Nürnberg Toy Fair 2012
3
Comments
There were almost no 100% new aircraft subjects presented at the Nürnberg Toy Fair from Tamiya. This seems to be a trend and we will have to wait for the Shizuoka show for real news. One can't blame the Japanese manufacturer however, because in 2011 two very spectacular kits were produced (1:32 scale Mustang and 1:350 Yamato) which monopolised almost all their resources. Now that they are released, we could see more kits revealed next, even if of lesser spectacular nature.
But let's return to this year's Toy Fair. Both the 1:48 scale Avro Lancaster and G4M1 Betty will return in new boxes. The former will include the Dambuster and Grand Slam parts as well as the new tool parts from the 2009 B Mk.I/III release. In short, it will be the most complete Tamiya Lancaster box of all. The Betty will also include some new parts to depict the aircraft in which Yamamoto was shot down (new tail cone and figures). Both releases will include pre-painted clear parts. The P-51 D Mustang will be reissued in 1:48 and 1:72 scale with "Red Tails" markings. I wonder if this has something to do with the release of the movie of the same name from Lucasfilm? The 1:32 scale mustang will be Silver Plated for those who like this kind of gimmick and the 1:48 Hurricane is a reboxing of the Italeri kit with additional figures and two more decal options for Finnish Aircraft.
Finally, the only real new item was the 1:72 scale Zero kit which, judging from the sprues on display, looks very simplified. But of course with Tamiya it is not necessarily a bad thing.
But let's return to this year's Toy Fair. Both the 1:48 scale Avro Lancaster and G4M1 Betty will return in new boxes. The former will include the Dambuster and Grand Slam parts as well as the new tool parts from the 2009 B Mk.I/III release. In short, it will be the most complete Tamiya Lancaster box of all. The Betty will also include some new parts to depict the aircraft in which Yamamoto was shot down (new tail cone and figures). Both releases will include pre-painted clear parts. The P-51 D Mustang will be reissued in 1:48 and 1:72 scale with "Red Tails" markings. I wonder if this has something to do with the release of the movie of the same name from Lucasfilm? The 1:32 scale mustang will be Silver Plated for those who like this kind of gimmick and the 1:48 Hurricane is a reboxing of the Italeri kit with additional figures and two more decal options for Finnish Aircraft.
Finally, the only real new item was the 1:72 scale Zero kit which, judging from the sprues on display, looks very simplified. But of course with Tamiya it is not necessarily a bad thing.
This Polish manufacturer is known for its 1:48 scale resin figure and accessories, amongst them there are sometimes aircraft related subjects. This year Tomasz Mankowski also presented its first aircraft kit, a PZL P.7A in resin. If you like the subject and would like to purchase one, be quick as it's selling very well and pre-orders have already been very successful. The kit will be limited to 200 (the number of decal sheets printed) and it will surely be a collectors' item in a not too distant future. Other releases are planned for the future concerning exclusively Polish subjects.
There are a lot of "New" tags in the Trumpeter 2012 catalogue but it is not easy to know when exactly everything will be released. The new 1:32 scale Ju 87 B Stuka seems to be nearly ready, as is the 1:48 scale Supermarine Seafang, but the future of everything else is more uncertain. In 1:24 scale are planned an Fw190 A-6/8 and a Ju-87 D-3, in 1:32 scale P-40s, a Devastator, a F-100F, A-6 Intruders, A-1 Skyraiders, Messerschmitt Bf 109G/Ks, in 1:48 scale an HU-16A Albatross, J-8 Finbacks, a Spiteful, an Attacker, in 1:72 scale Fw200 Condors, Su-27s, a Be-6 Madge, a MiG-19, etc… Beware, under "New" it is written 2012-2013 so you may well have to wait two more years for some of them!
About Jean-Luc Formery (TedMamere)
FROM: MOSELLE, FRANCE
One of the biggest pieces of news at the show was the announcement by Zoukei-Mura of their n°6 release: a 1:32 scale Heinkel He-219! There were even test shot sprues on display and several builds of various components of the kit. As usual, the model will feature full interior details and I wonder how big the box will be for the kit's content. I'm afraid we will have to wait another year to find out. Indeed, it was said that this is the time the Zoukei-Mura team will need to finalize this ambitious project. Release n°4, the new P-51 D Mustang, was almost overshadowed by the presence of the Uhu but should be available much sooner.
The second big surprise from the Japanese manufacturer was a 1:48 scale model. Yes, you have read correctly - Zoukei-Mura will produce quarter scale kits in the future. Not surprisingly, their first quarter scale release will be a Shinden (as was their first 1:32 scale kit) and judging from the test shots and test models, the level of detail will be almost equivalent to what we've got used to with the bigger models.
Release schedule, if all goes well, should be the following: May = 1:32 scale P-51 D, June = 1:32 scale A-1J Skyraider, July = 1:48 scale Shinden, August = 1:32 scale Shinden in "Manga Edition", early 2013 = 1:32 scale He 219.
Oh, I almost forgot, release n°5 will be a Japanese subject.
The second big surprise from the Japanese manufacturer was a 1:48 scale model. Yes, you have read correctly - Zoukei-Mura will produce quarter scale kits in the future. Not surprisingly, their first quarter scale release will be a Shinden (as was their first 1:32 scale kit) and judging from the test shots and test models, the level of detail will be almost equivalent to what we've got used to with the bigger models.
Release schedule, if all goes well, should be the following: May = 1:32 scale P-51 D, June = 1:32 scale A-1J Skyraider, July = 1:48 scale Shinden, August = 1:32 scale Shinden in "Manga Edition", early 2013 = 1:32 scale He 219.
Oh, I almost forgot, release n°5 will be a Japanese subject.
There was nothing really exciting at the Zvezda booth this year. The Bf 109F-4 and Su-2 in quarter scale were already expected last year and still not ready this year. In 1:72 scale a Fw190 A-4 and Bf 109F-2 are announced and in 1:144 a Boeing 747-8. At least the last one was visible at the Fair.
THANK YOU
The Aeroscale team would like to thank the organizers and of course all the exhibitors for having devoted some of their precious time to our website. It is always a pleasure to discuss the latest news of the plastic model kit industry with the people who work behind the scenes. We are looking forward to see you in Nürnberg during the 2013 Edition.
About the Author
FROM: MOSELLE, FRANCE
I'm mainly interested in WW2 aircraft and I build them in 1/48 scale.
Comments
Once again Jean-Luc you have provided and excellent review! Many thanks! I noticed in your photos the company named "Admiral" releasing a 1/72 TBD Devastator. Did they have a test shot and if so, was it good?
~ Johannes
FEB 18, 2012 - 12:13 AM
Hi Johannes,
The Admiral kits were part of the AZ Model line up and sadly they only had their kits displayed on the German importer's booth. The Admiral people weren't there in fact so I'm afraid I can't give more infos. Maybe Steffen can be of better help (his friend Volker is more into 1:72 scale stuff).
Rowan, thank you for doing the editing for the article...
Jean-Luc
FEB 18, 2012 - 02:32 AM
Nice show report!!
though I cannot agree with alle statements, but thats always a matter of personal views.
Thanks Jean-Luc! .. hope you got your little parcel when you come home from your vacation
all the best
Steffen
FEB 24, 2012 - 12:59 AM
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