Are the Tasca/Asuka Sherman series boxed by Tamiya on the shelves yet? And if they are, how do I know they are the Tasca/Asuka moldings, and not the much less good Tamiya moldings. Is it prominently marked on the box top?

As of now the only Tasca shermans that tamiya has in its boxes are M4A3E8 and Firefly aka Sherman VC, tamiya does not have its own molds of these types so you won't make a mistake buying those.

Cheers,
Greg

Yes they are available. I have the Easy Eight.
So far there are 2 Tasca Shermans released by Tamiya. M4A3E8 and Firefly VC

http://www.tamiya.com/english/products/25175/index.htm
http://www.tamiya.com/english/products/25174/index.htm

It is stated on Tamiya website and on the box as well, that tank is product of Asuka.

Tamiya isn't trying to fool anyone, biggles. Just order the appropriate kit numbers and you'll be satisfied.

As an aside, Asuka still seems to be releasing the Shermans too- my LHS just received the M4A1 direct vision with Asuka on the box.

Greetings,

Here are the facts about Asuka/Tasca. They still own all their molds. They sold these 2 kits plastic to Tamiya for re-boxing.

They are re-issuing various kits of theirs on a limited basis. We are ordering all kits as they become available. Thanks and

Best Regards,

Ken & Mary Ellen Lawrence
Pacific Coast Models, Inc. www.pacmodels.com
[email protected]

I wasn't suggesting that Tamiya was trying to fool anybody. I don't know where you got that from! Just wanted to know that if I wanted a Tasca/Asuka Sherman at less than Tasca/Asuka prices, which Tamiya Tasca/Asuka boxed Shermans to buy, and if it was clearly marked on the box. In the past, if Tamiya used an Italeri molding, for instance, the Italeri logo was also printed on the box cover.

I also have the new Tamiya Easy Eight. I looked on the box and there's no mention of Tasca/Asuka. There's one mention in the first three pages of the instructions. No markings on the models. But yes, the new Tamiya kits are reboxes of the Tascs/Asuka kits. But with figures.

The Tamiya boxes I have state on the box:
Vehicle, Commander Figure and photo-etched parts plus decals are a product of Asuka Model"

Ah. OK I see it now.

Thank-you!

Biggles2,
I got my "Easy Eight" from Hobby Link Japan and, even with shipping, it cost less than 1/2 of the MSRP here in the US. The yen is pretty weak right now and it's a good time to get products from Japan.

Jeff

Hey Biggles,

Hope this answers your question as to which ones are the Tasca/Asuka reboxes.

Kit Number 25174 British Sherman Firefly VC

Kit Number 25175 M4A3E8 Sherman "Easy Eight"

The nice thing about these reboxes is that they each come with a figure set and Nicer Tamiya Instuctions as well as being cheaper the the orginal Tasca release.

The Firefly comes with the commander figure from the orginal Tasca mold as well as theTamiya 5 Figure set 35223 British Infantry on Patrol.

The E8 kit comes with the 4 figures orginally released with 35251 M4A3 Sherman 105mm, and 35250 M4A3 75 Sherman 75mm.

I see HLJ now has them on back order so not sure how easy these are going to be able to get, sure you will see the price gougers on evil bay will start run the prices up.

The E8 was about $34.00 CDN same for the VC plus shipping. Much as I would like to support my LHS I very much doubt you will see these on the selves for less than $75.00 CDN. Thats even if they make it to Canada.

Regards,
Rod