Question about Tamiya purchases from Asia

[ivanmoe]

I've run into an interesting experience when purchasing Tamiya models directly from Asia (as opposed to buying them from USA sellers).

 

Basically, they are arriving without the benefit of shrink-wrap.

 

Last three Tamiya models that came from over there, Spitfire, Corsair and P-51 were all taped closed, two from JPN and one from HK.

 

This is in contrast to those that I purchase from hobby shops in the USA or Canada, which are ALWAYS wrapped.

 

Does this jive with the experience of others? Is there cause to be concerned about the contents?

[LSP_Kevin]

Shrinkwrapping generally happens at the retailer or distributor level. Very few manufacturers do it out of the factory. I can't remember the last time I purchased a new kit and it came shrinkwrapped.

 

Kev

[Dave Williams]

Yes, what you see is normal.  Model kits in Asia are rarely shrink wrapped.  The Asian kits you buy over here are usually shrink wrapped by the distributor or someone else.

[ade rowlands]

I think the last shrink wrapped kit I got here in the UK was an Airfix kit in the late 80’s when the built kit was the box top box art. None of the stuff from any of the manufacturers I’ve sourced from abroad has been shrink wrapped. 

[ivanmoe]

13 minutes ago, ade rowlands said:

I think the last shrink wrapped kit I got here in the UK was an Airfix kit in the late 80’s when the built kit was the box top box art. None of the stuff from any of the manufacturers I’ve sourced from abroad has been shrink wrapped. 

 

Ade, it must be the USA distributor that does the wrapping, as I've got Tamiya kits stacked up darn near to the ceiling. Every one of the domestic purchases is shrink-wrapped. Perhaps half of them came from Sprue Brothers, some more were purchased from Tamiya USA, and the rest arrived from all over creation.

Edited September 15, 2021 by ivanmoe

[easixpedro]

Lived on the Kanto Plain (around Tokyo) for 5 years and during all my visits to Akihabara, I never saw a kit that was shrink wrapped. As the others have said,  its probably a distributor thing. There's very little crime in Japan--maybe it's intended as a deterrent here in the states?

[Aerobat]

    I cherished the opportunities to shop in Japan in my younger years. I extensively looked around the shops Nagoya, Osaka and Tokyo and never saw a Japanese kit in shrink wrap. I can't even remember any that were. I was around before it was "a thing" in North America way back when ...... even though it seems like yesterday.

[Daywalker]

Funny this topic came up today! I received a Tamiya A6M2 today from a seller in Asia and I was initially surprised it wasn't shrinkwrapped. At least now I know it is a normal thing.

[Out2gtcha]

Japan and it's hobby stores as well as historical sites are definitely on my bucket list.

[LSP_Mike]

Most modellers I've met have a broad, sweeping interest in history, and could find something of historical value almost anywhere.

[easixpedro]

11 hours ago, Out2gtcha said:

Japan and it's hobby stores as well as historical sites are definitely on my bucket list.

Go!  It's awesome! An amazing country and I miss it. Go to Tokyo, see the sights and take the bullet train (Shinkansen) to Kyoto--it's a world heritage site/city. We didn't bomb it during the war as Stimson knew the historical significance. Mind blowing to walk through century old buildings and shrines. Hiroshima is also a must for the obvious reasons. back in Tokyo you can easily spend a day in Akihabara and only scratch the surface.  Some of the best shops are mom and pop stores tucked away in the alleyways. I found a box of bagged Hasegawa A-7 kits and think I paid about $15 for 5 of 'em...  Good times! Bottom line--so much to see and do. We lived there twice and still didn't get to see everything we wanted to.

[BloorwestSiR]

Very few Japanese kits (if any) are shrink wrapped initially. You can open the kit in the store and admire/inspect the contents before you buy them. It's one reason they'll do those nicely printed inner boxes or blister packs for some parts. The presentation of the contents is an important selling tool. 

 

And if you can, it's definitely worth a visit to check out the spots mentioned above. Same with Mong Kok in Hong Kong. 

 

Carl

 

 

[Radub]

I have been to Japan a few times and I spent a good bit of time around model shops. I also went to the Shizuoka show a few times and there are a few vendors there who sell second-hand and rare kits. Some kits are shrink-wrapped, some are not and it all seems to be random. These appear to be wrapped by the store or maybe by the distributor. Have a look at these photos I took a few years ago: Some kits such as Airfix and Special Hobby kits are shrink-wrapped even though they are not wrapped in that manner in Europe, which tends to indicate that the wrapping was done in Japan. 

 

B's Hobby in Kyoto: 

 

 

 

 

Leonardo LG in Akihabara, Tokyo (second-hand shop) 

 

 

Leonardo ET in Akihabara (second-hand shop) 

 

Leonardo G in Akihabara Tokyo (second hand shop) 

 

 

Tam Tam in Akihabara Tokyo 

 

 

Yodobashi Akiba in Akihabara Tokyo 

 

 

Tamiya Plamodel Factory in Tokyo 

 

 

Volks (Zoukei Mura) when it was in the Radio Kaikan building in Akihabara Tokyo (they got their own building now, around the corner) 

 

 

Volks (Zoukei Mura) Hobby Square in Kyoto (also headquarters of the company) 

 

 

But my favourite place to spend money is the Shosen Book Tower in Ochanomizu. The books tens to be in sealed plastic bags. 

 

 

I have more photos from Yellow Submarine and the Volks Hobby Square in Osaka, but they are on an older phone. 

I love Japan and I miss going there. If you can travel, go there. Also, it is cheaper than you expect. For example, travelling to the US has always been much more expensive for me than travelling to Japan.

HTH 

Radu 

 

[Out2gtcha]

Wow, its like showing pictures of the worlds best candy stores to a chunky candy addicted kid.

[BloorwestSiR]

23 minutes ago, Radub said:

Also, it is cheaper than you expect. For example, travelling to the US has always been much more expensive for me than travelling to Japan.

 

That's especially true now.  I saw a couple airlines offering round trip tickets from Toronto to Tokyo for under $600 CAD. The only issue is you can't get into Japan at the moment due to Covid travel restrictions or I'd be all over it. 

 

Carl