Can't even think of 48th while DML is bringing out such nice stuff in 35th. Of course the many, many models I have in 35th might have a little something to do about also.
capnjock

I would still love to see a Bradley or M113A2/A3 done along the lines of the old Bandai kits complete with interior and engine compartment.

Yup, I'm with Rob on this. I am waiting to see an affordable modern piece or two before I consider 1/48.

Cuhail

No argument there, Rob.

Frank, that is one beautiful Tiger I. Man, I will never have that level of control over my airbrush.

I totally concur, though I am not interested in anything past the M-48 era.

I have to admit that I have found the Tamiya 1:48 scale Hetzer to be a really enjoyable change. I am still loyal to 1:35, but have now purchased the T34 with Hauler detail set and the Panzer IV as I really feel refreshed after this 'mini' project.

Here's another argument for 1/48th scale: Armorscale New releases... . Yes, this IS 1/48th scale..Jim

Jim, that's a great TIger! I've been only building 1/48 aircraft and if it wasn't for these new kits in 1/48, I would have never started building armor. These are my first armor build in 25 years, and it was really fun. I can get stuff much dirtier than aircraft!









Full write up at http://waihobbies.wkhc.net/StugIII.html]

I've still go my collection of Bandai that I built 30 years ago. I've got maybe a half dozen or so in the stash. My complaint is a major lack of figures an diarama building materials specifically structures. So for now and probably many years to come .....I'll pass

Well,

I must say Frank's Skybow Tiger looks awesome and Waikong's Stug does as well,

But, I just bought the Tiger, Sherman and Stug and I was greatly disappointed. It's just a scaled down rehash of the '70 kit's (poor effort Tamiya) with DML kicking their butt in 1:35 you'd think they would lift their game. I paid $40AUD for the Tiger and I wish I paid the extra $10 and got the DML Pzkfw IV. Even the figure kits are old kits rescaled.

It would be a good scale but Tamiya should start from scratch. Even DML's 1:72 kits are better.

Gaz

I am sorry Garry, but I have to disagree. The new 1/48 Tamiya kits are very well made. They basically fall together! Sure they need some detailing - but I have yet to see the kit that didn't, even the super kits from DML!

Oh well, why not. I started with 1/35, I just made my jump to 1/16 with my Pershing, and I've got a 1/72 Jagdtiger waiting to be build.

Guess I've got to add some 1/48 to my collection as well huh?

Multi-scaled

Martin

I find this statement difficult to comprehend from someone who has actually purchased and looked at the Tamiya StuG, Tiger and Sherman. The new 1/48 scale kits bear no resembalance to the old 1970s era 1/35 scale kits and even are of completely different variants than the ones made in the 1970s.

still a 1/35er. The price differance isnt enought for me to plunge. Its also to small id only change from 1/35 for 1/16 but there arnt enought 1/16 tanks and they dont fit my budget.

Frank

John, thats some great stowage on you Stug, where did you get them from?

waikong most of it came from the Tamiya Jerry can set. The pump, boxes, and veggies are home made. The jug and milk can came from VP and Phoenix minatures.

Quote:
I find this statement difficult to comprehend from someone who has actually purchased and looked at the Tamiya StuG, Tiger and Sherman. The new 1/48 scale kits bear no resembalance to the old 1970s era 1/35 scale kits and even are of completely different variants than the ones made in the 1970s.

Are you trying to tell me these kits don't look exactly the same as their 1:35 outdated conterparts?
That it is value for money when it's $10.00 less than the DML superkits?
It's my money and my opinion and I will not buy another 1:48 tamiya kit I may try a Skybow.
But, I don't get to see these kits in a store where I live.
I must rely on the opinions of people at sites like this, so I can make a decision on what to buy.
So it is my beleif that if one person had said the things that I have I probably would have not bought them and got some new DML kit instead. They are not worth the cost, there is nothing new about them except link and lenght tracks....and thats not '70 technology?

Gaz

Well Gary, not being any kind of expert on these kits, I will make one or two comments. When Tamiya released the first in the 48th scale range, the cry went up that they had simply pantographed the kits from their 1/35th catalog. This has been TOTALLY dismissed both here and on other sites. The real proof comes from the Hetzer - someone (on this site) made the rather absurd claim, that it was simply pantographed - a truly amazing claim considering that Tamiya have never actually done one in 35th...

Obviously, it 's your decision to buy or not to buy, however (and speaking as one of the site's most ardent critics of Tamiya) I will say, that you are being unfair to them as the evidence is overwhelmingly against your statements...Jim

Yes, that is exactly what I just said. The 1970s era 1/35 Sherman looks nothing like the 2004 1/48 scale Sherman. In fact, they aren't even the same variant. Same with the Tamiya 1/35 and 1/48 scale StuG III, again not even the same Ausf. It is not even the same Ausf. as the 1990s StuG III. The detail is infinitely finer on the newer kits.

Next you are going to tell me that the Citroen staff car and Hetzer are exact copies of the 1/35 Tamiya kits.

Now I will agree that the new Tamiya tank kits are over priced. I buy them locally for around $20-22. The newer Dragon kits are a much better value for marginally more money.

The Skybow kits are much nicer looking in the box (haven't bought one yet), but at $35, they are way too much money.

BTW, I'd jump on Tamiya 1/48 exact scale copies of their M1A1/A2, M2A2ODS and M113A2/A3 1/35 scale kits.

All I can say is I like them!!! I just saw the jagdpanther and future figure sets. I am glad tamiya made this move. I will still do my 1/35th, but heck I can do so much more in the same amount of room in a dio that why not do it? The detail is not to small as I find with my clumsy big hands when I do 1/72nd. I think it will turn out to be a fun scale. Cheers Kevin

Hi Sabot,

Well, I did notice you didn't mention the Tiger, Just like I never said anything about the hetzer or the staff car.

The Tiger, when you open the box (now, I haven't opened the plastic as I did say I just bought them) looks to me like the first Tamiya tiger that I ever made which was made in the 70's. As to the Stug, although the variant might be different, the fact remains that the tools are cast on the hull just like the 70's kit, the same one piece tow cable is cast just like the 70's kit, in fact sitting here looking at it I'd say Sprue B is the 70's kit, maybe the others aren't. The sherman looks the same to me......Maybe it's not but the perseption of same old same old is still there. You open the box and you say to yourself...Same old Tamiya. Yes they fall together well, yes they build into nice kits.
But the way people have been going on about how good they are is alittle wrong, when DML and Trumpeter are putting out the range and quaility of kits that are superior to Tamiya, who once was the best.
Yes the Hetzer does look good, but lets look at the new figure kits, you telling me they aren't the 70's molds?.... I'm sure you'll say yes.... So I'll just shutup then shall I?

Gaz
Open the new DML Tiger late box and not get excited
I dare you.

PS. the day my 1:48 scale stuff arrived so did the new DML Pzkpfw IV and you wonder why I was disappointed after seeing that in its box....for $10 more than my 1:48 Tiger

Never owned or built the old 1970s Tiger in 1/35 scale to compare, but the 1/48 kit is roughly similar to the 1990s DAK Tiger I bought a few years ago. Same with the Afrika Kubelwagen and the Schwimmwagen, not too different between the 1/48 and newer 1/35 scale kits.

The 1970s Sherman was an M4A3E8 kit with 76mm gun and late style turret. Other than being a Tamiya kit with a name of Sherman, it has no resembalance to the M4 early. Same with the StuG III Ausf G produced in the 1970s. Nothing close to the 1/48 scale Ausf B.


Got the initial production Tiger 3 in one kit during a Hobby Lobby 50% off sale. Paid a whopping $15 for it. Great value, great kit, but not the issue here.


No argument that Dragon kits are a better value than Tamiya kits. I've even said that Tamiya 1/48 kits are expensive for what you get in one of my previous posts. Again, Dragon vs. Tamiya quality and price/value isn't the issue we were discussing.

The issue is whether the new Tamiya 1/48 scale kits are copies of their 1970s (not 1980s, 1990s or 2000+) kits. You said they are, I say they are not.

That is what you mean by this statement?



I also agree that Dragon is "kicking their butt in 1/35", but again, this isn't the issue we were discussing.

Tamiya still blows them away in craftsmanship. And as the more recent Tamiya quarter scale pieces have come out, their quality has gotten better and better.




That's a dare I'll take. The kit is known to have a warping problem in its lower hull, and it's a late war Tiger with no zimm. That's so 90s. :-)

I'm Sorry

I thought the topic was "Still not convinced about 1:48"

To which my answer is still "no."

As to warping of Dragon Kits. I haven't experienced that yet so I'm still Pro Dragon and obviously pro 1:35. And I find pre-manufactured Zimmerite too uniformed compared to alot of photo's I have of the subjects I like to build.

As to all other comments, I concede to all of my peers statements. I was being very general. I personally believe that the kits I mentioned and no others, remind me of "early" Tamiya which to me means parts to thick, poor sculpting on pioneer tools and horrible figures.....which still nobody has pulled me up on.
So I take it that you agree? the german figure kit is made of the old infantry kit that appears in Shep Paines dioramas book along side the 70's 251. and the panzer figures are from the king tiger and another older kit. The US figures are an older (90's?) yet well made figure set. And the russians are again an older yet still good kit.

My whole point is that (apart from the hetzer, citron, Universal carrier) these three kits (which I own.) do not look like 2004/05 standard kits..... Do you agree to this statement.

As you have agreed that they are overpriced this is now settled.

There seems to be nothing new (technique) to them...
except for the track sag on the stug.

I'm sure that the 1:48 scale fraternity is very happy with the new kits, but unless they get better I will stick to 1:35 for I believe that they are still better. I have these three kits and will build them and maybe that will change my mind, But it is still my opinion and the Post I first answered was "Still not convinced about 1:48"

You can still say I'm wrong, but I live 1900km from my state capital, the nearest good hobby shop is 330km away and I'm not going to order anymore 1:48 Tamiya without seening them first.

Because I'm still not convinced.

Thank you.
And Good bye.

Gary Walker
40yr old
Engineer with an opinion. Sorry to offend.

The 1/48 hetzer and Stug IIIB are NEW. They have never been done in the 1/35 range by Tamiya. Now Tamiya is about to relase a BRAND NEW Stug IIIB in 1/35, but the 1/48 kit was released first.

Also the The 1/48 Tiger I and Panther G are not knock offs of 70s kits. I have them. They look newly tooled. However, If they are scaled down versions, they are based on their excellent 1/35 versions from the 90s and early 00s. Tamiya NEVER did a Panterh G in the 70s.