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Hasegawa newsletters 2020 - 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11 & 12


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A couple months ago I had the chance of reading a survey on the toy and model market in Japan. Now I can't remember the exact figures but manga and anime based kits outsell all other subjects put together by a wide margin, with Gundam kits alone accounting for 40% of the total plastic kit market.

Not surprising that Hasegawa have moved into these territories, more so as the Japanese market is the most important for them.

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18 hours ago, Seahawk said:

Is that a new-tool 1/72 MAVIS, to go alongside the recent EMILY?  Or another outing for the old one? 

 

Old tool I think, I imagine there would have been a bit more of a fanfare for a new tool one...

 

Cheers,

 

Stew

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50 minutes ago, Giorgio N said:

A couple months ago I had the chance of reading a survey on the toy and model market in Japan. Now I can't remember the exact figures but manga and anime based kits outsell all other subjects put together by a wide margin, with Gundam kits alone accounting for 40% of the total plastic kit market.

Not surprising that Hasegawa have moved into these territories, more so as the Japanese market is the most important for them.

 

I believe Hasegawa is a privately-owned company which would explain why there is little financial information available on them but I have read somewhere that 90% of their products are sold in Japan. The fact that this flyer is only printed in Japanese supports that; they simply do not care that much about what sells outside Japan. From a business perspective that makes perfect sense.

 

 

12 hours ago, gavingav said:

I think it's a bit early to be claiming hasegawa are not releasing any new kits with news letter 1 of 2020 but having said that and looking at the new tools of the last few years it does seem that the importers with their crazy prices in europe have somewhat damaged hasegawa's marketability, short terms profits for them have possibly harmed hasegawa's long term viability or range of product they seem to be tooling.

 

Hasegawa's import prices are set by their distributors and have always been very high. I doubt it impacts their profitability because the overseas volumes are small compared to the home market.

 

I have visited Japan and was lucky enough to get some time to visit many model stores in Tokyo, Shizuoka and Osaka; the situation there is a complete reverse from model stores here and kind of what you'd expect really: Japanese brands are about the price of similar Airfix, Revell and Eduard kits here, but those same brands are completely unaffordable in Japan. An Airfix Series 2 kit was over 25 quid. I doubt you'd conclude from that that Airfix was harming it's long term viability with that price point. Most likely nobody at Airfix has even an idea of what their kits sell for in Akihabara.

 

In the end I think we should be thankful we have so many companies releasing kits these days and at such a high level of quality. 1/48 and 1/72 aircraft kits are not exactly underrepresented with new tools in the market as a whole. Hasegawa may not contribute much to that particular segment in recent years but they are a major company that keeps a lot of people building plastic model kits of high quality and that is an important contribution to sustaining the hobby in the long run.

Edited by sroubos
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On 11/14/2019 at 6:04 PM, Max Headroom said:

Where does that Tu-144 originate? As it’s 1/144 rather than their own preferred scal of 1/200.

 

Trevor

Hi Trevor. 

The kit was originally released by ICM. It has also been reboxed by Revell

 

Allan

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Does the F-104J/DJ boxing (which had already been available in the past: https://www.scalemates.com/kits/hasegawa-00873-f-104j-f-104dj-starfighter-jasdf--128501
differ somehow from TF-104G, decals aside?
Considering the existence of this boxing: https://www.scalemates.com/kits/hasegawa-02818-tf-104g-f-104dj-starfighter--122043
I'd think it may be the same, but I'd like to be sure before I pre-order it.

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6 hours ago, caughtinthemiddle said:

Does the F-104J/DJ boxing (which had already been available in the past: https://www.scalemates.com/kits/hasegawa-00873-f-104j-f-104dj-starfighter-jasdf--128501
differ somehow from TF-104G, decals aside?

I believe sprue tree E is missing from this kit, which contains the correct TF wheels and rear MB seat. These can be obtained by after market means though.

 

Jay

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26 minutes ago, Mountain goat said:

I believe sprue tree E is missing from this kit, which contains the correct TF wheels and rear MB seat. These can be obtained by after market means though.

 

Jay

Indeed, I found this later when comparing some inboxes and instructions (frankly, there aren't many available in the web).

Could you please point out the correct aftermarket items to make out a TF?
Post-WW2 aircraft are really not my cup of tea, although there are a few I'd like to build and TF-104G is one of them.

Thanks
Maciej

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17 hours ago, caughtinthemiddle said:

 

Could you please point out the correct aftermarket items to make out a TF?

I believe Reskit makes a correct set for the TF-104G but I'm not 100% sure these are the right ones.

 

Also, this kit probably won't have the bulged landing gear doors as seen on the G version, but the DJ ones can be modified. However if you're planning a Danish, Norwegian or Canadian CF-104D then the DJ kit wheels and doors will do nicely. 

 

Jay

Edited by Mountain goat
extra info
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On 11/14/2019 at 3:31 PM, hopkp said:

I'd struggle to name the last new 1/48 Hasegawa jet

 

F-22 in 2009. 

 

That GR.5 is bound to be popular. I guess when I bought it in 2005 as a 'Limited Edition' it wasn't so limited after all...the boxart is identical and I assume the contents will be too.

 

Jon

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1 hour ago, Robert said:

Interesting it says the F-104J was on the Hasegawa storage facility rooftop.

 

Regards

Robert

Last I've heard it's still there in 207 sq markings along with a Mentor as a gate guard. 

 

Jay

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I was (a still) fascinated when - on Western run on politicall corectness - and Japan is another side of coin. Here was banned a advertising with sexy girls in bikini - because is too sexy (huh ?) and in Japan pull manga  girl anything. Here was problem with girl with beer (too sexy) and Japan and Japanese have still a adolescence :) Manga schoolgirl here and there....  When i look on japanese model shops - a normal  (for us normal) kits are off - and still here a Gundam robots and manga manga manga sexy  teen girl in many form and costumes....and Hasegawa run on this wave. Though i love  a Playmate and Pin up aesthetics - i never (and i study it long time) understand a really crazy fascination of "alien form" of femimininity in Japan. Face of teen years girl  with non realistic facial features and sexy curves of porn star....  As manga girl don´t look any (without plastic surgeon work) any girl on the world.... And despite that i really hate an anti-sexism theater  and political corectness  - a Japanese sexism pop culture i don´t understand too :/  I was shocked, when Hasegawa  now add Manga girls on many kits.  A nose art pin up girl is nice (on my taste :) ) but 85% of future production (with Manga/Anime)  is without my understanding :(   In Czech is very popular a termine "TamiGawa" (for excellent kits).  Tamiya still run on "normal kits wave"  but Hasegawa really can produced a old tools with printed/resin Manga Schoolgirls ? :(  Last really new tool was Emily a two years back no ?  And personally i prefer a Eduard re-box with their addon and thin decals before Hasegawa bare plastic with thick decals....  I don´t hope a Hasegawa make a real new tool kit, i long awaited an new Boeing B-29 "Superfortress" - or 1/32 Hurricane...And when we have from Hasegawa ? Manga girls ! Huh ! (But resin Nose Arts is good idea, but with first coming it (with excellent quality) a South Korean based company Legend (a decade ago - make an Memphis Belle girl, a one Vargas´ artwork inspired "ginger" from Lanc, California Cuttie girl with towel and Girl in bathtub - all from nose arts.). In Hasegawa offer is interest it is a mainstream and traditional company. I know only Masterbox when released a girls (naturally - not manga) figurines (for few coins and relative good quality...) 

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On 12/11/2019 at 7:00 PM, Jon Bryon said:

F-22 in 2009. 

 

That GR.5 is bound to be popular. I guess when I bought it in 2005 as a 'Limited Edition' it wasn't so limited after all...the boxart is identical and I assume the contents will be too.

 

Jon

Wow, ten years since their last new 1/48 jet - says it all really!

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Stupid question since I rarely buy Hasegawa kits brand new at the moment of release: how long do their reboxings stay on the market? I sometimes follow these threads and noticed that a 1/72 Skyraider and Beaufighter were being released a few months back but I think I waited too long...

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3 hours ago, Phantome said:

Stupid question since I rarely buy Hasegawa kits brand new at the moment of release: how long do their reboxings stay on the market? I sometimes follow these threads and noticed that a 1/72 Skyraider and Beaufighter were being released a few months back but I think I waited too long...

I think these reboxings are limited to one production run and I have no idea how many are produced

Desirable models such as the A4c Skyhawk in 1/48 and 1/72 Skyraider were released last year and both sold out at the big H in around seven days

Simply put if Hasegawa release something you  badly desire,  snap it up while you can 

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8 hours ago, Phantome said:

Stupid question since I rarely buy Hasegawa kits brand new at the moment of release: how long do their reboxings stay on the market? I sometimes follow these threads and noticed that a 1/72 Skyraider and Beaufighter were being released a few months back but I think I waited too long...

https://www.hannants.co.uk/search/index.php?product_category_id=&product_division_id=&manufacturer_id=362946&code=&product_type_id=&scale_id=956&keyword_search=&setPerPage=25&currency_id=

 

All of these are Hasegawa tools repackaged.Beaufighter one of them. 

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10 hours ago, Phantome said:

Stupid question since I rarely buy Hasegawa kits brand new at the moment of release: how long do their reboxings stay on the market? I sometimes follow these threads and noticed that a 1/72 Skyraider and Beaufighter were being released a few months back but I think I waited too long...

A month to two months is my experience. Sometimes even sold out in pre-order phase. I bought a Hase F-111G a while back. I believe that was sold out almost immediately. 

 

Jay

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21 hours ago, Mountain goat said:

I bought a Hase F-111G a while back. I believe that was sold out almost immediately. 

 

Jay

And, if you decide you want one well after release, be prepared for silly prices. I have a great desire for the F-111G kit but not THAT great!

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