Any new aircraft kits from Hasegawa?

[Geoff M]

I have noticed that Hasegawa has not released any new aircraft kits in 1/48 for quite a while.  Looking at Scalemates they rerelease many kits with new markings which is all well and good but nothing new.  Meanwhile, Tamiya has released a F-35B and a F-35C.  Other manufacturers have released many new items, P-47s, P-39s, F-4s, etc.  Has the market become too competitive for them and they choose not to compete?  Just wondering.

 

[wxltcol]

I wonder, too.  They could sure update their 1/72 F-16 and F/A-18 kits with the IFF antennas.  They could also update their EA-6B Prowler kits with new antenna fits, too, although those area fairly easy fix otherwise.

 

Just looked on-line at their site and no, nothing new, just reissues with different decals, as you said.

 

Tom

[phantom]

Honestly, has not been many real planes to make INTO models of late. Just the T-7 and maybe the F-35s which as mentioned Tamiya has all ready covered. I suppose the F-15EX has a few lumps and bumps that resin additions could take car of.

[wxltcol]

Yeah, the tails now have ECM bumps on them, but otherwise, it's the outer pylons and maybe a couple of other minor things.  I have a 1/72 Hase F-15EX kit and an older F-15E kits, so I can compare.

[Dave Williams]

I don’t think Hasegawa has released any new aircraft kits in any scale for a while.  All are reboxes.

[BWP]

Hasegawa is (apparently) no longer in the business of making new aircraft kits (in any scale); jut as, quite some time ago, they were in the business of new AFV kits in 1/72, but then stopped.  Presumably it's a financial decision on their part.  They do (I believe) still create new kits for other topics, such as the anime-related science-fiction stuff.

 

[airmechaja]

It seems that Tamiya has become more the competitor than Hasegawa ever bargained for. Just my opinion.

[viper730]

Short answer is in 1/48(only scale A/C I really build) No. Because of your question I did some thinking. If memory serves me correctly the last new tool 1/48 jet was the F-22 way back in 2008,9, or 10. The last 1/48 chopper was the AH-64 in the early 2010s and a new prop was the Japanese float plane "Dave"  in maybe 2014-16. They are the king of reboxes and lately a good number of those are based on anime series. I just got the the Ace Combat 7 boxing b/c inside all the parts are the same as the PT-49 or 07249 F-15C plastic... you'll just need military decals.

Edited October 6, 2024 by viper730

[Niels]

14 hours ago, viper730 said:

I just got the the Ace Combat 7 boxing b/c inside all the parts are the same as the PT-49 or 07249 F-15C plastic... you'll just need military decals.

I believe it misses the LAU-28 rails though, so straight from the box you can build a jet from Desert Storm and earlier. But there is sufficient aftermarked available to fix that 🙂

[Alternative 4]

The problem for Hasegawa is, and will be if they ever make a new aircraft kit, is that they charge Tamiya prices but don't even come close to Tamiya fit wise. Their biggest sin was making too many parts, why make one part when you can make 3. Sure the detail was better, but often all that detail is then removed trying to get the thing to fit.

 

If their Apache was their last kit, that is a good reason to stop making kits. That was a really bad fitting kit on which a lot of the detail was destroyed trying to remove seams.

[airmechaja]

Also there was a time when Hasegawa gave the buyer little or no ordnance!

[Thadeus]

I've also noticed much less reboxes - at least with subjects of my interest. But apparently, say, Hasegawa 1/72 F/A-18 Super Hornet got 6 repops in 2023. That is actually a decent number. In 2024 only 3 so far. At least if I'm reading scalemates correctly.

The 1/72 F-16 actually had a few updated sprues. the one with beer can antennae, wheels and launchers (sprue G) and J with IFF bird slicers and some other parts (and a new tail for the spined Vipers). The F/A-18A/D probably will not get updated ever. Schemes with nose IFF antennae got released without this feature. Heck, there isnt even a slanted centerline pylon.

Besides, wasn't their last kit the 1/48 F-22?

 

They do repop their basic kits more often, or at least they seem to pop more often at my go-to hobby shops.

[ST0RM]

Repops, at new kit prices. Sorry, but no. 

[habu2]

Hasegawa seems to have become a decal company that includes a free kit with every sheet purchased. 

[Geoff M]

13 hours ago, habu2 said:

Hasegawa seems to have become a decal company that includes a free kit with every sheet purchased. 

🤣

[STEN8]

Habu2, that was quite funny!!!!!

[hemspilot]

More recently they di release a few 1/72 products, namely the F-35A and the new-er F-35B, plus the CMV-22B with additional parts.

[Scott Smith]

I’d be happy with a few re-releases of the 1/32 P-40 series.  Got an E on the bench right now. 

[Kurt H.]

I guess they are focusing on automotive kits. They are issuing new tools of many older japanese cars, some of which were once only available as motorized kits with little detail. These kits are superb. In typical Hasegawa fashion, they offer the same kit with many, many variations.  

 

 

Edited November 19, 2024 by Kurt H.

[Spruemeister]

Never thought I’d be saying this, but with the new manufacturers out there now with cool new subjects and pretty decent quality, I really don’t need Hasegawa to issue another aircraft kit. Never did like their pre yellowed white decals and sometimes lack of detail. They have been overtaken in my mind. Maybe they know that. 
 

Rick L. 

[STEN8]

Now that is a fair assessment. With great new kits coming almost monthly from Academy, Airfix, Trumpeter, etc. for example...why buy the rebopped F-4 when Academy and Fine Molds are offering newer, better engineered versions of the same plane?

 

Harry

Lutz, FL

[Spruemeister]

Dora, Clear Prop, ICM, Armory, Arma, Great Wall, Halberd Resin, Magic Factory, and relentless Eduard, etc.  It's not all Tamiya quality, but Tamiya is never going to push out this range of subjects.  Not on the same timescale.  It's like Hasegawa went to sleep while the industry woke up. 

 

Rick L.

[wxltcol]

Although in 1/72, not much available for F-4C and F-4D, at least from my usual go-tos.  I guess I could go to Platz for the F-4D.  Otherwise, it's slim pickings.

 

Tom

[Model-Junkie]

Hasegawa have released many new kits in the last few years, they have mostly been focusing on subjects that interest their domestic market for a while now.  Their 1/12 resin figures are expanding fast, they have released several new and retooled sci-fi kits in multiple scales and are focusing on their 1/24 car kits a lot.  They are financially sound: https://www.tipranks.com/news/company-announcements/t-hasegawa-reports-strong-sales-and-profit-growth

[Raymond Chung]

On 11/23/2024 at 2:11 AM, Model-Junkie said:

Hasegawa have released many new kits in the last few years, they have mostly been focusing on subjects that interest their domestic market for a while now.  Their 1/12 resin figures are expanding fast, they have released several new and retooled sci-fi kits in multiple scales and are focusing on their 1/24 car kits a lot.  They are financially sound: https://www.tipranks.com/news/company-announcements/t-hasegawa-reports-strong-sales-and-profit-growth

As far as I know, Hasegawa is not a public listed company.