Dragon's better.

Even though, I would buy this because I am a Model junky.

Sad part is, in a age when most manufactures are including metal barrels and P.E. as a standard in kits.Tamiya only offers as a separate kit. Tamiya prices are on the high side and should offer the same level of parts in a kit as other manufactures.

This is just a personal opinion, but I can't help thinking that surely kit sales world wide must of fell dramatically for Tamiya in the last decade or two. The reason I say this is that they only seem to offer two or three new items a year if we are lucky, taking into consideration the competition from Hobbyboss, Trumpeter, AFV , and of course Dragon etc they should be stepping up there game. Add to that the lack of etch , aluminium barrels, separate track links etc and their choice of new items and still keeping high prices how can they expect to survive in a very competitive market. In the 70s and 80s they were the bizz but now they are just average, yea we don't mind paying a bit for an unusual kit but another Panther, please. Come on Tamiya blow us away with something new and fantastic, like when I was a kid and you were the kings.

This is just a personal opinion, but I can't help thinking that surely kit sales world wide must of fell dramatically for Tamiya in the last decade or two. The reason I say this is that they only seem to offer two or three new items a year if we are lucky...

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This is just a personal opinion, but I can't help thinking that surely kit sales world wide must of fell dramatically for Tamiya in the last decade or two. The reason I say this is that they only seem to offer two or three new items a year if we are lucky, taking into consideration the competition from Hobbyboss, Trumpeter, AFV , and of course Dragon etc they should be stepping up there game. Add to that the lack of etch , aluminium barrels, separate track links etc and their choice of new items and still keeping high prices how can they expect to survive in a very competitive market. In the 70s and 80s they were the bizz but now they are just average, yea we don't mind paying a bit for an unusual kit but another Panther, please. Come on Tamiya blow us away with something new and fantastic, like when I was a kid and you were the kings.

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I think Tamiya kits as still the best, better engineered then all the kits coming out of china. True in the 70's they set the standard then, but compared to what they have produced in the last 20 years the seem like toys (which they were really). The kits from china are very good and Dragon has pushed the limit on their kits as far as detail and number of kits, but Tamiya is still the best in my opinion.

Seems my previous comments struck a nerve with some hardened Tamiya fans out there, I don't dispute the gains Tamiya have made in other fields namely RC and other kit scales to name a few, and yea I may be a bit biased as I have a particular niche namely 1/35 German and Russian. However I don't consider re boxing and re releasing older kits as new or quoting some kits that are 2 or three years old as recent. I was however making Comparisons to other manufacturers on there choice and release of subjects. It's just an opinion guys, relax lol.

It is incredible that a company in the 21st century does not include photoetched to the grids. I can accept that do not add to the supports of the tools , but not for basic things that define the model. Tamiya perhaps not interested in the international market, but even then you should not distribute them. Is always welcome a new kit , the sad part decals are the same again and again . I remember the Indian Head in P -47 kits. I do not think "well engieneered " means fewer parts or lack of detail . It means to me that is not a puzzle . Some Tamiya kits are not excellent , are the only ones . That makes " excellent " ?. I do not think so. Char bis kit is very good, but not without mistakes.
But if they were all very good, what would happen with accessories companies ?.
On the other hand , I would like to know the elf who decides which kit will be released ...
Regards from the south
Alvaro

Hi David,

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Even though, I would buy this because I am a Model junky.

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Same for me

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This is just a personal opinion, but I can't help thinking that surely kit sales world wide must of fell dramatically for Tamiya in the last decade or two. The reason I say this is that they only seem to offer two or three new items a year if we are lucky...

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Hunh? Tamiya has been releasing much more than 1 or 2 kits a year. Even discounting their 1/48 line and their re-issues of older kits with upgrades (like the Italeri Puma with PE and updated parts/sprues, their 37xxx series), Tamiya has issued these 1/35 kits recently:

Somua S-35
Gama Goat ambulance
IJA officers
Jagdpanzer IV L/70
British WW1 infantry
Toyota Phaeton Model AB staff car
2 sets of British Paras
Nashorn
Gama Goat
Type 10 JGSDF MBT
Tiran 5
BT-7
M1A2 SEP
T-55 Enigma
IDF M1 Sherman
IDF M51 Sherman
Simca car

Oh, and let's not forget the Mk IV WW1 British tank.


And people always react so strongly whenever their version of 1/35 Tamiya universe seems to be off. The fact is, the company issues MUCH more than 1/35 items. Their RC releases are staggering. They're seriously shaking things up in the aircraft realm, especially 1/32. They don't go toe-to-toe with DML or Trumpeter or Hobby Boss -- b/c they choose not to.

Seems my previous comments struck a nerve with some hardened Tamiya fans out there, I don't dispute the gains Tamiya have made in other fields namely RC and other kit scales to name a few, and yea I may be a bit biased as I have a particular niche namely 1/35 German and Russian. However I don't consider re boxing and re releasing older kits as new or quoting some kits that are 2 or three years old as recent. I was however making Comparisons to other manufacturers on there choice and release of subjects. It's just an opinion guys, relax lol.

It is incredible that a company in the 21st century does not include photoetched to the grids. I can accept that do not add to the supports of the tools , but not for basic things that define the model. Tamiya perhaps not interested in the international market, but even then you should not distribute them. Is always welcome a new kit , the sad part decals are the same again and again . I remember the Indian Head in P -47 kits. I do not think "well engieneered " means fewer parts or lack of detail . It means to me that is not a puzzle . Some Tamiya kits are not excellent , are the only ones . That makes " excellent " ?. I do not think so. Char bis kit is very good, but not without mistakes.
But if they were all very good, what would happen with accessories companies ?.
On the other hand , I would like to know the elf who decides which kit will be released ...
Regards from the south
Alvaro