Yesterday at Tamiya World here in Osaka, Mr. Tamiya gave us some insight on what’s to come in the world of 1/48 armor models. He said that by the end of 2005, Tamiya will release at least 20 new 1/48 AFV kits. He didn’t go into specifics, but he did say a Sherman would certainly be amongst the 20 kits released.
He also went on to say that Tamiya will be focusing more on 1/48 armor in order to bring higher quality kits at a lower price to modelers around the world. Evidently the costs of creating new molds in 1/35 are starting to be cost-prohibitive, hence the steadily rising prices we’ve been experiencing.
This must be even more great news for modelers who have been yearning for great 1/48 AFV kits, but what of the 1/35 fans?
Well, I guess we still have Dragon…maybe even Trumpeter!
So, what’s the general consensus on this, folks? Happy? Sad? Don’t care?
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More 1/48 Tamiya AFV news
Shado1
Joined: July 24, 2003
KitMaker: 211 posts
Armorama: 133 posts
Posted: Sunday, September 12, 2004 - 06:27 PM UTC
MrMox
Joined: July 18, 2003
KitMaker: 3,377 posts
Armorama: 1,088 posts
Posted: Sunday, September 12, 2004 - 06:32 PM UTC
Well, for the time being my choice of scale goes up - like in 1:16 - not down ....
But one day I might run out of room and convert to 1:48.
I have more or less skipped Tamiya as my main supplier anyway due to the lack of interesting news..
But one day I might run out of room and convert to 1:48.
I have more or less skipped Tamiya as my main supplier anyway due to the lack of interesting news..
ukgeoff
Joined: May 03, 2002
KitMaker: 1,007 posts
Armorama: 703 posts
Posted: Sunday, September 12, 2004 - 06:41 PM UTC
That is great news! As someone who has had a keen interest in 1/48 armour, having a major manufacturer like Tamiya enter the field is a dream come true. While the old Bandai kits are, for the most part ok, they are getting hard to find and then they tend to command collectors prices. The only alternatives were resin/white metal kits and they are limited availablity and in some cases very costly.
Hisham
Joined: July 23, 2004
KitMaker: 6,856 posts
Armorama: 6,363 posts
Posted: Sunday, September 12, 2004 - 06:55 PM UTC
I had a post here a while back about 1/48 scale afv's so this is really a dream come true.
* Good kits that are less expensive.
* Being less expensive could lead to some interior detail being included.
* Less space consuming.
* The ability to use these afv's in dioramas with 1/48 scale aircraft.. which are far less expensive thatn the 1/32 aircraft.
I hope this dreeam really comes true.
* Good kits that are less expensive.
* Being less expensive could lead to some interior detail being included.
* Less space consuming.
* The ability to use these afv's in dioramas with 1/48 scale aircraft.. which are far less expensive thatn the 1/32 aircraft.
I hope this dreeam really comes true.
Tarok
Joined: July 28, 2004
KitMaker: 10,889 posts
Armorama: 3,245 posts
Posted: Sunday, September 12, 2004 - 07:55 PM UTC
It's always great to have a bit more to choose from, and yes, I agree with Hisham's points. But how many manufacturer's produce all the extra's like figures and accesories in 1/48? Does this mean Tamiya is changing it's military focus from 1/35 to 1/48? Or are they just trying to fill a gap in the market?
Hisham
Joined: July 23, 2004
KitMaker: 6,856 posts
Armorama: 6,363 posts
Posted: Sunday, September 12, 2004 - 08:46 PM UTC
I think that if Tamiya really continues with this line of 1/48 vehicles, then a lot of aftermarket companies will put out accesories and figures that go with them... like so many companies did with 1/35 scale. And I don't think it would be such a bad thing to have Tamiya produce 1/48 vehicles and Dragon and Trumpeter continue with 1/35.
It never made sense to me to have military vehicles in 1/35 and civilian cars in 1/25 and 1/43 and aircraft mainly in 1/72 and 1/48. You can't have a dio with a tank and a civilian car for instance, unless you were extremely good at scratch building. Doesn't it make more sense to have things in one scale so they would go together in dio's?
It never made sense to me to have military vehicles in 1/35 and civilian cars in 1/25 and 1/43 and aircraft mainly in 1/72 and 1/48. You can't have a dio with a tank and a civilian car for instance, unless you were extremely good at scratch building. Doesn't it make more sense to have things in one scale so they would go together in dio's?
jejack2
Joined: April 09, 2002
KitMaker: 322 posts
Armorama: 0 posts
Posted: Sunday, September 12, 2004 - 09:10 PM UTC
I think this is exciting news! (if it comes to fruition?!) I love building 1/35 (I have an even BIGGER love for 1/16) however, there just isn't enough storage space for all those models I have in my closet. I can show some at my LHS, but other than that what can I do? For me 1/72 is just a tad to small for my meager skills, so I think 1/48 would be a refreshing change of pace. Who knows I might start building those thingies with wingies!! As for aftermarket stuff, if you build it they will come. If that scale AFV market does well, I'm sure it won't take long to see aftermarket stuff. (Could you imagine 1/48 .50cal shells?!?!) Anyways....I, for one, am glad to hear this, lets just hope is as "lower priced" as we will be led to believe. Now if we could just get everyone to build all subjects (sans ships) in the same scale!
duckcorner4
Joined: September 13, 2004
KitMaker: 1 posts
Armorama: 0 posts
Posted: Sunday, September 12, 2004 - 11:11 PM UTC
Haleluja, Praise the Lord and pass the gravy.Mayby my dream can come true. I love building O scale (1:48) trains and have like building WW 2 models. Now I can combine the two and build a WW 2 train layout.
JimF
Joined: July 05, 2002
KitMaker: 717 posts
Armorama: 621 posts
Posted: Sunday, September 12, 2004 - 11:50 PM UTC
Good news indeed, a quality model at a reasonable price is always something to rejoice in... especially if it means tanks and planes can used in dio's (mmmmm... tanks rolling over wingie-thingies... mmmmm) :-)
Spuds
Joined: August 31, 2002
KitMaker: 393 posts
Armorama: 287 posts
Posted: Monday, September 13, 2004 - 12:07 AM UTC
This is great news for you 1/48 modelers and I'm happy for you. For me in 1/35, I had stopped even looking at Tamiya because it's the same old stuff again and again. However, this means that the other guys are going to have to start putting out when it comes to their claims about the M3 Lee/Grant family, the Stuart family, or the 1/2 track family. Otherwise, whenever you want to do one of these or its many variants, you'll be at the mercy of e-bay and collector prices. 
SEDimmick
Joined: March 15, 2002
KitMaker: 1,745 posts
Armorama: 1,483 posts
Posted: Monday, September 13, 2004 - 12:32 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Yesterday at Tamiya World here in Osaka, Mr. Tamiya gave us some insight on what’s to come in the world of 1/48 armor models. He said that by the end of 2005, Tamiya will release at least 20 new 1/48 AFV kits. He didn’t go into specifics, but he did say a Sherman would certainly be amongst the 20 kits released.
He also went on to say that Tamiya will be focusing more on 1/48 armor in order to bring higher quality kits at a lower price to modelers around the world. Evidently the costs of creating new molds in 1/35 are starting to be cost-prohibitive, hence the steadily rising prices we’ve been experiencing.
This must be even more great news for modelers who have been yearning for great 1/48 AFV kits, but what of the 1/35 fans?
Well, I guess we still have Dragon…maybe even Trumpeter!
So, what’s the general consensus on this, folks? Happy? Sad? Don’t care?
Well I don't think its as much as a cost issue as much as Tamiya is trying to get into a new market or start a new market. If you think about it its pretty stiff competing in the 1/35 scale world with almost 3 big players and several smaller ones all competing for the same slice of pie.
They can make all the 1/48 scale kits they want, but if their is no intrest in them from Armor modellers who have been building 1/35 for 30 + years now, they aren't going to get anywhere. The market is in a lot better shape now then it was 30 years ago when Tamiya made 1/35 scale the defacto standard and their moves might be blunted by all the other players in the 1/35 scale world.
To tell you the truth I see Trumpter taking over Tamiya's postion in another 5 years, esp with the Volume of kits they are putting out and the improving quaitly of their kits.
yagdpanzer
Joined: August 21, 2002
KitMaker: 415 posts
Armorama: 231 posts
Posted: Monday, September 13, 2004 - 01:34 AM UTC
I'm saddened to see Tamiya change focus from 1/35th scale to 1/48th scale. IMHO the newer Tamiya kits are the best produced. That's why all other manufacturer's kits are measured against Tamiya kits.
If you think about it, Tamiya pretty much made 1/35th scale the accepted armor scale.
If you think about it, Tamiya pretty much made 1/35th scale the accepted armor scale.
DRAGONSLAIN
Joined: February 22, 2004
KitMaker: 779 posts
Armorama: 0 posts
Posted: Monday, September 13, 2004 - 02:15 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Well, for the time being my choice of scale goes up - like in 1:16 - not down ....
but you can also consider 1/48 as an increase in scale, I wish instead of 1/72 and 1/35 there would be 1/48 and 1/16
cfbush2000
Joined: December 01, 2001
KitMaker: 1,796 posts
Armorama: 1,207 posts
Posted: Tuesday, September 14, 2004 - 01:28 AM UTC
Quoted Text
I agree. It will open a lot of doors.
BTW: Welcome to Armorama.
Chuck
Sabot
Joined: December 18, 2001
KitMaker: 12,596 posts
Armorama: 9,071 posts
KitMaker: 12,596 posts
Armorama: 9,071 posts
Posted: Tuesday, September 14, 2004 - 02:05 AM UTC
I grew up with the Aurora 1/48 scale tanks and really enjoyed the Bandai 1/48 scale tanks when I first found them in the 1980s.
I think that the price of 1/48 scale kits would be quite a lot less than the cost of a 1/35 scale kit. Tamiya could sell more of them and make a profit due to the higher volume of sales.
I also think you would get more crossover builders from aircraft modelers who would want to give a tank a try. I think they planted the seed with the Kettenrad in the Me-262 kit and have expanded on that niche with the Kubelwagen. A couple of nice traditionally armor kits hidden amongst their aircraft line.
The 1/35 scale market is getting over saturated. The 1/72 scale market is booming. Why not go for the untapped 1/48 scale market? Demand for old Bandai kits is high. Some of them, like the various Sherman kits, go for more than the latest 1/35 scale Sherman. I'm not talking about collectors either. The price for bad box, partially built Bandai and Aurora kits is still high.
My guess is that folks are building these kits. I know I do.
I think that the price of 1/48 scale kits would be quite a lot less than the cost of a 1/35 scale kit. Tamiya could sell more of them and make a profit due to the higher volume of sales.
I also think you would get more crossover builders from aircraft modelers who would want to give a tank a try. I think they planted the seed with the Kettenrad in the Me-262 kit and have expanded on that niche with the Kubelwagen. A couple of nice traditionally armor kits hidden amongst their aircraft line.
The 1/35 scale market is getting over saturated. The 1/72 scale market is booming. Why not go for the untapped 1/48 scale market? Demand for old Bandai kits is high. Some of them, like the various Sherman kits, go for more than the latest 1/35 scale Sherman. I'm not talking about collectors either. The price for bad box, partially built Bandai and Aurora kits is still high.
My guess is that folks are building these kits. I know I do.
SpiritsEye
Joined: May 09, 2004
KitMaker: 1,041 posts
Armorama: 533 posts
Posted: Tuesday, September 14, 2004 - 02:11 PM UTC
Quoted Text
The 1/35 scale market is getting over saturated. The 1/72 scale market is booming. Why not go for the untapped 1/48 scale market? Demand for old Bandai kits is high. Some of them, like the various Sherman kits, go for more than the latest 1/35 scale Sherman. I'm not talking about collectors either. The price for bad box, partially built Bandai and Aurora kits is still high.
.
i agree
i'm a 1/35 person...but i'll get over it, cos Tamiya's pricing over here is sky-high! switching to 1/48 would drop the price like about 20 bucks or more...
that would be reasonable...
JPTRR
Managing Editor
#051
Joined: December 21, 2002
KitMaker: 7,772 posts
Armorama: 2,447 posts
Posted: Wednesday, September 15, 2004 - 11:42 AM UTC
Tamiya releasing new 1/48? Let me say one thing:
:-) :-) 
Ok. more than one thing...
...a dream coming true! 1/48 armor rocks!!!!!
:-) :-) Ok. more than one thing...
...a dream coming true! 1/48 armor rocks!!!!!
jimbrae
Joined: April 23, 2003
KitMaker: 12,927 posts
Armorama: 9,486 posts
Posted: Wednesday, September 15, 2004 - 04:20 PM UTC
I don't want to be the 'Ghost at the banquet' but I do tend to view this with a certain amount of scepticism...
1) Could it be that Tamiya are now seeing their (previous) 1/35th dominance finished? Trumpeter are really running with the ball as are Dragon both are demonstrating imagination that Tamiya lost years ago...
2) I would love a whole new range of 1/48th scale armor kits. The emphasis on NEW I don't want to see a whole range of 're-pops' with new packaging. I agree that some of the old Bandai kits would be worth re-releasing but will they be of the same standard as we have come to expect with recent releases?
3) Tamiya is not (in my opinion) even slightly interested in 1/35th scale. The overwhelming part of their business is R/C cars....
4) If (as seems likely) the Asian market explodes, it's going to be good for all of us. As countries become richer, people have more disposable income which they tend to spend on hobbies such as military modelling. Perhaps Tamiya is seeing this trend as well?
5) I don't believe that 1/48th is going to be any cheaper for Tamiya to produce. Moulds and tooling are still going to be prohibitively expensive...
6) I said it before. The next bombshell from Tamiya, will be an announcement that it is outsourcing to China.. Within the Pacific Rim, it is the only sensible move to make....
...Jim
1) Could it be that Tamiya are now seeing their (previous) 1/35th dominance finished? Trumpeter are really running with the ball as are Dragon both are demonstrating imagination that Tamiya lost years ago...
2) I would love a whole new range of 1/48th scale armor kits. The emphasis on NEW I don't want to see a whole range of 're-pops' with new packaging. I agree that some of the old Bandai kits would be worth re-releasing but will they be of the same standard as we have come to expect with recent releases?
3) Tamiya is not (in my opinion) even slightly interested in 1/35th scale. The overwhelming part of their business is R/C cars....
4) If (as seems likely) the Asian market explodes, it's going to be good for all of us. As countries become richer, people have more disposable income which they tend to spend on hobbies such as military modelling. Perhaps Tamiya is seeing this trend as well?
5) I don't believe that 1/48th is going to be any cheaper for Tamiya to produce. Moulds and tooling are still going to be prohibitively expensive...
6) I said it before. The next bombshell from Tamiya, will be an announcement that it is outsourcing to China.. Within the Pacific Rim, it is the only sensible move to make....
...Jim
jimbrae
Joined: April 23, 2003
KitMaker: 12,927 posts
Armorama: 9,486 posts
Posted: Wednesday, September 15, 2004 - 04:23 PM UTC
Just a question, why is this in the I.D.F. Forum?...Jim
Drader
Joined: July 20, 2004
KitMaker: 3,791 posts
Armorama: 2,798 posts
Posted: Wednesday, September 15, 2004 - 06:23 PM UTC
It seems unlikely that Tamiya will be reboxing the Bandai models, it's much more likely (IMO) that they will be scaled-down version of current 1/35th models.
AFAIK the only time Tamiya has reboxed another companies models is Italeri, and that's for the domestic Japanese marker only.
And a while ago Tamiya did start producing in the Philippines, so a move to China wouldn't be a total surprise.
So who will be first to lift the lid on the Tiger?
AFAIK the only time Tamiya has reboxed another companies models is Italeri, and that's for the domestic Japanese marker only.
And a while ago Tamiya did start producing in the Philippines, so a move to China wouldn't be a total surprise.
So who will be first to lift the lid on the Tiger?
ukgeoff
Joined: May 03, 2002
KitMaker: 1,007 posts
Armorama: 703 posts
Posted: Wednesday, September 15, 2004 - 06:58 PM UTC
Quoted Text
It seems unlikely that Tamiya will be reboxing the Bandai models,
That can't happen. Its rumoured that the Chinese company, Fuman, who reissued two dozen of the range awhile back, ruined the moulds due to lack of maintenance. As to the fate of the remaining moulds, we can only speculate about that.
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