Guest The Southern Bandit Posted September 19, 2016 Share Posted September 19, 2016 This is another kit (along with HK B-25 glazed nose Mitchell I've missed out on) I know nobody knows Tamiya's release or re-release plans, but would really like this one, have the CJ, but this kit is a bit different and has a great in flight stand too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony T Posted September 19, 2016 Share Posted September 19, 2016 I'm surprised Tamiya haven't re-released it grey plastic as a regular Block 32 F-16C. But Tamiya like re-releasing and re-re-releasing things in exactly the same "nostalgia packaging", so what are the chances of a specialist subject like the Thunderbird coming out again? It would be interesting to learn what the Tamiya re-release experts say about any patterns that exist, and whether or how many moulds appear to have been swallowed up by the great Tamiya basement carpet monster. Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zero77 Posted September 19, 2016 Share Posted September 19, 2016 Yes that's very strange. It's a totally different kit than the CJ, with light landing gear, Pratt & Whitney engine and NSI intake. A shame these moulds are kept unused for so long. For the HK B-25 glass nose, i'm pretty sure the kit will repop in a near future. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thierry laurent Posted September 19, 2016 Share Posted September 19, 2016 I don't know what was the situation in the US but in Europe, the Thunderbirds kit was really a bad seller. I got two kits with a huge discount in two different shops as they did not know how to get rid of them... And this was not an isolated case. So, I am not too sure the kit will be soon re-released as such. However, I have yet to understand why it is not released as an Agressor bird as they did for their 1/48th kit...!?! It is true I stopped trying to understand Tamiya release policy many years ago... :-( Zero77 and David66 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jd-ny Posted September 19, 2016 Share Posted September 19, 2016 I just finished this one. I had a hard time finding one, but I am happy with it and it looks great displayed on the stand. I hope they re-release it, I'd buy another. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ziggyfoos Posted September 19, 2016 Share Posted September 19, 2016 I wonder if it's some issue with the Thunderbirds licensing/approval preventing it from being re-issued? If so, I'd much rather they just release it as a "normal" F-16 block 32 kit anyway with pylons/ordnance and skip the T-bird stuff. I have one in the stash for a Desert Storm planned build but I'd pick up another kit probably if they were available again. Zero77 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest The Southern Bandit Posted September 19, 2016 Share Posted September 19, 2016 That could be the case Ziggy, hope not? I'm pretty sure Tamiya maximised profit towards the Thunderbirds in 1/48 and 1/32. With Tamiya, I think its a case of high hopes? high expectations as well, but-its always nice to wish.Part of me is perverse and I collect as much as I build, have the Tamiya (I thought was out of production) total light n sound Zero, the plated Mustang as well.I hope Tamiya give this kit another pop, for the poster who said HK might do their first Mitchell glass nose again, OMG I pray that's true, I really missed out on that boat and its in my Ebay watch list until I get one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest The Southern Bandit Posted September 19, 2016 Share Posted September 19, 2016 I just finished this one. I had a hard time finding one, but I am happy with it and it looks great displayed on the stand. I hope they re-release it, I'd buy another. Love to see your build JD. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest The Southern Bandit Posted September 19, 2016 Share Posted September 19, 2016 I don't know what was the situation in the US but in Europe, the Thunderbirds kit was really a bad seller. I got two kits with a huge discount in two different shops as they did not know how to get rid of them... And this was not an isolated case. So, I am not too sure the kit will be soon re-released as such. However, I have yet to understand why it is not released as an Agressor bird as they did for their 1/48th kit...!?! It is true I stopped trying to understand Tamiya release policy many years ago... :-( Can you sell one, since you have two? Please Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timvkampen Posted September 23, 2016 Share Posted September 23, 2016 I have 3 and am building them (as we speak one is underway). And if you see a Thunderbirds kit pop up they go for 150-250 USD!!! The kits are great as a basis for the A/B (MLU) versions that fly around Europe and Israel. I also do not understand why this one is out of production, but it may be people are not all keen on doing the Thunderbirds rendition...so.... ...Tamiya should remarks this baby into a proper Block 25/32 offering. I know a company preparing a conversion for the C-version to make an A/B, but it leaves open room still for Tamiya to also tackle that part of the Viper market. Why they are not doing it (haven't done it so far) is a complete riddle to most of the modelling community. The same discussion applies to the Dual-seat version. Tamiya = no show, Academy listen and = F-16D...oh well. David66 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dennis7423 Posted September 23, 2016 Share Posted September 23, 2016 Recently finished one of these in flight as a Colorado ANG bird... absolutely lovely kit, and the stand is absolutely priceless. Would love to see this kit repopped. - Dennis S. Westminster, CO USA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thierry laurent Posted September 23, 2016 Share Posted September 23, 2016 Can you sell one, since you have two? Please Well some of my friends will tell you I am naive and optimistic but I never buy a kit "just in case". If I spend my money, it is with a specific modelling goal in my head and I am not a collector. Last, even if I would be willing to resell one the p&p would be a killer to send this overseas... Zero77 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neo Posted September 23, 2016 Share Posted September 23, 2016 There is one for sale right now in the trader board Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Viper Enforcer Posted September 29, 2016 Share Posted September 29, 2016 I don't know what was the situation in the US but in Europe, the Thunderbirds kit was really a bad seller. I got two kits with a huge discount in two different shops as they did not know how to get rid of them... And this was not an isolated case. So, I am not too sure the kit will be soon re-released as such. However, I have yet to understand why it is not released as an Agressor bird as they did for their 1/48th kit...!?! It is true I stopped trying to understand Tamiya release policy many years ago... :-( In the US the Tamiya 32nd Thunderbird kit sold quite well according to the reps. It and the full built an painted release sold even better in Japan, The production runs were about 30% less than the CJ version, which continues to sell well. You would think with the huge success of the 2 Tamiya 32nd Viper kits, Tamiya would expand the range to Block 30, 42, and 52, in aggressor and other unit markings; just like they did in 48th. I wonder if it's some issue with the Thunderbirds licensing/approval preventing it from being re-issued? If so, I'd much rather they just release it as a "normal" F-16 block 32 kit anyway with pylons/ordnance and skip the T-bird stuff. I have one in the stash for a Desert Storm planned build but I'd pick up another kit probably if they were available again. The licensing doesn't really "run out", though it can be revoked for not meeting contractual requirements and I have not heard of any issues like that. Besides, if that were the case, then their 48th scale F-16 Thunderbirds kit would have also been OOP at the same time. Much agreed; I would rather seen standard Block 25-42 releases myself; as well as the D model variant; which I know they have all the data for it. Hell, I even saw the sprue layout in 48th for the D model parts back in 08. Something that makes us all scratch our heads. Mike V David66 and Zero77 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darren Howie Posted September 29, 2016 Share Posted September 29, 2016 The kit is widely available in Japan ie it hasn't sold out. The two stores I buy from in Osaka on trips both gave 32nd TBird F-16's on the shelf for under 10000Y. Sounds more like the US importer hasn't ordered any for a while rather than being oop with them around in Japan. timvkampen and David66 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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