machinery to bend the sheetmetal the way they wanted, because there wasn’t any existing equipment that could do it right. They also used magnesium alloy in the front end to manage the front/rear weight distribution. That kind of stuff costs money. So does developing really thin cowl panels that latch onto the airframe with embedded magnets, etc.
4 - That’s MSRP. Great Models is selling pre-orders for $126. Still pricey, but already 25% off.
Don’t like it? Don’t buy it. Or wait a couple of years and buy it during a big sale.
Me? I’ve got an anniversary and Father’s Day coming up…
My fully loaded F-150 Super Cab 4x4 XLT cost me $13K in '86, today they fetch in excess of $34K, yet the cost to produce them has stayed relatively the same due to better manufacturing processes…this cost also takes into consideration labor costs. From conversations with automotive executives, the costs saved in manufacturing was offset by labor costs. A slight increase in raw materials was seen, but again the auto giants used the Wal-Mart philosophy that vendors continue to offer lower prices if you want our business. In the case of the auto industry prices are do to executive compensations.
Oshkosh Corp was taken to court by its competitors because the competitor felt that there was no way Oshkosh could build trucks at the price point they bid at. I think if you look at the executive compensations at their competitors you’ll see why companies like BAE Systems and Navistar can’t build vehicles for such a low price. Too much overhead on the executive end.
The devaluation of the US dollar and Japan’s recent disaster which has disrupted production capacity due to power shortages has driven costs up. This disaster has force a change in culture on Japan’s business climate, no longer will many offices have air conditioning at cool comfortable levels if any at all. The well dressed businessman and employee will now be required to dress down into more casual and cooler clothing to make working in hot sticky office more bearable.
We’re also seeing a shaky business climate as the word recession is being uttered yet again. Some predicted this would occur and it appears as it is happening. Cost of shipping too has increased and will continue to do so until the market once again become steady. All of these things add up to what is being charged at the retail level. As long as consumers continue to pay they’ll sell at those prices. Like gasoline once demand drops so do prices. If consumers decide that these prices for plastic models is too much, prices will adjust or products will disappear depending on whether they are and by how much they are profitable or not.
I guess I shouldn’t be complaining about new armor kits in the $60-70 range, which I wouldn’t pay for at that price. I just wait for them to go to ebay or snag them off a great on-line sale.
I’m personaly not going to pay that much for a kit. As I’ve said in the past, I’m all about the sales. There’s always sales either at the online places (SpureBros, Squadron) or Michael’s and HobbyLobby. I found a HobbyBoss A-10 for $28 that normaly goes for around $80.
As I was writing this, I got an e-mail from MegaHobby for a sale.
That’s Professor Moriarty to you… $168?? I’m just not willing to pay that much for a model, so I guess I’m not in their target market. (To be honest, I wouldn’t have the space for 1/32 kits anyway)
I have spent big money on some kits like $219.00 for Akagi,$70.00 for hasegawa 1/48 Raptor,but I won’t drop over 100 for this one,I feel its alot of money for that size kit,but thats just me,everyone has their limit, or their desire for a particular kit.I may spend $$$ on something that someone else thinks is ridiculous.Bottom line,if you think it’s too much don’t buy it,but because you won’t buy it doesn’t mean it’s crazy for someone else to buy it.