So whats the deal with Tamiya

[thijs37]

One thing i start to notice with the new releases last couple of years is, its like they gone back to basics or something (1/20 Lotus79, 1/12 Honda nsr500 '84, 1/24 Porsche 934,1/24 BMW 320i group5 ) dont know what the story will be on that porsche (detailed or curbside) but the honda and the lotus are old school with loads of parts making up the engine etc

And in my opinion...its not like the techniques are finaly here so they can make these models only now!

By the way no complaints from me i love these old school models and i didnt like the new toolings after the brabham and the renault re30 when Tamiya started with the engine and gearbox molded together...exhaust manifolds as one piece...in my opinion it was cutting corners on tamiya's part and it resulted in me giving up building F1 in 1/20 scale

I hope Tamiya will keep this up

[hirofkd]

Tamiya is no longer a plastic model company. It's an R/C model company, with a legacy business of plastic model making. Much of Lotus 79's design was finished around the time of FW24 release, long before Tamiya transformed itself into an R/C model manufacturer. You might wonder why other manufacturers release many more all-new tools each year, but they have to survive by selling plastic models, so their business practice is quite different from Tamiya's.
It's kind of like movie theaters don't make much money by selling tickets, but by selling food. Gas stations' revenue comes from selling stuff in the store, not much from the gas. Likewise plastic models are advertisement and a stepping stone to R/C hobby for Tamiya. Model kits also help the company sell tools and supplies.

[thijs37]

Ok i would have thought that the lotus was a design from the late 70's early 80's because its design is much like the Lotus '78, Ligier js11, Mclaren m23 and the rest of these early models

So unlike the Williams FW24 were Tamiya did cut corners like i have pointed out before

And i´m sorry but i dont think its got a thing to do with Tamiya being a RC producer as well as being a model producer and Tamiya have always produced RC models along their Static model line up

My point is that Tamiya is making great models again like in the old days when you had a lot of fun putting the engine together, the gearbox, the suspenson the exhaust system And the enjoyment of putting them all together...that fun is gone with models like the Williams FW24 were the engine and gearbox are casted in two halves and exhaust is just one piece etc

I think Tamiya knows the market is drying up, Not much youth these days that spend their time making models
So i think they try to please the older model making community with these older Designs

[generationx]

Remember with the Lotus 79 Tamiya already had a DFV engine sprue which had been used in many different kits. Maybe if the kit was 100% new they would have redesigned the engine parts, but if it works then why change it?
Also the BMW Gr5 was a simple rerelease albeit moulded in a different colour and with a new decal sheet. A very cost-effective way of getting a "new" kit released.
Tamiya don't release many new kits - it is VERY expensive and, as hirofkd said, their primary income is most likely to be R/C and, to a lesser extent, military kits. Rereleasing is a great way of getting an often forgotten kit to sell again, justifying the original mould price, such as the McLaren M23.
BUT: When they do something new it's usually spectacular. Just look at the 1/32 Spitfire and Mustang, the all-new Yamato and the Lexus LFA.
Tamiya is still out there, but I expect they are less than enthusiastic about churning out kit after kit in a diminishing market place.

[lovegt40]

as Hiroaki pointed out, today tamiya is really no longer the static model producer we loved for so many years. This is surely due to their (and global) market reality.
Always remember we, static plastic modellers are the smallest market ever for such kinda toys.The real busines is and always will be around R/C stuff. and with my 15 years of direct shop sale of this stuff I can absolutely confirm it.
More, the models for our tastes today are deadly expensive to produce, and is very easy also to make mistakes no longer acceptable for the prices those models can have today. think at the new RB formula 1 car price in local shops.
Down here we sell it for 91 euros. No way to sell one when online u can get it for half price..

Also our local tamiya local importer confirmed this, and also add, recently as in 2007 Tamiya was again very near to be bankrupt.
It is obvious they will try mostly the stuff over they can produce a real business, as RC stuff is.

Our wishes over new products can only be positive,and I am mostly thinking at that new 934, cause they never made anything similar in such scale.
Unless they are planning to reissue and update the heller/esci kit, but its really not the tamiya style.

[SL85]

I hope they come back with old school Japanese cars

[CrateCruncher]

I'm no industry insider but I think the strong yen forced Japanese manufacturers to focus on their domestic market the last five years. The local builders wanted newer subjects, less detail, and a low price point.

There is a new political climate in Japan now with a focus on weakening the yen and reviving their global exports.

Those that say the static model market is dead or dying need only look at the growing consumer base in China and India to see a challenge to that conception. (There are 2.2 BILLION potential new customers in those two countries alone.) I've had several air and armor builders in my local club ask me about F1 subjects recently. I hope this is a trend.

I have thought for years that the injection producers should be focusing their investment in tools that produce perenial favorites rather than the latest thing that no one will care about in a year (or ever again). Tools last forever if properly stored and maintained. It just makes cents to pick a subject you can re-pop every five years from now to eternity.

It's been my experience that when two producers kit the same subject, consumers tend to focus on the most detailed version and ignore the other. So if you plan to invest in something you want to be viable for years it makes cents to make it more detailed as a barrier to the competition leap-frogging over your version and obsoleting your tooling.

I don't know if any of this is right. I'm just laying it out there for discussion because I like the subject of this thread. Please don't flame me too bad.

Crate

[lovegt40]

wonder if indeed Tamiya would try to make a real, badass american muscle car done full detail instead of any of the new modern ugly japanese coffins as civic or whatever...

I dream about a 1966 ford mustang or a chevy camaro seriously done by theme....

Yes I deeply prefer old american classic subjects than modern japanaese ones. LOL

[thijs37]

I guess there's a reason why Tamiya isnt making american cars...probably the american car industry isnt sharing any blue-prints!

[generationx]

Originally Posted by thijs37

I guess there's a reason why Tamiya isnt making american cars...probably the american car industry isnt sharing any blue-prints!

Well maybe, except Hasegawa released some 60s American stuff in 1/24th. Maybe they used someone elses moulds.

[thijs37]

Originally Posted by generationx

Well maybe, except Hasegawa released some 60s American stuff in 1/24th. Maybe they used someone elses moulds.

Ehm....your point being????

[jano11]

Originally Posted by thijs37

I guess there's a reason why Tamiya isnt making american cars...probably the american car industry isnt sharing any blue-prints!

Yeah sure, cause everyone is gushing over those US cars blueprints, especially the ones from the 60's.

[thijs37]

Originally Posted by jano11

Yeah sure, cause everyone is gushing over those US cars blueprints, especially the ones from the 60's.

At least we know you can be sarcastic.....And Tamiya is going to beg to these stupid American shite firms after they told them to go fuck themselfes
Wow even i wouldnt be so stupid

[jano11]

Originally Posted by thijs37

At least we know you can be sarcastic.....And Tamiya is going to beg to these stupid American shite firms after they told them to go fuck themselfes
Wow even i wouldnt be so stupid

Never say never.

[thijs37]

Maybe you American car lovers could vent your anger to....lets say AMT/ertl Who bought exclusive rights to Blue prints of the American car industry

just like Revell did a couple of years ago when they had bought the exclusive rights of Ferrari and every other company couldnt make any Ferrari, lucky for us that has been reversed

And that was because Revell did a piss poor job...