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Aoshima - are they rare?


maltadefender

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Hi everyone, I've just been alerted to a kit made some years back by Aoshima. I know of Tamiya and Arii but are Aoshima well known/available?

 

Many thanks

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Like several Japanese companies, it appears to have limited distribution. Although, being a fan of unusual military wheeled things, I'm quite used to that. :( Other than importing, you're most likely to find what you want at Hiroboy. The full range on Aoshima's website is large, though a lot of it is really of local interest only, I think. The kits are generally very well regarded, but I haven't bought one yet.

 

http://www.hiroboy.com/shop.php?p=each_manufacturers&id=13

 

http://www.aoshima-bk.co.jp/en/product/?s=&brand_en=&category_en=PlasticModel&scalename=1%2F24&seriesname_en=&number=&jan-code=&when1-year=&when1-day=&when2-year=&when2-day=

 

Edited by Ade H
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Aoshima's primary focus is their home market but according to their site they do have an importer for the UK - http://www.kentmodels.co.uk/. Looks they specialise in car models so if your after that then you should be OK. Any other genre you'd be better of buying direct from Japan.

 

If your after spares, then if your not in Japan your out of luck: LINK.

 

Quote

Aoshima Service Center is working exclusively for the customers in domestic market (Japan), and do not offer English service and will not ship outside Japan directly to a private customer in foreign countries.

Any services of Aoshima Service Center are solely for repair/support purpose, to maintain Aoshima's propduct quality, and we do not intend making any profit from such service.

Any of Aoshima's products bought/gotten/acquired outside Aoshima's official dealers/retailers sales network in foreign countries, including but not limited to, unofficial retailers and dealers, Japanese retailers, any type of auction, open bid, private transaction, flea market etc in foregin countries are deemed second hand and we do not offer direct support/guarantee.

Important: We no longer sell individual/separate parts for overseas customers.

Thank you for your patience and understanding on this matter.

Sincerely yours,

ASC: Aoshima Service Center

 

Mike.

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I have/had a few kits in stash from Aoshima. Some 1:32 US and european cars which I mostly sold on and a few esoteric things like the Bell 222 in Airwolf guise with see through fuselage and a BTTF De Lorean in 1:32 scale. The Airwolf looks very nice in the box, but the DeLorean is well detailed from the outside but not really 1:32 scale. It is way too wide and as too big wheel arches. I converted it to a slot racer so the with was no issue for me but the wheel arches look odd - still nice to have such an unusual slot racer :-)

They also did a Blue Thunder in 1:48 but this quickly sold out and I missed it. So yes - they have some very limited kits and some which are in their list for many years.

 

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Thanks all for your replies. It's the Mitsubishi Starion that I'm after - I had no idea that there was one. A friend told me about the kit and sure enough one exists - looks like it was from a Japanese TV show as it has gulping doors. Anyway, my Dad was involved with the Starion and I'd love to build one. It doesn't look all that great a kit, the roof seems a bit low, but I'm pretty excited about the fact that there is one!

Edited by maltadefender
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Not sure what subjects you are talking about.  If aircraft, the phrase "made some years back by Aoshima" set alarm bells ringing.  Back in the 1970s one of the medium-sized model shops started marketing about 8 Aoshima 1/72 aircraft kits, all of Japanese subjects.  The SAM was one of them, I think there may have been a JUDY in there as well.  I ordered them sight unseen: they were quite horrible - I wouldn't have wanted the neighbours seeing me put them in my bin.  More recently (like over the last 20 years), however, they have produced a number of excellent 1/72 aircraft kits, which are highly regarded: I think there is a GEORGE.

 

Similar story with 1/700 waterline warships.  When the big 4 (Tamiya, Hasegawa, Fujimi, Aoshima) carved up the Japanese WW2 navy between them, Aoshima were by far the weakest link.  (Tamiya were excellent, Hasegawa pretty good, Fujimi usable and Aoshima worth buying only if you cared passionately about the subject.)  However I understand they have put out some 1/700 waterlines in recent years that stand comparison with the best of their competitors. 

 

Edit: oops, didn't spot this in the car section.  Apologies.

Edited by Seahawk
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Hiya Chaps :bye:

 

MaltaDefender. Aoshima actually produce some very good kits, and of late they have produced some truely stunning cars. Some of their older offerings are a bit basic, most without engines, but on the whole they aren't bad. Hobby Link Japan and Hobby Easy are probably your best bet for most of their range.

 

As to your enquiry on the Starion, there's actually a couple available:

Aoshima: the one you saw from a Japanese TV show, but its 1/32nd scale (and has gull wing doors)

Fujimi: 1/24th scale, available if you look around, try ebay.

Bandai: 1/20th scale very hard to find and stupid prices.... 

 

Hope this helps

 

Thanks

:ninja:Mad Steve:ninja:

 

Edited by MAD STEVE
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Thank you all. I have got one coming from Japan via a friend of a friend in Japan who was happy to buy one of the kits for not much money and send it on at cost. Hooray! 

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I buy their car kits on a regular basis, from various UK online shops, very popular.

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