discussion Should tamiya be upping their game

[Guest]

Hi all I was just thinking of the quality of the new Airfix and Revell kits and I was thinking the new stuff is as good and with ref to the Revell 1/24 HLF20 Varus 4x4 better than Tamiya IMHO at 25 to 40% cheaper I get the feeling they're doing what the British bike industries did when the Japanese bikes came on the market and dismissed them as no competition, I think it's getting to the point where the lines between who make the best kits are starting to blur Airfix and Revell are making amazing strides it fit, accuracy and detail.
What are your feelings on the subject.

 

[col68]

I agree 100% with you ken tamiya seem content with selling reboxed kits from the 80s with a couple of new releases now and again. I recently bought a revell leopard 2 and was suprised with the quality and detail.

 

[Guest]

On the other hand the new Tamiya kits, like the 1/35 Nashorn or their new Panzer IV range, are amongst the best quality I've ever seen so they can still be on top of the hill - but I agree that they're selling a of reboxed junk and old 70's wonky kits just to make a quick buck too... :/

On armour the ones that are best in over all quality are Takom, Trumpeter and Hobby Boss. The latter two are sold with less extras usually but they are almost half the price - and the pieces fits and there's almost zero flash and bad ejector pin marks on the parts! That's a good sign for good value!

On the air plane side I simply don't have the experience to comment with my only 4 kits built the last 6 months, but I've built 23 tanks and it's obvious who's thinking quality and who's thinking quantity.

 

[BarryW]

Every manufacturer brings out older toolings as well as new. I can only speak for aircraft. Revell remain quite poor even with their new tools when compared to Tamiya. Their 1/32 FW190 is a nice kit for the price but cannot be compared to Tammy 1/32s. I would prefer one Tammy to four Revells any day. Apparently the new Tammy 1/48 109 is in a league of its own as well. You get what you pay for.

 

[eddiesolo]

As some of you know, I like 1/16 RC tanks, I have had a couple of Tamiya and was never really impressed with the quality, especially for RC. They took their standard model kit and made a few changes to shoehorn the gearboxes and electrics in, I never liked them, too fragile for me. Even the newer ones, for me, are still a tad fragile and the price is just silly, £400+ without radio gear.

Now, for their 1/35 range their newer offerings are rather nice indeed, even their older tooling versions are better quality regarding finish, flash, injector marks etc than their older contemporaries and they can be had cheaper. I agree with Airfix having some lovely quality items, Revell are still so and so, but do seem to be getting better, Trumpeter are okay-ish but overpriced IMHO, Italeri are the ones that I think are lagging behind now.

 

[col68]

On the subject of trumpeter I've just opened the Stryker I got for Xmas and I'm amazed two sets of pe clear parts a sheet of printed m.r.e and rubber tyres all packed in a sturdy box for £30 quid and i cant find any flash or visible ejection marks.

 

[stillp]

I would prefer one Tammy to four Revells any day.

But would you prefer a quarter of a Tammy to a complete Revell?

Pete

 

[BarryW]

But would you prefer a quarter of a Tammy to a complete Revell?

Pete

Let’s put t this way, the ‘pit is a model in itself in a Tammy 1/32. Likewise the engine.

The point is that is I did not have much cash I would save a bit longer to get a Tammy kit rather than build 4 Revells in that time.

 

[stillp]

Fair enough Barry. I've only built one Tamiya kit, a tank not a plane, and the fit and finish were terrible. I'll try one of their planes one day.

Pete

 

[BarryW]

Fair enough Barry. I've only built one Tamiya kit, a tank not a plane, and the fit and finish were terrible. I'll try one of their planes one day.

Pete

I think the key is to get a ‘new tool’ kit. Tamiya like all manufacturers have older kits that are a bit questionable though Tammy older kits are generally better than their contemporaries by other companies. Their newer kits are the cream of the crop. You need only do some Googling to read the reviews. On 48 scale the new Me109 about to be released has already received rave reviews and, of course, their 1/32 WW2 ‘uberkits’ are second to none. Just Google any of these 1/32 beauties, the Zero, Spitfire, Mustang, Corsair and Mosquito. Some claim that the Corsair is the best kit produced by any company of any aircraft in any scale.

 

[stillp]

I think the key is to get a ‘new tool’ kit. .

Yes, but then we get back to the price vs quality argument! I don't have your talent or experience Barry, so I don't think I could do justice to a £120 kit.
Maybe one day...

Pete

 

[BarryW]

Yes, but then we get back to the price vs quality argument! I don't have your talent or experience Barry, so I don't think I could do justice to a £120 kit.
Maybe one day...

Pete

I am sure that you would do a fine job Pete, you are too modest...
What is important is to have a wide choice available for all pockets.

Me, I dream of Airfix getting into the 1/32 realm with a BP Defiant..... Thay could do a splendid job I am sure with just the few tweeks needed to make spending £100 or more worthwhile.

 

[Guest]

On the other hand the new Tamiya kits, like the 1/35 Nashorn or their new Panzer IV range, are amongst the best quality I've ever seen so they can still be on top of the hill - but I agree that they're selling a of reboxed junk and old 70's wonky kits just to make a quick buck too... :/

On armour the ones that are best in over all quality are Takom, Trumpeter and Hobby Boss. The latter two are sold with less extras usually but they are almost half the price - and the pieces fits and there's almost zero flash and bad ejector pin marks on the parts! That's a good sign for good value!

On the air plane side I simply don't have the experience to comment with my only 4 kits built the last 6 months, but I've built 23 tanks and it's obvious who's thinking quality and who's thinking quantity.

I would debate that and say that Dragon is the best in terms of armor. Their armor quality is unbeatable
Also, trumpeter can make some really dodgy models sometimes, so I wouldn't say that they are quality, as thy tend to mess up their dimensions a lot. However, they do make some great 1/32.

 

[Guest]

Let’s put t this way, the ‘pit is a model in itself in a Tammy 1/32. Likewise the engine.

The point is that is I did not have much cash I would save a bit longer to get a Tammy kit rather than build 4 Revells in that time.

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

 

[Guest]

I am sure that you would do a fine job Pete, you are too modest...
What is important is to have a wide choice available for all pockets.

Me, I dream of Airfix getting into the 1/32 realm with a BP Defiant..... Thay could do a splendid job I am sure with just the few tweeks needed to make spending £100 or more worthwhile.

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

 

[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.