AZKevin Posted November 21, 2010 Report Posted November 21, 2010 Hi Everyone, I recently picked up a 1/32 Ki-84 made by Takara/Tomy at a yard sale (cheap at $6.00). All parts are still sealed in plastic but the decals look REALLY REALLY old. No problem replacing decals. I know Revell/Takara made several 1/32 scale kits (I have the Tony, Raiden, and George in my stash), is Revell/Takara related to Takara/Tomy?. I'm just wondering if anyone konws anything about this kit or has a any experience with it? One more item of note - the instruction booklet feels like it is printed on cardboard the pages are so thick. I don't see a copyright date on it, but everything is in Japanese and I don't read Japanese. Anyway - any comments/info would be appreciated. Thanks, Kevin
ghodges Posted November 21, 2010 Report Posted November 21, 2010 I think the ONLY relationship is the Takara name, which I understand to be a distrubitor (much like Bachman of Bachman/Fujimi back in the 70s). The Revell 1/32 kits you mention (and you're sitting on a gold mine of diminishing returns there!) were kitted by Revell of Japan. Tomy was another Japanese company that kitted their own molds. Up until recently their kits were the only way to get some of those planes in 1/32. As I recall, the Tomy 1/32 kits were noted for having good ariframes and surface details, but sparse/inaccurate cockpit/engine details due to engineering those spaces for the inclusion of an electric motor to make the prop spin. If you want a quick build for the shelf, or a "nostalgia" build, the old Tomy 1/32 Ki-84 would be a fun project. However, if you want to build a serious replica, or a Frank for the contest table, I suggest selling the Tomy kit to a collector and getting the new Hasagawa Ki-84 instead. Hope this helps! GIL
AZKevin Posted November 21, 2010 Author Report Posted November 21, 2010 I think the ONLY relationship is the Takara name, which I understand to be a distrubitor (much like Bachman of Bachman/Fujimi back in the 70s). The Revell 1/32 kits you mention (and you're sitting on a gold mine of diminishing returns there!) were kitted by Revell of Japan. Tomy was another Japanese company that kitted their own molds. Up until recently their kits were the only way to get some of those planes in 1/32. As I recall, the Tomy 1/32 kits were noted for having good ariframes and surface details, but sparse/inaccurate cockpit/engine details due to engineering those spaces for the inclusion of an electric motor to make the prop spin. If you want a quick build for the shelf, or a "nostalgia" build, the old Tomy 1/32 Ki-84 would be a fun project. However, if you want to build a serious replica, or a Frank for the contest table, I suggest selling the Tomy kit to a collector and getting the new Hasagawa Ki-84 instead. Hope this helps! GIL Hi Gil, Thanks for the info. I got all of my Revell/Takara kits at yard sales over the years. I've seen some pretty astronomical prices for all three on ebay. Recently $250.00 for the N1K1-Ja George!! I think my N1K1 cost me $20.00 at a yard sale and the Ki-61 and Raiden were less still. Anyway, I'm HOPING that they are a 'diminishing return' as that would imply that someone (Hasegawa maybe(?)), is bringing out 1/32 scale kits of these aircraft. I would love to see a new mold 1/32 Raiden and N1K1/N1K2 now that we have the new Ki-61, Ki-44, & Ki-84 by Hasegawa and the 1/32 J7W by Zoukei-Mura. Oh yes, not to forget the 1/32 Claude and Nate by Special Hobby. I really hope manufactures will bring more 1/32 scale Japanese birds. I do have one of each new Hasegawa kits in my stash - just couldn't resist a 1/32 scale Ki-84 for $6.00 at a yard sale!! I've though about adding the Aires Ki-84 cockpit to this kit, but so far haven't found a replacement Ha-45 engine. Might have to learn to cast my own using the Hasegawa Ki-84 kit engine as a pattern. Anyway, thanks again for the info & happy modeling, sedonakevin
ghodges Posted November 21, 2010 Report Posted November 21, 2010 (edited) Kevin: check over on Hyperscale. The rumor as of Saturday is that Hasagawa's next 1/32 release (per recent announcement) is the Jack! GIL Edited November 21, 2010 by ghodges
AZKevin Posted November 22, 2010 Author Report Posted November 22, 2010 Kevin: check over on Hyperscale. The rumor as of Saturday is that Hasagawa's next 1/32 release (per recent announcement) is the Jack! GIL Hi Gil, Can't place enough happy smiley faces for a new mold 1/32 Jack!! If it's anything like the others I'm drooling already. Thanks for the update, Kevin
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