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Armor/AFV: 48th Scale
1/48 scale discussion group hosted by Rob Gronovius
Hosted by Darren Baker
The Scandal of 1/48th scale Pricing ?
jimbrae
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Provincia de Lugo, Spain / España
Joined: April 23, 2003
KitMaker: 12,927 posts
Armorama: 9,486 posts
Posted: Sunday, May 18, 2008 - 12:16 AM UTC
Having got my first 1/48th scale model under my belt and having enjoyed the experience enormously, I also bought a few other bits and pieces to continue with.

I also, started looking around (out of curiosity) at how the prices compare to the (reasonable) prices I paid from Hong Kong. From HK, the price of a Tamiya kit varies from around 6 to 13 €uros. (1 €uro = $1.50).

However, I checked an on-line Spanish retailer and found this:

http://www.hobbiesguinea.com/default.php?cPath=152_133_715&osCsid=88ac4b3243e5a42ffd586ec94cc59e29

Now, I consider this company pretty good price-wise (unlike others I could name) and NOT one who price-gouges. On the other hand, it's more evidence of importers and distributors absolutely running amok ....
FuNsTeR
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Scotland, United Kingdom
Joined: October 19, 2005
KitMaker: 273 posts
Armorama: 243 posts
Posted: Sunday, May 18, 2008 - 12:28 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Having got my first 1/48th scale model under my belt and having enjoyed the experience enormously, I also bought a few other bits and pieces to continue with.

I also, started looking around (out of curiosity) at how the prices compare to the (reasonable) prices I paid from Hong Kong. From HK, the price of a Tamiya kit varies from around 6 to 13 €uros. (1 €uro = $1.50).

However, I checked an on-line Spanish retailer and found this:

http://www.hobbiesguinea.com/default.php?cPath=152_133_715&osCsid=88ac4b3243e5a42ffd586ec94cc59e29

Now, I consider this company pretty good price-wise (unlike others I could name) and NOT one who price-gouges. On the other hand, it's more evidence of importers and distributors absolutely running amok ....


jings 35 euros for a 1/48 scale panzer 4 ausf j thats nuts ... near enough double the price of modelhobbies.co.uk

http://www.modelhobbies.co.uk/shop/plastic-model-kits-military-model-kits-c-27_52.html?page=2&filter_id=60
Byrden
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Wien, Austria
Joined: July 12, 2005
KitMaker: 2,233 posts
Armorama: 2,221 posts
Posted: Sunday, May 18, 2008 - 12:36 AM UTC
I'm in Vienna... most of the Tamiya 1/48 tanks are available from Mueller, right on the high street, but the prices put me off. They're mostly 25 to 30 Euro.

David
Tojo72
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North Carolina, United States
Joined: June 06, 2006
KitMaker: 4,691 posts
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Posted: Sunday, May 18, 2008 - 01:16 AM UTC
In the US they are mostly available for $ 15-25 US,thats what makes them appealing here to me.
Tankleader
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Virginia, United States
Joined: April 29, 2003
KitMaker: 718 posts
Armorama: 684 posts
Posted: Sunday, May 18, 2008 - 01:19 AM UTC
This smells like the old supply and demand rule. Mark up what sells going out the doors at the moment. I've been to a few retailers that had so much plastic on their shelves that you could find the same kit with multipile prices. That's before he upgraded to a computer inventory.

Tanks
Andy
Tankleader
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Virginia, United States
Joined: April 29, 2003
KitMaker: 718 posts
Armorama: 684 posts
Posted: Sunday, May 18, 2008 - 01:21 AM UTC

Quoted Text

In the US they are mostly available for $ 15-25 US,thats what makes them appealing here to me.


They are fairly cheap, but I for one have only bought one since I don't want to rebuild my stash at a smaller scale...

Tanks
Andy
Sabot
Joined: December 18, 2001
KitMaker: 12,596 posts
Armorama: 9,071 posts
Posted: Sunday, May 18, 2008 - 02:34 AM UTC
At the local hobby shops they do tend to run in the 20 dollar range (plus or minus based on size of box). I bought the Tamiya Flakvierling 38 for a whopping $12.75 yesterday, not a lot of money. The highest prices I see for the Tamiya kits are at Hobby Lobby. They sell the M4, Tiger I and M10 for $29.99 each, but that store carries a weekly online coupon for 40% off any one item. Print out three coupons and you walk out the door with the kits for $18 a piece.
Phil_H
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New South Wales, Australia
Joined: November 10, 2005
KitMaker: 546 posts
Armorama: 442 posts
Posted: Sunday, May 18, 2008 - 03:03 AM UTC
One of the major hobby stores here in Sydney (Australia) is asking $42.95 AUD (or $41.00 USD) for many of the Tamiya 1/48 kits (eg. Panther, KT), though I have seen some elsewhere down to about $35.00 AUD ($33.40 USD).

pzcreations
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Georgia, United States
Joined: May 24, 2006
KitMaker: 2,106 posts
Armorama: 1,116 posts
Posted: Sunday, May 18, 2008 - 03:20 AM UTC
Ive considered building some of the 1/48 kits myself. But, when looking at their prices, compared to 1/35th theyre rather close in some cases. And, being the AM junkie I am, I also consider how much it will cost me to buy said AM set...mainly p/e or tracks, which both are even closer in price to their 1/35th examples,sometimes the same price!
Tojo72
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North Carolina, United States
Joined: June 06, 2006
KitMaker: 4,691 posts
Armorama: 3,509 posts
Posted: Sunday, May 18, 2008 - 05:51 AM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text

In the US they are mostly available for $ 15-25 US,thats what makes them appealing here to me.


They are fairly cheap, but I for one have only bought one since I don't want to rebuild my stash at a smaller scale...

Tanks
Andy


I here what your saying,there is no attraction if you have been building 1/35 all along,but for me 1/48 is what got me started in armor,I hadn't tried armor but the smaller scale helped me to try,now I build both !!
Drader
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Wales, United Kingdom
Joined: July 20, 2004
KitMaker: 3,791 posts
Armorama: 2,798 posts
Posted: Sunday, May 18, 2008 - 08:48 PM UTC
They were scarily expensive then they first came out in Britain, in the £15 - £19 range, which coupled with the metal lower hulls, put me off for quite a while. Then Tamiya's importer had a realignment of prices that dropped them by about 1/3 so it was a less of a highway robbery. Still not won over by the metal hulls though.

David
jimbrae
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Provincia de Lugo, Spain / España
Joined: April 23, 2003
KitMaker: 12,927 posts
Armorama: 9,486 posts
Posted: Sunday, May 18, 2008 - 09:15 PM UTC
I'm not exactly a conspiracy-theorist, but I really am beginning to wonder if the European importers would prefer to keep 48th scale prices deliberately high to keep people buying 1/35th scale However, even 1/35th scale is at a ludicrous price level here, so perhaps it's just paranoia...

I don't even know how the European distributors function. I get the feeling that there may be one company who imports into Europe and each individual country has it's own network of distributors - ensuring that each adds their own percentage... If anyone has any details on this, i'd love to hear them!


Quoted Text

They are fairly cheap, but I for one have only bought one since I don't want to rebuild my stash at a smaller scale...


I can understand that attitude - it took me a LONG while to buy my first 48th scale kits but I do see a lot of potential with the scale - not least of it for dioramas...
UncaBret
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Illinois, United States
Joined: May 11, 2008
KitMaker: 767 posts
Armorama: 672 posts
Posted: Monday, May 19, 2008 - 06:04 AM UTC

Quoted Text

The highest prices I see for the Tamiya kits are at Hobby Lobby. They sell the M4, Tiger I and M10 for $29.99 each, but that store carries a weekly online coupon for 40% off any one item. Print out three coupons and you walk out the door with the kits for $18 a piece.

Ours also has the GMC truck at that price. Seems they are 30% off this week. Even then, that
s still pretty good.
simoncheers
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England - South East, United Kingdom
Joined: July 03, 2006
KitMaker: 10 posts
Armorama: 10 posts
Posted: Monday, May 19, 2008 - 07:09 AM UTC
OK how is this is it cheap

Euro is about 1.25 to £1.00 and the $2 to £1

hannants

Tamiya TA32520 Military vehicle kits (injection) Catalogu 1:48 Panther Ausf.G £15.99

out side the EU take off 17.5%
FuNsTeR
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Scotland, United Kingdom
Joined: October 19, 2005
KitMaker: 273 posts
Armorama: 243 posts
Posted: Monday, May 19, 2008 - 08:49 AM UTC

Quoted Text

OK how is this is it cheap

Euro is about 1.25 to £1.00 and the $2 to £1

hannants

Tamiya TA32520 Military vehicle kits (injection) Catalogu 1:48 Panther Ausf.G £15.99

out side the EU take off 17.5%


i've stopped buying stuff from hannants .. way to slow and expensive compared to Model Hobbies.co.uk

Tamiya 1/48 Panther Ausf G £14.39 check the link below

http://www.modelhobbies.co.uk/shop/tamiya-german-panther-32520-p-6375.html
UncaBret
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Illinois, United States
Joined: May 11, 2008
KitMaker: 767 posts
Armorama: 672 posts
Posted: Tuesday, May 27, 2008 - 09:19 AM UTC

Quoted Text

At Hobby Lobby. They sell the M4, Tiger I and M10 for $29.99 each, but that store carries a weekly online coupon for 40% off any one item. Print out three coupons and you walk out the door with the kits for $18 a piece.


I picked up the M4 for $18 today. I might go back later for the M10 (I'm thinking of doing an Achilles conv.)
Sabot
Joined: December 18, 2001
KitMaker: 12,596 posts
Armorama: 9,071 posts
Posted: Wednesday, May 28, 2008 - 06:07 AM UTC
At that price, it's really hard to go wrong. Now the non-40% off coupon price is crazy, but with the discount, it is a reasonable price. Used the 40% off coupon to buy the Revell Millenium Falcon kit yesterday.
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