Julien Posted October 23, 2013 Share Posted October 23, 2013 Just saw in an email from Hobbylink Japan that Nichimo is calling it a day. Farewell, old friend! In business since 1951, Nichimo has decided to call it a day...and although they haven't released any new kits in decades, Nichimo kits have always been a staple of hobby shop shelves here in Japan, and have always enjoyed good international sales through HobbyLink Japan. We've just received our very last stock of kits from them, so please check out the remaining selection and grab 'em while we still got 'em! Julien 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
upnorth Posted October 23, 2013 Share Posted October 23, 2013 Sad to see another company go, but I'm sure if the molds are still in existence and viable we will see someone buy them up and reissue Nichimo stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bentwaters81tfw Posted October 23, 2013 Share Posted October 23, 2013 Does that mean my 1/20th Cessna 172 has just increased in value? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roymattblack Posted October 24, 2013 Share Posted October 24, 2013 Their 1/12 Lotus Europa kits are amazing too. I'll get around to building mine one day..... Roy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Womby Posted October 24, 2013 Share Posted October 24, 2013 Although I only have one of their kits, a Panzer IV that I built many years ago, it's a shame to see them go. David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-Neu- Posted October 24, 2013 Share Posted October 24, 2013 A bit sad. I've got their 1/200 yamato, which I'm building slowly. Not the most accurate kit, but its still pretty fantastic that they set about to build it. I'm sure that mold will find a new home; its the weird odd scale stuff that we will likely never see again: (1/30 tanks, 1/500 ships) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mackem01 Posted October 25, 2013 Share Posted October 25, 2013 Is it perhaps the "odd scales" they used that may have caused their demise? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
viscount806x Posted October 25, 2013 Share Posted October 25, 2013 Shame the old "1/48" Hunter(ish) kit (ex Lindbergh) won't be available anymore isn't it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heraldcoupe Posted October 25, 2013 Share Posted October 25, 2013 I've fond memories of building their 1/48 Ki-45 in the early 1980s. Not that detailed by modern standards, but the finesse of the kit left a big impression on the teenage me, I bought another at SMW a couple of years ago for a nostalgia build (which hasn't happened yet), Cheers, Bill. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bentwaters81tfw Posted October 25, 2013 Share Posted October 25, 2013 Shame the old "1/48" Hunter(ish) kit (ex Lindbergh) won't be available anymore isn't it? Don't be like that, I have one half fought built? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Mc Posted October 26, 2013 Share Posted October 26, 2013 Old moulds never die - they just get passed around the industry. I wonder why they have decided to close shop? What with the closing of PM not too long ago, not such great news for the industry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ancient mariner Posted October 26, 2013 Share Posted October 26, 2013 Could this herald a future group build? I think its one manufacturer from which we all have at least one favorite offering.(buried deep in "the stash") 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
viscount806x Posted October 26, 2013 Share Posted October 26, 2013 Don't be like that, I have one half fought built? Well I did one (a Lindberg 'Black Arrows') age 11 and it went together a treat and was in the scrap yard the following week as always. I'm 64 now so that gives an idea of the kits age. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanSAR95 Posted October 26, 2013 Share Posted October 26, 2013 Lets be honest, PM were absolutely diabolical so that's not a miss, I can't talk on behalf of Nichimo but I hope it's got nothing to do with lack of people buying kits, im sure it doesn't. My PM freedom fighter is a joke, I bought it because I didn't believe they were that bad, but wow. It may as well be flat plastic in the shape of the plane as the detail is practical non existent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Mc Posted October 27, 2013 Share Posted October 27, 2013 Not all PM kits were awful. Yes, they were basic but in some cases they provided a decent simple little model. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shalako Posted November 3, 2013 Share Posted November 3, 2013 Boo, now that's a shame to see one of my favorite brands to call it a day Some of my first scale models kits were from Nichimo. Some good some bad but, they were a joy to build. Damn, it makes me feel old!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harquebus Posted March 19, 2016 Share Posted March 19, 2016 Thanks for posting this info. Any information about Nichimo is or was scarce as they were a bit obscure. Their most well-known kit, the Yamato in 1/200, I never got my hands on (and I'm not sure I want to) but I have one each of their other 1/200 naval vessels. After amassing those kits, I got curious about Nichimo's status myself a few years ago but no one knew anything and they had no company website to speak of. It's sad to see them finally defunct. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Monday Posted April 15, 2016 Share Posted April 15, 2016 The Nichimo range of 1/20th scale aircraft are impressive, in particular their Hughes 500 helicopter. It appears to be very accurate and given that it appears to have been moulded in the 1970's, must have been the state-of-the-art for the time. It remains to this day one of the most impressive helicopter kits ever released. They seem to pop up on ebay every once in a while and go for prices between $100-$400! It is a pity to see Nichimo and their 500 go. BM. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Panoz Posted April 15, 2016 Share Posted April 15, 2016 The Nichimo range of 1/20th scale aircraft are impressive, in particular their Hughes 500 helicopter. So were their 1/48th scale Japanese WWII types (not the Jake ) . Unfortunately for them kit standards were raised considerably since the 70s and they were left behind years ago... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Panoz Posted April 15, 2016 Share Posted April 15, 2016 And yes I just noticed that the first post is from two and a half years ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Posted April 15, 2016 Share Posted April 15, 2016 The Nick was a nice kit with surface detail on a par with the Otaki WW11 moulds. It was fairly simple but impressive when finished. Their 1/48th scale Spitfire IX looked a lot like the Monogram kit... John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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