Got back from Fall 2002 Hobby Show

[hirofkd]

Originally posted by thug_9_6
I need that skyline!

Pre-order it!

Actually, I forgot to complain something at them. If they had a plan to release custom wheels for the GT-R for the same price, why didn't they put the Rays 18" for the 350Z Track? I know some of inaccurate areas are fixed, such as the passenger seat, and retooling isn't free, but you know...
I should probably buy an extra set of the new V-Spec II part tree from Tamiya customer service for my 350Z, then.

[Jonno]

Pre-order it!

Hmm, I could, but I might just wait till the hobby shop gets one in, after they have been realeased.

[Focus2000]

Good write-up from the show, thanks!

Unfortunately there's so much to buy and so little money to spend

But that won't stop me - the Enzo shall be mine. Oh yes, it shall be mine

[Gainsbourg]

Great news you bring us Hiro, thanks.
Can't wait to put my hands in the Enzo and the Lancer VII.
I'm real curious about that new F1 car from the 2002 season.
Hope is not another Ferrari.

[OPM]

anybody any ideas where in europe i could preoder the skyline?

[Guido]

No Merc's in the current release schedule, so I'll have to wait for the SLR - both McLaren and Mercedes, what more can I want??

About the Enzo, I guess I can understand why people are so excited about it, I on the other hand am one of the few who thinks Ferrari has produced their ugliest car ever . Unfortunatley for all the Prancing Horse lovers, I have to say, like CAR magazine journalists, that McLaren's F1 is still the top reference. :finger: Ferrari should give up now in trying to beat McLaren F1.

But again, if you're in for Ferrari's I can understand the excitement and I'm sure Tamiya will produce an excellent replica from it. In 2004 however they will have to do the McLaren MP4/18 cause Kimi will be 2003 champion

Also I was a bit disapointed to find only the EVO VII and Pug 2002 in the rally department. And the EVO VII doen't have the Tommi/Freddy markings either, will have to wait for Studio 27 or Renaissance decals to get started...

Thanks for the update man, highly appriciated!!!!

[Veyron]

About the Enzo, I guess I can understand why people are so excited about it, I on the other hand am one of the few who thinks Ferrari has produced their ugliest car ever . Unfortunatley for all the Prancing Horse lovers, I have to say, like CAR magazine journalists, that McLaren's F1 is still the top reference. Ferrari should give up now in trying to beat McLaren F1.

As a huge Ferrari fan I concede the McLaren is a better looking car than the Enzo. I would in fact rather have a Tamiya kit of the F1, but we know why that didn't/won't happen I have yet to see the F1 in person, one of my goals in life!
The Enzo looks kind of wierd and like most cars will look better in person. I'm sure the 250 GTO and '57 TR looked strange in their day too, but oh to see them now! Who knows, in thirty years we might look at the Enzo and say, "Man, they don't design them like that anymore!"

[hirofkd]

"If only he quit being arrogant and stop giving us a hard time, we can do the McLaren F1."
That's what a Tamiya rep told me, when we were discussing about McLaren formula one cars in general and its licensing problem. Yes, it's not like Tamiya doesn't make a kit of it, but rather they want to, but they can't. It's so frustrating, isn't it?

On the other hand, they do have a plan to approach Porsche and Mercedes to release the Carrera GT and SLR. Let's hope that the manufactures don't give Tamiya s**t, but give them a full access to the factory to release another fine model. Even in 1/24 scale, the Enzo needs rivals.

[flyonthewall]

So how come Maisto have been able to make a diecast F1 and Tamiya can't make a kit???

[ZoomZoomMX-5]

So how come Maisto have been able to make a diecast F1 and Tamiya can't make a kit???

It could be the Maisto had deeper pockets to pay the licensing fees, or perhaps they did the models so long ago before some people like McLaren got really greedy. It's only been the past 10 years or so where the licensing fees started to become a big money maker for the original holders of the designs. Thanks to the legal profession (mainly from the ever-bottom-feeding US lawyers) for raising the price of our models in the spirit of "protecting" a brand name. Pure BS. It's only to make money from the label and the lawyers who search out/grant the licenses. Greed is rampant in certain circles, especially F1. Nobody wants to miss out on a dollar. It used to be that a car company was flattered that someone did a model of their car, and it was generally assumed that the models were like free advertising for the real car. Or the models were commissioned in the first place by a car company. It's simply not that way any more for the most part.

Diecast models are sold in such huge quantities vs. plastic kits, that the licensing fees can be absorbed far easier.

I wonder what Tamiya feels is the "breaking point" on whether or not to license a certain model. Apparently they'd like to kit the LeMans Audis and Bentleys, but the parent companies want extortion-level licensing fees that Tamiya refuses to pay. Wonder if they did pay how much the kits would actually have to cost?

[flyonthewall]

Thanks for that insight, its interesting! But as u say...

Originally posted by ZoomZoomMX-5


Pure BS.

[daggerlee]

I wonder what Tamiya feels is the "breaking point" on whether or not to license a certain model. Apparently they'd like to kit the LeMans Audis and Bentleys, but the parent companies want extortion-level licensing fees that Tamiya refuses to pay. Wonder if they did pay how much the kits would actually have to cost?

I think in hiro's report it mentions that Tamiya said if they could sell F1 models for 3000 yen, they could make any F1 car they wanted to.

Personally, I really like the Enzo's design. I find it fascinating they were able to dispense with a rear wing, and that the car keeps traction up to 220 MPH. Also, as always it displays the latest in F1 technology, and its V12 has a huge displacement, somewhere around 6 liters.

[Guido]

Originally posted by ZoomZoomMX-5


I wonder what Tamiya feels is the "breaking point" on whether or not to license a certain model. Apparently they'd like to kit the LeMans Audis and Bentleys, but the parent companies want extortion-level licensing fees that Tamiya refuses to pay. Wonder if they did pay how much the kits would actually have to cost?

Good point. Also mentioned by hiro and daggerlee is they could do every single subject if they want. The question is, are we willing to pay that kind of money for it?? Tamiya would immediately become a niche producer in the range of not only Studio27 but also Le Mans Miniatures. You can get the complete grid there, but at that cost? No, for Tamiya there's not the big market. I guess their internal organisation is not set-up for that. Anyway, I'm more the satisfied with the current market situation, having more then 60 kits still waiting to be build - mainly Mclaren and Mercedes :finger: , so if I have to wait a couple of extra years, I don't really mind. At it ritme of 4 to 5 kits per year, I'll be 47 before they're all finished. And probably by then I make enough money to buy Studio27 stuff on a regular basis, if Tamiya would not be able to produce any Merc, McLaren stuff that is.

[Jonno]

I would think that most people prefer to build cars that they would actually be able to drive, so the street cars are more popular, next is rally cars,because more people like that subject. So I would think that because it costs so much to produce a model kit, trying to get as close to the real thing as possible, they would prefer to produce the more popular cars. Try to remember, even big companies like Tamiya has a budget.

So, would you prefer to pay extra for licencing to produce a model kit that less people like?

Look at it this way, if they didn't do that many street cars and more F1 cars, people would be complaining too and because their budget most likely restricts them, its a win-lose situation.