Tamiya and pre-painted bodies

[Carmine A 2046]

Tamiya has been losing touch with its Base for quite some time... 

To those who have had plenty of money to buy anything Tamiya has come out with, more power to you - but that isn't helping the majority in this Hobby. And it's doing even LESS for the potential newcomers... 

I initially thought about getting the Top Force EVO. Then found out that it will be $500.00 USD!!! AND I'm forced to use a prepainted Body!!?? No thank you!  It's yet another example of taking the MODELING out of Modeling. Even if it's good BUSINESS, it's bad for the Hobby. 

Don't like doing Bodies? Fine. As an OPTION, pre-cut and prepainted Bodies should be available. Just not as the ONLY choice! 

And the recent PRICING!!! Ironically, I'm finally on the threshold of being able to afford anything I want.... But I've been Dirt POOR for so long that I've learned a more responsible respect for the cost and WORTH of things. 

I'm about to spend over $1500 on a King Hauler and Trailer with all the bells and whistles. Because I've wanted one since the late 90's. But it's barely gone up in cost since then.

LATELY Tamiya's pricing has reflected their focus on the Collector - NOT the Builder/Operator at all. That strategy has seriously hurt Harley Davidson's business - and put MTH Model Trains OUT OF BUSINESS. Just food for thought...

[87lc2 2666]

Great post @Carmine A   I haven't complained much about pricing from Tamiya, but I agree that they are pushing away their base and there are limits on what the majority of people will pay for nostalgia pieces.  Of course there are some that will buy this stuff no matter what, but when 30 year old designs start getting over the $400 mark you really start to question the value there.  The fact that the most interesting part of building/personalizing the model is already complete doesn't help...

[Big Jon 684]

I bought a kit because I want to build it. Painting and detailing the body, even if it's box art, is part of the build. A lot of my value-for-my-hobby-dollar is building the kit, not running it, so a prepainted body lowers the value of a kit. I don't buy RTRs, but I enjoy the "fun" kits, and painted bodies make me less likely to buy one.

Plastic models are often finished in box art, but it would be foolish to offer them prepainted.

[nowinaminute 2815]

I wish they would just give you an option. In some cases, I would happily take a cut and painted body, usually if I'm going for box art and it's a shell that's tricky to cut or paint. But if you don't want box art then that becomes a massive problem for obvious reasons.

I just wish there was a choice. Also, it would make more sense to offer hard bodies pre painted because they are trickier to paint right whereas the one thing that is pretty much guaranteed with lexan is a perfect finish. I guess pre painted hard bodies might cut into their expert built series, though.

I can definitely see the benefits of pre cut and painted if you're going for box finish and without any local hobby shops, a couple of cans of paint can easily set me back £20+ but it just leaves you screwed if you want to go with your own colour scheme plus some people just enjoy cutting and painting the shells.

[simalarion 2196]

My very first reaction on Tamiya overpricing just because is VQS 2020, looking at kit quality in general it should be priced under Top-Force which i bought from RC Mart for 158$ when it was in stock (they could include hop-up damper for 178), i got my moneys worth i think even when comparing other brands. But a cheapmans Avante (VQS) for 380$ thats not right, you are not far from a propper Avante/Egress at that point. Ive seen better prices though, but man!.

Clearly went for collectors with big pockets there

[mud4fun 1696]

To be honest here, how much does it cost Tamiya to mould a shell? £0.50? They could just chuck an unpainted shell in the box in addition to the pre-painted and make everybody happy. Why don't they? My guess is they plan on releasing separate shells and hope to charge £30 each for them so effectively raising the kit price to those of us that want to actually build and paint a kit. 

I have recently bought a replacement Cougar shell for £18 from Penguin to do my new colour scheme. They are a small business and yet can still make a profit at £18 including good quality masks and a small sticker sheet. Why are Tamiya charging so much for their re-re shells?

I'm not sure what their marketing strategy is but as a die hard Tamiya fan of many decades I'm getting a tad fed up of their pandering to the collectors, which is my perception of what is going on. It is surely a shortsighted policy? I'm really confused. My kids love painting and love doing their own colour schemes. Are they just odd? Do Tamiya think that all kids want RTR or part RTR kits and everything done for them? If that were true then why bother with the kit? I thought their XB range was to fill the RTR market but clearly they don't sell well so their strategy seems almost contradictory?

 

[Carmine A 2046]

RIGHT @mud4fun !! 

When Tamiya Re Re'd the 1984 Brat - they offered BOTH a Polycarbonate AND Hardbody in the Kit!! And Still sold a ton of them for under $200/£150!!! 

WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THAT? Like Ian said - a Cut & Painted and Unpainted Body in the Kit? Certainly would bring a wider appeal. Would even open up another group! With those options - I would build my own, as ALWAYS - and do the Prepainted one as a Box Art Shelf Queen! 😉

[simalarion 2196]

I rest my case (se my previous post)

WheelSpin

[87lc2 2666]

I agree with what a lot ar saying here, they should include the pre-painted and a clear shell.  I remember they did that with the TXT-1.  Even for an extra few $ in the price, it would take the guesswork out of it for them, soemthing for everyone.

[mud4fun 1696]

5 minutes ago, simalarion said:

I rest my case (se my previous post)

WheelSpin

LOL, that much for a plastic 80's buggy. Are they having a laugh. 

How much is a new Associated RC10B74.1D? A modern, far more rugged, reliable and quicker machine with far superior parts support?

[Carmine A 2046]

SPEAKING of that..... 

Would the average RC buyer choose THIS....  Or......... THIS??? 

For nearly the SAME Money, I'm choosing This...  YES, I know that the total investment will be considerably more (at around $1500.00 all in!) 😲  But I'll STILL be left feeling like I got more substance at better value for money.

Of COURSE, Value for an extremely capable Buggy in that same Class....  I love Tamiya! Always have. But they've REALLY been missing the mark lately........

[Exit13 673]

On 1/27/2021 at 7:18 AM, mud4fun said:

My kids and I paint our cars in our team colours so the pre-painted shells are a big put off to us.

We will not buy a kit with a pre-painted shell as we'd then need to spend more money on buying an unpainted shell, if that was even available. 

In fact we were recently buying some new cars and specifically avoided the pre-painted ones and got kits with clear shells.

I wouldn't mind if the kit came with both a clear and painted shell but then they would probably charge more and the prices are already high for what you get. 

My middle daughter has painted (or had me paint) all her shells in yellow as that is her favourite colour. Youngest daughter has gone for dark gunmetal on all hers and I have irridescent purple/green on all mine. Although, I'm switching to a new brighter team colour so I have four more shells to paint now LOL

We each like to be different, we don't like doing everything box art as it is boring. We like to display our own individuality. My middle daughter even has her own bespoke coloured decals on her Thundershot and Egress and youngest had me cut the other colours off her vanquish and thundershot decals to just leave the red stripes. 

Youngest Mudlets Team

Middle Mudlets Team

My Team

As you can see, not a box art in sight. I think the Aqroshot is the closest but even that has a few changes from box art.

 

That’s awesome. I want to be Mud4fun when I grow up. I’ve been unsuccessful in interesting my Daughters in Honda dirt bikes, vintage motorcycles or BMX. Let see if I can change that trend with my rejuvenated interest in RC.  

[mud4fun 1696]

1 hour ago, Carmine A said:

 

Of COURSE, Value for an extremely capable Buggy in that same Class....  I love Tamiya! Always have. But they've REALLY been missing the mark lately........

I love that Optima, such a great looking and performing buggy, one of the best IMHO although I ever so nearly beat one with my Thundershot in a race many years ago. I think he was having an off day LOL 

[DayRider 311]

I don't know why they can not give you the option of painted or not in this day and age at the price they are asking for the kits

[Problemchild 2149]

As an alternative view (and I don’t want ore painted shells) many modern polycarbonate shells just need the window decals putting on and then a single colour sprayed - it doesn’t actually add much to the experience.

the neo scorcher doesn’t even need masking windows as the whole canopy is decals 

so for the every day person who builds then it’s not a big thing 

for the 959 shells I’ve just finished now that was a task and a half and I loved it and had layers and layers of work and paint and then all the lighting and cockpit etc etc 

but do I care about not having to paint a polycarbonate shell 1 colour?

meh 

haha

JJ

 

[simalarion 2196]

@Problemchild Sooo do not paint it with one Colour?, its not a rule that you must do the box art, have fun and make it personal, if you ask me.

[Saito2 6686]

I hate painting bodies. I hate how much that tiny can of spray paint cost. I always do box art on rereleases (it fits what's in my mind's eye and everything I try on my own looks like garbage to me). Winter is a great time to be inside, hard at work, building kits. Its also awful for painting bodies outside (I have a wife so the slightest whiff of fresh Tamiya PS paint is detected indoors). That being said, I should love pre-painted bodies. I don't. I don't want to have to pay a premium on kits for the luxury. I don't want decals (like the silver on the Vanquish, er VQS) to take the place of proper painted sections. Despite the struggle at times, its adds to the feeling of accomplishment when that shell is finally lowered onto the chassis, completing the look you lusted after in the catalogs as a kid. 

[EvilSpike 294]

5 hours ago, Exit13 said:

I’ve been unsuccessful in interesting my Daughters in Honda dirt bikes, vintage motorcycles or BMX.

Can you be my mum or dad please?

Now I know what your thinking, no you don't really want to adopt a 41 year old bloke with a wife and child, however... Er...

Let me have a few beers on Saturday night and I'll try and think up some good reasons. Off the cuff I'll promise to tidy my room, help get the dirt bikes out of the van and do regular oil changes on them and even empty the dishwasher...

[EvilSpike 294]

Of the two models I own, I did the Terra Scorcher in the correct colour and put most of the decals on in the right(ish) place. I got a friend to airbrush the driver as he's incredibly good at that.

The Lunchbox however I did in this colour-scheme and it still makes me smile every time I see it on the shelf.

[moffman 5752]

10 hours ago, Carmine A said:

Tamiya has been losing touch with its Base for quite some time... 

To those who have had plenty of money to buy anything Tamiya has come out with, more power to you - but that isn't helping the majority in this Hobby. And it's doing even LESS for the potential newcomers... 

I initially thought about getting the Top Force EVO. Then found out that it will be $500.00 USD!!! AND I'm forced to use a prepainted Body!!?? No thank you!  It's yet another example of taking the MODELING out of Modeling. Even if it's good BUSINESS, it's bad for the Hobby. 

Don't like doing Bodies? Fine. As an OPTION, pre-cut and prepainted Bodies should be available. Just not as the ONLY choice! 

And the recent PRICING!!! Ironically, I'm finally on the threshold of being able to afford anything I want.... But I've been Dirt POOR for so long that I've learned a more responsible respect for the cost and WORTH of things. 

I'm about to spend over $1500 on a King Hauler and Trailer with all the bells and whistles. Because I've wanted one since the late 90's. But it's barely gone up in cost since then.

LATELY Tamiya's pricing has reflected their focus on the Collector - NOT the Builder/Operator at all. That strategy has seriously hurt Harley Davidson's business - and put MTH Model Trains OUT OF BUSINESS. Just food for thought...

I've been saying this for an age! I can't understand why tamiya are going down the pre-painted body route? For me personally it's the best part because you tend to actually build whatever kit you buy going through the instructions provided thus the chassis is standard to what tamiya or whatever manufacturer has produced the kit but when it comes to the end pages where the instructions on the body build is this is the time you can let your imagination run and do a paint scheme that you want to be personally to you! And for me tamiya is talking this away from me and it simply becomes less of an appealing kit! 

[Problemchild 2149]

3 hours ago, simalarion said:

@Problemchild Sooo do not paint it with one Colour?, its not a rule that you must do the box art, have fun and make it personal, if you ask me.

Agreed - I spend a lot of time on my shells and make them mine but how many want to do that?

....but am I tamiya’s core business?

JJ

[Exit13 673]

2 hours ago, EvilSpike said:

Can you be my mum or dad please?

Now I know what your thinking, no you don't really want to adopt a 41 year old bloke with a wife and child, however... Er...

Let me have a few beers on Saturday night and I'll try and think up some good reasons. Off the cuff I'll promise to tidy my room, help get the dirt bikes out of the van and do regular oil changes on them and even empty the dishwasher...

Ok but only because you have the Honda racing symbol as your avatar!

[Exit13 673]

Pre painted and pre decals?  Id be interested after this exercise. 

[Carmine A 2046]

@Exit13 ...... OK, maybe after doing an Audi A2 Rally - I can understand!!! 😂  Still say it should be a CHOICE. 

@moffman AMEN Brother!! 👍👍  OK, I even modify Chassis on many Builds... But the BODY, that's the last bastion of creativity in this Hobby. Again I'll add, not everyone wants it - it NEEDS to be a CHOICE. 

@Problemchild Your TALENT could never be in question!!! 👏👏👏👏👏 Again, CHOICE! Maybe you don't want to paint every Body. They can get a bit frustrating - yet we press on - and MESS UP!! 😠😖😭😭  So yeah, some cases, I would choose a Prepainted Body!!! 

Frankly though..... I do appreciate when the Wheel Arches are Pre-Cut!!!  Fairly sure I'm not the only one.

[Mad Ax 9313]

Well - that went a bit crazy in the few days I was offline  

When I originally posted I almost started off on a rant about Tamiya not releasing bare chassis or option parts - because it feels like it might be at least a partial solution to the problem.

So, sure, sell a TT02 with every possible touring shell on it, pre-painted if you will, because these are what bring people into the hobby.  If pre-painted shells help sales that way then great.

Then, sell every variant of every other chassis just as a bare chassis.  I know Tamiya sell some chassis without body or wheels, but they generally tend to be the R / RR / Pro / TRF kits.  Let's have basic current TB chassis, the TA02, all TA03 variants, CC01, CC02, and whatever else as chassis kits, then let's have all the body sets and wheel sets available as parts to finish the build.  Admittedly under Tamiya's current pricing structure that would make it more expensive than buying a single box with everything, but still cheaper than buying a kit with a painted body and a separate clear body.  I know I can sell a painted body on ebay but unlike selling a clear body that I just didn't fancy, I'll be selling a painted body into a saturated market.

Then sell the 'specialist' parts separately, too.  A set of portals so we can convert any chassis that uses the old TL01 hubs (which is a great many chassis), a set of tracks (in pairs or 4s so we can do 2wd / half-track cars) so we can build our own TT02QT with whatever body we want, or even bring back the old Clod Buster Complete Axle Kit (which IIRC was available for a short while) so those of us building race rigs don't have to hunt around for kit breakers or buy an entire Clod kit and then suffer the hassle of parting out the stuff we don't want.

Actually this might make things easier for Tamiya - it would work the same way as the de-shellification of build manuals, but for kit boxes also.  OK, so all they do now is slap a body sticker on the box, but they wouldn't even have to do that.  Inventory-wise it would be much simpler, and may be easier for smaller shops to keep stock also - instead of hedging on what flavour of kit might sell, they keep a base number of bare kits in stock and a handful of shells, which are cheaper to buy and take less space.

Just a thought tho - I'm sure Tamiya have already thought of this