Should tamiya be upping their game

[BarryW]

I have a feeling trumpy will beat them to it. Anyway, Airix seems allergic to 1/32

I hope that you are right John about a 1/32 Defiant, if so I just hope it is their 'A Team' who develop it.......

[BarryW]

The thing is, their 1/48 aircraft line is old an not up to standard (while their 32 line is). Their me 262 for example, when it first came out was a revelation, but the hobbyboss one really does compete, edging it out in surface detail and variants. Tamiya has neglected 48 scale. Sure they released a 109G in 1/48, but I am sure not going to sell my eduard one and buy a tammy 109. Their Lancaster is also a piece which could be updated as well. It is ancient, doesn't fit great, raised panel lines etc. the only reason it still sells is because firstly, it is a Lancaster, and second it is the only lanc in 48 scale. Also, their 48 scale mustang has been bested by airfix. The same can be said for their spitfires. And quite often, Tamiya 48 scale aircraft are not cheap.
John

I rarely build in 1/48 and I have all 1/32 in my stash. I do know that Tammy produced a superb 'Tony' recently in 1/48 and a F14 as well so while there may have been a time when they neglected 1/48 that is not the case now. All companies have old tool 'lesser' kits in their range though Airfix, I agree, are doing a great job retooling theirs. I am not aware that Tammy are retooling their older kits and while they don't stack up to the new tool versions of other companies they were almost always a cut above their contemporaries. I did build their 1/48 Spitty a few years ago and it still stands as an excellent kit as does their Beaufighter. Their Lanc I built in the 70's and loved it, long in the tooth now though of course but some of the builds I have seen provide fewer problems than some company's new tools.

Hopes are high that Tamiya have the Tony and Me109 are on their list for 1/32 treatment along with a P47 and maybe even a Me262. Their 1/32 WW2 warbirds are simply the pinnacle of kit engineering and with each new release they push that boundary. From reviews it seems that quality is now being extended to their 1/48 range.

Should they retool old but still good kits or keep on with a release schedule of new subjects that really is the question and I think they have got it right with the new su bjects. I just wish they would speed up their production in 1/32 subjects....not likely though.

[Guest]

I rarely build in 1/48 and I have all 1/32 in my stash. I do know that Tammy produced a superb 'Tony' recently in 1/48 and a F14 as well so while there may have been a time when they neglected 1/48 that is not the case now. All companies have old tool 'lesser' kits in their range though Airfix, I agree, are doing a great job retooling theirs. I am not aware that Tammy are retooling their older kits and while they don't stack up to the new tool versions of other companies they were almost always a cut above their contemporaries. I did build their 1/48 Spitty a few years ago and it still stands as an excellent kit as does their Beaufighter. Their Lanc I built in the 70's and loved it, long in the tooth now though of course but some of the builds I have seen provide fewer problems than some company's new tools.

Hopes are high that Tamiya have the Tony and Me109 are on their list for 1/32 treatment along with a P47 and maybe even a Me262. Their 1/32 WW2 warbirds are simply the pinnacle of kit engineering and with each new release they push that boundary. From reviews it seems that quality is now being extended to their 1/48 range.

Should they retool old but still good kits or keep on with a release schedule of new subjects that really is the question and I think they have got it right with the new su bjects. I just wish they would speed up their production in 1/32 subjects....not likely though.

quite true...

[Guest]

I would debate that and say that Dragon is the best in terms of armor. Their armor quality is unbeatable

If you like your boxes to sound like a maracas that is...

I've stopped buying Dragon kits because you have to open the box inside a plastic bag in order to catch all the little broken off pieces to have a fighting chance to save most of them!
I love the details they've got in their kit but their packaging is terrible. Also the newer kits are less detailed and kitted out like the older ones.

My recent Meng Panther Ausf. A is a contender to the list of "best" kits out there. Superb surface texture and lots of detail. Slightly lower part count than your average Dragon kit, but no less detailed IMHO.

Regardless of who's your favourite I think we all appreciate most of the manufacturers trying harder and making better and more detailed kits!

[Ian M]

To the original question, I would say that the last few 'new release ' kits from Tamiya have been rebooted Italeri kits. Seems like forever since they made something new.
I'm not the great 1/32 scale builder, having three under my belt. A Tamiya spitfire, a Revell Ardo and a trumpy me109... Or was it Revell... Can't remember. The spit was a joy to build and the fit was spot on.
The Ardo was also a great build without issue. The me109 also went together well. I can't recall having problems. If I say so myself, they all turned out rather nice.

[BarryW]

To the original question, I would say that the last few 'new release ' kits from Tamiya have been rebooted Italeri kits. Seems like forever since they made something new.
I'm not the great 1/32 scale builder, having three under my belt. A Tamiya spitfire, a Revell Ardo and a trumpy me109... Or was it Revell... Can't remember. The spit was a joy to build and the fit was spot on.
The Ardo was also a great build without issue. The me109 also went together well. I can't recall having problems. If I say so myself, they all turned out rather nice.

Ian - in 1/48 the new Tamiya Me109, the F14 and the Ki61 Tony were all Tamiya kits, not Italeri, with all the quality that you can expect from Tamiya. Personally I just hope they will bring out 1/32 versions!! These are the last three 1/48 kits released. Then yes you do have the F35 in 1/32 which is an Italeri which I believe is just being released in Japan.

[tr1ckey66]

In the 80s the name Tamiya was synonymous with quality mouldings, crisp detail and accuracy, other manufacturers simply weren't in their league. Truth is now there are a whole host of manufacturers who have not only caught up but in some areas have surpassed Tamiya with their own moulding techniques and research. Tamiya still make very well engineered kits. There's no denying that the 1/32 Tamiya aircraft are very, very nice, but there is a lot more choice out there now, which can only be a good thing. Tamiya blazed a trail back in the 80s and showed other manufacturers what could be done. And for that I'm grateful to them.
Tamiya still bring out good kits, I know cos I'm still buying them!
Cheers
P