ytsejam87 Posted April 9, 2018 Share Posted April 9, 2018 Given their quick turnaround on the F-14A to F-14D release schedule, would I be accurate in saying that the F-16c releases were eventually, a sales disappointment? Did the disappointing sales Eventually lead to Tamiya to not release a F-16D? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
11bee Posted April 9, 2018 Share Posted April 9, 2018 Feel free to speculate. Tamiya works in mysterious ways and certainly would never release info on sales, etc. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
phantom Posted April 9, 2018 Share Posted April 9, 2018 I don't know what number would be needed. Its such a great kit that I have built at least 3. I do not even LIKE F-16s. But it IS a great kit. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ytsejam87 Posted April 9, 2018 Author Share Posted April 9, 2018 (edited) I am sure it is a "trade secret". I just cannot understand the lack of a release of a family model. From what I understand, a Tamiya F-16D would be as simple as creating two sprues(upper fuselage plus 2nd pit and a new canopy), a decal sheet and instructions. Edited April 9, 2018 by ytsejam87 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dehowie Posted April 10, 2018 Share Posted April 10, 2018 Tamiya do what Tamiya “want” to do. The 32nd F-4E has been out for over 20 years selling in droves yet no slatted wing E version all that time. No Later E, G, S..etc. If you think a family F-16 is a miss how about half the F-4’s ever built... They drum to their own beat..thats Tamiya but boy im glad they are doing an F-14D. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Scooby Posted April 10, 2018 Share Posted April 10, 2018 I have nine Tamiya F-16 kits, more than any other jet (Hasegawa A-4s used to outnumber until I sold down to seven), so I’d say the numbers were good based on my purchases. I don’t even like the F-16 but it is an awesome kit. I only have two Tamiya F-14s, I love the F-14. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
viper730 Posted April 10, 2018 Share Posted April 10, 2018 I think Just the opposite and say a huge sales hit.... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
habu2 Posted April 10, 2018 Share Posted April 10, 2018 The C kit was definitely not a disappointment. Not following up with a D kit is definitely a disappointment. Someone who used to post here, and claimed to be in the know wrt Tamiya, and claimed to be involved somehow in the Tamiya C kit kept promising that the release of the D model was just right around the corner - ten years ago. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
thegoodsgt Posted April 10, 2018 Share Posted April 10, 2018 I look at it this way. Every dollar (or yen) spent designing and tooling a kit is a dollar (or yen) not spent designing and tooling another kit. I suspect Tamiya believes their money is better invested producing a new-tool F-14 (or example) rather than an F-16B/D. Steven Brown Scale Model Soup Quote Link to post Share on other sites
airmechaja Posted April 10, 2018 Share Posted April 10, 2018 It sure hasn't been a disappointment for after market decal companies! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Grindcore Posted April 10, 2018 Share Posted April 10, 2018 Could you imagine how sweet a Tamiya F-16AM MLU would be?? I'm surprised they haven't announced a Panther Ausf. A yet. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
shion Posted April 10, 2018 Share Posted April 10, 2018 12 hours ago, ytsejam87 said: I am sure it is a "trade secret". I just cannot understand the lack of a release of a family model. From what I understand, a Tamiya F-16D would be as simple as creating two sprues(upper fuselage plus 2nd pit and a new canopy), a decal sheet and instructions. How many original* markings for F-16D exist? Original i.e not just a BuNo and crews change, rest is the same single-seat markings. None. So you're a manufacter. Do you think it's profitable to release a new kit without drastically new markings than the original release? Reboxing the same kit with different decals is profitable per se. Tooling a new sprue with almost the same markings is profitable if and only if the sprue yields a significant amount of new orders. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
modelingbob Posted April 10, 2018 Share Posted April 10, 2018 (edited) 1 hour ago, shion said: How many original* markings for F-16D exist? Original i.e not just a BuNo and crews change, rest is the same single-seat markings. None. So you're a manufacter. Do you think it's profitable to release a new kit without drastically new markings than the original release? Reboxing the same kit with different decals is profitable per se. Tooling a new sprue with almost the same markings is profitable if and only if the sprue yields a significant amount of new orders. WORD!!!! Now, I might buy one F-16D (just because I don't have one), but that number pales in comparison to the number of F-16C's I have bought. Market size just ain't there for me for a "D" model and if I were a model producer I wouldn't do it!!!! I also think that Tamiya's F-16C does not represent a sales disappointment (I sure have a bunch of them!), and the fact there is no "D" has no relationship to Tamiya F-16C sales. It's all about market size and IMNSHO it ain't there for a "D". Edited April 10, 2018 by modelingbob Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AlCZ Posted April 10, 2018 Share Posted April 10, 2018 I can from Tamiya a decent Sufa kit... But Tamiya made a three (or four ?) F-16 (CJ, ANG, Thunderbirds and Aggresor) in quarter scale - and this is unusual.... Normaly this company made a two boxes, in many cases one, sometimes three (Beau, Mossie)..and this is a F-16 most popular western jet fighter after post ´Nam era.... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ytsejam87 Posted April 10, 2018 Author Share Posted April 10, 2018 (edited) Thanks all. I guess I phrased my question somewhat incorrectly. I was attempting to solicit speculative opinions concerning the idea that Tamiya was disappointed in the F-16C series sales, subsequently, they held back on producing a family model. Alll speculation of course! (tip of the hat to 11bee!) I have built one single seater, and have 4 on the shelf, and absolutely adore it. And will continue to buy more. I feel a D model, if a later block (Like a sufa) is one that is eventually produced, it rounds out the family, essentially, allowing nearly any block F-16C/D to be produced. I believe there would be a great level of decal and aftermarket support, as most (if not all) C operators, also operate D's. I have read a goodly number of links concerning the kinetic series of f-16's and really don't think (basic modeling skills wise)I am up to the challenge that they present. Edited April 10, 2018 by ytsejam87 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
strikeeagle801 Posted April 11, 2018 Share Posted April 11, 2018 Honestly, I wonder if it is the opposite. It's been a GREAT seller, and when interest begins to die down in it, THEN they will come out with a Delta model? In other words, get as much money out of the Charlie's produced while they can, and then when interest wanes, re-kindle it by putting out a Delta. Don't know. As was mentioned, Tamiya marches to their own drum. Aaron Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jefropas Posted April 12, 2018 Share Posted April 12, 2018 I did my part and bougth about a dozen...still have yet to finish one though, most disappointingly.... Jeff Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mr Matt Foley Posted April 12, 2018 Share Posted April 12, 2018 On 4/10/2018 at 6:51 AM, Grindcore said: Could you imagine how sweet a Tamiya F-16AM MLU would be?? I'm surprised they haven't announced a Panther Ausf. A yet. Please......not another Panther. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mr Matt Foley Posted April 12, 2018 Share Posted April 12, 2018 On 4/10/2018 at 6:01 PM, ytsejam87 said: Thanks all. I guess I phrased my question somewhat incorrectly. I was attempting to solicit speculative opinions concerning the idea that Tamiya was disappointed in the F-16C series sales, subsequently, they held back on producing a family model. Alll speculation of course! (tip of the hat to 11bee!) I have built one single seater, and have 4 on the shelf, and absolutely adore it. And will continue to buy more. I feel a D model, if a later block (Like a sufa) is one that is eventually produced, it rounds out the family, essentially, allowing nearly any block F-16C/D to be produced. I believe there would be a great level of decal and aftermarket support, as most (if not all) C operators, also operate D's. I have read a goodly number of links concerning the kinetic series of f-16's and really don't think (basic modeling skills wise)I am up to the challenge that they present. You will NEVER achieve the diversity of models produced with a Tomcat OVER an F-16 family. thinking otherwise is just not so. F-16 A,B,C,D,E,F,I All of the production blocks and nations using it. In my opinion, Tamiya is dropping the ball for not having cornered market with 1/48 & 1/32 Vipers. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
B.Sin Posted April 12, 2018 Share Posted April 12, 2018 5 hours ago, Mr Matt Foley said: You will NEVER achieve the diversity of models produced with a Tomcat OVER an F-16 family. thinking otherwise is just not so. F-16 A,B,C,D,E,F,I All of the production blocks and nations using it. In my opinion, Tamiya is dropping the ball for not having cornered market with 1/48 & 1/32 Vipers. Word. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jonathan_Lotton Posted April 12, 2018 Share Posted April 12, 2018 You see..it's difficult to do more variants of the F-16 when there are still one or two non-modeled versions of the Zero or BF-109 to do..like that one plane that was flown by that one pilot for 2 weeks in 1943 at that one field. Better make 100,000 of that kit. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
is it windy yet? Posted April 12, 2018 Share Posted April 12, 2018 We will never know. I bought one just to have an F-16 In the collection. Bought 3 more because it was such an easy and fun build. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
viper730 Posted April 12, 2018 Share Posted April 12, 2018 I just counted the finished Tamiya F-16 Builds. It is currently at 8.I have 7 at home and One given to My Uncle who Worked for Pratt & Whitney. Then in my stash I have 18 left. I say left cause I traded away some and sold off another batch. Crazy right well the majority were scooped up at Hobby Lobby. I went to visit friends/family in Texas and stopped at one along the I-10 between my house.I live about 50 miles north Of New Orleans, and there and they were on the clearance shelf..after that I stopped at every one and on the way out of each store I had to check to make sure I wasn't being pranked... lowest price was 12.36 ea....highest 21.00....I'd grab all they had left. Although A couple did not have any at all...I think that was 2011 or 2012..... I got about 20 kits and many were the Aggressor version. When I got home I took a few trips to the area HL and scooped another half dozen... Now days when I get Amazon points I look for the Block 50 from Japan which go for about 28.00 shipped. I attach some points in the payment area and get em for about 10.00-15.00 ea....all total I bought maybe 34+/- kits.... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Scooby Posted April 12, 2018 Share Posted April 12, 2018 17 minutes ago, viper730 said: I just counted the finished Tamiya F-16 Builds. It is currently at 8.I have 7 at home and One given to My Uncle who Worked for Pratt & Whitney. Then in my stash I have 18 left. I say left cause I traded away some and sold off another batch. Crazy right well the majority were scooped up at Hobby Lobby. I went to visit friends/family in Texas and stopped at one along the I-10 between my house.I live about 50 miles north Of New Orleans, and there and they were on the clearance shelf..after that I stopped at every one and on the way out of each store I had to check to make sure I wasn't being pranked... lowest price was 12.36 ea....highest 21.00....I'd grab all they had left. Although A couple did not have any at all...I think that was 2011 or 2012..... I got about 20 kits and many were the Aggressor version. When I got home I took a few trips to the area HL and scooped another half dozen... Now days when I get Amazon points I look for the Block 50 from Japan which go for about 28.00 shipped. I attach some points in the payment area and get em for about 10.00-15.00 ea....all total I bought maybe 34+/- kits.... Wow, $12.36 is a rock bottom price! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
junglejim38 Posted April 13, 2018 Share Posted April 13, 2018 I have three in the stash and I'm primarily an armour builder! I think it did all right... Jim Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.