While I was in Japan over the summer, I went to buy some models. One of the stores I went to sold second hand models. These models have everything in them, accept they are used. At that shop I came across what seemed like a older model. (The white on the box was yellowing) This model was made the companies Italaerei and Tomy. I can see how Italaerei made this because it is a model manufacturer, but i cant see why the toy company Tomy helped make this kit. I searched the internet for this kit, but I couldn't find any information on the kit. Maybe this is due to the fact that this model seems like it was only released in Japan and that this kit is old ( yellowing decals, yellowing box, yellowing instructions, and over sized heads on the figures).
If you have any information on this kit, please tell me. Thanks!

Telling us what kit it is would be helpful ...

Frenchy

Which kit was it?
If we have more information, we can search the net for information.

greetings...
Soeren

Oh no! I'm so sorry I got caught up in the heat and forgot to type that.
The box says:
GERMAN ARMY SELF PROPELLED GUN, USING SAME BODY AS 38(t)TANK
PANZERJAGER38(t)MARDERIII

Sorry about the mishaps!

Oh wait under it in Japanese it says(Translation): Tomy Fighting Vehicle Series NO.9 Germany Marder 3 Self propelled gun
includes 2 figures

Maybe Tomy helped with their distribution network in Japan .... much like Tamiya re-box Italeris kits today and sell them under the Tamiya name? Just a guess.

It's a sure thing that the kit is the old Italerei Marder III with a box that included Tomy, their Japanese importer. After Tomy, Tamiya took over and reboxed Italeri stuff: Hetzer, Marder III, Puma, Pz 38(t), Horch Kfz15 (I think). There were some more too.

I recall seeing one of these Italeri Pumas in the Tamiya box show up on eBay and people were scrambling to buy it -- they must have thought it was a new-tooled kit by Tamiya. Imagine the surprise of the auction winner when he opened up the box and the Italeri symbol on the sprues stared out at him from the box! D'oh!

Hi. I just joined this site. I found it while trying to find out about the Tamiya Italieri crossovers. I get my kits these days off of ebay. Having collected and built kits for the last 50 years I am familiar with most everything released in the US between 1960 and 1980, and I''ve been catching up on the post 1980s over the last 10 years. (Nearly every conversion I scratchbuilt in the 70's is now available as a kit, M3A3, T19 etc.) This week I have seen my first listings for Italieri kits in Tamiya boxes, the M7 Priest and the M4A2 76mm Russian version. Both were clear in the description that the vehicle was from Italieri, in the Sherman's case included the Russian tank crew from Tamiya.The amazing part is the price, over 60.00 each.As I have dozens of both I won't have to go there. The release of the Revell M4 from the seventies definitely decreased the older kits ability to go above 50.00 but the high price of these new releases might actually enhance the desirability of the older releases of the same kits. I frequently get Ialieri Shermans for less than 10.00.I am unaware of a n Italieri release of an M4A2 76mm here, but parts from their M4A2 USMC 75mm and the M4A1 would give what you would need. Did anybody else notice the bottom fall out on kit prices in 2008? Since then I have picked up many kits for a fourth or third of what they went for in 2007. I buy as much as I can afford.I had no idea a site like this existed. Nice to be here. Thanks, M7

It may have to do with the quality of kits that have been released since 2007. Those older kits show their age when compared to modern standards. Personally Id rather have one new Dragon or Tasca Sherman than 3 or 4 Italeri or Tamiya Shermans. The builds are more involved, but the standard of details is miles higher. Quality over quantity I say.

The RSO was another that doubled in price in a Tamiya box.

No argument the quality of kit has improved vastly in the last 20 years. I also have many Dragon, Trumpeter, etc. because they too are coming available on ebay at a reasonable price. Can't say that for Tasca so I've yet to get my first of those. I have an affection for the older kits as they are tied to my younger years. The Airfix B-17 leaves a a lot to be desired compared to an Academy kit but the Airfix was my first and I will always love it and want an unbuilt one on my shelf. All the monogram 1/32 Armor I bought as it was released and built multiples at the time. They take more work to make an impressive model, you have to scratchbuild interiors and correct deficiencys, add brass weapons and so on but that it a part of the process you had to do before kits that had everything and photo etch and resin aftermarket and so forth. The Nichimo M4A1 is a good example. I never found more than 2 in the 1970's. Built straight out of the box it is an atrocious kit, but it was so beautiful because no other early Sherman was available in 1/35 that the fact you had to replace the suspension and tracks to begin a decent model was of little consequence. People still pay 40.00 and up for that kit which went for 25.00 on release. Most of my Italieri kits are for parts crossovers , recombining into different varients etc.The example of the Actual Sherman is quantity over quality, the other way lost the war. And it has been said quantity is a quality all its own. It is nice to hear Tasca is worth the price, at some point I'd like to have one. Or Dragons DV Sherman but I have three resin DV hulls that I got for about 5.00 each and all the other parts I need to construct that version into a model that is truly one of a kind.Thanks for your input. M7

The Italeri M4A2 76mm USSR has been released in their own boxing at an equally ridiculous price here (I can buy a DML USSR M4A2 76 cheaper in the same store). It is only partly an M4A2 as they don't give you the rear lower plate for an M4A2 just like the Wading Sherman they did. You get an M4A3 lower with other parts in the box for M4/M4A1 lower hull rears.
Not a kit to be recommended.
As for the Tomy Rebox it is due to Japans protective and restrictive import laws where the kits have to be sold through a local supplier. Italeri supplied to Tomy in the Seventies and later (or possibly the same time) Tamiya. I have few Tomy Italeri reboxings for the Crusader.
Cheers
Al

Hi Michael. This is very true .... but I have kits a plenty .... and the thing I lack most ... is time. When I have some free time, I want the best kit available as the starter. Often it works out cheaper as well .... when all the upgrades are sourced ... the difference in price, more or less, dissapears ... or even goes negative.
Ive built a few Italeri Sherman-based kits (M4A1, M7, M32) and one thing I hate more than anything, is their tracks. These are binned immediately.

I hear what you are saying and agree. Not having built a dragon or AFV club kit yet with many on the shelf,they are next on my construction list, when I can budget the time. And Amen to the tracks. I have bought many Tamiya 222 Shermans just to get the tracks with grousers. Not the best in the world but way better than the italiari. I've never finished one with the original tracks, they are better cut up for add on armor.And I buy aftermarket sets when the person selling them is not invested in getting back what he paid.Usually the second owner is more reasonable.
I haven't built the M4A2 yet, purchasing them primarily because they have so many extra parts. Hard to pass up at less than 10.00. So I hadn't got to the part where I would recognize the incorrect rear hull for a diesel engine.thanks for the info. I do have a ton of diesel parts from my extra Tamiya M3 Lees...

As a kit collector, I find this interesting. I know Tomy took over the old Peerless /Max molds in the seventies(before Italeri?), didn't realize they also distrubuted Italeri molds as well. I have several Tomy Chevy 15 cwt's, Chevy gun tractors, etc. They are made in a stiff ,garish jade green styrene. I am not surprised a "toy" company like Tomy does this, remember Bandai also does both toys and models (as well as movies). Very cool..wouldn't mind seeing a pic of the box. I have the old "Italaeri" Marder III as well but in the European boxing. I wonder any other Armorama peeps seen other wierd boxings? I have an ancient Tamiya/CMK boxing of a panzer IV w/ schmall turret.