Thomas V

They ruled 1/32nd market until 2008/2009, than they decided to rise prices by 40-50% percent and it all went downhill, also in 2009 first Spitfire Mk.IX arrived, signalling that their Zero was not a one off gem but that Tamiya intended to continue with 32nd prop line... In the end its all about decisions ( in case of Hasegawa by very limited number of people ) how will the Company develop.... I am still waiting Hasegawa to make Bertha Stuka and Hurricane family, kits they announced to trade worls almost 8 years ago!

All of my big customers ( those buying in tens of certain subtype/cat.number ) simply stopped buying Hasegawa Bf 109 and Fw 190 after Tamiya Spitfire came to market, collectors were/are waiting for the same quality Bf 109, secondly price in European markets was / is simply too high, thirdly few of them arrived because of the dubious Hasegawa trade policies after 2007 linking possibility of buying new items with buying obsure non sellers ( eg 1/48 T-4 .or older 1/32 kits etc...etc....) My opinion is that they should have released Friedrich in 2005-6 timeframe, it would have been huge seller, when it arrived new gen.kits were coming, not to mention that than all Hasegawa kits after Ki-84 ( 2005 ) were to a higher standard than Bf 109F/G and Fw 190A/D kits.

Fw 190A-8 will definitely be released,...next year will see far better release schedule from RoG, although prices may prove not to be to everyones liking.

My birdie says its going to be another kit like Mosquito, that they will go head to head with Tamiya...

App.two years ago there were two boxings that were mentioned to retailers. a. International Mk.IX ( with mods for Soviet planes and some post war ones ) b. F-51D When speaking about new subjects, on at least three separate occasions I was told that engine costs app.30% of new tooling, and spreading that cost to as many subjects possible is paramount. Taking before mentioned into account my guess... Early Merlin Spitfires (Mk.I, Mk.I.a)/ ( V.b, V.b Trop, V.c ) Hurricane Family? P-47 Family ? F6F Family? ---------------------------- German subjects Bf 109E-K Fw 190A-3 to A-8 ---------------------------- One offs Fw 190D-9 Fieseler Storch ----------------------------- Jets F-86A-E F-86F

Definitely, Ki-43 would be my No.1 pick ...

They already have fairly large amount of parts tooled for Bertha Stukas and Ki-100, if fact cannot understand why they already did not tool before mentioned, given how they stick to enlarging their 1/48 scale lineup. I would not be surprised to see following.. Ju 87B Ki-100 Hurricane Family P-39 Family Typhoon ........far fetched Val Kate P-38 Family.

At Nurnberg this year, when I bullied Tamiya representative, he just smiled when talking about P-51B, I would like to think that his smile is a sign of confirmation. What i did find out is will see another Mk.IX boxing down the line... F-51D, with full air to ground ordinance is a certainty. Whether that boxing will include Mk.IV/a options, probably will, I doubt that they would issue just Mk.IV as fourth boxing of the kit.

Seems they are continuing enlarging 48th.scale offerings, making Ki-100, N1K1 and newly tooled Ki-43 all probable future subjects. As for Ki-27 and A5M given how MPM is offical importer of Hasegawa kits in Czech Republic, doubt they would tool those, if before mentioned are in short or mid term plans of the Japanese company. In the long run I do not have any doubt about them being produced. Before this announcement my bet was on Ki-100 or Ju-87B/R as their new kit in 1/32nd.scale, given that many parts for those two kits are already tooled. Tom

While nowhere near 90 percent, indeed majority of products from both Hasegawa and Tamiya are sold on their home market. To be more accurate, they seek subjects that can pay off production costs themselves, taking into account Japanese market only, everything else is a pure profit/bonus. Before mentioned is not only hobby related, such manufacturing policies are key in Japanese economy. Take into example Osprey in 72nd. scale, sole reason why is being done is basing of the real aircraft on Japanese territory.

Of course, my omission.

My pleasure, have to say that I am most excited, with careful parts breakdown can see them issue both N1K2-J Prototype and N1K2-Ja.

http://scalemodels.r...AAnGIq.jpg.html Best Regards Tom

Not in any way boosting his credentials, which he has none, he did from time to time raise valid questions regarding accuacy of different kits, if only by accident, by means of his proactivity. This however should not incourage one to seek his posts, because majority of those are truely ludicrous. Back on topic, could someone tell, or see from the parts layout if Revell plans to issue A-O version down the line... Thanks in advance Tom

Given what Tamiya representatives stated at last two Nurnberg Shows that their rejuvenated 32nd.scale linup is one of their biggest selling series since relaunch of 48th.scale series in the early ninties, I have no doubt that at Shizuoka will see another subject being announced. Regarding what subject will be kitted,given already produced toolings in due time one can expect following Spitfire Mk.I,Mk.Vb and Vb Trop,Mk.Vc, but to portray Mk.XIVc Tamiya would need to produce new fuselage and power egg. Mustang related one can expect P-51D VLR,P-51K,F-51D,F-6D and K and Mustang IV. Regarding totally new tolled kit I would place my bet on P-51B and C, German subject,so either Messerschmitt or Focke Wulf series. Given that Hasegawas ST 19 Fw 190D-9 was a huge seller would not be surprised to see before mentioned one off be made.

Hi ROM, thank you for your reply and posted pics. already ordered one. Cheers Tom

Hi ROM, welcome to the forum, just one question, I wanted to build Azur 152 fora long time but was discouraged by mostly negative comments/reviews, mainly stating that the kit was a dog to build. Your post is the first positive thing I heard about the kit, could you please shed more light. Great build Best regards Tom

I wont go into history of the plane itself, but many myths about Dora and its operational history were dispelled in the last five years. One of the myths is that the plane saw limited operational service, that is not true, without going into specifics one can easily obtain excellent works by Axel Urbanke and Jerry Crandall not to mention those published by JaPo and several German published JG histories that prove otherwise. As Dora saw widespread LW service, its colour shemes varied accordingly with other LW front line planes, not more not less. As for Tamiya kitting the plane. they already did in two scales and both proved to be huge sellers. As a former modelshop owner all Dora kits, from Trimaster to Hasegawas 32nd.scale offering outsold other Focke Wolfs at least three to one, if not more. In fact ST 19 outsold every other LW kit Hasegawa offered in what was than its rejuvenated 32nd. scale line, to repeat all other Gustavs and Antons. Dora frenzy repeated itself with late model first boxed by RoG, again huge seller, and today sought after by many. To sum it up, if there is one model that would sell outstandingly well given Tamiya treatment, Dora 9 would be it. Knowing full well that one could not capitalize further on from that tooling, but again I am more than sure that it would outsell everything else on offer today. Other plane that also has that difficult to explain appeal, and which flew of the shelves in Pend Oreille and Eduard guise is Hawker Tempest, which would in my opinion be huge seller as well. Regards Tom

After elaboration from Marcus, think we can expect three boxings, this one, P-51K/Mustang IV and P-51D Korean War featuring air to ground ordinance.

Thank you for the info, I am glad that Tamiya is taking into account all the details, and hope to see lot more from them in this series in the future.

I am not terribly excited by this release, because its ZM, in my opinion most overrated company to hit the market in years. After what was a very good beggining with Shinden, they produced toy like kit-the Ta 152 reversing every positive trend in model kit technology. I bought two of them, and while I understand that before mentioned words may seem harsh, these are 100 dollar kits that are in numerous ways inferior to Hasegawa decade year old offerings/toolings, and for the price Ta 152 should be compared to current Wingnut Wings and Tamiya standard. I had privilege of visiting Nurnberg Toy Fair this year, and meeting kind folks at ZM stand, I could see that they are commited to quality and accuracy, but with Ta 152 they have taken step backwards, between Tamiya and ZM, I choose Tamiya, but hope that ZM will in the future produce kits with comparable quality/price ratio, but seeing Skyraider pre pro, at least for now I am doubtful.

Also think that Tamiya will, at least in 1/32 scale issue only iconic/best known subjects, that is logical, but Tamiya is probably least logical kit manufacturer today. If one would use power of deduction and analogy than we could probably expect what was done when Tamiya decided to launch its 1/72 scale line, downsizing most iconic subjects from 48th.scale, but that may not be so. We live in times of large scale proliferation, now almost a decade long , but unlike other manufacturers these new kits offer far more, presenting new approach to buying and building model kits. For the first time after Zero one does not need to spend much on aftermarket nor ponder if some company will render this kits obsolete because they are simply top of the game. Taking all that into account think that Tamiya is starting/started with Spitfires a new line, not just isolated releases like Zero, but what it did with 1/48 and 72nd scales. As said numerous times earlier iconic subjects like rest of the Spitfire stable,Emils, F4Us are no brainers,especially those that Tamiya already kitted in others scales,but would not be surprised to see some totally new subjects like Hawker Tempest MK.V, P-40B/C maybe even late 109s and whole Fw A to D lineup. No mater what they release, looking foreward to it. P.S. Thanks everybody for a great forum, enjoying it very much.

If I remember correctly less than five months, but this wont be the case with this new tooling, one will probably be able to purchase it by late August from online retailers. It usually took less than three months for announced/displayed kits at Shizuoka to reach modellers. My bet is also on Mustangs, but which one remains to be seen, would not be surprised that instead od D we get B first, whatever Tamiya decided to grace us with, I am more than sure it will be outstanding. I hope that Tamiya will continue with their Spitfire line soon, as those are the kits that brought me back into modelling, and at least for me present benchmark to which all other kits are compared to, so another wishlist, Spitfire Mk.I/ both early and late options in one box/ Spitfire Mk.Vb Spitfire Mk.Vc Spitfire Mk.XIV early