they know they cannot compete with dragon on the same level.

I agree, great choice but Dragon is also releasing a reworked Premium Edition IS-2 very soon as well and this will be the first head-to-head kit release from these two manufacturers in a very long time.

According to the announcement here, and apparently confirmed here, Tamiya will soon be gracing us with a new-tool IS-2!

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According to the announcement here, and apparently confirmed here, Tamiya will soon be gracing us with a new-tool IS-2!

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Well, let me just clarify something here - Pat's source for the news story was the OFFICIAL Tamiya site. There wasn't any speculation on his part. Nor, and please forgive me for splitting-hairs here, but the personal thoughts added by Pat turn it into a News Story, not just a simple press-statement or announcement.
Chicken and Egg i'm afraid - Pat checks the source and then writes the story..

Tamiya may release Italery/Zvezda vesrion just as they did with Autobila armored cars

yeah!!!

I think tamiya are moving in the right direction with some of their releases, they know they cannot compete with dragon on the same level.

Russian Heavy Tank JS-2 Model - 1944 ChKZ
Item #35289 (COMING SOON)

About the JS-2
Designed as a breakthrough tank with armor that could withstand the fearsome German 88mm gun and an armament that could take on the Tiger and Panther tanks, the JS-2 (named after Joseph Stalin, IS-2 Iosif Stalin in the original Russian) entered service in 1944. Armed with a massive A-19 122mm main gun and up to 120mm of armor in vital areas, the JS-2 was a very formidable weapon that was better in every way than its predecessor, the KV-1. The Model 1944 is easily distinguished by its unique muzzle brake and sloped front glacis armor.

About the Model
# 1/35 scale assembly model kit of the Russian Heavy Tank JS-2 Model 1944 ChKZ.
# Powerful form of the heavy tank is accurately reproduced.
# Thorough research have resulted in precise reproductions of the muzzle brake, sloped front glacis, and other parts unique to the Model 1944.
# Photo-etched parts included to depict engine intake grille for added detail.
# Both belt-type and assembly-type tracks included to provide more build options for modelers.
# 1 commander figure and 1 loader torso figure included.
# The perfect addition to a display of Tamiya 1/35 scale Russian tanks or line it up against some of Tamiya's 1/35 scale German AFVs.

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Tamiya may release Italery/Zvezda vesrion just as they did with Autobila armored cars

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Tamiya reboxes Italeri (for its home market principally) but has NEVER reboxed any Italeri/Zvezda AFVs. This is a completely new moulding...

It disappoints me that Tamiya has never released any tank in 1/35 scale with interiors.

Tamiya is always overpriced compared to the others -and no extra goodies provided. (The quality is not that great, either. Just compare the surface of the "Smart" Panter, and the Tamiya Panther... ) And they too issued kits from the distant past for more than DML gives their brand-new stuff. (I can buy the 88/37 cheaper, than the Tamiya one at the LHS... The Tamiya and DML Marder IIIH cost the same. Their KV-1, KV-2 are more expensive than Trumpeter's. It's really a no-brainer, which ones I'll get, is it?)

What world do you live in? Tamiya kits are generally more accurate than DML kits and assemble a whole lot easier than DML's kits. IMHO DML over complicates there kits and most of the time they suffer from fit problems......I will buy a Tamilya JS-II the DML one had scale issues....

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What world do you live in? Tamiya kits are generally more accurate than DML kits and assemble a whole lot easier than DML's kits. IMHO DML over complicates there kits and most of the time they suffer from fit problems......I will buy a Tamilya JS-II the DML one had scale issues....

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What world? Well, I guess I'm but a humble, unworthy being, am I? Overcomplicates? Why not take a look at their pnz IVs? I had the pleasure to build a Tamiya and DML one at the same time -the difference is astounding. Fit problems... Well, I have yet to get out the putty in a DML kit (except for the shield of their 1/72 Hummel). And don't even get me on accuracy. Let's just forget about the IVs, the Tigers, and others, shall we? Do you want to build an accurate Tamiya Tiger? Need the base kit -35 dollars (just like the DML). Need indi tracks (anything from 8-34), PE (at least grills - 10-40), accurate turret (I have no idea, but not cheap), and metal barrel (12). I'd rather take the DML kit for fraction of the price. Tamiya kits have as many inaccuracies as DML ones, and if we're so honest with each other, I'm not anal about having 2 rivets more on a tank. (Please do tell me how accurate the Tamiya T-34 line is...) And how about the missing details? The surface texturing, the small items, and so on? I already mentioned the Panther... ICM made better job simulating rolled steel. Tamiya has mirror-smooth surface. You can build a Tamiya T-34 or Hanomag in 4 hours (I did); try doing it with a DML or AFV Club kit.
You can't dispute these things. There are approx 4 kits everybody's bringing up as an example of how good Tamiya is (Char Bis, Marder IIIM, Hetzer, UE), and how about all the reissued, inaccurate piles of plastic -many of them still having the ugly ghosts of their motorized pasts- that go for more than the brand new kits from other manufacturers? You can worship Tamiya all you want, but please don't try to tell me I'm living in a different world just because I prefer spending less to get more.