Telford kit news – Tamiya 1/48 Messerschmitt Bf 109G-6 preview
Tamiya have been showing all the sprues of their forthcoming 1/48 scale Bf 109G-6. This kit is apparently ready for production, but it will probably be released at the beginning of the next year.
I never expected it to be released that soon. Thanks for posting the sprue photos.
Sorry Julian, I made a miskate in my initial writeup. I is likely we’d have ro wait until Q1 2018 for the release. Pardon the confusion.
No worries Martin, thanks for letting me know.
Looking at the photos...somebody at Tamiya crawled into the mind of modelers and figured out a way simplify a Me-109 kit while presenting the details that madder most to a modeler. Rather, than creating a exact replica with individual pieces they went for a kit that won't be fiddly to build. Simplified the build process for those who like to paint. Which remains to be seen. It could be a K.I.S.S. kit. Looks impressive/expensive.
Steve, you are right. The new approach is very evident in this kit, but I’d say also in many of the Airfix’s new releases. Looks like a dawn of a new trend!
Keep up the good work Martin. Being the eyes and ears of iModeler while being in the candy store of modeling requires some discipline. Taking clear well lit photos in crowds is an art form. Holding onto your wallet and not draining your bank count must be something of miracle too.
Looks like it'll be a welcome addition to the ME-109 collectors. 🙂
Phew ! just what we need another 109, I was getting worried...
Or should I say YET another 109...
A better mouse trap...what about all of the Phantoms too.
Its like fishing ...lures are more for fisherman than fish. Same with models and manufactures.
A 48th scale Scimitar ,I see modellers say this again and again but no manufacturers take it up WHY ? and I know Hampdens have been done a couple of times at least (Airfix, Valom) but could you imagine it in 1/48 they couldn't knock 'em out quick enough... C'mon Airfix how are you missing this gap in the market.
I hate to be a wet blanket, since I'd like those also, but when a model company looks at the international market - as they have to if they plan to stay in business - only the well-known are going to get kitted. As far as going by what "most modelers say," it's practically guaranteed for any manufacturer who makes decisions as a result of reading modeler's polls, that the resulting product will be a shelf-sitter. It's even happened to Airfix's early P-40 in 1/48 - there are three kits at my LHS that have been there since the kit first arrived in the US. Wish it was otherwise...
Totally agree with You guys but... I think I will buy one :/
Neil, let's really go off the deep end- Gannet! Bwahahahaha! Venom, Vampire, Hunter, country will grow! (as Bob Dylan tells us)
I hate to be a wet blanket, since I’d like those also, but when a model company looks at the international market – as they have to if they plan to stay in business – only the well-known are going to get kitted. As far as going by what “most modelers say,” it’s practically guaranteed for any manufacturer who makes decisions as a result of reading modeler’s polls, that the resulting product will be a shelf-sitter. It’s even happened to Airfix’s early P-40 in 1/48 – there are three kits at my LHS that have been there since the kit first arrived in the US. Wish it was otherwise….
Lesson's learned by the Mongoram/Revell Ju-52 and the Catalina. I've seen models at my LHS that have been on the shelf for 20yrs.
But,hope springs eternal ...who would have thought that Tamiya would have made a Swordfish in 1/48th scale. Bobcat has made a Yak-28P again in 1/48th scale. Kinetic has come out with a two seater for the Harrier. Trumpeter has made a Grumman Albatross in 1/48 scale. I'd agree that most companies develop a line up that includes the standards. One can hope for a Scimitar in 1/48 ...a Scimitar for Christmas said Tiny Tim, Preferably from Airfix and made in England.;)
Hi,Stephen! totally agree with you , as I have several 109s ,I still will be picking a few of these up ,along with a few airfix seafuries when they get here
So why bring out that bloody ugly looking Mk1 Blenhiem which I for one have never heard anyone ask for ,not once , NEVER ! , I gaurentee you wont see many of them built on club stands...
Sometimes a manufacture will release the most obscure version of a a/c ( kit) with some hints of making the more popular versions for later release. The basic tooling is done and then they can add the nose and features of the later models. They can stretch the use of the molds. Think Hasegawa P-40 or the Hurricane. Plus, Hornby promised to retool the line up of the old Airfix kits.
I will build one ☝️ the uglier the better
I''ve never understood why both the Ju-52 and the catalina didn't take off. I'm looking for both of those kits and the prices on Ebay are ...well... a bit on the steep side, or did I miss something, very possible never been noted to be the brightest bulb on the tree
For some folks...space is the final frontier. Not everyone has room for a built up kit. They do fit nicely in the box.;)
Avery valid point,I'm currently rearranging things with new shelving and what not, there will be time though where I'm going to reach critical mass
back to the Tamiya 109, looks great , now if they were to up scale it to 1/32 , then they might just knock it out of the park, I built both Revell Germany's G-6 and G-10 and they are very good kits to me , maybe a little over engineered,but certainly buildable, and accurate enough for my liking
I believe Tamiya, have made this kit, so the engine cowls can be swapped from the open, to the closed position, after the model has been completed.
To display the engine, the upper section, and lower section (which is held place with a magnet) can be removed, and changed for the open cowl section parts.
When the closed cowl sections are removed, a subassembly, which includes, engine mounts, machine guns, and the upper section of the engine, is then put in place.
After which, the different upper and lower cowls can then be added, displaying the engine detail.
Julian, what a marvelous idea about the engine detail. Ever since the manufacturers have been putting engine detail in their kits, I'm torn. Do I build it open or closed? Shame to hide all that work, but... Ah! I know! I'll buy a couple... Aaaauugh! Is there no end to the madness!
Hi Bernard, there's a video on YouTube I've posted for you below.
Guess the answer lies somewhere in the balance between what sells and what will be a novel kit (and therefore a bit more of a risk). I love the Blenheim and the Walrus, and I am chuffed with Sea Fury - all Airfix - and it would be great to see them fly off the shelves (no pun). More power to Airfix and their renaissance. Strikes me that they are getting the balance right with the money-spinners (P51, Stuka, P40 etc) and can have the luxury of filling a gap in the itinerary with a few happy surprises. Having an upgraded manufacturing system helps too!
I am also generally a fan of Z-M because they brought something new to the hobby (love it or hate it), but producing yet another 1/48th Phantom (and maybe another to come - who knows?) and heading down the path of 'tweak to throw out another variant' I find a little sad, personally. The Phantom crowd will probably be throwing rotten tomatoes at me (no need I bought one and will enjoy building it immensely) but I'm sure they could have provided more alternatives in one box - I guess they have done the analysis and needed to shift some units! It's a cycle - they gave us a revolutionary take on the Horten 229 and an elegant Ta-152, and they now need to do the popular thing.
I am building a Tamiya E4/7 at present, and this looks significantly different - a transformation if you look at the sprues. Lots of new detail and assemblies. Doesn't look as sharp-edged as an Eduard kit - but does look like it would be really interesting to build. I've got enough 109s in the cupboard, but I am tempted!
Just seen the Z-M post! For every FW190 A4 there is a Henschel 129B with a 75mm canon!
Just my 2 cents on this one... I also think that we don’t need another 1/48 Gustav. In fact the engine swap gimmic aside I tend to see Eduard as a better first choice overall, especially since I don’t use all that AM stuff they do for each model. However, it is true that The Asia/Pacific market is also huge and Tamiya knows that this kit will make a lots of Yens there, let alone the whole global market. I will buy one but no more. Now if they went with the K version that would be more interesting...
" However, it is true that The Asia/Pacific market is also huge and Tamiya knows that this kit will make a lots of Yens" You can bet the kits will be priced more reasonably in the home market too. If its easier to build than the Eduard kit and is priced like the Eduard kit...Tamiya will give them a run for the money. In Japan and the Pacific rim. On the other hand you can buy "Over Trees" from Eduard for the truely addicted in Europe and the States...
Exactly, you nailed Tamyia’s market expectations right there.
And yes, overtree or standard box, Eduard will probably be a better deal in Europe at least, if Tamiya 109 comes with the same price tag as their Hien. As for ease of construction I found Eduard very straightforward with minimal fuss, so more or less what we will expect from Tamiya.