Tamiya 24103 BMW 850i, the strangest model ever?

[Katsura]

Hi all, Did any of you have or built this model from Tamiya?

I've recently acquired a copy off the internet, it's got to be the strangest model from Tamiya I've ever seen, it's a like a paradox.

On one hand, it's amazingly detailed, with 7 runners, 170 plus parts. It even came with a rubber spare tire. the bonnet, boot etc can all be openned, and engine bay has got more than 30 parts. The instruction booklet is 20 pages long with 40 steps.

On the other hand, the quality of the mold is terrible! mold lines, flashes(!!!) which I thought I would not see on a Tamiya model serial number 100+, ejection marks, sink holes, you name it it's got it, frankly I think the 24003 Startos Turbo gr.5 from 70's is better quality.

I'm suspecting this is either a 3rd party engineered model, and Tamiya just acquired the rights, or I'm looking at a cheap counterfeit of the original model (but it's got well printed box and instructions...).

Other odd things include: there is no 'copyright Tamiya' marks on the runner trees or under the main body, the instruction booklet is a lot thicker than the usual ones and is staple bound!

Can anyone else who's got one of these confirm these weird things?

Thanks.

[MPWR]

That's because it's not a Tamiya kit. It's the Revell Germany kit, that Tamiya reboxed for Japanese distribution only (which is why it's so rare). Yes, it has lots of detail, but it will also be quite a project to get a decent build of it. I was lucky enough to have a friend put me onto one of the RoG boxed ones- it's taunting me from my stash (it's going to be alot of work!), but it's time is coming soon....

[Katsura]

Thanks for the info, is there any modelling related questions you guys can't answer?

Is there any difference between the Tamiya and Revell versions? i'm missing one of the headlights, wonder if I can order one from Revell still...

looking forward to see your build! It will give me lots refereces .

[BVC500]

I found from my reboxed BMW 325i that Tamiya added some corrections to the instructions and included better tires.

[Katsura]

Hi BVC: Is the BMW325i a re-packaged Revell kit too? How's the quality of the mold and details?

I agree with you totally ont he tires - the item with the best quality in that BMW 850i kit is the tires - and it's the only item inside the box that Tamiya put their name on it . Everything else had no name or copyright marks.

[Exotics_Builder]

The 325i is also a repackaged RoG kit, like the 850i.

Gerry

[BVC500]

Yes, the Tamiya 325i is a reboxed Revell kit. I built both the Revell-Germany and Tamiya 325i kits. Same exact quality (or lack thereof)...soft plastic, lots of flash, sink marks, etc. Just the tires were better. My Tamiya version came out better because I knew what to correct the second time around. I'll post pics someday.

I'm currently working on the Revell-Germany 850i.

You can't get parts for these kits anymore, as they are long out of production.

[MidMazar]

Originally Posted by MPWR

That's because it's not a Tamiya kit. It's the Revell Germany kit, that Tamiya reboxed for Japanese distribution only (which is why it's so rare). Yes, it has lots of detail, but it will also be quite a project to get a decent build of it. I was lucky enough to have a friend put me onto one of the RoG boxed ones- it's taunting me from my stash (it's going to be alot of work!), but it's time is coming soon....

Thats funny, i was thinking the same thing. I got the Revell one, and saw the tamiya one later on. I'll let you do yours first.

[Exotics_Builder]

When I still lived in Bellevue Washingotn, we would go up to Vancouver BC about 3-4 times a year. I'd always make a stop at Burnaby Hobbies because they sold Tamiya spray paints when you couldn't get them in the US.

The actually got the Tamiya 850i and 325i in and on the shelf. Since I already had the RoG kits, as well as the 750i. The owner opened the box so I could check it out. He had an inkling it was the same and we verified it.

BTW, here's what I did with Fujimi's M5 model that was a curbside (circa 1993):




Gerry

[MPWR]

Originally Posted by Katsura

i'm missing one of the headlights, wonder if I can order one from Revell still...

looking forward to see your build! It will give me lots refereces .

Yeah, I'm looking forward to seeing it, too....

I doubt you'll be able to find replacement parts- certainly not from Tamiya. But the headlights on this one don't seem like they'd be too hard to scratchbuild. You're missing the clear part? Course you could also keep the headlights closed.

Originally Posted by MidMazar

I got the Revell one, and saw the tamiya one later on. I'll let you do yours first.

Yeah, no pressure right? I'm thinking it may be my next full engine (aside from the Seven, of course!). Already have the paint for it- CobraColors Porsche Arena Red Metallic, should be pretty close to the BMW color. Watch for coming attractions....





Oooo, let's see some pics of that!

[mbwoods]

i too have both kits i ordered from Hobbyweb.com a few years back shipped to the UK from USA and i believe they only made it for the US market

here are some pics:-

[88Porsche944]

Originally Posted by MPWR

Already have the paint for it- CobraColors Porsche Arena Red Metallic, should be pretty close to the BMW color. Watch for coming attractions....

Excellent color choice for it.

[Katsura]

Thanks for the pics mbwoods.

How many other Tamiya kits are re-packed 3rd party ones? Are their Mercedes street cars (S, SL SEC class ?) their own?

I woonder if it's worth time to have a speadsheet with a little info on each kits (release date, number of runners, mold colours etc). for reference purpose?

I'm willing to do that if everyone can help me gather info on kits they own.

[Nutsforcars]

That would be a great tool to have. I certainly would contribute. Repackaging seems to be a frequent business in this industry. It would be good to know who originated a kit before buying it. I bought a few kits already that had very obviously been repackaged from a different company. Usually I don't mind since the versions are different, eg. different sponsor decals on race cars.

[mbwoods]

Originally Posted by Katsura

Thanks for the pics mbwoods.

your welcome

Originally Posted by Katsura

How many other Tamiya kits are re-packed 3rd party ones? Are their Mercedes street cars (S, SL SEC class ?) their own?

only the bmw 325i and the 850i are repackaged revell kits

here is a link to my website for my list of the Tamiya models i already have but in alphabetical order rather numbered order as there are a few models from other companies(ie fujimi, revell etc)
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/brian.w.../models_p1.htm