Anybody else have tamiya gripes?

[Toksin]

If it were my choise i would take the route that makes the most $$$.

That's why they put so much effort into the Enzo, because people would buy it because it's such a detailed kit. People on this board who don't even like the car have bought the model because it's such a great model. I doubt they blew their whole budget on it though.


Tamiya kits aren't hideously expensive, about 45-55 NZD, so thats about 25ish american dollars. Perfectly acceptable if you ask me, but maybe that's because we are so close to Japan. The Enzo was the most expensive kit I've seen, I think about 79 NZD.

[exhaust smoke]

THIS IS BLASPHEMY!

I think Tamiya are more concious of producing a kit that is more viable model that is more marketable. Which you cannot blame them for. It's an investment for the future. The more money they can make from this kit, the more money they will have for development for future development and to pay for more licensing agreements.

I think they used a quarter of their development budget for the Enzo, but we are going to have a brand new FW24 kit (can't wait :jumpie. I think along the way, they will rehash some of their existing kits until they've built up their new budget.

[phase5]

Maybe all of us modellers should get together and put to some of the companies and let then see what the modellers would like.not saying that they would do anything, but you'll never know:frog:

[daggerlee]

Originally posted by Octagon
I hope so. I can't afford Studio 27.

My biggest complaint with Tamiya isn't with their subject matter choices. I'd build two of everything in their product line, including the airplanes. My biggest problem with Tamiya is in how scarce they make the kits.

A Tamiya kit will near always take honors over about any other company's kit in terms of relative detail, accuracy, and fit. But the fact that there are 20 Fujimi or Revell kits to Tamiya's 1 is a bit sad. I wouldn't want them to sacrifice their high standards or their prestige, but I'd like to see more of the 350Z/Impreza WRX style curbside kits at a Revell/Fujimi relative price. They'd sell ten tons of them, and then have the money for FW24's and Enzos. They'd own the market, and not at a huge tooling cost.

Maybe it's time Tamiya realized they have the crown for being the best, now they need to be the most profitable.

Most new Fujimi kits are 500-1000 yen more expensive than Tamiya kits. Revell is still cheaper, but Fujimi is getting mighty expensive these days.

[Guido]

Originally posted by daggerlee


Most new Fujimi kits are 500-1000 yen more expensive than Tamiya kits. Revell is still cheaper, but Fujimi is getting mighty expensive these days.

Exactly. The Benz E-series 2000 model was in the local hobby shop for a price higher then a Tamiya CLK-DTM and for half the detail. Although I really want it, I didn't bought it.

[irupp33]

Originally posted by integra818


It costs tamiya to get the license also, money from the kit's sales help the cost of the license, or at least that's what I've always thought.

look at revell, they have to get the liscences to. theyve already put out hondas and acuras for under $15. they have a ferrari 360 kit for $12! why cant tamiya do that?

[freakray]

Originally posted by irupp33


look at revell, they have to get the liscences to. theyve already put out hondas and acuras for under $15. they have a ferrari 360 kit for $12! why cant tamiya do that?

Revell are making an Enzo too....buy that if you don't want to pay Tamiya prices.....

Who really knows how the whole licensing thing works and what it costs....

Nobody is forcing you to buy Tamiya, sure you pay more for them, but you get what you pay for. right?

[irupp33]

I just dont know about tamiya. I love there kits but if revell can produce them cheaper why cant tamiya? It just doesnt make sense. Its not about makin quality kits for low cost any more there just tryin to get rich. (which they already are)

[freakray]

As an engineer in a production enviroment, I can assure you that quality costs money, ESPECIALLY in a tooling industry.
The more you pay, the better quality your tooling, when you look at a Tamiya kit and compare it to a Revell kit of the same car, this is plainly visible. Tamiya spend a lot more money on their tooling.

[Guido]

Originally posted by freakray
As an engineer in a production enviroment, I can assure you that quality costs money, ESPECIALLY in a tooling industry.
The more you pay, the better quality your tooling, when you look at a Tamiya kit and compare it to a Revell kit of the same car, this is plainly visible. Tamiya spend a lot more money on their tooling.

I can't agree more. So companies choose OR quality = expensive tooling OR quantity = cheaper tooling

[exhaust smoke]

I could not agree more with the quality argument. Tamiya pay out more for the material and tooling.

Just hold up a Tamiya 360 to a Revell 360 and you can see that the Revell plastic is more translucent, therefore, more brittle/prone to warping. Also, you will notice the minimal flash on Tamiya as opposed to Revell. What about the fitment of parts, the CAD instructions, even the quality of the paper Tamiya print their instructions on is of a higher grade.

I will always go for Tamiya if there was a choice, the results speak for themselves. However, they could always go one step further and offer P/e sealbelt buckles as opposed to just decals for their race/rally/F1 kits.

[daggerlee]

Originally posted by irupp33
I just dont know about tamiya. I love there kits but if revell can produce them cheaper why cant tamiya? It just doesnt make sense. Its not about makin quality kits for low cost any more there just tryin to get rich. (which they already are)

If you can compare to me a Revell 360 Modena and a Tamiya 360 Modena Spider and show to me that the Revell 360 Modena contains just as much detail/clean parts fit/accuracy as the Tamiya kit, then your argument would be justified. But I don't tihnk anybody on this forum would be ready to make that statement yet.

[Layla's Keeper]

Wait a minute! Fujimi prices are going up????

That's just plain wrong. If they want to charge Tamiya prices they need to include Tamiya detail and/or fit. But there's one point of mine that was missed.

I don't want prices to drop across the board. That's just plain silly. I'm asking for the metal axle, single piece chassis, but still well engraved and obscenely accurate kits (like the street WRX Sti and 350Z) to drop in price. I can justify $30+ for the Enzo, but those two need to be at a Revell comparable price. Especially considering how many more they'd sell of the kits.

That's my request. More of the simpler kits at a lower price. A "Tamiya Lite" if you will. They almost pulled it off before. Remember Snap-Loc?

[Veyron]

Originally posted by daggerlee


If you can compare to me a Revell 360 Modena and a Tamiya 360 Modena Spider and show to me that the Revell 360 Modena contains just as much detail/clean parts fit/accuracy as the Tamiya kit, then your argument would be justified. But I don't tihnk anybody on this forum would be ready to make that statement yet.

How true, you never really see many complaints about Tamiya in any thread on AF, except pricing. Like Ray said, you get what you pay for.
As long as Tamiya kits look right and fit with such precision I won't complain about price, on the other hand I will never build a Fujimi M3 if it cost 2 dollars because the body is so awful.

[hirofkd]

Originally posted by irupp33


look at revell, they have to get the liscences to. theyve already put out hondas and acuras for under $15. they have a ferrari 360 kit for $12! why cant tamiya do that?

Tamiya's 360 is priced at 2600 yen. The value of 2600 yen by Big Mac index is 10.4, so you can translate the local price of the Modena by checking the price of Big Mac in your area.
2600 yen is about US$21.7, which doesn't seem so overly expensive when compared with the quality of Revell kit.
Perhaps, you want to vote for the politicians, who support even stronger US dollar? (used to be 240 or even 360 yen per dollar, you know?)