I know I’m kind of jumping on the bandwagon here but is anyone else just plain frustrated with tamiya lately? Their kits are always terrific but they hardly every come out with anything new, while dragon comes out with new models every single month!! Sorry just had to blow some steam
It does seem that some manufacturers bring out an excellent range of detailed and accurate models, and then just rest on their laurels thereafter with their idea of a new kit being a different box and decal option. And at the end of the day, just how many Mustangs, Spitfires, and F16’s can anyone build??? How about mainstream manufacturers producing some of the lesser known wartime workhorses??
This has been a pet peeve of mine for years. There are a lot of aircraft that I would love to see in injection molded kits and I think that a lot of them would sell. Just getting someone to do it is another thing.
Randie [C):-)]
I’m with you on this one. You can find every variant imaginable for certain subjects, that I think are done to death, and then there are some that you’ll never find. I realize there’s a lot of risk and cost involved in new tooling for the lesser known subjects, but I wish some of the major manufacturers would just look past the Panzers and Shermans, Mustangs, Spitfires for some fresh ideas.
Hey John. Thanks for serving.
I’m not neccasarily talking about lesser known subjects. I’d like to see a 1/48 C-123 Provider. A new tool UH-1D/H Huey and AH-1G Cobra in 1/35. I’d also like to see some decent 1/48 and 1/35 figures that could be incorporated into a dio with these and other aircraft types. Nothing that is out there now, with the exception of DML’s Vietnam helicopter crew, can be used without a lot of surgery.
Anyway, those are just a few of what I’d like to see.
Now I’ll get off my [soapbox]
Randie [C):-)]
this turning into a what do i want to see thread. so here i go. the aircraft scales most popular are 1/48 and 1/72 but the vehicle and figures for 1/72 seem to be limited and 1/48 almost nonexistant. i believe that the companies could bring out a line of vehicles both modern and ww2/ww1 and make a killing. better get off the soapbox now before i say something bad.
joe
I’m right in the middle of reading Master Modeler by Mr. Tamiya, and it is an interesting perspective on making models and designing the molds, and of course the research. If you get a chance pick up the book, as it is a great read, and it is very well translated. Anyway, I do agree with your point that they should be able to release at least one new model a month…but Tamiya has it’s hands into so many different things such as tools, RC, robotics, educational toys, paints, etc…that perhaps they can’t spend as much time designing the models like Dragon can, who only does kits. I am in no way a representative of Tamiya, and I am not defending them…as I too want to see a lot more kits from them…just kicking around ideas as to why they may not have the time…though I will pick up their latest Nightfighter!!!
I follow you on that, too. I’m looking for plastic 1/35 modern helo crew figures, not sure I’m up to major surgery on the older ones for some of my helo kits. You see every possible German army uniform out there, but the modern figure choices are extremely limited.
Overall, I’m happy with what’s out there, but some subjects are just over done. I know that some things we will just never see in plastic, like some of the modern engineer vehicles, and a zodiac CRRC (combat rubber raider craft), but this is the place to vent and share your frustrations.
I agree totally with your ire on this thread. Dragon has raised the ante I think by offering more goods for far less in price. Still nothing quite goes together like a Tamiya kit. I wish they would make more obscur kits also. They have to be concerned with profibility. If they produce a kit that only applies to a select few, than it wouldn’t be in their interest to produce it. Now that they have produced a Marder, I would think a Hetzer should be right around the corner. HMMMM? Maybe it’s in the works, I hope so. While there at it, much Russian armor and artillery need attention also. British stuff is hurting.
Its all very well companies saying they can only produce yet another Mustang because they have to make kits that will sell, but how do they know a less “popular” subject won’t? Especially as they would be the only ones producing it and it would probably be one modellers had been craving for years?
Got to agree with your comments Chris, never seen or heard of a survey taken by model manufacturers to see what the the modelling world would like. I think they be suprised if they did.
I would love to see Tamiya retool some of it’s older armour and figure kits as well as pump out some new stuff, It peeves me when they add one or two parts and then pump up the price. Tamiya’s newer stuff is almost prohibitively expensive here, whereas Dragon and Academy are making comparable kits more often and for less.
Why pay $97 for a Tamiya Tiger II when the Dragon one is $50? I’ll bet the Tamiya one isn’t twice as good.
Matt
Another thing is release dates for new kits. How hard is it to make the proposed release date for new kits? These companies know how long it takes for design, tooling and the rest, right? Why put a date out there that you know you won’t make? I don’t think we’d complain if a kit was released BEFORE its published date, but I get pretty fired up when you wait extra months for something, and the companies don’t think to maybe make a press release on what the delay is.
It’s not the same everywhere in the world, Matt. Here in Japan, the Dragon kits are a bit more expensive than the Tamiya kits.
Yeah, I reckon you or someone else mentioned that before. Guess you’ve got to hit on the right price/quality sweet spot for your area. We must be on the bad end of Tamiya, as when I was last in the Hobby, Tamiya was priced much like everything else; I just bought them 'cos I liked them. (Still do.) I won’t stop buying Tamiya, but it would have to be a very special kit for me to spend over A$60. Luckily the Marder kits fall under that!
Matt