Just found this over on the Fine scale MOdler web. Tamiya is planning on selling already built/painted kits. SAw a Tiger 1, Panther, PNZR 4, and a Stug III G. This is what sticks in my mind. Also have a bunch of cars and their big Bismarck. WADDA think of that sports fans, now we can buy the model already done and go compete in a show...yuk yuk. Who would win?

I have precious space left in my model cabinet to want to allocate it to something someone else has built. Think I'll stick to doing it the hard way!

Well, I must admit that I am currently 'working on' a Corgi M-106 that is pre-built, pre-assembled, pre-painted, pre-decaled and pre-weathered.

I decided to go ahead with this die-cast as it is in an odd scale, and would be quite different to have in my collection of mortars and mortar carriers.

Butt...It is NOT perfect...., and I doubt that the Tamiya (or anyone elses) offerings would be either. They most likely will not up to the standards of the individual model builders that we are.

You can choose to let it go 'as is' or you can further add some further enhancements to it. I chose to do the later, and altho the progress is slow (other things going on), I am having some good fun with this model. Unfortunately, there isn't a whole hell of a lot of extra that I can do to it, but I am taking some time to kick this model up a notch.

For some that just don't have the time or are all thumbs when it comes to the fiddley work that we do as model builders, die-casting is a great way to go. Not to mention the physically or mentally handicapped that just might enjoy this hobby also.

I've already seen some diecast kits show up at contests -- sometimes with new paint jobs and a bit of detailing added . Usually the judges spot them right off the bat and ignore tham when it comes time to pass out the medals. Most contests have a rule that entries must be the original work of the entrant, or some such wording. Most contests that I have been to, if some joker were to enter a pre-built, pre-painted model, they'd run him out of town on a rail, after properly tarring and feathering him.

If it's pre-built, pre -painted. pre-blah-blah woof-woof, it ain't a kit, it's a collectible. Buy it for show on the mantle, but don't pass it as a model. If you dis-assemble it , strip it and re-paint it, and super detail it, okay, it's your work. Otherwise, it's nothing more than a bigass matchbox.

How about creating a new category for pre-fab kits? A sub-category could include toys found in fast food kids meals. Years ago my daughter got a Star Trek Defiant along with her Junior Whopper with cheese. I wanted to nab it from her and repaint and detail it. Of course, her mother wouldn't let me. But that's another tale for another time (and subject.)

I can understand those without time or skills who want a scale replica of a favorite subject buying these up. But to try to pass them off as 'real' kits is just not right. I vote for the tar and feathering.

The dinner bell rang....

I do agree that these pre-builts should NOT be allowed in modeling competitions unless there is a seperate catagory specifically for them.

my local model shop stocks more of them than kits.Im sorry but to me they are expensive toys.

We had a guy who did this with die cast cars and would ask the judges not to handle them (Wonder why!) . The jig was up when he entered an Isetta with the front door open. It was brushed and sprang closed with a decidedly metallic "CLUNK!"

I guess I didn't make it clear enough. These are not die-casts, these are the kits you and I purchase and assemble. Tamiya is assembling and painting them at the factory. I saw pictures of them on the fine scale modler web under the ships section as someone was showing that they planned to do this with the 350 scale Bismarck. And trust me guys this stuff looks pretty good. I like mine better too and the joy I get out of construction.....