We pay the equivalent of $3.92/Imperial gallon or $3.27/US Gallon for Unleaded 93 octane.... and that's on the coast, inland it's still more expensive...

What North American (including Canadian) LHS's mail order Skybow?

Try Track48 at www.Track48.com. in Toronto. Also, wingntreads in the States., although I can't recall their url at the moment. If you join the quarterscale discussion group on yahoo you can get all the info you need on 1/48 scale. You can get there by going to Track48 and clicking on Links and click on the yahoo link .
Glenn

'Tanks :-) Glenn.

Wingsntreads can be located at www.wingsntreads.com

Speaking of importing I can say that my biggest cost in getting these 1/48 scale kits in the US is the Shipping costs. Right now 45 % of my expenses is the importation costs. I am currently selling most Tamiya armor kits at $18. $20 for the T34 and Tiger I also have the Skybow Tigers at $25. Skybow kits are wonderful kits but the cost of becoming an importer for them is very high. To become an importer for Skybow (which I am finializing now) cost me $3600 and a minimum purchase of 360 kits. Now if I can't find other stores that want to carry them I'm going to be stuck with lots and lots of Tigers. I hope that people here in the US start demanding these products otherwise my buiness will be sunk. I decided on getting the Skybow kits because I saw alot of posts about them and once I wsaw the kits I was amazed. I am going to shows to help promote these kits I can only hope it helps.

Tamiya's prices in the UK have followed the $1 = £1 formula for quite a while (curses), I first noticed it when I started buying FSM, and also that there was a wider range available in the US (more curses).

£16.99 is a lot to pay even for a model as nice as the T-34, specially when the 1/35th Dragon one isn't that much more expensive. Having said that, Dragon's models used to be scarily pricey when they first arrived over her and were easily as expensive as Tamiya until the distributor changed and prices dropped by a third overnight.

Hi all,
On the subject of the newer Tamiya 1/48th armor and figures. Well, I have bought the the Infantry and Panzer Crew set. It left a bit to be desired. It was just the old 1/35th figures shrunk down. I was dissapointed to say the least. With that said, I am going to pass on the rest of the new 1/48th kits from them. Though the Hetzer and the new staff car intrigue me. Dragon, AFV Club, Tristar and Tasca/Bego will be getting my business. And I might try the Skybow 1/48th kits, because I have heard better things about them(superior to Tamiya, even).
Well, maybe I have said somethings that might make some builders upset. I have been building military models for about 30 years, so I have seen just about everything on the market for that long.
AND, one thing more- why did it take Dragon and AFV Club to get the Tiger I turret correct. Tamiya had 2 series of Tigers and they screwed it up twice. So much for the vaunted Tamiya quality.

I have seen some interesting things in my 30 years of kit building and research, I just wish that people could be less subjective and more objective about our hobby!

Now I will get off of my soapbox and say hi to Jim, Rob and others. I have missed seeing you guys in the MSN chatroom. I am their a lot more now .

Chris- an extremely opinionated and silly person

Ok, my 2 cents. I like the 48 scale, but not too interested at this time to jump on board,,,,yet. But, lets talk about something really interesting that Mr. Tamiya must remember. Stop re-releasing the old kits from yesteryear. With AFV and Dragon and ETC, releasing new kits in 1/35, why release them, if so, why charge big bucks when trumpeter and Co., have something better for less or equal.

OK,,now I know SOMEONE is going to say something about the Leclerc (which you need to buy the brass parts SEPARATELY) , thats great. I think that Tamiya gave up the 1/35 crown looooooooonnnnnnng ago. Just because they come out with 1 or (if were lucky) 3 kits in 1/35 (new ones, not re-issues) does not put them back on top. Not that anyone is saying that, just with all the new tech I would at least think they would tinker with the old and make them better (T-55 anyone).
And its only a matter of time before the rest of the team (trumpeter/skybow) come out with something that will catch our eyes and our pockets. Just look at trumpeter and all the areas they have covered, and how detailed they became. They started off with junk, now look at them and what they have done. Dont get me wrong, I do love tamiya's stuff. But, once on top, you stay at the top, everywhere.

now what could be coming next from tamiya??

M10, Mk IV J and Panzer Grenadiers, Rumor has it that they will also be getting ready with a Panther as well. I heard that Bandi might be thinking of reentering the 1/48 scale market as well( Though this rumor has yet to be confirmed)

The Panther (G) has been confirmed as well - along with some of those 'finished' models in 1/48th...Jim

the price here in holland is ;tamiya 1:48 tiger 1 about 27 euro.and the 1:35 dml tiger 1 is about 34 euros.i always found tamiya kits over priced.only buy them on tradeshows if i can get a good deal .and what about the two new trumpeter kits KV-1 and KV-2 there sold here for 13.50 euros here [great price].nobody will get the tamiya ones now,there still around for 25.00 euros each??