That area must not be going to well. Noticed this month in the Squadron flyer that they had cut prices about in half. Hey you can pick up a Tiger 1 for around $130 this one will have the turned metal barrel and the Fruijol metal tacks and some PE. that's about what you'ld pay for all the stuff anyway---nows your chance guys add something to your collection and save time :-)

Why bother when you can pick up the new DML or AFV Club Tigers for a quarter of the price? Or do I detect a touch of irony in your post?..Jim

Have I missed something? ( I live a sheltered life :-) )
Pre-built.... as in already built by Tamiya, so you buy a completed kit ? Like a Dinky Toy ? And they charge how much ??


Henk

What's the point?? I guess it ranks right up there with non-alcoholic beer.

yes,andthey seem to be quite pricey!not my thing would rather build them myself!

Sheesh! Why not buy pre-eaten food?
Why enjoy it? LOL, could you imagine taking a pre-made Tamiya model to a model contest? Think about it, I bet it has happened!

Garry

If you buy a 'pre-built' Tamiya kit, do they fill the R/C holes in the hull? :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-)

Cheers
Henk

OK seems daft but Ebay has shown there is a market for well built kits and now that Tamiya has slowed right down in the kit releases they have to have some thing for the stafff to do so they can earn their pay :-)

Never understood these pre-built models. The fun is in the building surely. There is a guy on here somewhere that has an amazing collection, but he hasn't built one of them, he just pays somebody else to build them. I can respect his collection.....not him.

Vinnie

Sorry guys, but it gets a little annoying to read these elitist comments about those who buy pre-built models. Most of the public frowns or giggles behind closed doors about grown men building plastic kits, why should we as a group do the same to a smaller section of our hobby?

Think of this as well, with my new career move I have been working on average 65-70 hours a week. Couple this with the responsibilty of a new family and I have about zero time to set aside for building. Yet, I still like to have kits to show on my shelves. These pre-built models are an attractive alternative to those in that situation.

While I have not bought any of these, I have bought some of the 144th scale stuff as it is cheap and looks good arranged around my 35th scale work.

Who is giggling? I ain't laughing. I think it's terribly sad.


Vinnie

I'm not taking the mickey out of people who buy 'pre-build' models, after all that's the same as buying a painting to put on the wall. The people who buy a painting don't buy the paint because they don't have the skills to paint their own. Same goes with models, I have sold some of mine, and the buyers are very happy with them, but just because they do not have the skills that we have, should mean they can't have a collection to display?
I do take the mickey out of Tamiya, because I feel like that..Tamiya ain't my favourite brand, and I do wonder if they fill the R/C holes in the hull. And are their models built individualy, with much care and attention to the finish and weathering, or are they built in numbers, booth sprayed and shipped?

Cheers
Henk

I think the negative impression garnered by a Tamiya Pre Built model is that it's "Tamiya" who builds it. The difference being that on ebay you buy a built kit done by an "artist".
I like the art on the wall analogy. It's a bit similar to if Windor & Newton started selling paintings vs. Picaso selling paintings.

I don't see a Tamiya prebuilt as cheap or "lower" than any other kit. If there's a market then fill it. I just think that from an "impression" standpoint it might "look" better if it were sold with this buy line "By a Tony Kysenius Prebuilt Tamiya Tiger I".

Just my thoughts....

Coulden't have said it better myself.

You got that right! A couple a friends have funded their modeling by selling their models on eBay, along with the awards they won, locally and nationally. We figure that some people probably proudly display 'their' award-winning models to score with the model groupies...

This business has lead to a few custom commissions that netted a pretty penny (or Shilling, Pfenning, Yen...).

Me, the packrat, I still have some models I built 30 years ago. The idea of selling my babies to the unknown unwashed heathen non-modeler is bizzare Of course, I have to dig into my pocket to fund these dust magnets, while they tidyily free up shelf space and built kit after kit for virtually no additional outlay

So yeah, there is a market. They say it is kind of saturated now, but it is out there.

I don't think anybody is laughing, now like me, that would be like paying somebody to go, and live for me, cause, I enjoy the work of putting them together, not only that, I don't want to do a model straight out of the box, I got to find a way to modify it, so it will be different, but still of a vehicle used during WWII.

For the ones that can't do this, I don't think there is a person at Armorama that will put another one down, for not knowing, but instead try to help you in any way possible to help you to be able to to build your own models.

They were just concerned about Tamiya, that will they hold a professional standards on their models like the artist will, and of course, I believe, they are concerned that people will go for a known name, instead of some that they might not know a lot of these finer artist.
Kerry

well said Monte!!!!
Ron

The only thing I can think of is that these kits are for people who want a piece, but don't build kits. I'm sure some business type somewhere has a Tiger I on his/her desk somewhere.....I don't think any 'regular' model builder like us would buy one, I don't think thats the point--it the painting example, you can't do it yourself so you buy a painting

Sean

I agree with some of the others above. I would personally never buy one. Why buy one built when I can build it just as good. No fun there. For those who can't build them and want a display model, go for it. I have built and sold many models on commission. Most people I build for are looking for a certain vehicle with particular markings etc. Don't see why you would want a mass produced piece that anyone can get. Kinda the same idea with the people who think the 1/18 scale soldier toys are scale models. I just don't get it. They are toys. Preassebled and prepainted, soft palstic toys designed for GI Joe style dolls. End of rant.