Will the Re-Releases come to an end soon?

[MattC]

Just a thought, but with the epic announcement of the Bruiser making a return and the classic models which have already made a comeback, how long can Tamiya keep doing this? I seem to recall reading on here some time ago that there may be a limited planned lifespan for re-releases and if this is the case, how many more can we look forward to? Thoughts?

[Tamiya Era]

Just a thought, but with the epic announcement of the Bruiser making a return and the classic models which have already made a comeback, how long can Tamiya keep doing this? I seem to recall reading on here some time ago that there may be a limited planned lifespan for re-releases and if this is the case, how many more can we look forward to? Thoughts?

ohhh man,,, it is the beginning

[Saito]

I remember all the theories being bantered about. The "re-res were all based on the coffee can cars" was disproven. Many (including me) heard the rumor and believed the re-res would end in a big final release. Alot felt the return of the SRBs would be it, but now, here we look at the Bruiser. Let's not even start down the road of why "fill in the blank" model could never be re-re'd because molds were lost or worn out or aliens stole them etc. Here's the one fact you can bank on: Tamiya will do as Tamiya pleases, many times without ryhme or reason to us enthusiast. Tamiya may be passionate about what they produce but they are still a company in business to make profit. If re-res are popular and profitable, I personally don't see them ending anytime soon. Some re-res are flops just like new releases and some are home runs. I'm just grateful Tamiya gives us this second chance oppertunity.

[IBIFTKH]

If re-res are popular and profitable, I personally don't see them ending anytime soon

Makes perfect sense. If re-res make money, why stop?

And don't forget, we're seeing some cars being re-re-released, like the XR311. Maybe Mr T will find it profitable to bang out a fresh batch of certain models every few years. I think we're going to see a 3-pronged business plan from Tamiya - new releases, 'fresh' re-releases and selected re-re-releases.

[ralphee]

I look at it this way , then i look at this way too lol, Tamiya, WILL go on to produce whatever they see fit to. There are always the Roswell stories on tooling going missing, blah blah blah, if a certain tooling DID go missing, Tamiya can quickly and efficiently re tool, they do it with there static kits, they will continue to do it with the RC kits, ANYTHING is possible, bring on the 959 LOL.

I can see them running re're's for quite some time yet, a lot of money to be made, a lot of ground to cross, its just awesome to be along for the ride and seing them all over again, and saying "wow, i remember that one"!

lee

[Winniez]

I think re-releases are relatively easy cash for Tamiya so I would expect them to keep releasing these kits. One thing to consider is ofcourse the fact that there are not that many high demand classic kits left to re-release. Best selling/profiting kits seems to remain in production like the Hornet. Maybe some other kits will see a second run re-releasing. Its also worth noticing that Tamiya breaks its previous releasing pattern with going back to previously visited Hot Shot chassis and re-releasing the Super Shot.

[taliesin]

Tamiya has been bashed a fair amount for not "keeping up" or innovating any new products lately, particularly in the short course and rock crawling markets, but I think of it like this: maybe by focusing on the nostalgia market they aren't trying to keep up - they are breaking new ground. I don't see any other manufacturers cashing in on this nostalgia market!

Tamiya is selling models like crazy and it might be giving their designers a chance to break new ground as well. It can't take as much time & effort to tweak a re-re as it does to produce a scratch built new model, so perhaps Tamiya is killing two birds with one stone - make bank off an under served re-re nostalgia market whilst working on some new stuff for the future? Could happen...?

I also see them creating a new market for a younger crowd with some of these so-called re-res that really aren't (sand rover, holiday buggy, gawd-awful VW Willy thing, etc.). Even the promo vids seems very upbeat and new-gen hippie? Makes me think they are aiming at a totally new market but I'm just thinking out loud here. Been wrong before....

At any rate, I've wondered how long it can go on and there seems to be a definite end somewhere, but I just keep thinking of the ones I'd buy if they just re-re'd it, and we're not there yet because I've still got some balance left on the credit card.

[advantum]

Tamiya will continue re-releasing as long as there is a demand and profit for them.

[Theibault]

I'm fine with big T rereing as much as they can. It's been wonderful rebuilding kits I lost to time lol. If they do stop, I'd like to make sure they get either the 959 or Celica out before they do end the run.

[Wandy]

IMO they only came back in the 1st place because of the demand for it to happen, and since that demand is still very strong it won't be coming to an end any time soon. Infact it is a whole new niche of it's own and will continue well into the second 100 cars, 58100 to 58200 and beyond. There aren't many more exciting ones from the first 100 left to go but the next big domino to fall has to be the 959/Celica. Let's just hope they come back on original chassis.

Apart from those two the only ones left that I could imagine getting the pulse racing are :

Ranger XLT & Super Champ

Hilux & Blazer

Fox

Falcon

Blackfoot & Monster Beetle

Egress

King Cab & Monster Racer

Re-re-re Top Force & Terra Conqueror

The Wild One is a near certainty to happen of course.

I remember all the theories being bantered about. The "re-res were all based on the coffee can cars" was disproven.

How was it disproven? Nearly all of the first re-releases were from that batch of cars. Just because they have moved further into the exotics does not mean that the plan did not start there.

Although the doubters back in the day said that 3 speeders would not come back because of issues with metal & moulds, the main thinking behind their cynicism was that they believed that they would not be good sellers even if they did come back. The reaction to the Bruiser is showing how wrong they were on that one.

[hedge]

Just a thought, but with the epic announcement of the Bruiser making a return and the classic models which have already made a comeback, how long can Tamiya keep doing this?

I think thats it now all done, no more, finito, fin.

[MattC]

IMO they only came back in the 1st place because of the demand for it to happen, and since that demand is still very strong it won't be coming to an end any time soon. Infact it is a whole new niche of it's own and will continue well into the second 100 cars, 58100 to 58200 and beyond. There aren't many more exciting ones from the first 100 left to go but the next big domino to fall has to be the 959/Celica. Let's just hope they come back on original chassis.

Apart from those two the only ones left that I could imagine getting the pulse racing are :

Ranger XLT & Super Champ

Hilux & Blazer

Fox

Falcon

Blackfoot & Monster Beetle

Egress

King Cab & Monster Racer

Re-re-re Top Force & Terra Conqueror

The Wild One is a near certainty to happen of course.

How was it disproven? Nearly all of the first re-releases were from that batch of cars. Just because they have moved further into the exotics does not mean that the plan did not start there.

Although the doubters back in the day said that 3 speeders would not come back because of issues with metal & moulds, the main thinking behind their cynicism was that they believed that they would not be good sellers even if they did come back. The reaction to the Bruiser is showing how wrong they were on that one.

My thoughts exactly. Having said that they will ultimately run out of desirable models and people may then stop buying them which could bring the run to a close - Maybe! Who knows!! For me I would love to see the Bigwig, Wild One, 959/Celica, Hilux, Blazer and Mounty before they stop.

One things for sure the Re-Release scene has certainly changed our hobby and given more of us the chance to build these iconic models.

[Chris 30]

IMO they only came back in the 1st place because of the demand for it to happen, and since that demand is still very strong it won't be coming to an end any time soon. Infact it is a whole new niche of it's own and will continue well into the second 100 cars, 58100 to 58200 and beyond. There aren't many more exciting ones from the first 100 left to go but the next big domino to fall has to be the 959/Celica. Let's just hope they come back on original chassis.

Apart from those two the only ones left that I could imagine getting the pulse racing are :

Ranger XLT & Super Champ

Hilux & Blazer

Fox

Falcon

Blackfoot & Monster Beetle

Egress

King Cab & Monster Racer

Re-re-re Top Force & Terra Conqueror

The Wild One is a near certainty to happen of course.

How was it disproven? Nearly all of the first re-releases were from that batch of cars. Just because they have moved further into the exotics does not mean that the plan did not start there.

Although the doubters back in the day said that 3 speeders would not come back because of issues with metal & moulds, the main thinking behind their cynicism was that they believed that they would not be good sellers even if they did come back. The reaction to the Bruiser is showing how wrong they were on that one.

I never understood why people said certain models could not be re-released because of moulds. If the moulds were lost or damaged certainly more could be made. Anything that was made in the 80's can be reproduced today. Technology becomes more advanced with time not less. And, why would metal parts be an issue? Is there some shortage of metal I am now awhere of?

[Retro rules!]

I agree with everyone else- the rereleases will keep coming. For how long? Who knows. Tamiya have uncovered a whole new market by re releasing their classics and I think this cash cow still has plenty of milk in it. With the rere of the bruiser, it shows that any rere is possible. I think there will be atleast another 4-5 big releases. These don't include rehashed oldies on new chassis such the holiday fugly, crud blaster II etc. My guesses- Wild one, Fox, 959, Bigwig and Monster Beetle.

[SteelRat]

I remember all the theories being bantered about. The "re-res were all based on the coffee can cars" was disproven. Many (including me) heard the rumor and believed the re-res would end in a big final release. Alot felt the return of the SRBs would be it, but now, here we look at the Bruiser. Let's not even start down the road of why "fill in the blank" model could never be re-re'd because molds were lost or worn out or aliens stole them etc. Here's the one fact you can bank on: Tamiya will do as Tamiya pleases, many times without ryhme or reason to us enthusiast. Tamiya may be passionate about what they produce but they are still a company in business to make profit. If re-res are popular and profitable, I personally don't see them ending anytime soon. Some re-res are flops just like new releases and some are home runs. I'm just grateful Tamiya gives us this second chance oppertunity.

^ This. Oh so very much this.

At the moment Tamiya don't have to be innovative or play catch up with what other people are doing or anything else all the time they are selling kits and making money. I'm not saying it's the right thing to do, or something which they can realistically do indefinitely to keep making money, but all the time its working and people are still buying re-re's and reboxed TT01s then why do they need to change; especially in light of the financial situation of the world at the moment.

[Wandy]

At the moment Tamiya don't have to be innovative or play catch up with what other people are doing or anything else all the time they are selling kits and making money. I'm not saying it's the right thing to do, or something which they can realistically do indefinitely to keep making money, but all the time its working and people are still buying re-re's and reboxed TT01s then why do they need to change; especially in light of the financial situation of the world at the moment.

Exactly. So then, Mr Tamiya, Porsche 959 on original chassis next please.

[Theibault]

Exactly. So then, Mr Tamiya, Porsche 959 on original chassis next please.

^^^ This please!

[MadInventor]

I never understood why people said certain models could not be re-released because of moulds. If the moulds were lost or damaged certainly more could be made. Anything that was made in the 80's can be reproduced today. Technology becomes more advanced with time not less. And, why would metal parts be an issue? Is there some shortage of metal I am now awhere of?

It's not the shortage of metal, it's the relative cost of moulding parts in metal rather than plastic. Generally the more metal there is in a kit the more expensive it is, plus the weight, and therefore the postage cost goes up. However, as people seem quite happy to spend £500+ on models, Mr T will continue to fuel the feeding frenzy for nostalgic kits.

[markbt73]

They'll all come back around in some form or other again eventually. True classics never go out of style. Fender and Gibson have been making the exact same models of guitars since the 50s and they still sell tons of them, and every now and then they do a "Vintage Re-Issue" version of something and it ends up being a lot like the Sand Scorcher - obviously not an original, but close enough for laymen to be happy. I'd imagine Tamiya will do the same thing: when things slow down, run off a new batch of your old standbys.

If nothing else, you will be able to buy some new Tamiya kit or other that uses the Hornet gearbox from now until the end of time...

[LamboDave]

I am glad the Re-release keep coming - It allows me to 'retire' my vintage models to the shelves, build-up the new version for kit form, and then take out for a run on the beach, dirt, etc.

Tamiya will eventually stop releasing them, as the demand will slow down (we don't all want every R/C model Tamiya ever released).

The whole vintage Tamiya R/C collecting scene will also come to an end with our generation, as on-one will be interested in the old Tamiya models. Teenagers today won't spend $700+ on a Re-release Bruiser kit, they'd rather spend it on a newer model iPhone, etc. These models really only have meaning to those of us who had them / saw them as teenagers. My 7 year old son shows no interest in vintage models, but does like to drive certain ones I have - Like the FAV. I plan to keep my Tamiya Collection long into my retirement, and don't care about it's value decreasing over time.

It provides me with alot of enjoyment, restoring each of the first TOP 50 models. I've done approx. 10 so far, so at this rate I need to live until 120 to get them all done !!!

What we all need to do, is get our own children driving the re-releases, so the Tamiya collecting continues with the next generation. After all, we're all collecting the models we grew-up with.

[hotshot boy]

I am glad the Re-release keep coming - It allows me to 'retire' my vintage models to the shelves, build-up the new version for kit form, and then take out for a run on the beach, dirt, etc.

Tamiya will eventually stop releasing them, as the demand will slow down (we don't all want every R/C model Tamiya ever released).

The whole vintage Tamiya R/C collecting scene will also come to an end with our generation, as on-one will be interested in the old Tamiya models. Teenagers today won't spend $700+ on a Re-release Bruiser kit, they'd rather spend it on a newer model iPhone, etc. These models really only have meaning to those of us who had them / saw them as teenagers. My 7 year old son shows no interest in vintage models, but does like to drive certain ones I have - Like the FAV. I plan to keep my Tamiya Collection long into my retirement, and don't care about it's value decreasing over time.

It provides me with alot of enjoyment, restoring each of the first TOP 50 models. I've done approx. 10 so far, so at this rate I need to live until 120 to get them all done !!!

What we all need to do, is get our own children driving the re-releases, so the Tamiya collecting continues with the next generation. After all, we're all collecting the models we grew-up with.

Yep I agree, I know purists will be frothing about the bruiser and some about the supershot as well, etc.. (As is evident with a few bruisers on the bay already with very low starting points...!) but it gives hoardes of people from poor families like me a chance to live a child hood dream of building these models/cars and running them...!

I say bring it on...!!!

[SteelRat]

I think that the next generation will be collecting vintage RC cars, they just won't be Tamiyas. Cars like the AX10 Scorpion, EXO Buggy, HPI Blitz, Traxxas Slash will be the Scorcher and Bruiser of the 2040s.

[MattC]

I think that the next generation will be collecting vintage RC cars, they just won't be Tamiyas. Cars like the AX10 Scorpion, EXO Buggy, HPI Blitz, Traxxas Slash will be the Scorcher and Bruiser of the 2040s.

Yep, I know a lot of people share this view, but the Scorchers and Bruisers will still exist and there will more than likely still be a market for them. Whether or not it will be a big market, who knows? It's like 1:1 cars now, 1980's cars particularly fast fords are now very collectable and demand big money, but the 60's market is as popular as ever, Austin/Morris Mini coopers are much more popular and valuble than the later Rover versions, and who wouldnt want a Jaguar E-Type or Healey 3000 for example?

Yes trends change but there will always be demand for iconic brands and products, the thing with re-releases just like the BMW Mini and the latest Fiat 500, is that as popular as they are, for true collectors you cant beat an original!

[MadInventor]

What we all need to do, is get our own children driving the re-releases, so the Tamiya collecting continues with the next generation. After all, we're all collecting the models we grew-up with.

Oh, that's bad, passing the monkey on your back to your offspring

[MadInventor]

Yep I agree, I know purists will be frothing about the bruiser and some about the supershot as well, etc.. (As is evident with a few bruisers on the bay already with very low starting points...!) but it gives hoardes of people from poor families like me a chance to live a child hood dream of building these models/cars and running them...!

I say bring it on...!!!

It may be that the bruisers appearing on Ebay are being sold to fund a new re-re. If you've got an old knacker, wouldn't you want to flog it for good money while you can and then put the cash toward the new improved model ???