new (old) ferrari releases at Tamiya

[mbwoods]

what is goin on with Tamiya? they are releasing all Ferrari models in new black boxes and i think they are a waste of space and a waste of numbers, plus the prices are increased by about 600yen

a lot of people would have all of these kits originally and theres no point in buying these just to have a snazzy box and most originals are still available at HLJ, i'll probably download the box covers and print it out

heres the full release list:
24293 SC430 race car
24294 ??? unknown, maybe SC430 variation ???
24295 F40 (24077)
24296 F50 (24160)
24297 F50 yellow (24207)
24298 360 modena (24228)
24299 360 modena yellow (24242)
24300 ??? unknown ??? hopefully an all new model
24301 Enzo (24260)
24302 Enzo yellow (24270)

heres the link:
http://www.tamiyausa.com/product/com...hp?sub-id=8000

[Cold_Fire]

sat it neccessary for them to release again 360 modena or enzo? Is there anything new on this kits or just the black boxes?

I really don't understand this...

[mbwoods]

Originally Posted by Cold_Fire

sat it neccessary for them to release again 360 modena or enzo? Is there anything new on this kits or just the black boxes?

I really don't understand this...

i dont either, theyre just rereleases repackaged in new black boxes, nothing new in the kits itself

new modena black box is 3200yen, original modena is 2600yen, so your paying 600yen more for the black box?!?!

quote on tamiya usa website:
"Following the recent release of the Ferrari FXX, Tamiya�s entire line of high-quality 1/24 scale Ferrari models now come in the new elegant black packaging that perfectly compliments these stylish super cars."

[hirofkd]

Check the crude oil prices in just the last 3 years.

The box designs are rumored to be something to do with the licensing. (Revell, Hasegawa and Fujimi all show the contents)

[Jay!]

Originally Posted by mbwoods

new modena black box is 3200yen, original modena is 2600yen, so your paying 600yen more for the black box?!?!

Tamiya put out a news blurb just in the past couple months that the prices of all their kits were being adjusted.

Upwards.

[freakmech]

yawn

[Decs0105]

Interesting but I want the 1/12 F641/2...

hirofkd that might explain the high prices for the SLR and FXX....
Anyway I really like the black boxes

[stevenpae]

indeed, i don't understand tamiya.
For them, i don't think european market counts. They release honda nsx race car, lexus race car. I had never heard of those models before, didn't know they raced. They should better release a new rally car (that is known worldwide) or instead of remaking those ferrari's, why don't they have a remake for the Ford Escort Cosworth rally. That model would sell like a train again. But what can we do about it ...... nothing.

[MPWR]

They're not rereleases, they're simply repackaging. Those kits are all still in production. Rereleases would be something they're not currently making, like the Mythos or maybe Testarossa. Ferrari's licensing requirements are as likely an explaination as anything- certainly all other manufacturers are doing it, and I don't think Tamiya would redesign their boxes just to keep up with everyone else's new box styles.

And no, Tamiya doesn't concern itself with making kits for the European market- or the American market for that matter. The volume of kits consumed by The Japanese market means that Tamiya (and Hasegawa and Fujimi) can and do simply concentrate on what will sell well in Japan. Case in point- the only kits of American cars Tamiya has released (the Mustang and a couple of Jeeps) are kits of cars that have 'cult' followings in Japan. Tamiya at least recognizes there are markets beyond Japan- Hasegawa and Fujimi don't even bother with overseas divisions.

And as for the 'waste' of numbers- the wonderful thing about numbers is that there are always, always more- it's a truely undepletable resourse. Kit numbers are assigned only for the manufacturer's stocking purposes.

[hirofkd]

That's not exactly true. International company like Tamiya never neglect the overseas market. WRC, DTM and Le Man cars sell more in Europe than Japan or US. A couple of each Jeep, Mustang and Lola kits were released with the US market in mind.

This is more to do with the economic balance of which market is stronger than others. If yen was weaker than the current value, and the European economy was stronger, there'd be more WRC, touring and Le Mans racers. If US market could consume enough kits to justify the tooling cost, there'd be Tundra or Camry NASCAR (Imagine Ford GT in the Tamiya lineup, but you know...)

Tamiya produces money-losing plastic kits only because they have profitable R/C products, so they can't afford to make very many new kits. It makes more sense to pick subjects that would sell most, and with the exchange rate of 120Y/USD or 150Y/EUR, and healthy recovery of the Japanese economy, the strongest hobby market right now just happens to be Japan.

[Jay!]

Maybe Ferrari asked for it? Perhaps Ferrari licensing is getting more hands-on, which could account for the recent changes in packaging for not only Tamiya, but also Fujimi, Revell of Germany and Hasegawa.

[freakray]

I would be more inclined to bitch and whine if Fujimi, Tamiya or Hasegawa announced that the auto modelling sector just wasn't lucrative and they were going to stop making kits.

Instead though, every time they announce a kit we see a slew of threads bitching that they didn't release the kit one person wanted or it's not as detailed as somebody else wants.

As long as plastic kits are making to the shelf, it means our hobby is still alive - what are we crying about?

[Cold_Fire]

It makes sense for me that all this thing has to do with licensinng, I'll explain something has happened here in Spain some weeks ago.

Ninco, a slot cars and circuits manufacturers, wanted to produce a 360 modena.

They contacted Ferrari and the brand said that it was OK, but the bodywork had to be made by HotWheels, another manufacturer of collection cars.

Ninco said that they wanted to do the full car including bodywork, and Ferrari said that was only possible if:

- The car was a kit, not an usual ready-to-play slot car.
- The box of the kit had to be special, completely different to the boxes that Ninco usually use.

The result:

http://cgi.ebay.es/FERRARI-360-GTC-Y...QQcmdZViewItem

[Enzoenvy1]

Come on guys, it is like polishing a turd.

There sales are not hurting on any of their products. If they have a bunch of models that have sold very well to a market that is fully aware of them, why not repackage them to the market that is just getting into models?! If I walked into my LHS and saw the F50 from then, and the F50 now, I would buy the new one based on looks. Once all of the older kit boxes are gone, then only ones around will be the new black boxes at a higher price.

It's the nature of the beast, happens a lot in consumerism.

[mbwoods]

Originally Posted by Enzoenvy1

If I walked into my LHS and saw the F50 from then, and the F50 now, I would buy the new one based on looks.

if both were on sale i wouldnt buy the new black box, i'll would buy the older one as it would be cheaper, or i'll backorder it at hlj if it isnt in stock