Are tamiya models and other foreign models good?

[Longbox55]

Something else to keep in mind with Tamiya, some of their JDM cars do include the parts to build them as their Export/USA counterparts. Case in point, the 300ZX, which includes both dashboards, 2 different dash gauge cluster decals, and even the different JDM and USA spec intake manifolds. I have seen kits done in a similar manner from Fujimi and Aoshima as well.

[dantewallace]

Another good hobby-shop, on eBay, is Tokyo Hobby. Their prices are the cheapest I've seen & shipping very reasonable & they ship super quick... To Australia anyway.

If you want to see just how much better the Asian kits are then do as advised... I personally recommend Aoshima's Aventador or either of the twins ( FT86-BRZ ) with engines.

How exactly do you spell the username? I tried Tokyohobby, and Tokyo hobby. No hits.

[martinfan5]

Something else to keep in mind with Tamiya, some of their JDM cars do include the parts to build them as their Export/USA counterparts. Case in point, the 300ZX, which includes both dashboards, 2 different dash gauge cluster decals, and even the different JDM and USA spec intake manifolds. I have seen kits done in a similar manner from Fujimi and Aoshima as well.

For the most part yes, but now all them include both LHD/RHD

How exactly do you spell the username? I tried Tokyohobby, and Tokyo hobby. No hits.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/Automotive-/2580/m.html?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEFSXS%3AMESOI&_ssn=tokyo-hobby

[checkmate]

Tamiya cars and bikes go together very easily, well engineered and miles ahead of Revell, AMT etc.

The only downside is that Tamiya make the most boring subjects(well in my eyes anyway).

I don't want to build a F1 or BTCC car, I'd rather build a Chev van, Willys Gasser or 40 Ford coupe.

Tamiyas bikes are well engineered to and I've build a couple and as everyone else has said, minimum mould lines, super detail and great fit.

[Longbox55]

Here's a sample of one of Tamiyas kits, the '72 GT-R

[martinfan5]

Price wise, you get what you paid for, but note that the pricing reflects a few things. The strength of the Yen, and the fact that the kits go through multiple hands in the importation to the USA. Some guys order from sources like Hobby Link Japan where the kits are quite a bit cheaper, but you pay International postage (and possibly customs duty) on the order.

There are no custom's duties on models kits, well, toys coming from Japan to the states, model kits fall under the toy the category

Shipping is not really that bad, I shipped 7 kits awhile back, and the total was somewhere in the mid $40's, it came to be like $9 a kit, which is pretty much the average rate going for shipping in the states

[dantewallace]

Tamiya cars and bikes go together very easily, well engineered and miles ahead of Revell, AMT etc.

The only downside is that Tamiya make the most boring subjects(well in my eyes anyway).

I don't want to build a F1 or BTCC car, I'd rather build a Chev van, Willys Gasser or 40 Ford coupe.

Tamiyas bikes are well engineered to and I've build a couple and as everyone else has said, minimum mould lines, super detail and great fit.

Agreed on their bikes. I am building their 95 moto guzi ask I type this and its going together perfectly. I was afraid of it at first because it is the first bike that I have ever built, but it has given me confidence to possibly build another.

[ERIK88]

They dont have many US cars as for kits,these are the one i could think of now. But they have lot of cool US cars in RC.

Older kits like the Ferrari Testarossa or F40 you can get dirt cheap on Ebay these days. The most expensive seem to be the Ford Sierra RS500 and Escort Cosworth kits. It`s a shame these never was made as street versions. But i guess Tamyia focus mostly on motorsport and RC. Yeah,and there are lot`s of US "iron" in the WW2 1:35 scale.

Quality is top notch imo.

Those look like some nice models. specially the jeep wrangler

Here's a sample of one of Tamiyas kits, the '72 GT-R

nice model ,like the detail. ver convincing

[Tonioseven]

Like with any kit, you get out of it what you put into it. Tamiya Nissan Skyline. Curbside but I enjoyed building it.

[ERIK88]

That is one nice skyline, wow beautiful

Edited September 6, 2013 by ERIK88

[Matt Bacon]

Has anyone bought or built the Tamiya Aston Martin DBS?

Sure looks like a very nice kit.

It certainly is. One of the easiest to build, best-engineered kits I've ever had the pleasure to put together:

...can you tell that the engine's not complete, but just a top section in a tub?

bestest,

M.

[om617]

I saw it at a local show recently and was told it goes together beautifully out of the box. It was also beautiful in person complete. I don't know how I feel about the $70 price tag I saw locally though.

This is typical evilbay price with free shipping. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Tamiya-24316-1-24-Aston-Martin-DBS-model-kit-/200954808835?pt=AU_Toys_Hobbies_Model_Kits&hash=item2ec9d70a03

[CJ1971]

It certainly is. One of the easiest to build, best-engineered kits I've ever had the pleasure to put together:

...can you tell that the engine's not complete, but just a top section in a tub?

bestest,

M.

I absolutely second Matt on the DBS kit! I've built 1 & have another 2 in the stash. Worth every cent too. Just be aware there are 2 versions of this kit available... The original release, which comes with standard PE set & could be had for under $50US. & there's the Re-release, which comes with the Aber up-market & may I say, brilliant PE set. This kit should be no more than $70-75US.... But we'll worth it for the disc brakes/calipers alone! My advice... If you like/love Astons... You MUST get this kit.

Cheers Cliff

[dantewallace]

Like with any kit, you get out of it what you put into it. Tamiya Nissan Skyline. Curbside but I enjoyed building it.

Beautiful build!!! Is this completely box stock? I'd like a few sets of those wheels

[ERIK88]

Beautiful build!!! Is this completely box stock? I'd like a few sets of those wheels

I think those are Volk wheels, I have seen a pair of those same white ones on Amazon.com for $12. I dont know if they are the same models or they might have just came with the kit.

[dantewallace]

I think those are Volk wheels, I have seen a pair of those same white ones on Amazon.com for $12. I dont know if they are the same models or they might have just came with the kit.

Correct they are volks, I love those wheels. Had them on two of my 1:1 cars.

[Rob McKee]

I absolutely second Matt on the DBS kit! I've built 1 & have another 2 in the stash. Worth every cent too. Just be aware there are 2 versions of this kit available... The original release, which comes with standard PE set & could be had for under $50US. & there's the Re-release, which comes with the Aber up-market & may I say, brilliant PE set. This kit should be no more than $70-75US.... But we'll worth it for the disc brakes/calipers alone! My advice... If you like/love Astons... You MUST get this kit.

Cheers Cliff

Now I have an itch to scratch! I must have this kit.

I can't tell if the engine is complete Matt. What a beautiful job you have done building this kit.

Thanks

Rob

[Matt Bacon]

Thanks, Rob! The engine isn't complete, a fact which caused some ructions when the kit first appeared, because people expected full detail for the price. Me, I REALLY don't think you can tell one way or the other looking at it, and the build is foolproof as a result...

bestest,

M.

[Chuck Kourouklis]

Yours a beaut, Matt. My single gripe with the kit is that the grille is open, and there's nothing to stop you seeing the cylindrical mounting boss for the front end behind it if you don't fill it in somehow with a panel. Should have been some representation of a radiator, core support, or whatever it is you actually see behind a 1:1 Aston grille there, and it needn't be any too sophisticated to do a satisfactory job.

Another happy HLJ client here. I'd suggest looking around for kits recently re-released like the Honda NSX, the 300ZX mentioned earlier, the Ferrari F40 or Testarossa maybe - there's a number of these available on the cheap, and the quality is just about commensurate with the latest releases. If you trip across one of the Jeeps shown above, you should find it pretty nice. The Mustangs will give you about the same building experience, but for proportions and accuracy, they are an uncommonly dismal effort from the company.

[johnbuzzed]

My experience with Tamiya kits, while admittedly limited, does allow me to say that they are among the best. I currently have one PzKpfw IV that I picked up for a steal in the early '80s, the Jeep shown in an previous post (it has working suspension: metal coil springs) and three WWII fighters. I can tell you that just test fitting the aircraft parts shows the care in engineering that went into these kits; I don't think I'll need filler at any seams. It's been so long since I opened the tank that I couldn't honestly say anything about it. I am not saying that Tamiya makes perfect kits but they're as close to it as I've ever encountered.

[Rob Hall]

NEVER had an issue with them over the MANY orders they have filled for kits not available here or only at double the price HLJ has. It's a little slow sometimes because basic shipping is by the cheap method unless you pay for air ship. But never had an issue being filled correct.

Never had a problem w/ them either..I use the Private Warehouse feature to group items into shipments and with Fed Ex shipping it's usually 3 days from Japan, faster than many shippers with the US.

I've been building Tamiya kits off and on for close to 30 years, my first one was the Audi Coupe Quattro kit back around 1985... as far as other Japanese brands, I've been happy w/ Aoshima, Fujimi and Hasegawa kits as well.

Edited September 6, 2013 by Rob Hall

[ZTony8]

It takes me longer to paint the parts in a Tamiya kit than it does to assemble the kit!And some of the painted parts are invisible when the model is assembled unless you leave the body parts (or shell,as the case may be) unglued.

[CJ1971]

Now I have an itch to scratch! I must have this kit.

I can't tell if the engine is complete Matt. What a beautiful job you have done building this kit.

Thanks

Rob

You won't be disappointed Rob, trust me. Go for the Aber PE re-release version. I did forget to mention 1 thing though... & this isn't just a gripe with Tamiya but with nearly all the model kit manufacturers except Aoshima.... The tyres (tires), they're a little too thick ( high-profile ) & there's no sidewall detail :-( This problem is easily solvable if you can get your hands on any of Aoshima's 20in Pirelli tyres. They're perfect to replace the tyres in the Aston kit.

Cheers Cliff