It kind of looks like they are bringing out much of their 1/35 line into 1/48. I can only think of one or two examples where the reverse is true. But maybe if were lucky they will upscale some of thier new 48th scale releases into 35th.
I’m a bit confused (nothing new about that) and wondering what’s the question. Given that Mr. Tamiya confirmed their model manufacuring shift in focus over 2 years ago, I think the “news” is a bit dated. Is there something I’m missing?
Tamiya is doing what Tamiya does best…take advantage of a scale that hasn’t had a lot of exposure with armour + soft-skins, and run with it. Other manufacturors upon seeing this have jumped on the band wagon as well. ICM from Russia is producing a Sd.Kfz 222 and an Opel staff car; AFV Club is coming out with a Sturmpanzer and an Sd.Kfz 251 half-track, etc., etc. I really don’t know why they are not producing 1/35th scale at the rates they were, but there is still a great deal of armour not covered by the 1/35 manufacturors.
I guess I missed that, sorry to inconvenience you.
Me hopes that they release their new 1/48 Crusader in 1/35, like their Hetzer and StuG III B.
I’ll second that!
There’s no inconvenience at all…just honest curiousity.
To answer the question in your original post (and for those who may not have heard), yes, Tamiya is no longer focusing on 1/35 models and nearly all of their staff shifted to 1/48 production. IIRC, their intentions were to attempt to put out at most one or two 1/35 kits each year and were shooting for approximately 10 (or more) 1/48 kits every year. Since I haven’t followed the actual numbers, I can’t say if they’re meeting their 1/48 goals, but for the past 2 or 3 years they’re hitting the 1/35 estimates nearly perfectly. Based on what I’ve read, Tamiya is planning on maintaining the same level of focus in each area for the foreseeable future.
Sorry for the misunderstanding…
From as many of their 1/48’s that I’ve seen they seem to be meeting or even exceeding that goal. Strangely, my LHS seems to be overflowing in them. Is the initial buzz starting to wane?
The buzz may be waning at your LHS but in Japan, Tamiya’s biggest market, they are selling well. Therefore we can continue to see more in this vein.
BTW, the 1/35 focus seems to be more at Mr. Tamiya’s whim (note his friendship w/the Saumur staff and the release of several of their prime tanks (Char B1Bis, Renault UE, LeClerc)). Unpredictable but I’m willing to stay aboard!!!
Who could’ve guessed a 1/35 Dragon Wagon or Sdkfz 9 “Famo” with SdAnh 116 or Char B1Bis?
I can see R-35s or other French armor coming. That would be totally sweet in my opinion.
While they appear to be on a Frenchy kick, how about a Somua?
Just picked up the Tamiya Renault UE, while it is 1/35 scale, its size is less than a 1/48 scale tank.
Let’s just put it this way. Tamiya has been producing 1/35 AFV long time ago.
If you check out their old and new catalog, you will notice that most popular AFV had been produce. It will make no sense for Tamiya to retool every single of their AFV and reluanch it back to the market. For Tamiya, they just let the aftermarket to add the missing detail.
Notice how they launch the new 1/35 Hetzer. That stuff is just waiting to be attack by after market for detail upgrade.
You have to also know that retooling means making a brand set of mold, which is not cheap.
At this moment it is logical for Tamiya to focus in the 1/48 scale or 1/16 scale.
Ben
This is what I had heard. They have decided that the 1:48 market has been neglected since Bandai days and was a scale ripe for new kits.
As was mentioned earlier, 1/48 seems hot in Japan, but what about here? Initially, I couldn’t find any at my LHS, now there seems to be quite a glut of them. I kinda wonder if the initial parade has died down some.
This is way cool, except for the “Pre-Built Series with die cast chassis” part.
Well I think I can assure you that the parade hasn’t died down! It’s not a total foolproof way to measure, but Ebay’s explosion of Bandai kits selling at more than the CH Whitman kits seems to indicate that this scale is taking off in leaps and bounds. I think that people who knock the scale have never tried one… I for one love that scale, when I hated it before I tried it! Keep 'em commin Tamiya!!! Most quater scale forums are saying that this scale is bounding off faster than a bull charging a rodeo clown! Figures, accessories, AM, dio tools are exploding as well! Tamiya has really started a trend that most people don’t realize!
it could be because tamiya has so many kits released in 1/35 and they don’t want to “re-issue” old kits like they have done a few times in the past, but i think they are just scared of DML [}:)]
Scared of DML? I doubt it. Tamiya isn’t just a plastic static model company. They are so diverse that DML is sure to equal only a quater of their profits. I don’t know why people think DML is taking over the industry. Yeah they have produced some good kits, but their garbage is just as bad as some smaller Russian companies! DML has fewer crap kits because they have fewer kits all together! They aren’t so big in the grand scheme of things. They are just the rave at this point in time. Tastes change, as do fads of which I’m sure DML is! Tamiya has a loooooonngggg history in this industry and is much more established than DML or any other company!
I would hardly dismiss Dragon as a “fad”. They, along with Tristar, seem to be duking it out for the WW2 market in 1/35 scale as well as branching out into modern and applying new technology every step along the way. For good or bad, they’ve become a trend-setter in their chosen arena. They aren’t perfect by any stretch and can screw up badly as any company can, but the ratio of their new kit releases per year in 1/35 is unrivalled by any of their competitors.
I’ve tried a couple of 1/48 kits and thoroughly hated the die-cast lower hull for personal reasons and prefer 1/35, but in terms of shelf space and cost of the kits, 1/48 has advantages. Tamiya has a long history in the kit making business and many have a nostalgia for them as a result…and the new kits they are offering in 1/35 are welcome for sure. I don’t begrudge them their turn towards 1/48, anything that fuels the hobby and keeps the revenue streams alive means they can do the occasional 1/35 too and not worry so much if it’s less than a barn burner success wise. I too hope that the occasional new offering that pops up in 1/48 will get translated to 1/35, but only time will tell if that happens.