NEO SHOT CANNED? :(

[wldnas]

I have just now seen Technical.Burp's showroom entry report on the cancellation of Tamiya's "Comeback" Off-Road Buggy the Neo-Shot.

I'm very dissapointed and dissalutioned with Tamiya at this decision right now []

I saw the Neo-Shot as an innovative design that would hopefully bring about a renaissance in Off-Road buggies from Tamiya, it's Belt Drive drivetrain is a first for a Tamiya Buggy, but not for the rest of the competition as they had been using Belt drive designs for over the last 10-12 years, so Beld Drive Buggies are nothing new, and perhaps that is one of the reason that Tamiya have cencelled this car as it's too little too late to bring about a rebirth in the popularty of Off-Road cars.

Tamiya's recent Off-Road cars are very toy like in the way they look, no longer are we treated to the realistic looking models that Tamiya used to make in the golden days of the Off-Road market in the 1980's, today the rage is for scale models of Road, Rally, Sports and Super cars, a job which Tamiya do better than anyone else, they still keep their foot in door of the off road market by making the odd Monster Truck and lately these have made up the bulk of Tamiya's Off-Road offerings, but their Buggies have suffered, and as the sales of such cars have fallen away over the last decade Tamiya adapted and turned their talents to making exactly what the public want. [8)]

So in some ways we the general puplic are as much to blame for the Neo-Shots demise just as Tamiya are for not having the guts to take a chance on a design that would probably be a commertial flop anyway [xx(]

After this it is my sincear belief that Tamiya wil drop all new Off-Road Kit car developement and production (not Quick drive or XB) in the next few years as the market grows for ever smaller and specilist, the Age of the Off-roader is passing into extinction as we know it, and new brands are stating to immerge to replace replace it, those being the Mini-scale Off roaders like Mini-Z overlaners, Losi Micro XXT and even the mighty Tamiya TXT-1 has been scaled down to the new TLT, well what do you expect, the Japs are masters at miniturisation and I guess 1:10th isn't small enougth for them any more.

so the Neo-shot (58306) now joins the Schlesser Buggy Megane (58238) in the dubious honour of Tamiya cars that never were, I feel that this is a Turning point in Tamiya's attitude and the RC 1:10 EP Off-Road market at large, it's the beginning of the end and I will weep for the passing of such a facinating chapter in the world of Radio Control []

[SJoerD]

Isn't the cancelation old news? There has been dozens of topics on it! [:0]

There was also never a clue given that the Neo Shot would be sold CANNED! This form of packaging would make the car more 'revolutionary' as it already would have been, that's for sure! []

[Bibbo]

quote:Originally posted by Sjoerd

Isn't the cancelation old news? There has been dozens of topics on it! [:0]

There was also never a clue given that the Neo Shot would be sold CANNED! This form of packaging would make the car more 'revolutionary' as it already would have been, that's for sure! []

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"Canned" is an English term meaning "Terminated"!!! In this case it is refering to the fact that the buggy is not going to be released.

[8)][]It has nothing to do with packaging[][8)]

[RETRO R/C]

As much as I agree with your sentiment Wldnas - I have to say that the reason Tamiya are still here at all is because of the resons you describe. They make what the public wants !

No point making another mountaineer if only 3000 or so people buy it (or any car that is a definate "risk" or that matter).............

Tamiya did what they needed to do in the past - making scale models for radio control........now the market has shifted - and Tamiya have relised this.

They were NEVER a competitive force in the competition scene until the last two years. Now, they have relatively tentatively moved into serious racing - and are reaping some well earned respectability in the competition scene. This has not hurt their sales - as splashing "WORLD CHAMPION" on your packaging certainly aids to credability.

We live in the playstation generation where kids want to play straight away - and for the product to be fast .......They supply the market superbly. Tamiya have made wise choices in the RTR market.

I say good on them......., sadly ([]), I must admit though that we are not treated to the classics....but hey - it is a modern world !

There is nothing stopping all of us from living in the past though!! []

Cheers

Darryn

P.S - please dont refer to the Japanese people as "Japs" - this is quite an offensive term.id="red">

[mud4fun]

LOL, don't worry WLDNAS at the rate I'm stockpiling thundershot parts I'll soon have enough to start mass production [][] as you'll have seen from my other postings they are more than a match for anything Tamiya can produce now!! [8D]

[spiff84(2)]

hi

i thought the death of the Neo Shot was more to do with the fact it was no good rather than no one would buy it.

"Since announcing, continuing development concerning the electromotive RC buggy " neo shot " which has received many inquiries, it was defeated, but development reached to the conclusion of difficulty reaching up to the design which guarantees quality and efficiency as the ƒ^ƒ~ƒ„ product. Because it is not defeated in the reason which puts the annoyance the above this on the customer, you make the sale discontinuance. Badness it does and does not drive and that acknowledgement, it asks." Not the best translation ever, but i think it means it was pants, and couldn't be improved easily.

Surely Tamiya would have only made the prototype if they thought it was going to sell. And i still think the Neo Shot was encouraging: it's better to have Tamiya making off-road prototypes than nothing at all. I just hope the fact it failed didn't put them off.

[DJTheo]

I personally would think that even we classic fans shouldnt complain, which other RC company provides from time to time vintage goodies like re-released kits and bodysets? [8D]

Thank you Tamiya! [^]

[SJoerD]

quote:Originally posted by Bibbo

"Canned" is an English term meaning "Terminated"!!! In this case it is refering to the fact that the buggy is not going to be released.

[8)][]It has nothing to do with packaging[][8)]

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I wouldn't be surprised, everything is sold in tin cans nowadays! [:0]

The Neo Shot 4WD buggy kit suitable for Radio Control - just add water? [8)]

[HunterZero]

quote:Originally posted by RETRO R/C

No point making another mountaineer if only 3000 or so people buy it (or any car that is a definate "risk" or that matter).............[/b]

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For this reason, I'm still puzzled why Tamiya released the series of hugely expensive and narrow-appeal 1/14 scale trucks/trailers, and the Mammoth Dump Truck. Surely a 1/10 scale 3 speed scale 4x4 like the Mountaineer would appeal to a wider range of people than these trucks?

There must be ways to get these kits into the market - such as sell a version of the kit without the 3-speed for the mainstream with the 3-speed as a hop-up, and sell another version of the same chassis with a different body that includes the 3-speed transmission?

- James

[DJTheo]

I agree with you and don't believe the often statement that the 3 speeds would not be produced again due to high costs and small market share, Tamiya makes many expensive high end kits that are appealing only to very few peoples, like some big statics, the Yachts, the solar car, Mamoth, tanks etc...

IMHO they are clever (otherwise they wouldnt have made it till here) and know how appealing their vintage cars are (their re-releases proove that), they are just waiting as time is on their side, the more they postpone it, the more people will be waiting for them and prepared to pay more money.

Cheers

[RETRO R/C]

Totally agree Theo - also would add however, that the Re-RELEASES have been a DISMALL sales story - with wholesalers practically "giving away" the XR311 and Tyrell/Ferrari kits..........the Lancia will probably go the same way (to a lesser extent though - as the chassis is still recognised as a decent performer). I could never understand why they chose to re-release these kits (except the Lancia)..... Tamiya definately are clever, however I think their market research was way off with the reproduction of those kits.

I do beleive we will see another "truck" from Tamiya - however I highly doubt the will doing an all metal 3 speed etc etc etc like the original ones.......I would guess a variation on the "Big Rig's" plastic 3 speed transmission and a mish mash of current parts with a re-release body. Again - more a cost issue.......

I should clarify my comment in the previous post. The cost of doing a total and correct replica of the Bruiser/Mountaineer, Hilux, Blazer would be horrendous.....both for Tamiya and more so for the end end consumer. The models have to appeal to a broader section of the market - and big slow and heavy cars are not what the Genral public wants now. The re-release would have to be lighter and more capable in the handling department for it to be a sales success.

All that being said, I would be one of the first to stand in line to get a "new" Blazer etc if one ever gets released - whether it is all metal or not - those bodies are beauuuuuuuuuuutiful ! For most of we collectors - realism and scale performance is what it is all about.

Cheers

Darryn

[mud4fun]

I think there are people out there willing to pay big bucks for a good scale replica, I was in my LHS yesterday and witnessed him selling a Tamiya tractor unit and oil tanker with 6 channel radio gear (all second hand) for £675, the guy that bought it was very happy with that!! These big trucks are slow and yet they must sell well as Tamiya seems to be expanding the range? The same applies for 1/16 RC Tanks too which have stratospheric prices at the moment, even second hand off ebay! (I want one [] )

[DJTheo]

Exactly mud4fun, also as I wrote bevore the cost of some tanks and yachts is extremly high too but it didnt stop Tamiya releasing them.

quote:I could never understand why they chose to re-release these kits (except the Lancia)..... Tamiya definately are clever, however I think their market research was way off with the reproduction of those kits.

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Maybe a test, as they wanted to keep the aces for later? [] Personally I liked both the XR311 and Lancia as it gave the opportunity for me to obtain those great kits, I think their only fault was they released too many XR311, for the Lancia I dont think the same and believe soon its prices will rise, even later for the XR311. To say the truth I would even have considered the new Tyrell and 312T3 if I wouldnt have the originals, they still look nice on the shelf and this is what its mostly about, but of course an original chassis and box like on the XR311 is much better [8D].

quote:I do beleive we will see another "truck" from Tamiya - however I highly doubt the will doing an all metal 3 speed etc etc etc like the original ones.......I would guess a variation on the "Big Rig's" plastic 3 speed transmission and a mish mash of current parts with a re-release body. Again - more a cost issue.......

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Great, I would love a new 3 speed based for example on the plastic rig tranny and a modified XC chassis as long as it would have a great hard body like the XCs and the production costs would be low as Tamiya could use their famous recooking recipes []

Cheers

[DJTheo]

And btw, (I know you Darrny dind't mean that, I just want to cover possible misunderstandings from readers), that the prices of the re-releases dropped doesnt make Tamiya a bad marketer or loser, it is just that they put initially the price too high to take advantage from the first rush (I also payed almost $250 for the XR311 in 2000 being new, not knowing eBay and afraid to loose it again [:I]) and even when they sell at half the price they make good profit as those kits have minimal design, tooling and R&D costs, (almost) everything was ready, just rebaked and packed in new boxes []

Cheers

[mud4fun]

The only problem I found with the re-releases is that I was told by my LHS that Tamiya aren't producing spare parts for them as they were limited editions? I tried ordering a new midnight pumpkin body parts tree with the body mounts on it and they couldn't supply.

[DJTheo]

This is right, although I think you can order sprue parts by the 9 digit numbers, but MP isn't a re-release, its production simply had never stopped from 88! [:0][8D]