(Login clevonas) Registered Users from IP address 71.218.34.185
Since everyone has been voting for the models they want to see released, I figured we should see what everyones favorite kit was that did get released. My vote is for the Tamiya "infantry at rest", since Tamiya found a way around the licensing and we finally got the jeep we have been wanting
My vote would have to go to the Crusaders, both the MkII and the AA version. Because, (A)they are probably the best detailed to date, and (B) their arrival was so unexpected as they've never been done by Tamiya before (if you discount the ancient one that appeared in a Hawk box).
Geoffrey is right on the money, I agree totally that the Crusader was such a surprise, and it was beautifully excecuted, warts and all. It was easily my favourite kit this year.
I eagerly await the mk.III.
Cheers, Pat
p.s. The Persh was nice too, but I think it was out in '06. P.
Let's keep tab of the results of this pole and we can make it 'official'.
Garfield
(I won't vote as I havn't even touched a new kit this year except for the 250(3).
Garfield
Gaz 67
GMC 2.5 ton truck
Infantry at rest + jeep
Crusader I/II
Crusader AA
Flakpanzer IV
Steyr 1500
Steyr Kommaneurwagen
M8 Greyhound
SdKfz 250/3
German field maintenance figures
Up armoured KV 1
11CV with Lufftwaffe figures
Pz III Ausf N
Hasegawa:
"Follow Me" jeep
Standard Jeep
BMW 327 car (stand alone kit or with Fw190)
Hobby Boss
KV-1 756(r) Beutepanzer
On top of that list, we also got several resin kits and conversions.
This message has been edited by GeoFF03 from IP address 86.132.175.170 on Dec 30, 2007 6:42 AM
I didn't include those in the list, or the Hasegawa Isuzu bowser, as they've not been released as stand alone kits as yet. I suppose you could count them although they have only been available for a short time.
This message has been edited by GeoFF03 from IP address 86.132.172.128 on Dec 30, 2007 3:10 PM
While I haven't a lot of direct experience with too many of the kits released this year, I would have to vote for the Tamiya Crusader I/II, for the reasons mentioned elsewhere. A little gem of a kit, and a great subject for Tamiya to tackle (i'm just finishing mine up now - soldered the side rails and mounted them on the kit tonight). Now if only they would follow up with a Valentine or Matilda.
Dave Reed (Login dave37167) Registered Users 67.177.172.176
My vote.....
December 30 2007, 7:59 AM
I will echo everyone else so far....I loved the Crusader. But the GMC ran a close second....the potential (already being realized) of conversions....and the market to aircraft and railroad modelers is tremendous. I also have bought three, so far, of the Light Utilty Vehicle and Dwarfs set- which leads in $ given to the Big T.......and I need a couple more!!
Dave
I'm going to have to go with the..................
December 30 2007, 12:03 PM
TAMIYA SdKfz 250/3 if only because of all the variations possible, (Looking forward to the 251 series !!!) and in that light a close second goes to the TAMIYA GMC 2 1/2 and if I may 3rd place would be the TAMIYA Steyr series.........just my 2 cents worth.
Re: I'm going to have to go with the..................
December 30 2007, 2:51 PM
Gentlemen:
My vote for the model of the year is for Crusader I/II. Only because Tamiya never done this kit before and it´s a little gem of model. plenty of detail and very interesting subject but very close of it the 250/3 Greif. If only those tamiya figures were not to small??...
Now, we just need a Honey? or a Grant?... I love the Afrika theatre vehicles.
In my opinion no doubt the 2007 model of the year is so far the Kurogane because (1) I think the Kuro easily wins in originality as it has never been released in plastic in any scale by any company before, (2) as the first japanese subject Tamiya releases presumably is the most accurate kit in the series plus (3) I totally believe Tamiya will sell more Kuros than all Crusader version together thanks to its high crossover potential. I think those are some good reasons to prove size does not matter to become one true winner.
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Second in the list would be the US Staff Car for similar reasons, but I consider the Kuro has the extra of its japanese nature and the lack of die-cast chassis. Talking of more conventional kits, my favourite is the GMC for its quallity and potential but I agree with others and think the Crusader can be the best Tamiya tank until now.
Also I would like to highlight the Tatra and Zis trucks released by Hauler which are true fantastic kits in fact full of potential and filling one gap others do not attend. That is also valuable to me.
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By the way, as voting is one hot trend in T48 lately, you should know japanese customers already voted past month and Tamiya posted the official 2007 Ranking ten days ago. Needless to say there is no 1/48 MMV kit in the list of the most popular items, BUT just after the top ten items Tamiya included ten more rated as "others" and among those others Tamiya posted two interesting remarks by customers regarding two 1/48 vehicles.
1) The 250/3 Greif is the item #11 and one customer openly invited Tamiya to follow the 250 series and to increase the range with the 251, 222, and 234 seires in the future. I personally consider those are very good choices indeed.
2) The five fighters & Kuros are item #13 and customer remark prays for the release of the single Kuro kit with the crew figures. One more reasonable sugestion in my opinion.
I too feel the Tamiya Jeep is the kit of the year. It reflects a much desired vehicle, well executed, and at an economical price. Sounds like a winner to me!
Lots of great kits came out in 2007, but for me the top three were the "Light Utility Vehicle," CCKW 6x6 truck and the M8 Armored Car (and the immediate follow on M20). The Crusader and the Sdkfz 250/3 are also wonderful kits, and great alternative top 3 choices as well. For me the Kurogane really is not in the running, not because it is not a great kit, but because it really is a 2008 release as a part of the Military Miniature line.
Picking the best of the lot is tough; I would have to give the CCKW top honors as the most versatile (you could build a couple dozen variations and still have more possibilities), the General Purpose ¼ Ton 4x4 as the nicest kit of my top three in terms of the detail and moulding finesse (admitting that the Crusader is also outstandingly well detailed and designed), the M8 as my favorite of the three as a vehicle (this kit also features generally outstanding details with the exception of the moulded on hand rail on the turret and the missing shell racks and hull interior parts, although all these issues were quickly addressed by the Hauler set Jan was kind enough to put out shortly after its release), and the 250/3 is just an outstandingly cool looking vehicle.
Honestly, it is kind of wonderful to have this dilemma to deal with
Forcing the choice, I will give top honors to . . . the GP, for versatility, for quality and for value.
The Crusader wins it for me, although I haven't actually bought one yet. North African theatre and not an obvious choice. And we got a kit that didn't exist in 1/35 and boy did they get their y-fronts in a twist over it!
I thought I would put a good word in for the Steyr command car. There is something about the side windows and canvas top which make this an appealing little kit.
My top three would be in line with Konrads' choices, although the Tamiya jeep is by far and away my favorite. I have already bought five and started to build three of them with the other two in my stash, so if anybody wants some figure sets (minus the box - they're going in the GMC) let me know and I'll stick em in the post.
