But it's not that easy as this very subject has been discussed before. Reasons:
1. Development cost (Tamiya's use of excruciating detail even down to recording of actual engine sounds) 2. RC tanking is a very fringe activity - Tamiya, comparatively, sells very few RC tanks versus other vehicles 3. ...
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The complexity of a weapon is inversely proportional to the IQ of the weapon's operator.
The question should be " Why are HL tanks so cheap ? "
It has something to do with economics & cost of production.
1. Wages & salaries of a worker in Japan is about 8-10 times of a worker in China. A factory worker in China earns about USD $200 per month. 2. In Japan, the factories use top quality machineries & material. 3. The packaging of a Tamiya tank is much better than a HL tank with a more elaborate instruction. 4. Cost of operating a factory in Japan is much higher than in China such as rent, cost of transportation, tax & so on.
These are the also main reasons why so many well known companies want to move their prouction line to China.
I think it is also a commercial choice from Tamiya: util now, they did not want to invest in a mass production of their RC tanks, nor they thought that rc tanks could be a mass entertainment such as are RC cars, for example. The arrival of china-made cheap rc tanks is going to change the market, tho, and maybe Tamiya too will soon judge that the market of potential buyers has grown, and they will decide to cut their prices by half. Should a Tam kit cost just twice as a HL, what would we buy?
Posts: 649
Joined: 6/27/2006 From: Dana Point,
CA, USA Status: offline
quote:
dont really know why the Tamiya tanks are so much more than the HL ones, they both seem the exact same.
Be careful. Words like those on this forum could start a war
If Tamiya was to cut there price AND bundle with a radio, batteries, and the TBU, I think they could sell a lot more tanks.
The reason the original HL's (Tiger and Pershing) look like Tamiyas is they copied the exterior, right down to the Tank Commander figures. HL took some short cuts for mass production/toy tanks. The tools are molded on the exterior, not separate pieces as they are on the Tamiyas.
Interior wise, the are not even similar. Tamiyas are built like an RC model with interior access designed in. The suspension uses much more metal, and has an aluminum tub for reinforcement.
I could go on for while. I am assuming you have a HL, so I'll enclose a few Tamiya picts for comparison. One could rightly argue whether a Tamiya is worth the extra money, but no one can claim they are basically the same
Kevin O <S.C.A.T>
...........Tamiya.............Close up of the...........Interior shot......................Torsion Bar Gen II & I Gear Box........Electronics.................2 screw to remove top........Suspension
< Message edited by ksoc -- 4/4/2007 9:30:02 AM >
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Kevin O''C <S.C.A.T> www.socalareatankers.com • Tamiya-Sherman/Tiger/Pershing/Kubelwagen • HL-Tiger, Panzer III
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Joined: 12/21/2006 From: , UNITED KINGDOM Status: offline
I thought the same a while ago,before I had a Tamiya. Now I have one I can see why. You can actually feel the difference,I know it sounds silly but it's true.It is the quality of it. How much do you think it would cost to make a HL work and survive as well as a Tamiya?
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Tamiya M4 Sherman...WSN T34/85...Heng Long Tiger 1...Heng Long M26 Pershing
Posts: 119
Joined: 2/4/2007 From: , MN, USA Status: offline
Im sure there better quality but are they $300-400 better quality? they should be around $150-200 from what I can see of them especially if it doesnt even include a radio, just my opinion though. And I dont have a HL yet. A bulldog is on the way!!
I have to agree with you about quality. Tamiya make top quality, highly detailed scale kits that have a multitude of functions that work first time. The cost of designing, tooling and packaging the tamiya kits is a lot higher than the mass produced, ready made, sometimes work out of the box Hen Long.
That said I have no problem with the henlong concept as it produces acceptable tanks at a cost that most of us can afford. With some basic tweaking they work fine and the kids can hurt them and they are repairable. With detailing they look superb.
Tamiya tanks are as previously mentioned a completely different item. I have several tanks and the Tamiya ones stand out not only in quality but also survivability on the field. Yes small bits fall off but the tamiya tanks just run and run.
If you are on a budget then you can buy 10 of the Henlong tanks in the UK for the price of a Tamiya Leopard 2.
As a model maker I much prefer to build rather than buy a ready made toy and I have made 1/35th tamiya tanks for years, their great. Building the dragonwagon at the moment. I wonder if I can build one in 1/16th.
One day I will be able to afford a 1/16th Leopard 2 and I cant wait. In the meantime I have to buy someone elses off ebay for a lot less money. Almost forgot I bought a 1/16th Tamiya KT Kit off ebay and it should arrive today. Hooray.
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Joined: 8/17/2005 From: atlanta,
GA, USA Status: offline
Tamiya doesn't make "top" quality.. just acceptable. Bent drivetrain parts, broken wheels, parts coming off, plastic like mad.. you pay for the name and the electronics. the actual models (no electronics) are 1/4 the price or less. you also pay to build it.. all those little parts cost to make while HL uses molds.
tamiya does make a mass produced product actually.. limited models cost in the thousands (the czech models come to mind) and don't use plastic.
As usual these things are all down to someones own opinion, including mine which isnt necesarily right but it is my opinion. It is as usual down to personal choice and I like tamiya products. It is unfortunate that in the UK we have to pay so much more than in some other countries but heyho that was what ebay was invented for wasnt it?
i once thought the same thing, till i saw what made a tamiya pershing. just the amount of detail and extras was amazing. if you get a chance to compare a hl and a tamiya IRL side by side, you will see.
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RC''s are like pringles... you can''t have just one!
Posts: 300
Joined: 11/27/2006 From: yeovil, UNITED KINGDOM Status: offline
Just wanted to second the comment that I agree hugely with the Tamiya quality over the HL and econimic differences at production, BUT, for me it isnt a £550.00 difference ( $1100 US including radio gear). That is more than my laptop cost me!!
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To get it to look right, do it like they did for real....just scale it down.
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Why are Tamiya tank so expensive? - 
