Ok campers I have confirmation from a source that cannot be named. Its real, and its happening. It was at Tamiya Con, in a locked office for the viewing -NOT PHOTOGRAPHING - of a select group of VIP's.

Oh yeah baby! :-)

Rob, all the 'Tamiya is abandoning 1/35th' people are still around....... and probably will be whilst Tamiya release 2 or maybe if we're lucky 3 kits a year. I wonder how many Dragon will release this year in 1/35th? Really looking forward to this one as I've said above...... I just hope they make a better job of it than they did the StuG B.

Vinnie

I wonder how much they are gonna charge for it..its a big model for 1/35 scale..

I too have been clamoring for this kit for a good while. IIRC the strong rumor at the past Nuremburg toy show was Tamiya to officially announce at a large show in May and then release shortly thereafter.
If Tamiya believes profits can be made with 'odd' armor subjects,who can naysay about our most beloved want of wants............

M3M3M3M3M3M3M3M3M3M3M3M3M3M3M3M3M3

:-)

What's a 3M? :-)

Vinnie

wonderful!!! please keep us updated!!

Truly outstanding news. Count me in for one, maybe more.

You want people to get off of Tamiya's back? I will give them a real easy way to do it, and cheaply:

1. Produce the Char B1 and do it to your excellent standards.

2. Release a Totally new tooled M2/M3 halftrack series.

3. Release a T-62 kit based on the excellent T-55 kit.

4. Fix the T-72 kit to make it more desireable/accurate.

5. Rework the M-60A3 to better than old Esci standard.

Do this within 18 months. Then keep going with 5-6 good 1/35 releases or reworks a year, but keep the prices competative. They do this, and I'll lay off.

And none of this mean adding metal barrels, indi tracks, or PE sets. Just good kits at reasonable prices.

As for the Char B1, I will buy one. Neat tank.

I agree with Jacques, but more with the release of the Char. Does it mean I would lay off tamiya ??? Probably not, so they release a leclerc and Sturm. Maybe they are picking up the pace,,,I dont know. But things do look better for them. I think the Char would put them back on the map, enough to knock off dragon or trumpeter ?? Um,,I dont know...1 kit does not give you your throne back, but people do notice.

Be still my beating heart....

A Char B1bis!!!!!!!! Workable tracks seem like a good idea as the originals don't really lend themselves to rubber-banding.

Right - where's my copy of Chars B au Combat?

I'm delighted to hear this news. With a lot of new releases I think I'll get one when the stash is smaller because the subject matter is already in the cupboard as made by a diffeerent manufacturer or a I've already built a variant, but with this I think I'll actually be looking forward to the kit's release.

A good move by Tamiya - more power to 'em!!

Sean

The posting on the French-language DG on ML was a little more informative and mentions clickable tracks that assemble without glue. and (less excitingly) some chain...

Promised for June.

Announcement in French

Greetings all,

For those who don't speak french but might want to place an advanced order the kit number is 35282.

Cheers

Al

Edit;

Sorry David I didn't realise you had this in your post already.

Al

Sounds cool, now if they'll only package the inevitable PE fret that they will make to buy separately in the box, as what seems to be the norm like some other companies do to make their customers happy.... :-)

Kelly I do not know if you bought the StuG III B but it included the PE and an aluminum barrel. No promise that this will of course - but individual links is certainly a step in the right direction. :-)

:-)

EDIT (21:27 hr):

:-) :-) SORRY GUYS!! FOOLED YA' ALL!!!!
THIS BOXART IS A TOTAL FAKE!!!! I MADE IT WITH PHOTOSHOP....
Sorry can't help myself; was just for LOL
Took the Char B from the old Matchbox Boxart, the rest from Tamiya's M3 Stuart....

BUT the link with pictures from Olivier (Bison126) shows the REAL thing!!!


And what a beauty it is!!!!

This was the boxart I used, so convince yourself...


Sorry again guys, :-)

Beautiful. Truly beautiful. Thanks for the picture.

Hi all,
more pictures of the kit and the sprues here

http://maquette-garden.forumactif.com/viewtopic.forum?t=2697

olivier

She is quite teh beast. Looks very interesting. Thanks for the pics

Tell me that wouldnt look good in a dio with the New DML B or C???

I was thinking of a Market Garden dio, north of Oosterbeek.

Thanks for the pics.

Shaun

Ok, NOW I can believe it all !!! So here is to hoping they go thru with production and their are no delays !!!!

Now, lets see future purchase,

Tamiya - Char B.
Afv Club - Aussie Centurion
Trumpeter - Stryker, Alabama, Massachusetts, Dauntless, Devastator
Dragon - M1A1 AIM

And thats not including those spur of the moment purchases, those " I have a great dio/scratchbuilt idea " purchases and " those kits that will suddenly be released which I had no idea was coming out purchase " .

I love to hate this hobby sometimes. :-)

I second that.........

Gray

Awesome box top 007, even if it is a prank - Iooks totally legit!

There are countless colourful French Char B1-bis. Why would anyone want to give this impressive beast a dull German scheme?!?!?

the following are taken from a couple of old issues of Steel Masters...