A few more future releases. (1 Viewer)

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I love ICM, they are really in our corner price wise.

The detail on their out of the box kits is awesome and the price is mild compared to tamigawa-china-korea ripoff prices.
 
For the most part I'm with you guys, but I have to disagree on HobbyBoss though. In my opinion HB had been releasing quite a few nice and new modern-tool yet quite affordable kits (smaller versions of expensive Trumpeter kits) as of late. Take their Spit V for example. While not exactly the most accurate model 1/32 scale, you do get a very nicely detailed kit that will build into a nice replica if you ask me, and at a rather reasonable price, especially if compared to the latest Tamiya offerings. I've also seen quite a few interesting 1/48 and 1/72 HB being released lately (ME-262/F8F Bearcat/Seahawk/Panther etc. all of which are smaller versions of expensive Trumpy kits in either 1/24, 1/32 or 1/48 scale) As for other brands, Airfix and Revell would also be worth looking into, as both are also on a roll as of late. Both released very affordable yet very nice new kits lately in various scales, none of the overpriced Tamigawasan stuff
 
It's not just the kits. Many times I spruce up my builds with True Details wheels ans Crystal Clear vac canopies as an inexpensive way to make an older kit look good. Went on Squadrons site the other day and most or the wheels were $4.50 and the Canopies $7.50. That seemed pretty high so I pulled out their 2009 catalog and saw the same wheels for $2.50 and the canopies for $4.50. I know that prices go up. but over 60% in two years! Reminds me of when gas prices jumped a dollar and Testors raised the price of a 1/2 ounce bottle of paint the same amount stating that it was because of the fossil fuel price raise. How many ounces in a gallon? Do they think we can't do simple math?
 
And, of course, if companies Like Revell, a fairly large concern, can produce excellent, large kits at reasonable prices (for example, the 1/32nd scale Ju88), how come other companies charge two and three times the price for a re-issued, 25 year old 1/48th scale kit, which might have new decals but nothing else?!!
 

The economics behind those kind of things is indeed rather questionable. Interesting in this respect is how Revell gets to produce and rebox certain Hasegawa kits (try to look beyond the confusion it sometimes causes for consumers as far as contents of a kit goes) and sell them at half the price. I bett they wouldn't do that if no money was to made from a move like that. This all the more shows how overprized Hasegawa kits are.
 
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I've just seen an advert for a 1/72nd scale Tu95 'Bear', which must be one very impressive, huge kit. But, at special offer of £189, and a SRP of £208 !!! OK, it's probably got a limited appeal, but at that price, it's now got a limited market !!
 
Exactly. And if a Tamiya, for instance, looses market share to a Revell, for instance because of pricing, you should see them adjust if they want to survive.
 
There are shades here of the late 1960s / early 1970s car market (in the UK), when a very basic Ford Escort Mk1 was around £900 brand new. No 'creature comforts', no radio etc etc.
Datsun (now Nissan) introduced the 100 A and 120Y, with multi-speed screen wipers, recessed door handles, seat belts, reclining seats, radio etc, at less price. Grabbed the market, then built factories in the UK (and Europe), and slowly increased prices, having created a demand.
And look what followed.
Grrr!!!
 
Airframes said:
Some very interesting stuff there Karl! The B-24 was a good kit, glad to see it back. Just noticed that the Revell Ventura is a PV-1, which I think is the 'solid' nose - b*gg*r !
Noticed a 1/32nd scale Mossie too !
Click to expand...

I fear you're right about the 'solid' nose, but perhaps of some interest nonetheless...on Hyperscale a build (maybe of a test shot) of Revells forthcoming Ventura is posted. Looks like a nice new kit to me
 
I don't know if this has been mentioned, but at the LHS I noticed Revell has released (still under the ProModeller name) the 1/48 Helldiver with Bunker Hill markings and a tri-colour scheme (I can't recall the details unfortunately, besides Late '44) and I also noticed a 1/72 B-17 under the PM brand as well. Also, my brother picked up a re-released Revell 1/48 F-5E.
 
Tamiya have released a 1/48th scale Hurricane Mk1 kit, which includes 3 figures. The box art appears to depict Willie McKnight's 242 sqn machine, and also displays a Italeri logo, so I'm guessing this is a re-boxing of the new Italeri item !!
The UK retail price is £42.50, which I think is taking the p*** a little, although the price at Model Hobbies is £32 approx. Still a bit steep if it is the same kit but with 3 figures.
 
Why oh why do they do it?! OK, it capitalises on the mould, and perhaps there are shared costs, making investment etc more 'bearable', but it smacks of malpractice slightly, and must be confusing and annoying to those modellers not so well informed on products. At least this time the box carries a small Italeri logo, but even so, it's annoying.
 
I find it a little confusing too at times. In this instance I would say it doesn't do the Tamiya reputation much good either. Truth be told, it's a pretty good kit...by Italeri standards, and I'm looking forward to having a crack at my Italeri kit, but IMHO it doesn't stand up all that well compared to genuine Tamiya shake bake kits designed and tooled according to their own high standards such as their 1/48 Spitfires, Mustangs and Thunderbolts and the like. A re-release by Tamiya prolly won't do the prince much good either (even though the Italeri price is pretty steep as it is)
 
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