Tamiya going to release a P-38?

[mostrich]

At the Shizuoka Hobby Show Tamiya displayed a few mold inserts and test shots of different kits. In the background of that display was a CAD drawing of something that has been identified as the nose cone of a P-38.
Sorry, so far only a link to FB available:
https://scontent.fham3-1.fna.fbcdn.net/ ... e=5D529B5F

I don't think that's an unintended giveaway by Tamiya. Maybe just a hint to give the scene something to get excited about.

[Stuart]

That would be pretty cool - and a bit weird, I was only thinking that it's a shame Tamiya haven't made a P-38 the other day.

[Floki]

hmm. it does look like a P-38 nose cone I thought at first maybe it was a A-20 or a B-26 Counter Invader but the guns are arranged differently on it.
I always heard that Tamiya would never release a B-25 because of its part in the Doolittle Raid or a P-38 since it was the aircraft that shot down and killed Isoroku Yamamoto who is still highly regarded in Japans Military, kind of like how Rommel still is in Germany.

[Stikpusher]

That certainly looks to be a P-38 nose. Now what scale would the release one in? 32nd? A sure money maker, as the trend to larger scale kits and less competition of that subject in that scale. 48th ? Also a money maker, but a far stronger field to compete against due to lots more kits of that aircraft already out there- the big selling points would have to be both their label and engineering. 72nd? Well, they don’t dabble that much in that scale, but when they do...

[Stuart]

Regardless of scale I'd love to see how they engineer the kit.

[jkim]

If I understand correctly, that photo was not taken at the Hobby Show. It was a visit to Tamiya headquarters, which makes the photo a little more interesting. Do a Facebook search of the name on the watermark and you can see the album. Quite extensive at over 300 pics. An interesting look behind the scenes. The P-38 nose cone photo looks to be a sprue shot? Part No. 5?

[Floki]

That certainly looks to be a P-38 nose. Now what scale would the release one in? 32nd? A sure money maker, as the trend to larger scale kits and less competition of that subject in that scale. 48th ? Also a money maker, but a far stronger field to compete against due to lots more kits of that aircraft already out there- the big selling points would have to be both their label and engineering. 72nd? Well, they don’t dabble that much in that scale, but when they do...

Regardless of scale I'd love to see how they engineer the kit.

Oh yeah its been a very long time since I built the Revell kit, I still have the academy kit too but if Tamiya did come out with one you know it would blow the others away.

[speedgraflex]

I saw that factory photo, too. I think it’s staged. I think there is hope that big T will start test pops for a P-38. When is another matter, though. A year?

[mostrich]

Maybe a year. But it's bigT, they don't have to rely on subcontractors like tool makers or molding factories. They all do it under their own roof. So when somebody can do it quick it's them. But on the other hand I'm sceptic since they never gave something away in the past until the kit was ready to ship.

Maybe it's done yet?

[speedgraflex]

I like Z-M a lot because the owners show their upcoming releases in the test shots phase, but it does set up expectations for a kit to arrive soon. I’m thinking of their 1/72 Horten which is jam packed with detail, specifically.