I was just wondering if the Bandai "Pinpoint series" were collectable or were good kits or not? I picked up one grubby, but complete one at a garage sale and just wanted more info about them? Where could I get more if I wanted?

Bandai is going to reissue the 48th scale series. Prior to this and before the mainstream "rebirth" of 48th scale by Tamiya, Skybow, et al, they were very collectible with most US armor and some German and Allied kits going for quite a lot of money on eBay.

Frog/Fuman in China reissued some of the kits like the Willys Jeep, M4A3(76), Hetzer and others back in the 90s. Because of this, it dropped the price of the original Bandai issues of the same kits. Eduard even did PE sets for the kits that Frog/Fuman reissued.

The kits were pretty good for their time in the late 70s. They had relatively complete interiors and pretty good detail and fit. The scale just did not catch on, they had the misfortune of coming out about the time Tamiya moved from 1/48 motorized kits to 1/35 and Aurora went out of business (the main 48th scale armor company of the day).

Here is a site with good information and links to 1/48 scale armor: http://www.track48.com/

Excellent link! Thanks Robin. I was impressed with the fit and interior detail. I'd like to find more and maybe complete the whole series.

Robin is right on.
They come up on ebay quite frequently. If you want an idea of thier value just put a few on watch and wait to see which ones sell for what. There are some that are 'higher' in value than others.

With a reissue the value does drop.

Hi Sabot,

Have you heard any time frame for when Bandai plans on re-issuing their 1/48th scale line? I have a bunch of the original, harder-to-find Bandai kits that I've been holding on to for years and was thinking it might be worth my while to sell them off now -- while they still hold some value.

Brian

Say Hellbent....looking for any kits in particular?

Brian
[email protected]

Do you have Opel Blitz or Mercedes L3000?

I DO ,plus 30 others

Joe

Hi Guys,

Late as usual, I offer this great, though moribund site: Bandai Gallery

I love the Bandai kits. I am happy they are to be reissued, but I understand that many were lost or destroyed, and that when Bandai sent them to PRC to be reissued as Fuman.

Some of my Bandais:









My moribund Bandai Tiger II zimmerited via hot-knife: