Hasegawa

[pyro-manic]

Yeah, but £35 (HLJ's listed price for the TBM-3S) should get you a complete resin kit, not just a few extra conversion parts. It's just not a reasonable price for a single-engine prop-job in 1:72. The importers do extract the urine somewhat with their mark-ups, but the base prices are still very high. If Revell can make and market a Lancaster for £15, why does the Hasegawa one cost more than double that (~£35 on HLJ, £45+ in UK shops)? It's ridiculous. I suspect I could pick up the Academy Avenger, and a load of resin conversion parts to make the -3S, and not spend anywhere near that amount.

[jcf]

Yeah, but £35 (HLJ's listed price for the TBM-3S) should get you a complete resin kit, not just a few extra conversion parts. It's just not a reasonable price for a single-engine prop-job in 1:72. The importers do extract the urine somewhat with their mark-ups, but the base prices are still very high. If Revell can make and market a Lancaster for £15, why does the Hasegawa one cost more than double that (~£35 on HLJ, £45+ in UK shops)? It's ridiculous. I suspect I could pick up the Academy Avenger, and a load of resin conversion parts to make the -3S, and not spend anywhere near that amount.

Gee, I don't know, perhaps because Hasegawa is a Japanese company and they have their stuff made in Japan, so they have to pay Japanese prices for everything? Perhaps because they're not low-balling it in Poland, China or South Korea like Revell and Academy? Ya think maybe that might be a part of the formula?

BTW Hasegawa's standard TBF/TBM-1C is slated for re-stock in March at 1500 yen, Oh the humanity and the price-gouging. 

[NARSES2]

Who the hell would pay £50 for a 1:72 Avenger?

A nostalgic baby boomer with more money than sense.....  If Hasegawa's accountants have identified that there are enough of them to pay the bills, then they're not insane at all. They're only insane if they think it'll go on forever.....

Exactly Weaver. If they can sell them then they will continue to edge prices upwards. Not sure what the "extra's" are in the JSDF Avenger but I would of thought they are making a nice little sum to help an ailing Japanese ecconomy 

Hasegawa has a minuscule affect on the Japanese economy being a very small company (evidently somewhere around 50 people)
selling to a very small market, domestically and internationally.

The Renzan Set list price is 4600 yen at HLJ or about 32 GBP (currently 3680 yen/ 25.71 GBP at Hobby 1999), I suggest you ask
the British re-sellers why importing the kit adds 22 pounds to the list price, especially as SAL shipping should be around 5 pound.
The I-Go is injected BTW. The Kow Yokoyama box art is cool, I wonder how much that cost Hasegawa?
Hasegawa isn't controlling the UK price.

The very limited edition TBM-3S (which rapidly sold out in Japan BTW) listed at 5200 yen (Hobby 1999 sold it for 4160)
due to the resin conversion parts, including a new clear resin rear transparency. Hasegawa has to pay for the mastering
and casting of resin parts just like anybody else, so are you really surprised that they'd pass the cost along?
It's a business folks, and a very small one at that.

I understand all of that Jon and I was being sarcastic with the "help an ailing Japanese ecconomy" quote. It would be nice to know the full details of how the UK retail price is arrived at. That way we would know who to moan at. Very difficult thing to find out though. I tried to work things like that out in a completely different sphere as part of my old job, and it's dammed near impossible.

I'm one of those who believe "if you want it, you will pay the price". I'm still dithering on the Renzan and if the Avenger fell withing my sphere of interest then I don't know how seriously I'd be interested, ut like most I do like the occaisional moan. 

[Daryl J.]

Vector is doing a new engine, cowling, and exhaust for the venerable F4B-4 in 1/32.   


Daryl J.

[Jeffry Fontaine]

CyberModeler has uploaded an in-box review of the Hasegawa F-22 cRaptor (1/48th scale kit # PT45)  for your viewing pleasure.  (click on image or the html to visit the review)

(image source: Michael Benolkin/CyberModeler)

I am a bit surprised that Hasegawa did not bother to include the fuel tanks, at least Academy provided these items in their own interpretation of the F-22. 

[Jschmus]

HLJ are showing preview images of various items to be shown off next month at the Shizuoka Hobby Show.  Among the new releases is an F-16I in 1/72:

http://www.hlj.com/product/hsge34

[chrisonord]

HLJ are showing preview images of various items to be shown off next month at the Shizuoka Hobby Show.  Among the new releases is an F-16I in 1/72:

http://www.hlj.com/product/hsge34

I wonder who I can kidnap and ransom to get myself a couple of those
I think my USMC air wing would like some of those 
Chris.

[Jschmus]

Hasegawa have produced an eggplane rendition of the VF-1A/J Valkyrie from Macross:

http://www.hlj.com/product/hsg65789

[thedarkmaster]

t would be nice to know the full details of how the UK retail price is arrived at. That way we would know who to moan at. Very difficult thing to find out though. I tried to work things like that out in a completely different sphere as part of my old job, and it's dammed near impossible.

both Hasagawa and tamiya are imported into the country by Hobbyco, whom also import Itallieri........can you spot the similarities in price increases ?

[ChernayaAkula]

Just found this >>HERE<< on ARC:

New set of 'splodey bits in 1/48!

Including AIM-9X, AIM-120C, GBU-31(V)3, GBU-38, AN/AAQ-28, AN/AAQ-33, AN/ALQ-184, AN/ALQ-188, LAU-115C/A,...

Hope we'll see this in 1/72, too. 

Ironically enough, I put down a suggestion for this type of set (including AIM-9X and 120C, Sniper, GBU-38) in the recent poll Hasegawa USA held to find out what modellers wanted. CLICKY! Also put in a suggestion for a Viggen family. Hopefully that will go through as well.

[PR19_Kit]

Ooh yes, that lot could seriously spoil some people's day!

Like you, I hope they downscale the set to 1/72 as well, I'd have a use for one or three of them for sure.

[ChernayaAkula]

Hasegawa news for March - June of 2011!

CLICKY #1!

CLICKY #2!

Yay! Sea Flanker in 1/72!   F-16E in 1/72!   And a downscale of the weapon set above.
1/48 E/A-18G Growler and A-4N with the long tailpipe.

[anthonyp]

I also see they're releasing a much-too-large HMS Vanguard BB in 1/450...  Can someone PLEASE make a plastic one in 1/700!

[The Wooksta!]

AFAIK, it's their old tooling anyway.  It's not new.

Doesn't matter what Hasegawa release in the UK, it's becoming pretty much unaffordable.  Their BOB combo for over £30 for a 40 year old Spitfire and a newer BF109 is nothing short of extortionate.

[Deino]

Finally ... the Su-33 !!!!!   

http://www.hasegawa-model.co.jp/Su33/SU33-1.html


And now ... PLEASE ... just a standard Flanker as well as the Trainer, the MK, MKK, MKI ... and Su-34 in this quality !   

Deino