Important information from Kotare for American & Australian customers regards Bf 109K-4

[Kagemusha]

Latest newsletter 9th May     "Hello from New Zealand,   K32009 Kotare 1/32 Messerschmitt Bf 109K-4 3rd test shot samples have arrived and look excellent. There are just a few very small areas that need to be perfected before release, and these will be sorted very soon. All going to plan it will begin shipping before the end of June.   Good and bad news for Australian customers. The bad news is that we have unfortunately had to cease our relationship with our Australian distributors. Therefore K32009 Kotare 1/32 Messerschmitt Bf 109K-4 will not be available in local Australian hobby shops anytime soon (until a new distributor is secured).   The good news is that you can easily order from www.kotare-models.com and have it shipped direct from New Zealand. So why not take advantage of our special pre-order rewards and order now to receive 32P005 Kotare 1/32 Bf 109K-4 3Dprint exhausts (value US$16.99) and an exclusive Darryl Legg box art, print suitable for framing, free of charge. Pre-orders can be placed right up to the release date and will be shipped to you immediately upon release.   Note that if you have any problems placing your order, please check out the Frequently Asked Questions on our website for suggested workarounds (https://www.kotare-models.com/page/frequently-asked-questions). Bonus special preview build videos of 2nd test shots by acclaimed Australian modeller Sam Dwyer including interviews with Kotare boss Mark Robson:   Part#1 le Cheers Richard   Richard Alexander General Manager richard@kotare-models.com www.kotare-models.com PRE-ORDER NOW AND RECEIVE SPECIAL REWARDS"

 

 

Newsletter 28th April,

 

"Hello from New Zealand,
 
K32009 Kotare 1/32 Messerschmitt Bf 109K-4 is still on schedule for release during the 2nd quarter of 2025 (soon)!       
 
Unfortunately, as a result of the current situation of tariffs being applied by the US Government to imports from China, it is extremely unlikely that K32009 Kotare 1/32 Messerschmitt Bf 109K-4 will be available from domestic American wholesalers and retailers in the foreseeable future.
 
So, if you want one (or more) your best option now is to pre-order direct from us and have your order shipped direct to you from our warehouse here in New Zealand.   
 
As an added bonus, all pre-orders K32009 Kotare 1/32 Bf 109K-4 placed through www.kotare-models.com will receive a beautiful (and highly collectible) Darryl Legg box art print suitable for framing and 32P005 Kotare 1/32 Bf 109K-4 3Dprint exhausts (value US$16.99) free of charge. Note that this free offer is available exclusively with pre-orders placed through www.kotare-models.com and only available while stocks last. Preliminary decal scheme profile artwork attached.
 
Note that if you have any problems placing your order, please check out the Frequently Asked Questions on our website for suggested workarounds.
 
https://www.kotare-models.com/page/frequently-asked-questions
 
Shipping expected during the 2nd quarter of 2025. Pre-order deposit payment in full (100% refund available on request up to the actual shipping date).

Cheers
Richard
 
Richard Alexander
General Manager
richard@kotare-models.com
www.kotare-models.com"

 

Needless to say, can we please keep politics out of any replies.

[Dave Williams]

Wonder if its a similar situation with the Spitfire Vb?

[Paul2660]

I have two on pre-order. I also assumed this issue would eventually show up. Looking forward to the kit. 
 

Paul

[Archimedes]

I have one on pre-order so have dodged that particular bullet this time.

 

Thanks for the heads-up however.

 

Kind regards,

Paul

[LSP_Kevin]

I'm more concerned about the impact this will have on Kotare's viability, if access to the US market is all-but denied them. Individual direct orders won't make up for bulk sales through the usual distribution channels. I seriously hope I'm seriously wrong with these concerns.

 

Kev

[CRAZY IVAN5]

Most definitely bad news. Unfortunately I'm not in a position to pre order a K-4 so I'm SOL . As bad as this is  for Kotare [and it is bad], I wonder if this will be the same thing for the likes of Trumpeter, Hobby Boss , GWH and Meng not to mention DBMK. I fear so.

[Zola25]

13 hours ago, Archimedes said:

I have one on pre-order so have dodged that particular bullet this time.

 

Thanks for the heads-up however.

 

Kind regards,

Paul

Will you not just have to pay the import tariff yourself when the package arrives at customs.

[Zola25]

2 hours ago, CRAZY IVAN5 said:

Most definitely bad news. Unfortunately I'm not in a position to pre order a K-4 so I'm SOL . As bad as this is  for Kotare [and it is bad], I wonder if this will be the same thing for the likes of Trumpeter, Hobby Boss , GWH and Meng not to mention DBMK. I fear so.

It will for sure - When the shipping containers arrive in the US, The importers will be asked to pay the massive tariff to have them released. If they still think they can sell the kits passing on the price increase to consumers they can do so (or absorb it themselves but who is likely to do that?), but more likely they will conclude as Kotare and not import anything at all to the US.. If this goes on for long, I unfortunately see some very hard times for model builders in the US

Edited April 29 by Zola25

[thierry laurent]

Finally this goes down to the actual number of LSP modellers in the US. Looking at the number of existing online resellers and aftermarket producers in the US, I have the feeling that number went down far more quickly than in Europe or Asia. Nonetheless this WILL have a bad impact on LSP producers for a basic reason: in a niche hobby, the customer base is always a worldwide one and cutting such a large part of it from the actual possibility to get products cannot be positive for the producers profitability.

[Dave Williams]

I think the hand wringing is a bit premature.  Things can, and probably will, change.

[Zola25]

I agree - but the tariffs don´t apply to LSP´s alone of course. The vast majority of plastic models are produced in China these days so If this has a big impact on the entire US modelling market it will hurt the entire hobby badly

[Tony T]

This is why I'm hoping the Red Pill F-4B Phantom kit is exported direct to the customer from its point of manufacture in Turkey, and not imported to the USA then re-exported to Europe. 

 

As for small new firms like DBMK and Kōtare, it is going to hurt them unless the subjects sell-baby-sell in Europe and Asia. Ironically, the 1:48 F-105s with the omega slide-moulded canopy parts might fare better than the Scimitar. 

 

The tariffs are slowing world trade and will hurt everyone. Normal service will doubtless return in time, but these economic bottlenecks are terribly good at culling fledgling enterprises. 

 

Tony

[Ali62]

Well I and others like me do not even know where this will all go. Already took a huge hit to customers in Europe, when Brexit first came into place, steadied a little now, but still lost many sales I believe. But what can we do, other than carry on, but not being funny if I loose out with sales to the U.S. it will have a severe impact on my little business.

Just have to wait and see if it hits small parcels sent direct on mail order or not. Would be glad to hear either way from customers in the U.S. when they get my orders or from others in the U.K. 

[Zola25]

50 minutes ago, Tony T said:

This is why I'm hoping the Red Pill F-4B Phantom kit is exported direct to the customer from its point of manufacture in Turkey, and not imported to the USA then re-exported to Europe. 

 

As for small new firms like DBMK and Kōtare, it is going to hurt them unless the subjects sell-baby-sell in Europe and Asia. Ironically, the 1:48 F-105s with the omega slide-moulded canopy parts might fare better than the Scimitar. 

 

The tariffs are slowing world trade and will hurt everyone. Normal service will doubtless return in time, but these economic bottlenecks are terribly good at culling fledgling enterprises. 

 

Tony

Tariffs are usually based purely on Place of Production so that would not impact in theory - Also the reason why US importers cannot bypass the current tariffs by sending Chinese goods via a 3rd country with lower tariffs first.

 

In any case it would not make sense to sell the Red Pill F-4 via the US only regardless of tariffs. I am guessing directly (I noticed from the Moson pictures that they shared a booth with Babibi Models) or eBay shop as well as Sprue Brothers of course

Edited April 29 by Zola25

[Tony T]

26 minutes ago, Zola25 said:

Tariffs are usually based purely on Place of Production so that would not impact in theory - Also the reason why US importers cannot bypass the current tariffs by sending Chinese goods via a 3rd country with lower tariffs first.

 

In any case it would not make sense to sell the Red Pill F-4 via the US only regardless of tariffs. I am guessing directly (I noticed from the Moson pictures that they shared a booth with Babibi Models) or eBay shop as well as Sprue Brothers of course

 

I hope so. I expect Babibi may sell direct from Turkey to people like me in Europe, attracting just 20% UK tax and a handling fee before I get my hands on it. 

Based on the whining about the panel lines being Italeriesque maybe we need only be concerned about the price of filler. 

 

Tony