Just spotted this on Tamiya America:

http://www.tamiyausa.com/product/item.php?product-id=30608

Unfortunately, it doesn't mention which variant it is.
Didn't Tamiya make one of these many, many years ago ?
Looks very interesting though.
Cheers

jjumbo

Hi John
I'm sure it's a MK 5

My faint memory - I made one of these about 25 years ago - is that it's nearer to a Mk.2 or 3. The stand-out feature is that it has a box fairing on the bow, instead of the curved bow that's so characteristic of Chieftains. Never did find out why.

This has been in the shops in the UK for at least 3 weeks, I didn't take much notice as I believed it was just a larger version of the 1/35th scale model. I will take a closer look when in the shop this week.

Approach with caution! Looks like it is the old kit I remember from early-70s catalogues.

Tamiya modelled the prototype which had a box fitted to disguise the angle and shape of the glacis and IIRC the kit has the split commander's hatch of the Mark I which was only used for familiarisation.

It'll take a lot of work to get to resemble a service Chieftain......

David

Hi All,
It was copied by Bluebox.
I had that version of the kit in 1/25th- its Prototype No4 with an Ally Box fixed to the front to make it look like a conqueror.
Its an awful kit, the fit is dire and the tracks are flimsey.

Matt

The tracks are pre assembled in the box and that should aleviate some breakage woes.
It is indeed No4 (Prototype) seen running around the RAC centre/Bovington roads on reliability trials.

As a young graduating JLR. RAC. early 1966 we saw her night and day. The Centurion crews took great delight in beating the pants off of them (trials Chieftains) on cross country trials.

Nothing inside the box is different to the original, unless the decals have changed? My memory fails me (a senior moment) on the decals front!

Certainly not worth a whopping $188.00 unless your wallet is overflowing.

Keith.

There is a radio controlled version, doubt this one is. Besides that, it's the same kit, give or take a new control piece.

http://www.tamiya.com/japan/products/56603chieftain/index.htm

If anyone is in this unfortunate situation, rather than encouraging them to carry on knocking out duff kits, you can send me a cheque made out to the Campaign Against Social Hardship. If that's too long, just use the initials.

As I understand it, this is a "commemorative" re-release of the original kit from the '70s. I had it back then, it was fun to build, I didn't have much of a problem with the tracks, or indeed anything but the gun barrel, which was multi-piece and tended to have a nasty droop. 188 bucks? No way is it worth that! Folks complain about Dragon's prices, 188 dollars for an ancient model is far far worse IMHO.

John

They definitely made one back in the 70's, as the other posts mention. It's a dreadfully inaccurate kit and it is obviously not worth $188.00! But we shall see if Tamiya can release yet another vintage kit at a high price. Whatever those Tamiya fans are on, I want some!

But that is MSRP (duh) and it is discontinued too. (duh)