2019 Shizouka Hobby Show

[afx]

1 hour ago, unclescott58 said:

I wish the Japanese would do a few kits of their classic cars sold over here in U.S. spec form. The Datsun 240 is a good start. But, I'd really like to see a '71-'72 U.S. spec Toyota Celica. A left-hard drive Toyota 2000GT would be cool too. Two others I'd like to see. A '70-'72 Toyota Hi-lux pickup truck (my dad had one). And a stock, non racing, Datsun 510. 

 

Hasegawa produced a stock Datsun 510,  in the home market they were called Nissan Bluebird.

[unclescott58]

1 hour ago, afx said:

Hasegawa produced a stock Datsun 510,  in the home market they were called Nissan Bluebird.

Not a US spec car. And that was point of my post. There are plenty of models RHD Fairlady Zs, Toyota Celicas and 2000GTs. Very few versions of US spec models. Cars that we could get in the US. The question is why? Or better yet, why not? 

[niteowl7710]

1 hour ago, unclescott58 said:

Not a US spec car. And that was point of my post. There are plenty of models RHD Fairlady Zs, Toyota Celicas and 2000GTs. Very few versions of US spec models. Cars that we could get in the US. The question is why? Or better yet, why not? 

I suspect for the same reason U.S. model companies don't make RHD versions of U.S. cars exported overseas.  There's probably $15k worth of tooling done to the Z to make it fully N.A. Spec, and the only reason that's viable is because they sank $30k or so into tooling up the rest of the LHD parts for a Rally version of the Z that came out at the end of 2018.  Spending $50k all in one go is quite a bit of cash to sink into something you're selling specifically outside of your home market, to a market that lets face facts is notoriously cheap, tends to hate anything imported and/or not a GAAAAAAAAAAAAASSAR, muscle car, or hot rod.  You'd have to convince Hasegawa they'd sell 5,000 Celicas or 510'd Triple Ses in America at a $10 premium over the existing kit prices (to pay for that new tooling) before they're going to seriously consider it.

[The Junkman]

20 hours ago, niteowl7710 said:

I suspect for the same reason U.S. model companies don't make RHD versions of U.S. cars exported overseas.  There's probably $15k worth of tooling done to the Z to make it fully N.A. Spec, and the only reason that's viable is because they sank $30k or so into tooling up the rest of the LHD parts for a Rally version of the Z that came out at the end of 2018.  Spending $50k all in one go is quite a bit of cash to sink into something you're selling specifically outside of your home market, to a market that lets face facts is notoriously cheap, tends to hate anything imported and/or not a GAAAAAAAAAAAAASSAR, muscle car, or hot rod.  You'd have to convince Hasegawa they'd sell 5,000 Celicas or 510'd Triple Ses in America at a $10 premium over the existing kit prices (to pay for that new tooling) before they're going to seriously consider it.

Oh, sure.  Bring reality into the conversation. 

[niteowl7710]

2 hours ago, The Junkman said:

Oh, sure.  Bring reality into the conversation. 

I know, I know...my apologies...

[afx]

On 4/13/2019 at 11:37 AM, unclescott58 said:

Not a US spec car. And that was point of my post. There are plenty of models RHD Fairlady Zs, Toyota Celicas and 2000GTs. Very few versions of US spec models. Cars that we could get in the US. The question is why? Or better yet, why not? 

It's a Japanese car from a Japanese kit manufacturer is why, converting it to US spec shouldn't be that difficult. 

[martinfan5]

2 hours ago, afx said:

It's a Japanese car from a Japanese kit manufacturer is why, converting it to US spec shouldn't be that difficult. 

Its not, but like James pointed out, there is cost factor and we are not the home market , I  agree 100% with Scott and it would be really nice if the LHD parts , or US spec parts were included in the kits for subjects that made it over here, but we don't live in that perfect world sadly

[niteowl7710]

With things like the Hasegawa Celica, Bluebird & 2000GT you're also talking about tooling that at it's newest (the Celica) is 16 years old at this point.  The rest of it is over 20.  At 21 I can remember seeing very few import kits around any hobby shops, and those ones were a few random Tamiya cars, and a lot of military stuff.  Nobody was tooling LHD parts up for kits that were effectively not even being sold to places that had LHD cars.  The explosion of HLJ, 1999, eBay sellers like Plaza Hobbies/Tokyo Hobbies, and even other far afield vendors like Hobby Easy, Spotmodel, Hiroboy, etc weren't even thought of back then, or had effectively no real profile in the U.S. Hobby Search (aka 1999) is celebrating their 20th Anniversary this year - they were founded in 1999 ergo the website address and nickname.  HLJ just celebrated it's 25th Anniversary last year, and up until maybe 8-10 years ago was basically a big chain e-mail list of product numbers and descriptions and you had to know what it was you were trying to buy, like the old SASE lists from Hobby Heaven.  There was no website, there were no pictures...Now we have real time coverage of hobby shows on FB & Instagram.

Edited April 15, 2019 by niteowl7710

[unclescott58]

Just to let people know. I understand the "reality" of the situation. I just stated what I would like too see. Again, there really are only a few Japanese cars I'd like to see done as US spec version kits. And I'm not so sure the three cars I named would not be big enough sellers in this country to justify the tooling costs? They are: 1. Early 1st gen Toyota Celica. 1971 or '72. 2. The Toyota 2000GT. And 3. The Datsun 510. 

The vehicle I listed that I really never expect to see, because of those "realities" talked about. Is the 1970 - '72 Toyota HiLux pickup. But the other three? I think they might sell well enough in justify the costs. I hope the 240Z proves me right. Despite Revell's very nice 240Z, if this Japanese made version is of a street spec US car, I might be adding another 240Z to my collection. 

Im not a big fan of Japanese cars in general. They build great cars, that bore me. With the few exceptions above. There are only two other US spec Japanese cars, and one truck I want in scale form. The first gen Mazda RX-7. Taken care of through Revell. And the Subaru Brat. Soon to be taken care of through Round 2. The truck? The mid-'70s Datsun pickup. Again, already taken care of by Round 2. There might be a few others I could talked into. I do have the Mitsubishi built Dodge 50 in kit form. 

[peteski]

4 hours ago, niteowl7710 said:

 The explosion of HLJ, 1999, eBay sellers like Plaza Hobbies/Tokyo Hobbies, and even other far afield vendors like Hobby Easy, Spotmodel, Hiroboy, etc weren't even thought of back then, or had effectively no real profile in the U.S. Hobby Search (aka 1999) is celebrating their 20th Anniversary this year - they were founded in 1999 ergo the website address and nickname.  HLJ just celebrated it's 25th Anniversary last year, and up until maybe 8-10 years ago was basically a big chain e-mail list of product numbers and descriptions and you had to know what it was you were trying to buy, like the old SASE lists from Hobby Heaven.  There was no website, there were no pictures...Now we have real time coverage of hobby shows on FB & Instagram.

Remember Rainbow Ten?  They used to have really basic website with basically text-based listings of their stock.  You had to email them your order.  Well, Rainbow Ten is a wonderful large brick-and-mortar hobby shop which just had some online presence.  I was lucky enough to visit them 14 years ago.  That was an experience!

[Mike999]

6 hours ago, peteski said:

Remember Rainbow Ten?  They used to have really basic website with basically text-based listings of their stock.  You had to email them your order.  Well, Rainbow Ten is a wonderful large brick-and-mortar hobby shop which just had some online presence.  I was lucky enough to visit them 14 years ago.  That was an experience!

I remember Rainbow Ten and those days you're talking about.  Great that you got to visit them. According to a quick search, they shut down their online store in 2012.  Armor modelers really loved R-10. They sold individual sprues from Tamiya 1/35 scale kits, so the builder didn't have to buy a whole kit for conversion parts.

When I made some biz trips to Japan back in the 1990's, I hit all the hobby stores I could find. One Tokyo store I visited was the jaw-dropping, 3-story Tenshodo Ginza Honten, in the famous Ginza district. That's where I found Dave Worrall's book "The Most Famous Car in the World," about the Bond Aston-Martins. I still have it, and a Gunze Karmann-Ghia with the Tenshodo sticker on it. 

Another was Yellow Submarine's main store in Akihabara, the "electric city" giant electronics market.   That store was stacked floor to ceiling with kits. Yellow Sub was famous for its obscure garage kits, many never released outside of Japan.  Mostly  figures of horror, sci-fi and...interesting people. If you wanted a six-foot tall vinyl Godzilla or a "racy" figure of a Japanese TV actress, Yellow Sub probably had it.

[peteski]

14 hours ago, Mike999 said:

Another was Yellow Submarine's main store in Akihabara, the "electric city" giant electronics market.   That store was stacked floor to ceiling with kits. Yellow Sub was famous for its obscure garage kits, many never released outside of Japan.  Mostly  figures of horror, sci-fi and...interesting people. If you wanted a six-foot tall vinyl Godzilla or a "racy" figure of a Japanese TV actress, Yellow Sub probably had it.

Yes, I too visited the Yellow Submarine during the same trip.  Amazing stuff!

[fumi]

Tamiya announced in their Facebook page that they will have the GR Supra in their booth and asked people to "keep an eye for it and the announcement of TOYOTA GAZOO Racing car kits".

[martinfan5]

14 hours ago, fumi said:

Tamiya announced in their Facebook page that they will have the GR Supra in their booth and asked people to "keep an eye for it and the announcement of TOYOTA GAZOO Racing car kits".

It only makes sense for them to do the Gazoo Racing Supra .

[Jhedir6]

1 hour ago, martinfan5 said:

It only makes sense for them to do the Gazoo Racing Supra .

Aye, now, is it going to be a GT3 car or the JGTC car? My guess is the GT car and I wouldnt be surprised to see Gazoo come back to Le Mans next year with a Supra in the GTE Pro class since they've got no one to compete against in the P1 class. Rebellion does a decent job of trying to keep them honest but the Hybrids are in a class their own really. Unless Ford jumps (not likely for next year) Porsche and/or Audi come back I'm thinking a GTE car with the Supra is more likely.

[niteowl7710]

FWIW Gazoo Racing is a trim level on the street Supra, so it might not be a race car at all. Since the Gazoo Racing RACE car they're hyping is the TS050.

https://toyota.jp/new_supra/

Also there wouldn't be an announcement of a plastic kit at the show since that would have to go up for Pre-orders if it were less than 90 days away, if there's a Supra it'll probably wait until the Tokyo Model & Hobby Show in the fall.

[Jhedir6]

10 hours ago, niteowl7710 said:

FWIW Gazoo Racing is a trim level on the street Supra, so it might not be a race car at all. Since the Gazoo Racing RACE car they're hyping is the TS050.

https://toyota.jp/new_supra/

Also there wouldn't be an announcement of a plastic kit at the show since that would have to go up for Pre-orders if it were less than 90 days away, if there's a Supra it'll probably wait until the Tokyo Model & Hobby Show in the fall.

Ahhh didnt know that there was a trim lvl for Gazoo on the Supra, makes more sense then that it would be just the street car then. I like the GT car but the street car doesnt appeal to me as much.

 

[fumi]

12 hours ago, niteowl7710 said:

Also there wouldn't be an announcement of a plastic kit at the show since that would have to go up for Pre-orders if it were less than 90 days away, if there's a Supra it'll probably wait until the Tokyo Model & Hobby Show in the fall.

This is the exact wording from Tamiya:

今回のホビーショーで発表する TOYOTA GAZOO Racing 車両のモデル化と合わせてご注目ください！

Literally, "please pay attention to (the Supra) together with the announcement of the modelization of TOYOTA GAZOO Racing vehicle to be made in this hobby show!"

We will know soon.  The show is only 1.5 week away.

Edited April 26, 2019 by fumi

[martinfan5]

6 hours ago, fumi said:

This is the exact wording from Tamiya:

今回のホビーショーで発表する TOYOTA GAZOO Racing 車両のモデル化と合わせてご注目ください！

Literally, "please pay attention to (the Supra) together with the announcement of the modelization of TOYOTA GAZOO Racing vehicle to be made in this hobby show!"

We will know soon.  The show is only 1.5 week away.

Just gotta get thru Golden Week first

[niteowl7710]

10 hours ago, fumi said:

This is the exact wording from Tamiya:

今回のホビーショーで発表する TOYOTA GAZOO Racing 車両のモデル化と合わせてご注目ください！

Literally, "please pay attention to (the Supra) together with the announcement of the modelization of TOYOTA GAZOO Racing vehicle to be made in this hobby show!"

We will know soon.  The show is only 1.5 week away.

Could still be the TS050, I don't believe it's been shown publicly in Japan since it was announced. The pictures we have of it from its debut was at the Nuremberg Toy Faire. 

[djflyer]

2 hours ago, niteowl7710 said:

Could still be the TS050, I don't believe it's been shown publicly in Japan since it was announced. The pictures we have of it from its debut was at the Nuremberg Toy Faire. 

I seem to recall the TS050 being on display at the Tamiya booth during the Long Beach GP.  

[niteowl7710]

1 hour ago, djflyer said:

I seem to recall the TS050 being on display at the Tamiya booth during the Long Beach GP.  

Probably was, but that's not Japan anymore than Germany is...

[djflyer]

Obviously true to both, but it seems odd it would be on display here and not in Japan.  They were selling all types of Tamiya kits there, but I never noticed if the TS050 was being offered so I'll have to check the price sheet they were taking orders.

 

[niteowl7710]

8 hours ago, djflyer said:

Obviously true to both, but it seems odd it would be on display here and not in Japan.  They were selling all types of Tamiya kits there, but I never noticed if the TS050 was being offered so I'll have to check the price sheet they were taking orders.

 

It's coming out in May, there wasn't a North America first release with it,  which makes sense given that it's a Japanese race car given the history of it only being the 2nd Le Mans winning car for the nation. 

[Jhedir6]

4 hours ago, niteowl7710 said:

It's coming out in May, there wasn't a North America first release with it,  which makes sense given that it's a Japanese race car given the history of it only being the 2nd Le Mans winning car for the nation. 

The TS050 has been released in Asia. I preordered from Hobby Easy and it shipped this week, I'm hoping to have it by the end of next week. There are also a couple of listing up on Ebay as well.

US price is about $47 shipped (a friend in Hawaii paid this). 

I found a set of instructions online and it looks like a fairly complex kit (despite the lack of an engine) and should amount to a challenging build. 

https://www.scalemates.com/products/img/2/1/3/1192213-75-instructions.pdf