TAMIYA German half tracks question?

Hi all, I have been building Tamiya kits for 30 years. I built the Kit # 35148… 8 ton half track sdkfz.7 model …pulling the fantastic 88 model
(nice model)…Question is: Is the 18 ton Famo model #35239 from the same mold set? Or is it significantly bigger???

The price is almost 3 times what I paid for the 8 ton, so is it a completely different model?
If not, then outside of a few details I would say its a Tamiya rip-off.

Appreciate responses from experienced armor modelers that may know this answer.

THANKS

The Famo is an entirely different vehicle and kit. They share nothing in common except the Tamiya brand.

Tamiya has earned some bad karma for re-releaseing many kits over the years that should have been put to pasture, but the Famo is not part of this.

Review of the Famo http://www.kitreview.com/reviews/famoreviewbg_1.htm

Ditto to the above. The FAMO is a whole other story. Plus it has indy tracks and newly sculpted engineer figures instead of a flak crew. The box is about 3 times in size even for the one without the trailer. I have the famo, famo with trailer, and the 8-ton still new in box stashed somewhere. If you need picture head to head comparisons I will get those for ya.

Thanks for the replies. Yes in the past there have been some re-issues with not much changed as you said. Sure, if you ever get the chance to throw up the photos it would be great, but don’t kill yourself to.
These forums are fantastic, in all my years of modeling to be able to help others and get help almost daily is really something. Thanks again for the info.

Gee, I hope he doesn’t throw up the pictures. That would be most unpleasant! [:D]

man that’s one disgusting smiley…sheesh.

http://www.untspacy.com/ForumPics/GBPics/FAMO/

I made that gallery in a rush to shrink down those image sizes all together since I apparently shot them at 1600X1200. My cousin borrowed my D70 so now I am stuck with the spare minolta Z3 (fast lense but pretty inconsistent white balance plus those were taken at 2am =P ). Let me know if you want any larger size ones since these are all 800X600.

Even though you already have the 7, I am putting up some detail pictures for the sdkfz7 so you can see how much difference they had even on the sprue. Overall size the Famo is slightly larger, since it also had much larger wheels. the 7 being a much older kit has some flashes here and there, terrible but workable figures, a ton of significant mold lines. The famo on the other hand has some of their latest and best molding quality and the engineering put into the kit was just fantastic, earning it that Super Kit title. Even though the price is kinda steep but if you are into halftracks that one is money worth spent. Eduard also makes a nice PE detail set for the kit.

Sorry about the lousy info on the box size. Sure felt a lot larger in my hand…hehe. They are deeper though.

Ryan, Thank you for putting those up. I really appreciate it. Yes I see the difference now. My armor display/storage case is out of view (no room) because I’ve been building planes for some time now, so I went and took out my 7 pulling the 88. Man I forgot how great the Tamiya kits were, as I have about 50 or so built. Real works of art some of them. I’ll have to post some photos sometime. I’m getting the urge to build some armor again, as I find it so different than building aircraft. I think I will probably get the Famo with trailer as it looks pretty interesting. I also have a weathering technique that goes on the German Gray that produced a rust like finish that is very realistic. I saw it again today when I pulled out my 7 and 88. I have to check my notes as I built those about 12 years ago.

I’m Building a big B36 right now which is taking some commitment, I’ll tell you.

I’m sure I’ll be on this forum more when that is done.

Thanks again

Be sure to include a Stug III or Panzer III to go with it. hehehe.