Friday, December 02, 2011 - 05:24 AM UTC
Tamiya have released a number of their older kits with ABER photo etched frets and turned metal barrels. With the popularity that Tamiya AFV kits still hold with the modelling community this new approach makes a lot of sense to me, it will allow those who prefer Tamiya products due to their ease of construction to build a much more realistic model from the box and does away with the annoying seams on the two part plastic barrels normally included. Take a look inside to see what these models are and what Tamiya has said about them.
Here is a quick breakdown of the models that are in the works for release followed by the information that Tamiya has released with them.

25142 - German Tiger I Early Prod - $102.00
25143 - German Sturmgeschutz III AusfB - $81.00
25144 - German King Tiger Ardennes - $114.00
We also share with you some later pictures of the Tamiya Israeli Tank M51
35323 - Israeli Tank M51 - $65.00

German Tiger I Early Prod. - w/ABER PE Parts/Gun Barrel
This item is the same as Item 35216 1/35 German Tiger I Early Production assembly kit. It is coupled with a metal Gun Barrel and Photo-Etched Parts made by the Polish hobby product company ABER. These included detail parts enable advanced modellers to easily enhance the detail of their model.
Specs and Features
• Item 35216 1/35 German Tiger I Early Production x 1pc.
• Photo-Etched Parts made by ABER x 1 set
• Metal Gun Barrel made by ABER x 1 set
MSRP: $102.00

German Sturmgeschutz III AusfB - w/ABER PE Parts
This product is the same as Item 35281 1/35 German Sturmgesch�tz III Ausf. B assembly kit. It is coupled with precision-made Photo-Etched Parts made by the Polish hobby product company ABER, enabling an even higher level of realism to advanced model builders.
Specs and Features
• Item 35281 1/35 German Sturmgesch�tz III Ausf. B x 1pc.
• Photo-Etched Parts made by ABER x 1 set
MSRP: $81.00

German King Tiger Ardennes - w/ABER PE Parts/Gun Barrel
This model product is the same as Item 35252 1/35 German King Tiger (Ardennes Front) assembly kit. It is coupled with a metal Gun Barrel and Photo-Etched Parts made by the Polish hobby product company ABER, enabling advanced modelers to easily enhance the detail of the model.
Specs and Features
• Item 35252 1/35 German King Tiger (Ardennes Front) x 1pc.
• Photo-Etched Parts made by ABER x 1 set
• Metal Gun Barrel made by ABER x 1 set
MSRP: $114.00

Israeli Tank M51
During the 1960's, the Israeli Ordnance Corps upgraded their M4A1 Sherman tanks by equipping them with the powerful French 105mm CN-105-F1 tank gun and they were redesignated as M51s. The larger gun meant a muzzle brake was installed to minimize the greater recoil effect and a counterweight was fitted to the rear of the turret. The 460hp diesel engine and the combination of the Horizontal Volute Spring Suspension (HVSS) and wider T80 tracks gave the M51 improved mobility. During the Six-Day War in 1967, the M51s were used against newer T-54/55 tanks as well as JS-3 tanks from Egyptian, Iraqi, and Syrian armies. The M51's 105mm gun could take on these adversaries by using HEAT ammunition. After the war, these M51s continued to serve with distinction until they were finally retired in the early 1980s.
Specs and Features
• 1/35 scale plastic assembly kit. (All New Tooling)
• Length: 257mm, Width: 86mm.
• The Sherman's turret and hull details as well as distinctive features, including the 105mm gun, bustle counterweight, and muzzle brake, have been accurately reproduced.
• Turret and upper hull feature realistic cast metal surface texture.
• The lower hull details and the HVSS suspension are precisely rendered.
• Belt-type tracks realistically reproduce the T80 tracks.
• Accessories such as tools and jerry cans provide heightened scale presence.
• 1 commander and 1 loader torso figures and 3 types of markings included
MSRP: $65.00

Click Star to Rate
3 readers have rated this story.
Get a daily email with links to all our latest news, reviews, and features.

Comments

Not too sure what the market is they are trying to target here? $100+ for this kit will doubtless calculate to about £70 - £75 here in the UK when the importer uses their own self-serving "exchange rate" calculations to arrive at a UK retail price. The Tiger 1 for example is (now) a really old tooling and L O N G surpassed by the DML range of 1/35 Tigers but, by virtue of some etched metal and an aluminium barrel tossed in the box, it seems to now warrant such a premium price? As 'Rob' above rightly identifies, anyone paying that kind of money is not going to be a 'casual' or new modeler and as such, will doubtless be aware of aftermarket sets and be able to source and put a similar or identical 'package' together for MUCH less than this. I mean, 1/35 AFV kits are going for absolute peanuts at the moment on eBay and there were some incredible 1/35 bargains recently at the IPMS Nats; so again I ask, who is expected to buy these packages? On a final note, even if you pay out $100+/ £75.00 of your hard earned cash, you STILL have inaccurate and toy-like rubber tracks to deal with. Had they thrown in a set of Friuls, they might JUST have been worth the asking price. Gary
DEC 02, 2011 - 12:26 PM
Nice idea, and about time, however at those prices...I for one as a store owner, will not be stocking them at those prices. Should any customer want to order one in....no problem, but as a regular stock item....too pricey for what you are getting IMHO!!
DEC 04, 2011 - 10:37 PM
Im getting a bit excited for that Israeli Sherman, love the cast hull look. but i have to agree with the rest of you, thats a pretty steep price for just a little bit of brass and a barrel...
DEC 05, 2011 - 02:18 AM
Got to agree with what has already been said, I really can't see a market for this. I have always considered Tamiya kits as more for beginners or a quick build. I've really got to wonder who is going to pay £75 for an out dated kit with 1 fret of PE and a barrel. What makes it worse is you can get everything that is in these kits seperately for less. Not to mention you can buy a superior Dragon equivalent and some fruils for less than this. If they were retailing around £35-£40 I could see a market for it but at £75 we are talking about serious modellers who I seriously doubt will give this a second glance. Im not sure whats worse, this or their way overpriced jagdtiger
DEC 05, 2011 - 02:48 PM
I agree with everything said here....you can buy the Tamiya kits w/o PE pretty cheap over here and if you buy the kit and PE separately you'd still be well below the $100.00+ price range. I still am partial to Tamiya kits because of thier ease of construction...and for nostalgic reasons...they (Tamiya) were a big part of my youth. I still think the newest kits are some of most well engineered kits today.....don't worry though...these kits will soon be on sale...I got the Late Tiger with Metal barrel and Fruil tracks on sale for $40.00 a couple of years back. I think the MSRP was over $100.00 then also. Jeff
DEC 22, 2011 - 05:20 AM
Jeff, Tamiya's business model is to rely on the LHS networks. Out of three LHSs in my neck of the woods, all carry Tamiya, one carries 1/2 & 1/2 Tamiya and older DML kits (with a splash of Italeri) and one carries only Tamiya armor & at full list price. Tamiya clearly feels they don't have to try very hard, hence the slow output of new kits and the reliance on ancient ones that by all rights should sell for $5-$10 each. Oh, I forgot, many of them DO sell for that on the Internet or at hobby shows.... For the person who's more comfortable buying domestically from their LHS, this kit allows them to "push the envelope" at little with some PE. They trust Tamiya that the PE will fit, won't be "too hard," etc. That consumer won't buy the kit on the Internet and get the Aber PE separately, it's not how they model. Which is OK, it's a hobby to be enjoyed however one sees fit. But if you really want a great kit that can be built OOB, then get a Tasca Sherman.
DEC 22, 2011 - 05:24 AM
Bill, Unfortunately for me the nearest LHS is 35 miles in any direction and the nearest one has a HUGE markup on their kits. I buy primarily from online shops and eBay....I just (today) bought the Bronco 1/35 Staghound T17E1 Mk.1 on eBay for less than $30.00 including shipping. This is unheard of at a brick and morter store. I do buy all of my paints and tools at my LHS but they absolutely can't compete with Greatmodels, Lucymodel, Squadron and HLJ for prices. AND the online shops always have sales...my Local Hobby Shops don't. I know this a bit off topic but you have to get the best bang for your buck. I recently got the ICM G4 from Hobby Terra for $29.00 + shipping. It is still cheaper than the base retail price at my LHS. I have built a couple of Tasca kits and loved them....I will have to try one of the Shermans. DML/Cyber Hobby uses the Tasca kits in their Kuebelwagen Ambulance and Cold weather starter kits...I have both and they are excellent. As for Tamiya...I recently bought the Finnish Stug III and the BT 42 and they are both fantastic, easy to build kits. I am comfortable with the newer Tamiya kitsand enjoy building them inbetween some of the more difficult DML and Bronco kits with a bunch of PE. Jeff
DEC 22, 2011 - 09:05 AM
Its the same here in ol NZ .. the prices for Tamiya kits have gone bonkers and i can't justify spending $110.00 on what is a very old model .not long ago Tamiya rereleased the 88 with crew and in the desert ...then they more than double the price of the old one ..its the same kit! and here cost very near the $100 mark .Dragon have theirs and its by far a much better kit and cheaper ..it don't take a rocket sciencetist to know which kit i got .here's one thing which i can't figure out ,,don't the model companies know that us serious armour modelers know all about upgrades and AM sets for our models ? ,,,seems to me they don;t or Tamiya wouldn't be asking such stupid prices for their kits and then the sellers adding their bits ..they gonna loose customers like that not gain. Phill
DEC 22, 2011 - 09:27 AM
I have been wrestling with this one,the special kit is available in the US for $66.00,and I know that the original kit #35216 can be had for $30.00-$40.00.I also know that Aber barrel can't be had for less then $23.00,I don't know what that PE set goes for on it's own.So the prices adds up,I probably couldn't beat it by getting the parts seperatly.For the Tamiya kit kit,though I would probably need to add AM tracks also instead of those vinyl jobs. But are their any other Early Gray Tigers with the Feifel filters available from Dragon ? doesn't seem like it to me.I know they have that gray+white Leningrad Tiger,but no filters,just my prefrence but it just looks too bare,I like the look of the filters on the back deck.
MAY 24, 2012 - 03:41 AM
THIS STORY HAS BEEN READ 15,821 TIMES.
ADVERTISEMENT

Photos
Click image to enlarge
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
Tamiya, Inc. ReviewsMORE
US M551 Sheridan Built Review
by Ken Abrams | of 1 ratings, 100% found this helpful
Cromwell Mk IV In-Box Review
by Darren Baker | of 1 ratings, 100% found this helpful
M109A6 Paladin In-Box Review
by Steven Eldridge | of 1 ratings, 100% found this helpful
Sherman Easy Eight Built Review
by Cody K
M3A1 Scout Car In-Box Review
by Rick Cooper
Goliath Team Built Review
by Jesse
German SPG Wespe In-Box Review
by Kevin Brant
Panzer III Ausf. N In-Box Review
by Mark
Panzer III Ausf. L In-Box Review
by Mark
French Armored Car AMD-35 1940 Built Review
by Gabriel | of 1 ratings, 100% found this helpful
Korean War M4A3E8 Built Review
by Talal Mashtoub | of 1 ratings, 100% found this helpful
Panzer IV Ausf. J In-Box Review
by Mark
M4A3E8 Korean Sherman In-Box Review
by Benjamin M. Kahn
Red Army Matilda build In-Box Review
by Matt Szefer
Renault AHN In-Box Review
by Rick Cooper

ADVERTISEMENT