I'm not sure whether they are brand new or re-issued and re-packaged Japanese kits, but it certainly sounds intriguing.
The range is described on their website.
Thunderbird 1 1:144 scale £29.99
Thunderbird 2 with Thunderbird 4 1:350 scale £29.99
Thunderbird 3 1:350 scale £35.99
Thunderbird 4 1:48 scale £43.99
Thunderbird 5 with Thunderbird 3 scale N/A £75.99
Fireflash 1.350 scale £45.99
The Mole 1:72 scale £45.99
Fab 1 1:32 scale £29.99
Transparent Thunderbird 2 1:350 £45.99
Thunderbird 2 Launch Bay 1:350 £89.99
All these models certainly sound like previously released Japanese kits, but what's not to like!
Stop Press: Apparently confirmed by the company that the kits are 'former Aoshima/Imai kits re-boxed for todays collectors'.
That's a wide range of scales.
ReplyDeleteJapanese kits love to include scales. I've got the Aoshima Fireflash, which is supposed to be 1:350, but it doesn't really mean anything, apart from the fact is a bit underwhelming in size. I suppose if all these kits were the same scale the variation in size could prove problematic.
DeleteThey're reissues of the Aoshima kits (TB2, TB5 and the launch bay are ex Imai). Good to see them again. the Fireflash is pretty rare.
ReplyDeleteYou can buy them here : https://railsofsheffield.com/groups/3400/thunderbirds-model-kits
I should imagine most model shops should get them, plus Amazon and eBay sellers, of course.
DeleteYeah, they certainly sound like re-issues, but I don't mind that.
ReplyDeleteBachmann are best known for their railway models, so they are really branching out here. The prices are very high, but the kits look to be amazing - that transparent Thunderbird 2 looks very interesting. A great ad, and even the boxes done like an old TV set with the image of the craft on the 'screen' is really nice. I will have to start saving.
ReplyDeleteYes, I got some Bachmann items in amongst my late Father's model railway collection.
DeleteI agree, the prices are a bit on the high side, but in my experience it doesn't seem to bother most collectors. You only have to look at what some people pay on eBay.
In saying that I'll probably bag one or two over time.
Yeah, this is good news.
ReplyDeleteBachmann is just an owned-brand now, entirely owned by China! Kader (of the terrible fire, and who have nearly bankrupted Hornby twice in recent years with supply problems) bought them out as a hard Western-currency generating, marketing exercise!
ReplyDeleteIt really does my heart good to see the Imai Kagaku line of Thunderbirds kits (from their memorable “Space Science Series”) being reissued after all these years! I still recall vividly in 1968 in the US, stumbling upon the TB1, TB2 and TB5 kits at my local discount house, imported by Associated Hobby Manufacturers of Philadelphia (with ties to the Bachmann company, by the way) and with those incredible box cover illustrations by Shigeru Komatsuzaki. I thought I had died and gone to Supermarionation heaven! I went back to that store many times to see if TB3 and TB4 kits were released here, but they never were, apparently due to poor sales of the other kits. Not for lack of me trying, though - I am pretty sure I bought at least THREE kits each of TB1, 2 and 5!
ReplyDeleteThat said, these reissues suffer from two strikes at least against them: terrible boxes, and high prices. If you want to hit the nostalgia market, you commission old-school illustrations in the style of Komatsuzski, not boring photos in a TV set. Anyhoo, I’m sure they will do well with a certain segment of C21 collectors.
DeleteI have always wanted the Aoshima TB1 launch bay, however, so I might end up getting that one at least...
DeleteAnd the Fireflash is so rare...
ReplyDeleteTo be honest, Ziggurat, I reckon, assuming they get a decent distribution they should be reasonable good sellers. There seems to be a lot of interest on social media about them.
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