Fujimi Honda Integra Type R - disappointment with this kit

[shieldwulf]

I bought a Fujimi 1/24 Honda Integra Type R with "Cockpit" decals. It is my first Fujimi model kit, after I was awestruck with the availability of a Honda Integra Type R, I had to buy it. I was not able to locate a Tamiya kit of this car, perhaps Tamiya never/have not made this particular model (yet).

After opening the box, the first part I took out for close observation is the body shell. Man, am I disappointed! I feel dulled by its mold definitions. Especially the door handles, they are too flat and are nothing but a bunch of flat oval lines shaped to represent the door handles on the body shell.

The next thing is the undercarriage or chassis. I am disappointed too. Although the details are present, the molding shapes that represent the chassis components are all pretty blunt looking compared to any Tamiya model car chassis.

The small parts all don't seem to be as sharp or thin as the Tamiya ones. For example, the windscreen wipers seemed to be slightly thicker than Tamiya ones.

I am now concerned with the parts fitting, and whether will the overall model look accurate and sharp once it is completed. Not to mention that it was more expensive than a typical Tamiya curbside kit of the same scale. In Singapore, the retail of a typical 1/24 Tamiya curbside kit range from SGD28.90 (USD17.00) to SGD31.90 (USD18.80) while I bought this Fujimi curbside for SGD45.00 (USD26.50). It is not worth the money for this level of quality.

The only goodness I can observe are that there are no major flashes on the parts and the plastics walls for the body shell, chassis and larger parts are thicker. I am not so fearful of cracking them as compared to the thinner and more fragile parts of the Tamiya.

The other major difference is that Fujimi seemed to carry many variety of model kits even for the same car model. So it seems that I would not have a choice if I want a model kit of something which is not available to Tamiya.

To me, Fujimi is like bollywood and Tamiya is like hollywood. They serve the same purpose but at different levels of quality.

[BaNe]

the first thing that should of tipped you off was the word FUJIMI on the box j/k It will take a little work but I am sure you can make it look decent.

[shieldwulf]

Originally posted by BaNe
the first thing that should of tipped you off was the word FUJIMI on the box j/k It will take a little work but I am sure you can make it look decent.

Yes I definitely will be more cautious from now on. Any kit other than a Tamiya will now deserve careful thinking before committing my purchase. And I will buy non-Tamiya car models (if ever in future) only if I want it very much but not available by Tamiya.

I don't want to waste my money on lower quality model kits but of course, this is a very subjective matter.

[primera man]

I have to share your view on this one and agree.
Having brought the kit a while back i was most disappointed with it

[Trueno]

The ONLY reason I buy fujimi is because nobody else makes the kit. Like my beloved ae86. Thats also why I purposely bought Hasewaga Civic kits as opposed to the fujimi.

[Rtuned]

Most modelers that did not do a Fujimi or Aoshima kit before will said the same thing as disappointment on Fujimi kit. Yes, I admit that Fujimi don't focus on details like Tamiya. But looking at the other way, Fujimi will be a models that make your first step on modify. Since it has less part, it was a lot of easier to modify.
In SG, there is agent for Tamiya brand, so there are price control. As for the rest of the brand, are totally direct from Japan or Hong Kong. From HK, it will cost a little cheaper unless that shop want to rip you off . Most of them try to lower their own profit to fulfill most modelers. We have try our very best to keep that price near to Tamiya, but we can't. I ask my friend to talk to Fujimi boss about the price on the box and the products inside doesn't match, he told me that boss ignore it and try to increase more... I myself and some shops really thinking stop bringing Fujimi models in because the price is getting higher and higher....

Rtuned

[MR-2RaCeR]

Dont be too disappointed with that kit. I have built taht kit and it turns out all right. the only problem is that the wheels dont stick on right. Besides taht, evrything is alright, but i would like to recommend lowering the car alot, because the car sits so high it could probably go full speed over a speed bump without losing any speed!