12/16/2000

The 360 Modena kit is released, and a brief review and picture of the box and part trees are posted.

12/14/2000

Hasegawa's Lancia Rally 037 kit has been available.  The kit is a complete model with the engine details, but the rear cowl is fixed to the body.  The kit has some minor problems, and a review of the kit will be posted shortly.  The 360 Modena kit is supposed to be out by now, but I haven't found it yet.  A brief review will be posted as soon as I buy the kit.

Two magazines are added to my article section; one is F1 Modeling vol.8 and the other is Model Cars vol. 56.  Both are excellent magazines, and they are visually enjoyable although text is written in Japanese.

11/14/2000

The shipping date of the Tamiya's Ferrari 360 Modena and F1-2000 are determined.   The Modena and F-1 2000 are due Dec. 12th and 19th respectively.

10/23/2000

Studio27 has released the McLaren F1 GTR LM97 Gulf for 16000 yen.  The McLaren and FINA decal combo is currently available only on their web for 17000 yen, and I'm not sure about the inquiries from overseas.  The FINA car will be available for 16000 yen in November.  They will also be releasing the 2000 Daytona winner Viper GTS-R, as well as the '98, '00 Le Man versions in late October, and it's 16000 yen each.  More sports prototype cars from Studio27 are the Mazda MXR-01 in Renown, Kajima and MAZDA trims for 16000 yen each in December, and the Sauber C11 LM '91(!) in January 2001.   Their 1/20 scale F1 kits from the 2000 season are BAR Honda Japan GP, Prost AP03, Japan GP, and Ferrari F1-2000 Japan GP trans kit for the Tamiya kit.
Studio27 URL: http://www.studio27.co.jp/

10/9/2000

The reissue of the Porsche 910 kit is in stock everywhere, but it won't last long, so I suggest not to hesitate buying it.  I had a chance to examine the Hot House Audi R8R kit the other day, and it's a good model to start a semi-scratchbuild, but the kit is far from complete.  It misses the seat, steering wheel and tires.  The wheels are not accurate, although it's the same OZ wheel.  The spokes of rear wheels go in deeper, but the wheel of the kit seems a copy of the Alfa Romeo DTM kit.

As most of the readers know by now, it's gonna be another exciting Christmas season for sports and racing car modelers with the release of  Ferrari 360 Modena and Ferrari F1-2000.  Modena will feature the F1 style steering, and I bet many people will convert it to the stick shift version.  Also, I predict that the Challenge package will be released either by Tamiya themselves, or after market manufacturers.  Interestingly, this fully detailed Modena kit costs more than a 1/20 scale F1-2000 kit.  The F1-2000 will be fully detailed as usual.  Check my F1 Modeling Magazine review for details.  

8/11/2000

The date and price of the reissue of the Tamiya 1/12 Porsche 910 kit are set.  It will be shipped on September 28th, and the price is 7500 yen.

Hot House's long waited 1/24 scale 1999 Audi R8R is now available.  The price was raised from original 10500 yen to 12000 yen.  A picture is available at Sakatsu's web page. http://www.sakatsu.jp/  It says that it lacks some interior details and tires(?!), and the decals are done by a PC printer.  Is it worth 12000 yen?  I wonder...

7/25/2000

Studio27 has released a model of  the Toyota TS010 in many team colors, 92 Monza winner, 92 Le Mans Casio car, 92 Le Mans Denso car, 92 Le mans Zent car, 93 Le Mans Denso car, and 93 JSPC ESSO car.  Also, they are going to release the Nissan R91 Daytona Winner.  It's limited to only 300 copies. 

Almost all Tamiya reissues, mentioned in the previous update are available now, but the 1/12 Renault has been delayed.

Another Tamiya's reissue, the 1/12 scale Porsche 910, involves some major updates.  Some mold were missing, so they are making new ones from scratch, and the kit will be updated to make assemble easier.  It's due fall.

And following 2000 F1 car models are currently available. The Ferrari F1-2000 and Jaguar R1 from Studio 27, and the McLaren MP4/15 and Williams FW22 from Treasure Hunt.

Many more interesting magazines are published in Japan since the last update, such as F1 Modeling Vol.6, WRC 2000 Vol.2 Summer Edition, and Rally Spirit Vol.15.

5/16/2000

Studio27 has already released this years Ferrari and Jaguar F1 cars in 1/20 scale.  They are also releasing the Toyota TS010 in June, and Nissan R9??? in July.  I should know what the Nissan will be next week.

Tamiya has announced the following reissues for June and July.