How long will the re-releases last?

[gordb]

I'm currently planning a big international move later this year, and given I'm already scared of how much it's going to cost to ship my current collection back to Australia, I'm trying to hold off buying too many more new kits until we're over there. But I've already started to notice a few of the re-release kits dissappearing from some of the online hobby stores. I know this might just mean they're temporarily out of stock, but it got me wondering how long the current load of re-releases (specifically frog, hornet, grasshoppper) would stay in production - and if (gulp) any of them might already have stopped. I'm also wondering what's going to happen to the price of kits and parts as soon as they get discontinued.

Should I **** the shipping costs and start stocking up? Or am I safe to hold out for the better part of a year?

Anyone care to venture a guess as to how long Tamiya will keep pumping them out? 

[VonBlade]

I'd wager "For as long as they keep selling".

Which I hope is quite a while, I've always fancied a Frog.

 

[Mad Ax]

I'm in a similar position - really fancy a re-re Grasshopper TBH, but can't justify the cost right now []

But judging by the posts on TC, they must still be selling well, surely..?

[gordb]

No denying TC is full of re-res ... but I wonder how many new kits are selling now that they've been out a while? Perhaps it's just my paranoia talking - but it feels suspiciously like the hornet and grasshopper particularly seem to be getting harder and harder to find from our friends in Hong Kong ... and even eBay seems to be listing fewer of them with many auctions going unbid on.

Certainly going on the TLT (and TXT?) being discontinued, a small trickle of revenue doesn't seem to keep things in production.

It's odd - two years ago if you had offered me a NIB frog for $100USD, I would have ordered a whole crate of the things. But just knowing they're there seems to make me complacent, and I'd kick myself if they announce the things have been discontinued and the prices start climbing again.

[ssvoc]

I hope they will keep selling them. I intend to get a Hornet, Blackfoot and maybe a Clodbuster in the future.The Clodbuster has never really been out of production at any point, so that might be a good indication.

[Dephcon5]

No denying TC is full of re-res ... but I wonder how many new kits are selling now that they've been out a while? Perhaps it's just my paranoia talking - but it feels suspiciously like the hornet and grasshopper particularly seem to be getting harder and harder to find from our friends in Hong Kong ... and even eBay seems to be listing fewer of them with many auctions going unbid on.

Certainly going on the TLT (and TXT?) being discontinued, a small trickle of revenue doesn't seem to keep things in production.

It's odd - two years ago if you had offered me a NIB frog for $100USD, I would have ordered a whole crate of the things. But just knowing they're there seems to make me complacent, and I'd kick myself if they announce the things have been discontinued and the prices start climbing again.

Yep, people always want what they cant have.

Its available... so I get one some other time.

OH NO! Theyr'e all gone!..... I gotta get one now!

Seriously, who wants something thats a dime a dozen.

Re-re's are all the same as the rest. If its selling, they keep makin. If its not selling, production halts. If they re-re something at all its because they think it will sell. Its just another business that has a goal to make money. However, its a company we all like, or we wouldnt be here.

thats just my 2 cents

 

[gordb]

I entirely agree that is all about sales and revenues - but that just makes the question "How long will it take for the sales of re-res to die off to the point that Tamiya discontinues them?" ... not quite as catchy [].

I'm guessing Tamiya must have discontinued some older re-releases already - does any one know how long the production runs were for them?  

 

[Capt.Camping(PANAMA)]

As long as they make money.

[CarKing]

Once they get into the TA03s, I think they will really scale it back for a while. There are a couple nice TA03 cars I want them to rerelease like the Opel Cliff, Alfa Bosch, PIAA Porsche to name a few.

[bjr250]

The re-releases of the Thunder Shot and Top Force have already been discontinued according to the Tamiya USA site.  Another thing you might want to consider is that the distributors for some countries do not necessarilly import all of the models that are released (I don't think that the Australian distributor had any Hornets) and that the price will be different in some countries.

All things considered whether you wait till after your move or not, most things are available via eBay or online shops and will continue to be available for some time (but you will still have to pay for shipping).

[tarznatz]

Can't you buy them and have them sent directly to someone in AU who can hold them for you?

[gordb]

Many (respectable) online retailers will refuse to ship goods to any address other than the billing address to prevent credit card theives going shopping.

But I might try and sneak a few kits over ahead of me once I know which city I'm going to be landing in.

[Mad Ax]

Many (respectable) online retailers will

refuse to ship goods to any address other than the billing address to

prevent credit card theives going shopping.

I only order

from shops and ebayers that will ship to my office address, as there's

nobody at home during working hours to take delivery.  If my house

is carded on Monday, it will be Saturday before I can get to the post

office or depot (which might mean a 60 mile round trip) to pick up my

new toy.  Sometimes I can't wait that long []

If you use ebay and pay by paypal you can almost always specify a delivery address. 

[hardb8]

Hi m8,

I'm in Aus,And I was told be my local that the production of the Frog box kit will be ending very soon,But it will still be available in RTR form,Dunno if this is true or not,But it is what he told me.We were just chatting,And I told him I already had two,So he wasn't trying to get a sale.As mentioned above,He also stated that the Hornet wasn't shipped to Aus for sale.

 

You can send ya collection to my house if ya like?I promise I'll take real good care of em.LOL.

 

  Cheers Rick.

[Capt.Camping(PANAMA)]

At least you have Tamiya R/C. Here in Panama the only Tamiya they have on the only hobby shop are scale models and they are expensive. They have most parts for nitro cars. Funny, here most people are buying nitro and they dont have time to spend on the hobby.

[gordb]

That's very kind of your Rick. Say, would you mind if I sent a few of my SRB and 3 speed kits over as well? []

I really wouldn't be surprised if they do stop production on at least one of these kits sooner rather than later - I'm going to try and get a few shipped to Aus ahead of me. The added bonus is the missus will be none the wiser =)

Cheers!

G

 

 

 

[mobias]

It wouldn't surprise me if they ended the Frog production when the Bratt comes out. Do Tamiya only announce new models at the big hobby and toy fairs? Are there any coming up?

[JAnderson]

Generally yes, next one is the toy fair in Germany. in the next couple months.

[DJTheo]

Generally yes, next one is the toy fair in Germany. in the next couple months.

Nürnberg fair is the biggest toy fair in the world and between 1st and 6th of February, Tamiya will celebrate there their 30 years of RC and 40 years of participation to that fair! and supposed to present some new RC and static kits there! [H]

Cheers 

[jocktheglide]

Generally yes, next one is the toy fair in Germany. in the next couple months.

Nürnberg fair is the biggest toy fair in the world and between 1st and 6th of February, Tamiya will celebrate there their 30 years of RC and 40 years of participation to that fair! and supposed to present some new RC and static kits there! [H]

Cheers 

 

awesome wonder what they plan to bring maybe a reissue bruiser that be be nice....seems the XB hornet is discontinued...

[jocktheglide]

Generally yes, next one is the toy fair in Germany. in the next couple months.

Nürnberg fair is the biggest toy fair in the world and between 1st and 6th of February, Tamiya will celebrate there their 30 years of RC and 40 years of participation to that fair! and supposed to present some new RC and static kits there! [H]

Cheers 

 

awesome wonder what they plan to bring maybe a reissue bruiser that be be nice....seems the XB hornet is discontinued...

[mobias]

Generally yes, next one is the toy fair in Germany. in the next couple months.

Nürnberg fair is the biggest toy fair in the world and between 1st and 6th of February, Tamiya will celebrate there their 30 years of RC and 40 years of participation to that fair! and supposed to present some new RC and static kits there! [H]

Cheers 

 

Thats interesting, I wonder if they've got any BIG surprises in store to celebrate things? I'm in the middle of deliberating what my next Tamiya car is going to be, I think I'll have to wait and see what they announce before I buy anythying

[jocktheglide]

Generally yes, next one is the toy fair in Germany. in the next couple months.

 

any ideas anderson what they plan to bring?

[jocktheglide]

Generally yes, next one is the toy fair in Germany. in the next couple months.

 

any ideas anderson what they plan to bring?

[hardb8]

No worries G,

Send em all!I'm sure I can find room here somewhere.Out of curiosity.Which SRB kits do you have?

 

Cheers Rick.

 

P.S. Make sure ya get back here for Australia Day.There's no place like home.