I posted this on another thread but wanted my point made here as well. I want to thank the guys, one of which is a HL hater in fact, for taking the time to answer my questions at length and in detail. I think I have the information I needed and this has been a great source of information. That said, let me weigh in on this debate.

Do people honestly think Tamiya was the first one to make a Tiger tank model? Do people think Tamiya owns the copyright on the Tiger model design? Do they also own the scale range known as 1/16th? The assertion that Heng Long tanks simply "copied" the Tamiya is ridiculous. If those who believe this apply this thesis to the static model world, then I suppose all of the manufacturers are ripping each other off as they offer the same model of various planes, tanks, or ships. But why stop there - lets just apply that concept to say everything, one example which might be, all shoe manufacturers. Clearly, since the beginning of time, they have all stolen the idea of footware from one identifiable original source?

I will say this again because it bares repeating. Tamiya cars of tremendous quality and durability didn't cost $500. They were priced well and their durability made many of us repeat buyers. I have ALWAYS thought the tanks were ridiculously overpriced and could never understand how or why they were that high. I am certain I am not alone in this belief. For a long time I simply thought they were sort of going the way of the Lexus, which is really just a Honda, or, an Infinity, which is really just a Nissan.

A Tamiya tank was to be special in the same way and was marketed that way. It was a big mistake. There were many who would have entered the hobby had Tamiya had a better pricing structure. They could have applied some cost analysis and realized they could have sold many more at say half of what they were charging, and made many more customers and return customers. What are the components guys - plastic, metal, some bearings and so on. The cars had the same thing but they didn't cost a mortgage payment. I have not opened a RC tamiya tank box to check the contents in years, but remember when I first saw one over 10 years ago. It appeared to me to be very much a static model kit, that had been made to run. Oh yeah, it had two 550 can motors instead of the one the TAO2W I had. I suppose that justifies the extra $450 right? It was nice and looked great - but never $500 great. Now, that was a long time ago so perhaps things have changed. This notion that others can't enter the market because there is only one "GOD RC TANK MAKER" and he only makes Tamiya, is just ridiculous.

If the components of the two models are that similar then the old saying "imitation is the sincerest form of flattery" is appropriate here. Can we all be friends now and help people regardless of the model they choose?

< Message edited by Templars83 -- 5/30/2006 10:08:37 AM >