From the Tamiya USA site. The figs are one of the ICM Luftwaffe sets.

http://www.tamiyausa.com/product/item.php?product-id=89731

They are using ICM figures with a couple of their 1/35 releases as well. A new trend for Tamiya?

Chris "toadman" Hughes
http://www.toadmanstankpictures.com

...maybe they could not convince their figure sculptor ('Shorty' Yamamoto) that not everyone is 5 foot nothing and weighs 105 lb.

It parrellels their practice of marketing Italeri 1/48 aircraft under their own name, usually with a sprue of oil drums and jerry cans, at over 100% markup. A real rip-off considering you can still buy the original kit without the extras at less than half the Tamiya price.

Let's just hope that their 'new' Storch is just that, NEW, and not just the ESCI kit with a few bits and bobs thrown in.

Ken