Reasonably priced here. They are the same price as a similar DML kit here and there are only a few DML Shermans up to the same level as these IMHO. All DML ones I have give you grief with transmission, Drive and backplate fit. plus frustrating instructions.
The fit of the Tascas is a joy after the frustration of a DML one. I would gladly pay $10-$20 more for a Tasca one to save me the frustration. I will say that even Tascas aren't perfect but the fixes are so easy (a weld line here and there being the usual fix) compared to a DML one. If DML hadn't taken shotcuts in their quaet to keep remodelling the original Italeri based kits we wouldn't have half the problems. If they had tooled up a precise lower hull like Tasca they would be a far better kit. Also I have never seen Tasca give you the wrong type of turret for a kit or only half the parts required to use the option of another turret (DML Composite). DML had four goes at getting the Firefly VC right and it STILL has pretty basic and frustrating errors. They did get the Hybrid 1c right third time around except for poor fit of Transmission, Final drives and hull rear.

The biggest problem I saw as far as Tasca/Asuka was that they had a poor limited distribution chain which seems to have been sorted here.

Al

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Reasonably priced here. They are the same price as a similar DML kit here and there are only a few DML Shermans up to the same level as these IMHO. All DML ones I have give you grief with transmission, Drive and backplate fit. plus frustrating instructions.
The fit of the Tascas is a joy after the frustration of a DML one. I would gladly pay $10-$20 more for a Tasca one to save me the frustration. I will say that even Tascas aren't perfect but the fixes are so easy (a weld line here and there being the usual fix) compared to a DML one. If DML hadn't taken shotcuts in their quaet to keep remodelling the original Italeri based kits we wouldn't have half the problems. If they had tooled up a precise lower hull like Tasca they would be a far better kit. Also I have never seen Tasca give you the wrong type of turret for a kit or only half the parts required to use the option of another turret (DML Composite). DML had four goes at getting the Firefly VC right and it STILL has pretty basic and frustrating errors. They did get the Hybrid 1c right third time around except for poor fit of Transmission, Final drives and hull rear.

The biggest problem I saw as far as Tasca/Asuka was that they had a poor limited distribution chain which seems to have been sorted here.

Al

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Both FORMATIONS and THE NEW TMD make replacement parts for the DRAGON AND ASUKA/TASCA Shermans. There are good reasons why they make these parts... These parts are all made to correct flaws AND to provide IMPROVED ACCURACY...

Look dude we get it, ok? Who died and made you king of everything.

Dennis: by saying that Formations and the New TMD make Sherman improvement parts for both DML and Asuka, you're citing THAT as a counter-argument to Al Bowie's post? That in your opinion, DML and Asuka are generally equal? Is that what you're saying?

I fully fall on Al's side of the argument and disagree with your posts that suggest Dragon Shermans are on par with Asuka ones.

Head to head, I don't know any Dragon Sherman that is equal to the similar Asuka release.

I've seen the DML M4--- it looks to be their best effort. Al says the new DML Firefly IC is good too -- I can't comment.

But it's their THIRD Firefly IC. Asuka's FIRST Firefly IC is a jewel.

I'm not slagging Dragon bluntly. They're a big company and push the envelope -- sometimes making poor choices (e.g Black Label). I give credit where credit is due-- they do some FANTASTIC kits (M7 Priest HMC, Tiger Is, M48A3, Stug III ausf G etc.). As a matter of fact, I'm enjoying working on the M7 immensely and applaud the DML engineer/designers. It's wonderful.

But the fact of the matter is their entire catalog of Sherman subjects includes many dogs, and only turned the cornerl recently. I can't think of a single Asuka/Tasca subject could be considered a dog.

Let's say that DML's M4, M4 (105) and Firefly IC are top of the line. Great -- but what do you do if you want a solid M4A1, M4A2 , M4A3 or M4A4? Asuka or Dragon? No one in good conscience should advise Dragon over Asuka -- at least not yet. And Asuka has a great Firefly IC and a forthcoming M4 (the original subject of this thread), too.

With this new announcement of Tamiya's kit 35346 being a new-tooled M4A3E8, that might be a cool alternative.

Plus, the business decisions of TheNewTMD and Formations to offer parts for Asuka Shermans is an acknowledgement that Asuka Shermans SELL great. No one is going to plunk down $35 to fix an old moldy DML M4A4 or M4A1 kit when they can get a fantastic Asuka one for $48.

That's very incorrect; Asuka sells tons of toys components besides models. Tasca's Pz IIL kits are the top of the line. Even before Tasca got bought out, their kit prices were the equivalent to a new DML release.

Why Tasca didn't do well, can only be speculation. They ventured into the 1/24 realm with 2 German and one US subject -- these failed miserably according to retailers. Heck, we don't even know that it WAS doing poorly. It may have been doing great and that's the reason Asuka acquired them.

Regardless, more kits are hitting the 1/35 market and that's the relevant point of discussion.

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That's very incorrect; Asuka sells tons of toys components besides models. Tasca's Pz IIL kits are the top of the line. Even before Tasca got bought out, their kit prices were the equivalent to a new DML release.

Why Tasca didn't do well, can only be speculation. They ventured into the 1/24 realm with 2 German and one US subject -- these failed miserably according to retailers. Heck, we don't even know that it WAS doing poorly. It may have been doing great and that's the reason Asuka acquired them.

Regardless, more kits are hitting the 1/35 market and that's the relevant point of discussion.

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Hey , I am correct. Don't be a-hole. Tasca failed because of bad management & high prices. A bunch of a holes in the company....either that or they "sold out" & took the $ because they knew they were hitting hard times because of bad management & high prices. Its not speculation...its how companies do business with each other. The guy who founded Tasca still gets $ for the name...other then that, he has nothing to with the company anymore.He took the $ & ran.Legally the new comapny (that sells tons of other products, you idiot) can sell the Tasca sprues anytime he wants now but he has to get he's $ back for buying Tasca .
That happens every day in business...a little guy starts a model business , resin....he does real good in the market. Big company comes along & see's that, offers him big bucks to buy him out...so the big company can have little guys market share & expand on it.
Same dam thing happened to TRISTAR...Trumpeter bought them out...
"Regardless, more kits are hitting the 1/35 market and that's the relevant point of discussion." - no it's not you idiot , the M4 is finally hitting the market, thats the main point.

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That's very incorrect; Asuka sells tons of toys components besides models. Tasca's Pz IIL kits are the top of the line. Even before Tasca got bought out, their kit prices were the equivalent to a new DML release.

Why Tasca didn't do well, can only be speculation. They ventured into the 1/24 realm with 2 German and one US subject -- these failed miserably according to retailers. Heck, we don't even know that it WAS doing poorly. It may have been doing great and that's the reason Asuka acquired them.

Regardless, more kits are hitting the 1/35 market and that's the relevant point of discussion.

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Hey , I am correct. Don't be a-hole. Tasca failed because of bad management & high prices. A bunch of a holes in the company....either that or they "sold out" & took the $ because they knew they were hitting hard times because of bad management & high prices. Its not speculation...its how companies do business with each other. The guy who founded Tasca still gets $ for the name...other then that, he has nothing to with the company anymore.He took the $ & ran.Legally the new comapny (that sells tons of other products, you idiot) can sell the Tasca sprues anytime he wants now but he has to get he's $ back for buying Tasca .
That happens every day in business...a little guy starts a model business , resin....he does real good in the market. Big company comes along & see's that, offers him big bucks to buy him out...so the big company can have little guys market share & expand on it.
Same dam thing happened to TRISTAR...Trumpeter bought them out...
"Regardless, more kits are hitting the 1/35 market and that's the relevant point of discussion." - no it's not you idiot , the M4 is finally hitting the market, thats the main point.

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That's very incorrect; Asuka sells tons of toys components besides models. Tasca's Pz IIL kits are the top of the line. Even before Tasca got bought out, their kit prices were the equivalent to a new DML release.

Why Tasca didn't do well, can only be speculation. They ventured into the 1/24 realm with 2 German and one US subject -- these failed miserably according to retailers. Heck, we don't even know that it WAS doing poorly. It may have been doing great and that's the reason Asuka acquired them.

Regardless, more kits are hitting the 1/35 market and that's the relevant point of discussion.

---

Hey , I am correct. Don't be a-hole. Tasca failed because of bad management & high prices. A bunch of a holes in the company....either that or they "sold out" & took the $ because they knew they were hitting hard times because of bad management & high prices. Its not speculation...its how companies do business with each other. The guy who founded Tasca still gets $ for the name...other then that, he has nothing to with the company anymore.He took the $ & ran.Legally the new comapny (that sells tons of other products, you idiot) can sell the Tasca sprues anytime he wants now but he has to get he's $ back for buying Tasca .
That happens every day in business...a little guy starts a model business , resin....he does real good in the market. Big company comes along & see's that, offers him big bucks to buy him out...so the big company can have little guys market share & expand on it.
Same dam thing happened to TRISTAR...Trumpeter bought them out...
"Regardless, more kits are hitting the 1/35 market and that's the relevant point of discussion." - no it's not you idiot , the M4 is finally hitting the market, thats the main point.

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Wow ...

..just Wow !

Tasca/Asuka Sherman's are leaps and bounds bettter than Dragon offerings in terms of accuracy, fit, fidelity, and detail. Comparing them side by side makes the Dragon kits look even worse.

The price of Tasca kits was the fault of their US distributer, Pacmodels.

History is the trip-wire for claymore mines which kill those who don't know it.

1) Tasca legally re-organized under the new name of Asuka. The same people work there now.

2) While their 1:24 scale kits were not big sellers in the U.S. and Canada, they did sell out of the Pz.II and KS 750 kits. They re-issued them a few months back.

3) It seems that this 1:24 road was not the correct road to take which led to a parting of the ways with their designer.

4) As some here have correctly said, they still own their molds. They supplied the EZ-8 and M4A1 kits to Tamiya and Eduard in bulk bags.

5) They have re-issued a good number of their kits which we are stocking whenever possible.

6) They are considering other new kits.



We took on the Tasca line after they dropped Dragon as their importer. Under Dragon, Tasca 1:35 kit prices ranged from $80-100+. We sell the vast majority of them for $61.95 with only the TRV being more. The German Luchs kits are under $50. We think that these prices are reasonable for what are the best armor kits on the market, second to none.

I hope that this helps clear up this subject.

Best Regards,

Ken Lawrence
Pacific Coast Models, Inc.

Now, if only they would do the M4 105 and the late M4A1 76, I would have the last T/A kits on the wish list.