New Tamiya kits

[drunken monkey]

The thing that bugs me most about Tamiya's new car kit releasing policy is that it really seems like they only make the real effort for that one big major flagship car every year or two supplemented by the next popular Japanese sports car in-between the big releases.

A part of me wishes that they would put that effort into the more everyday/everyman cars.
Why is the only Honda Civic with an engine an American EK kit in 1/25?
Why is the only Subaru Impreza with an engine also an American kit in 1/25?
Why is the only Ford Focus with an engine also an American kit in 1/25?
That is something I really don't get.

[luchoteam]

i really like to see more Alfa Romeo model cars...specially street version of them, from i what i remember theres 4 Alfa Romeo kits right?

[MPWR]

Setting aside Tamiya's unpredictable and imponderable new release decisions, I enthusiastically recommend checking out some of Tamiya's 300+ already released car kits. I mean seriously- Tamiya has already over the last 3+ decades released SO MANY FREAKIN' GREAT CAR KITS that I simply cannot bother to care when the next one might come or what it might be.

What would be better than what they've already put out? Sure, I may not ever get a good kit of a Lotus Elise or a McLaren F1- but so what? It's not a problem until I get through the dozens of Ferraris and Porsches and Nissans and Hondas and cool old classics and old rally cars and old F1 kits and....!

If they never produce another new kit of any kind ever again, I will be completely satisfied just to build through their catalog of older kits.

[Pugnuts]

Well you mightn't have to worry about that anymore. According to their website just about every kit is discontinued now.

[MPWR]

Who said worry?

Discontinued simply means not currently in production. Tamiya typically produces their kits in batches, lasting a few months at a time. When a production batch ends, they typically move on to producing another kit. This is how they work through their library of 'discontinued' kits. If you wait long enough, just about everything gets rereleased. As an example, in the last few years Tamiya has redone their terrific Porsche 956 twice- in 2003 and 2009. It is vastly cheaper and more profitable for them to rerelease a kit that they already have the molds and licenses for than it is to make something new from scratch. As long as there are people like me who like older cars as much or more than new cars, it's a very sound business model. They've been doing it for years, and will probably continue it for years to come.

And if you have to have it now, a little bit of patience on Ebay or in the classified section or at model car shows will usually find you what you're looking for.

But really, like most people who have been building for a few years I've been buying kits for a while. I have what I need, and I know I'm not the only one.

[jano11]

Originally Posted by MPWR

Setting aside Tamiya's unpredictable and imponderable new release decisions, I enthusiastically recommend checking out some of Tamiya's 300+ already released car kits. I mean seriously- Tamiya has already over the last 3+ decades released SO MANY FREAKIN' GREAT CAR KITS that I simply cannot bother to care when the next one might come or what it might be.

What would be better than what they've already put out? Sure, I may not ever get a good kit of a Lotus Elise or a McLaren F1- but so what? It's not a problem until I get through the dozens of Ferraris and Porsches and Nissans and Hondas and cool old classics and old rally cars and old F1 kits and....!

If they never produce another new kit of any kind ever again, I will be completely satisfied just to build through their catalog of older kits.

Couldn't agree more!

[Outamyhead]

They really should release the Le Mans winners from the last 10-15 years, I'd definitely love to get a model of the R18, R15, and Peugeot 908 variations. Although seem to be more interested in the JSGT series and other cars that don't interest me at all. (I really should finish off that 787...blasted decals, there's so many)

[racer93]

Originally Posted by MPWR

Setting aside Tamiya's unpredictable and imponderable new release decisions, I enthusiastically recommend checking out some of Tamiya's 300+ already released car kits. I mean seriously- Tamiya has already over the last 3+ decades released SO MANY FREAKIN' GREAT CAR KITS that I simply cannot bother to care when the next one might come or what it might be.

What would be better than what they've already put out? Sure, I may not ever get a good kit of a Lotus Elise or a McLaren F1- but so what? It's not a problem until I get through the dozens of Ferraris and Porsches and Nissans and Hondas and cool old classics and old rally cars and old F1 kits and....!

If they never produce another new kit of any kind ever again, I will be completely satisfied just to build through their catalog of older kits.

For once, I completely and utterly agree with you, MPWR.

That said, I've moved on to MFH for my kits now so what Tamiya does doesn't affect me so much anymore...

[MidMazar]

Originally Posted by MPWR

If they never produce another new kit of any kind ever again, I will be completely satisfied just to build through their catalog of older kits.

[oldguy2]

I would like to see them get into American 40's,50's,60;s and
some early 70's cars...