Tamiya have released a number of their older kits with ABER photo etched frets and turned metal barrels. With the popularity that Tamiya AFV kits still hold with the modelling community this new approach makes a lot of sense to me, it will allow those who prefer Tamiya products due to their ease of construction to build a much more realistic model from the box and does away with the annoying seams on the two part plastic barrels normally included. Take a look inside to see what these models are and what Tamiya has said about them.

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If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!

I've been wondering for a while now why Tamiya hasn't followed the trend toward including a metal barrel and PE (at least for items where it clearly makes a difference). Looks like they got the message, so kudos to Tamiya for that. My only concern is the price ... well north of $100 when you factor in sales tax and shipping. Ouch.

I purchased and build their Stug III B last summer. It cost about $30 and had some PE and a truned barrell in it. But their new one cost $81 now, $51 more for just a little more PE. CRAZY!!!!

I also had some concerns about the prices indicated but as these are Manufacturers Suggested Retail Prices, I suspect the actual price will be lower as moving them otherwise could prove problematic.

Well, you are more optimistic then me. I'd imagine they will be more expensive, thats usually the case here in the UK.

These seem like a nice idea, but ultimately it seems to me the more serious modeller (who usually shells out for etch and metal barrels) is more likely to spend their cash on better Dragon kits. And the beginner or casual modeller who might buy Tamiya kits will be put off by the high price and complexity of the added etch. So in my opinion its not such a clever idea, but what the hell do I know. I'd like to know how well Tamiya did shifting their kits a few years back with the added eduard etch zimmerit, which were priced rather high....

Not too sure what the market is they are trying to target here?

$100+ for this kit will doubtless calculate to about £70 - £75 here in the UK when the importer uses their own self-serving "exchange rate" calculations to arrive at a UK retail price. The Tiger 1 for example is (now) a really old tooling and L O N G surpassed by the DML range of 1/35 Tigers but, by virtue of some etched metal and an aluminium barrel tossed in the box, it seems to now warrant such a premium price?

As 'Rob' above rightly identifies, anyone paying that kind of money is not going to be a 'casual' or new modeler and as such, will doubtless be aware of aftermarket sets and be able to source and put a similar or identical 'package' together for MUCH less than this. I mean, 1/35 AFV kits are going for absolute peanuts at the moment on eBay and there were some incredible 1/35 bargains recently at the IPMS Nats; so again I ask, who is expected to buy these packages?

On a final note, even if you pay out $100+/ £75.00 of your hard earned cash, you STILL have inaccurate and toy-like rubber tracks to deal with. Had they thrown in a set of Friuls, they might JUST have been worth the asking price.

Gary

Nice idea, and about time, however at those prices...I for one as a store owner, will not be stocking them at those prices.

Should any customer want to order one in....no problem, but as a regular stock item....too pricey for what you are getting IMHO!!

Im getting a bit excited for that Israeli Sherman, love the cast hull look.
but i have to agree with the rest of you, thats a pretty steep price for just a little bit of brass and a barrel...

Got to agree with what has already been said, I really can't see a market for this. I have always considered Tamiya kits as more for beginners or a quick build. I've really got to wonder who is going to pay £75 for an out dated kit with 1 fret of PE and a barrel. What makes it worse is you can get everything that is in these kits seperately for less. Not to mention you can buy a superior Dragon equivalent and some fruils for less than this.

If they were retailing around £35-£40 I could see a market for it but at £75 we are talking about serious modellers who I seriously doubt will give this a second glance.

Im not sure whats worse, this or their way overpriced jagdtiger

I agree with everything said here....you can buy the Tamiya kits w/o PE pretty cheap over here and if you buy the kit and PE separately you'd still be well below the $100.00+ price range.
I still am partial to Tamiya kits because of thier ease of construction...and for nostalgic reasons...they (Tamiya) were a big part of my youth. I still think the newest kits are some of most well engineered kits today.....don't worry though...these kits will soon be on sale...I got the Late Tiger with Metal barrel and Fruil tracks on sale for $40.00 a couple of years back. I think the MSRP was over $100.00 then also.


Jeff

Jeff, Tamiya's business model is to rely on the LHS networks. Out of three LHSs in my neck of the woods, all carry Tamiya, one carries 1/2 & 1/2 Tamiya and older DML kits (with a splash of Italeri) and one carries only Tamiya armor & at full list price. Tamiya clearly feels they don't have to try very hard, hence the slow output of new kits and the reliance on ancient ones that by all rights should sell for $5-$10 each.

Oh, I forgot, many of them DO sell for that on the Internet or at hobby shows....

For the person who's more comfortable buying domestically from their LHS, this kit allows them to "push the envelope" at little with some PE. They trust Tamiya that the PE will fit, won't be "too hard," etc. That consumer won't buy the kit on the Internet and get the Aber PE separately, it's not how they model. Which is OK, it's a hobby to be enjoyed however one sees fit.

But if you really want a great kit that can be built OOB, then get a Tasca Sherman.

Bill,
Unfortunately for me the nearest LHS is 35 miles in any direction and the nearest one has a HUGE markup on their kits. I buy primarily from online shops and eBay....I just (today) bought the Bronco 1/35 Staghound T17E1 Mk.1 on eBay for less than $30.00 including shipping. This is unheard of at a brick and morter store. I do buy all of my paints and tools at my LHS but they absolutely can't compete with Greatmodels, Lucymodel, Squadron and HLJ for prices. AND the online shops always have sales...my Local Hobby Shops don't. I know this a bit off topic but you have to get the best bang for your buck.
I recently got the ICM G4 from Hobby Terra for $29.00 + shipping. It is still cheaper than the base retail price at my LHS.

I have built a couple of Tasca kits and loved them....I will have to try one of the Shermans. DML/Cyber Hobby uses the Tasca kits in their Kuebelwagen Ambulance and Cold weather starter kits...I have both and they are excellent.

As for Tamiya...I recently bought the Finnish Stug III and the BT 42 and they are both fantastic, easy to build kits. I am comfortable with the newer Tamiya kitsand enjoy building them inbetween some of the more difficult DML and Bronco kits with a bunch of PE.

Jeff

Its the same here in ol NZ .. the prices for Tamiya kits have gone bonkers and i can't justify spending $110.00 on what is a very old model .not long ago Tamiya rereleased the 88 with crew and in the desert ...then they more than double the price of the old one ..its the same kit! and here cost very near the $100 mark .Dragon have theirs and its by far a much better kit and cheaper ..it don't take a rocket sciencetist to know which kit i got .here's one thing which i can't figure out ,,don't the model companies know that us serious armour modelers know all about upgrades and AM sets for our models ? ,,,seems to me they don;t or Tamiya wouldn't be asking such stupid prices for their kits and then the sellers adding their bits ..they gonna loose customers like that not gain.

Phill

I have been wrestling with this one,the special kit is available in the US for $66.00,and I know that the original kit #35216 can be had for $30.00-$40.00.I also know that Aber barrel can't be had for less then $23.00,I don't know what that PE set goes for on it's own.So the prices adds up,I probably couldn't beat it by getting the parts seperatly.For the Tamiya kit kit,though I would probably need to add AM tracks also instead of those vinyl jobs.

But are their any other Early Gray Tigers with the Feifel filters available from Dragon ? doesn't seem like it to me.I know they have that gray+white Leningrad Tiger,but no filters,just my prefrence but it just looks too bare,I like the look of the filters on the back deck.