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DCCLarke · ***Power User*** Offline Joined: Jan 24, 2006 Posts: 62

Hi Guys, I know I've posted a lot lately--I'm trying to get used to the new digs! Neutral

So please don't mind me blathering on.

I just visited one of my usual internet hobby shops. Is it my imagination or have armor kit prices taken a jump of $3-$5 in the last three months?

I know you can always find a deal or a "sale", but my general perception is that list prices are slowly rising and, if you add the cost of shipping, you're lucky to escape under $40.00 for the average AFV kit if you don't find a deal.

What do you think? I haven't bought much lately except for a couple of special kits that I expected to pay extra for.

Best,
David

Dave_Block · ***Power User*** Offline Joined: Jan 24, 2006 Posts: 32

David, I've been thinking the same thing. I've noticed that even re-stocks of older kits are up (eg. $39.00 Cdn.for an Italerie Maultier!). I know it's not just the hobby shops adding a few more bucks, I'm fortunate to have three good places within driving distance to choose from and their prices are pretty much the same. Obviously the manufacturer & distributor are taking their (fair?) share of the profits and I don't expect the retailer to sell things for zero profit. Right now Trumpeter stuff seems to be the best value for your hard-earned dollar but I think that's just to get a toe-hold in the market, a loss-leader I think it's called.
There was a time that I would have picked up every major 1/35 WWII armour release as soon as it hit the shelves but I can't justify it now. We're still in a "golden age" of modelling as far as subject matter is concerned but I seem to only have lead in my wallet (yeah, and pencil too) Smile

Cheers, Dave

C_Sherman · ***Power User*** Offline Joined: Jan 24, 2006 Posts: 590

Could rising oil (raw material) prices have something to do with it?

DCCLarke · ***Power User*** Offline Joined: Jan 24, 2006 Posts: 62

Hi Guys, not sure why this is, I really wanted to find out if other members had noticed the same thing.

Not starting a rant or anything, but it seems like even old re-releases are much more expensive. And smaller kits, like the DML Sd. Kfz. 250 halftrack series seem to carry price tags in the same range as those for larger tanks.
I mean, $30.00 U.S.D. for a 250 is about what I'd expect to spend on a DML stuG.

It just seems like a general list price increase of $3 to $5. The site I was looking at, which I've come to trust due to past dealings, had the new Tamiya StuG for $39.99, which is kind of expected for a new Tamiya release, but it also was selling the re-released DML Hetzer Command version for $35.95!!

I'm not really so much complaining as trying to see if other folks had noted this rise in prices or was I just unfamiliar with something everyone else knew! Laughing

Best,
David

Roy_A_Lingle · Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2006 6:39 am Post subject: Re: Kit Prices Going UP?

Hi David! Hi Folks!

I agree with you, I think I have been seeing prices climb some also.

I think Chuck has the reason. The kits are made from oil, ships and trucks that hual the boxes out to all the stores are charging more to cover their fuel cost. All the are stores paying more for heat this year.

I am not surprised to see the prices go up some and I am really starting to watch for items to be on sale before I buy now days. I was in Hobby Lobby with a 40% off coupon today and didn't buy a single kit even though there were two kits that I do not have yet.

Still, like Dave said, It is the golden age right now.
I just wished it wasn't to late for me to convert to 1/48 AFVs. It does seam like that size is finally catching on.

Sgt, Scouts Outs Confused

Jens_O_Mehner · Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2006 2:04 pm Post subject: Re: Kit Prices Going UP?

Yep,

the rising gas and oil prices are the main culprits, transporting the kits to the selling point has gotten more expensive, the price for the raw material is more or less unchanged- IIRC, the oil needed for the manufacture of styrene products is of a different quality than the sweet crudes used for fuels.

Cheers,

Jens O.

DCCLarke · ***Power User*** Offline Joined: Jan 24, 2006 Posts: 62

Hey Roy, you know you just hit on an interesting point. I, for one, always wondered about Tamiya's motivation for switching to 1/48th and the explosion of 1/72nd armor kits. Do you think maybe the bean counters in the Orient forsaw that, at some point, 1/35th scale kits would become uneconomical?
I had thought that Tamiya made the shift solely to avoid competition with Dragon and Trumpeter, now I'm not so sure.
Of course, it doesn't matter to me. Like you, I have far too much invested in 1/35th to even consider taking on a new scale. But, could it be that, due to price, 1/48th is indeed the wave of the future in armor kits?

Best,
David

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