Surprisingly there is no information about this newly announced release on Tamiya web page - even on the Japanese one, but HobbyLink Japan already list it for 3500 yen, available in 12/2003. Tamiya item number is 35269.

Rgds,
Pawel

I would like to hear the opines of those at RCHTA in Chicago if Tamiya brought a prototype.

Unfortunately whatever they could show in Chicago can still be very different from final product. The same happened with M113A2 and M2A2ODS - something else was shown in Shizuoka and something else (much better btw) was actually released. So I would expect that they could just show their old M1A1 with minor modifications to make it look like A2, while a new model can be in fact (let's hope!) all new molding.
To make a correct M1A2 from their M1A1 they will have to provide a new turret top, as the old one had a old style commander's cupola molded as one part with it. So I think we will get old hull, old suspension with new tracks and old gun and turret bottom but new turret top with new commander's cupola and some additional fittings like CITV and APU.

Rgds,
Pawel

So cheap?

3500 Yen = around $30 USD so this tells me it's a plastic kit, not 1/16 R/C.

However, I rarely know of any new Tamiya modern kit that sells for under $30 USD retail. Even their Humvee has a price of $36 USD retail (although one can buy it for $20 overseas).

So, yes, maybe this is a M1A1 with a new sprue. Surely if it was a new tool or a kit with a lot of corrections, the price won't be 3500 Yen. Then again $1 USD = 117 Yen and not the usual $1 = 100 Yen. I wonder what the retail price would be since $1 USD = 117 Yen!

Okay, okay, just to clarify...

Maybe not CHEAP to some, but most Tamiya modern tank kits sell for $45-$70 USD retail.

* Type 90
* Type 90 with minerollers or ammo loaders
* Leopard 2A5 (still around $40 USD)
* T-72M1 with PE sold for close to $65 USD when new
* T-55 sold for close to $50 USD...it's still around $32-$35 online
* M1A1 sells for around $30 USD online

How much did the Tamiya Humvee sell from HLJ when new?

Not that I'm complaining about the cheap price, but this does make me suspicious. You get my drift....

[quote]So cheap?

3500 Yen = around $30 USD so this tells me it's a plastic kit, not 1/16 R/C.

[quote]
Actually, the kit number is 35269. The 35 in the code means 1/35 scale.
The rest of your logic appears sound...

Guys 3500 Yen is Japan price for their retail market. I've lived here for 2 years and enjoyed the lower cost of kits. trust me tamiya will recouperate the taxes and tariffs and raise the price considerably come the US release!!! a good example is the T55 2980 yen in Japan around $50 in the Hobby shop in my home town!!!! I suggest y'all order it from HLJ. STUG

Tamiya's T-55 on HLJ is less than $30 while T-55 + Friul tracks combo are $50... So the prospect of getting Japanese stuff from HLJ sounds really appealing. I recently ordered from them and I can assure you their service is outstanding and the kits are cheaper even with the S&H from the other part of the world than in most of the hobby stores.

Mario M.

I don't see Tamiya's need for a new M1. Not that I don't want one, just that I think it will be an older kit with new parts. Maybe on 'OIF version' or some such thing.

I have DML's Marine M1A1HA on the way and am looking forward to seeing it. At $15, it's worth it to me. Right now, I'd rather go with a DML or Trumpeter M1 than the more expensive and not really much better Tamiya's.

Though I do have a Tamiya M1A1 with mine plow 85% built and awaiting completion...

Steve

Steve,
When you get the Dragon one, let me know if the molding is a bit "flashy". My friend brought his to work today and it's the Shanghai Dragon. Just wasn't as clean a modling as I'd expect. I have the original DML with plough (as they call it) and I rather like it.

I feel the need to weigh in here. There are so many good things about the kits out there and so many bad things. If I had to build one from the several kits available, I would use Trumpeter's lower hull and suspension, Tamiya's upper hull, Tamiya's transom, DML's Turret, Tamiya's Mine plow, and various details from all the kits. Tamiya has some good detail on their pieces, but things are omitted like the non-skid texture. DML's has more accurate pieces, but the detail is a little fuzzy. I can't say anything for Trumpeter or Italeri, cuz I have neither. I have one model I am working on as we speak that will have a lot of white pieces on it before painting.

As far as pricing goes, Hobby Lobby usaully gets all the new kits eventually and if you wait for a half-price sale, which comes along every month, you can get your Tamiya like I did for $15. They even had the new Academy F/A-18 included in the sale which put it at $55 or so.

Rob

Correction: I made a mistake---the M1A2 will NOT be cheap at retail price. It will be cheap from HLJ, but probably not outside the Asian Rim.

What I meant was, the new M2A2 ODS at 2500 (2800?) Yen at HLJ = around $27 USD. For retail, it's mostly doubled so $44 USD retail for the M2A2 ODS, which compares well to the retool of the M2A2 non-ODS at $45 retail back that kit was released. The M113 ODS is around the same price as the M2A2 and M2A2 ODS so this compares with the price of a retooled/ added kit.

So 3500 Yen for the M1A2 = about $30 USD at HLJ = doubled for outside Asia = around $60 USD retail, which is about the same price as a 100% new Tamiya MBT kit (remember the Tamiya T-55 sold for $56 retail? One can get the Humvee for $19 from Asia; it's around $40 retail outside of Asia, again doubled).

If the M1A2 was a rebox, or added sprues, why not $44 to $52 retail like the M2A2 ODS? Correct me if I'm wrong, but I've never known Tamiya to add extra sprues to MBT kits (like DML) to upgrade them.

All I'm saying is that the M1A2 has the price of a new Tamiya MBT. It seems Tamiya prices accordingly and charges for all the work done on the (new) kit. Let's hope so, at least .

OK time for me to fess up. I got my M113A2 from my local shop (AAA Hobby Supply, Marietta GA) for under $30 minus another 10% IPMS discount. I like very much what I see in there...will make a great representation of a certain M113A2 use by a certain Scout platoon leader some time ago...heh, heh. Lemme finish the Trump M1A1 first!
BTW, when I got the kit (last week) AAA also had the new M2A2 ODS. IIRC, about 40 bucks. Don't know if it's still in stock, for those interested.
Trisaw, I'm with you...let's hoe it's new and up to big T's modern standards!

Several comments regarding this thread.... firstly, that I completely concur...we don't need another M1a1. General consensus is that the recent Italeri offering is one of the best on the market. Certainly its relation quality-price is second-to-none. I know nothing about the Trump kit so I would apreciate any info. or that particular kit...

Pricing. Currently the Humvee is retailing for 28 pounds in the U.K. ($40+) I haven't seen it in europe yet. but it is going to be damned expensive. Why is this? Unlike the pacific-rim, Tamiya (and the rest) do no not have one solo distributor...Therefore each one wants a percentage of the deal... Discounting? forget it. Here in Spain (and in many european countries) discounting of such items as DVDs, books etc. is expressly forbidden by law...and I have a nasty sneaking suspicion that plastic kits come into this category as well... So a price quoted in Yen may as well be quoted in Martian Gronks...

Therefore, the on-line retailers of HK and Japan are going to continue to get my credit-card details.

I am also old enough and cynical enough to imagine that this is primarily going to be a re-boxing exercise on the part of Tamiya-San. Then they will probably sell the mine-roller separately and some etched metal grilles, and some equipment packs and some ammo loads ad infinitum......Jeez, I should necome a soothsayer... #:-)

Lemme add in a couple comments about what I think about this:

I think the best bet for Tamiya to do is a Full blown M1A2SEP. The Italeri M1A2 is a pretty nice kit, but it lacks the updates for the M1A2SEP, which I believe are what the 4th ID is using in Iraq ATM. It lacks the AC unit for crew, underarmor APU and other small details. I was converting my Italeri in to an SEP verison, but stopped since Edward hasn't come out with PE set for yet.

If Tamiya does go the SEP route, its going to break down into an almost new model after everything is said and done. I've also been told that the roadwheel hubs have changed on the M1, and the Tamiya ones are from the prototype. I guess that goes to how anal u wanna be. #:-)

One picture of the new Tamiya M1A2 is already available:



New tracks are there, as is the new upper turret and all the stowage. One obvious thing seems to be missing: the APU in the turret basket We may still get it however in the final kit. Let's hope...

Rgds,
Pawel

new tracks too...no AC unit or underarmor APU. Though this can all change between now and December.

I agree with Scott's SEP opinion too. Since Tamiya is making the M2A2 ODS, why not stretch the M1A2 to the latest SEP configuration and have the kit last for a few years longer than a plain M1A2 kit at least?

We've seen what happens when Tamiya makes something already existing: Academy's Humvees and the Italeri Leopard 2A5. The Italeri Leopard 2A5 still has the Dutch parts and the A6 barrel whereas the Tamiya kit doesn't, so that adds value to the Italeri kit. Tamiya should at least try to make something different to add more "wealth" and a unique "coolness factor" to its kit instead of risking being branded an "ho-hum also ran" with Italeri's M1A2 or Trumpeter's...or some other upcoming competitor's. Uniqueness counts Big Time in the modern market.

The APU's underneath the hull fuel tank in SEP and no longer in the turret basket. The current problem is that the add-on kits to the M1A2 are just that: rare and added-on. The Urban Abrams is still prototype and about 50 of the anti-RPG vent slats were ever made (or something like that) so far with most going to the Strykers for deployment to Iraq. Still, Tamiya may wish to add these in since production may ramp up in the future; "nip the bud" when the plant's still growing. Of course Tamiya can always make these later in the way of accessory sets like their upcoming stowage set.

I do wish Tamiya would get the anti-skid coating though (a critical feature) and maybe some M4 carbines to glue on the hull roof. Also, don't the figures wear green Nomex "aviator" suits instead of BDUs? For the price, hopefully the main gun would elevate and the CITV and TC cupola would rotate.

I'm just glad that for once, Tamiya's really leaping ahead in the modern department instead of waiting for years. Now some modern 1/35 and 1/16 figures would be nice, along with a Dumvee :-). I also hope Tamiya doesn't forget NATO, the Russians, and the Brits.