I just came back from KC AMPS and had a really good purchase (or so I thought)…picked up a Tamiya M16 Multiple Gun Motor Carriage (kit #MM-181A) still in the shrink wrap for 50% retail cost. Just now peeled the wrapper off [8)] and what to my wondering eyes should appear, but lots of empty spaces on the sprue with no extra parts banging around in the box…[V] [BH]
I guess somebody owned this before me and had access to a shrinkwrap machine after robbing the parts they wanted/needed. Most of the parts were extras or stuff that can be easily replaced (clear windshield, manpack radios, canteens, e-tools, helmets, etc.), but the biggest disappointment was the figures were gone too. The radio operator can be pulled from the Gun & Mortar Team, but the driver and quad-.50 gunner were gone too…[|(]
Because this kit is so old, do you think Tamiya would replace those parts?? (Driver: B13, E6, E7, E8. And Gunner: E11, E12, E13, E14) Or does anybody have this kit and plan on not using the figures? I’d be willing to reimburse you for postage, plus a little extra!
Geez, how sneaky is that ? I always equated shrinkwrap=complete kit. When I go to swap meets or model shows from now on, I’ll be more vigilant. I guess you live and learn.
Not too long ago i got a Tamiya kit off ebay M1A2 Abrams and the top hull was missing . I sent them an email and to my surprise they sent me the part for free …shipping too! . So i would say send them an email and see what happens .
That practice of rerwrapping items started with records way back in the early seventies. You buy a record that skipped or just would track right on your player so you bring it back. As soon as you left the guy takes back in the back room and rewraps it. Two out of three people never bring anything back, so the guy makes out like a bandit. This is why you now see those little pieces of silver foil on CD’s. But alas I guess now others have picked up on the very same idea. I would do more than just report him to AMPS, and give his name to Tamayia (in case he’s a dealer). If he is one (dealer) they’ll really come down on him hard because it’s a bad rap for Tamayia
