I think you could buy a real four legged, trunk swinging, Dumbo earred animal for less! Still looks nice.

http://cgi.ebay.com/1-16-Imai-elefan...item414a9d4881

Sometimes the greed of some people does not know any borders...

Well to the seller's defense, Imai Elephant kits used to go for at least $3,000+ on Ebay back in the day. Then add the Tamiya electronics, the labor, painting skills, etc, I can see why someone might sell a FO Imai Elephant for almost $6,000.

Then again, it's Tom Zhang.

Whatever guys and consider these facts before judgments:

The Imai Elephant is the Ferrari Enzo of 1/16th scale rc model kit tanks.

You may not like the Imai Elephant or Ferrari Enzo; you may not be able to find one, today, for sale at a price you like; you may not be able to earn enough money to buy one; but they are both worth every penny of their sticker price

Negative PR aside, seemly generated by some proven sketchy sources, Tom Zhang is one of the finest master rc modelers in North America.

He has real talent, high level skills, technology knowledge, a Ph.D level interest in WWII history and the passion to turn AFV toys into working fine art.

I also gave him the TC displayed in the Elephant.

John

I could just see the look on my future wifes face, hey hun I bought a new rc tank. I can almost hear her chambering a round[>:]


Wade

If your wallet is too thick to fit the pocket, then go for it!
I think it will drop down in price as soon as HL or Tamiya releases their own kit.
And this "Ferrari" will cost 500 bucks...
That fact that there is no Elefant produced at the moment is driving the price up.

Hmm, GOOD point. Did IMAI destroy ALL their molds of this kit? If, not did any one EVER ask them if they are going re-release the kit or SELL the molds one day? Because, not to denigrate this gentleman's EXCELLANT obvious modelling skills, but I'd HATE to have spent over 5K for his model only to find out the kit will be re-released later for 1/10th of the asking price....,

I found you a $500.00 Ferrari Enzo comrade: http://cgi.ebay.com/TAMIYA-1-12-Enzo...item35a42eaaaa

Rare, genuine object, real deal, those words tell whole story about this model.

This is the "Holy Grail" of rc tank kits and has been explained before to the new guys in that term.

The rare factory assembled 1/16 RTR Tamiya RC Tanks quickly sell out and cost over $3000.00. Plus there are several larger scale model tank kits that run into the 10's of thousand of dollars and more.

For the serious Armor collector this is a great rare find. I have never seen anything like this on ebay before in 9 years of checking the rc model section. I doubt if he will sell it on ebay. Wrong demographics, but it will get the word out to a collector from somewhere in the world and that is the strength of ebay.

And you mugs are worrying about the asking price, enjoy the model for what is: RTR kit model art, that is rare, collectible and a one off.

Looks like the situation has changed. It is not what it used to be 4 years ago. All manufacturers are now producing 2-3 models per year. Even with the majority of ww2 tanks the model range is not endless. I think Elephant's time will come soon.
And this "Holy Grail" by Imai will be forgotten. I would not put so much value in it.

. The price of anything will be what the "market" will pay. If this guy gets what he wants for his model good for him.

He's tried to get me to sell him one of my own Elefants in the past so he could ( assumption) turn it into one of his creations but no cigar. His work seems to be first rate as seen on his website; at least he seems near a master at painting and weathering. I've never looked into his work well enough to evaluate his mechanics.

As for price keep in mind the Imai Elefant kit sold for $400 mail order from Japan in 1971- 72; much more locally if you found one.
That was long before Tamiya even released a tank kit. And those were 1970 dollars.

What will add to the cost of a mint kit today is Imai has been out of business for years and even so had not produced the kit for many many years prior. All of Imai's tooling I understand was acquired by Aoshima. I'd also heard that they had some interest in producing the model again but clearly nothing has come of it.

As to whether a new Elefant will reduce the value of Imai's models? I doubt it. With all due respect unless it is built to Imai standards, and you would need to have had one or be really close to one to know this, it will never measure up. By buying an Imai you are buying a landmark kit, never to be seen again; if someone wants just an Elefant and any one will do then whatever comes from Heng Long /Matorro or some yet to be realized new Chinese company will do. What I can see happening is pristine original Imai built models and surviving kits going up in value but marginal, ragged examples being lessened in value. No more cannibalized Elefant remains selling for 800...

jerry

saw that one yestrday at work while i was surfing the net...
nah.. aint gonna go that far for an RC.. with that amount i could feed bunch of hungry children.
ill just wait till HL release theirs..

daryl

All I want to know from you is did you your get your $500.00 Ferrari Enzo yet, dreamer? Great deal on ebay dude.

Your looking for a cheap deal like everyone else, but you should know the high end stuff doesn't stray far from its price point, hard times or not.

Sorry to disappoint you.

Unload your HL's and feed the kids if that is you mission and true concern. We are all waiting to see how well that works out for those kids and or why not just tide at your local church that 10% off of your gross earnings. I do.

Thought so.

John

Who are you pcomm1?? Looks like you are that Tom Zang defending his model and its rediculous price.

I say one can buy whatever he wants.
When Elephant is released either by Hooben or Tamiya/HL it will cost many times less!!! You will be able to beef it up with all of the upgrades and even then it will not cost half of this rediculous price!
There is no perfection in this world and I do not think that Imai reached it in the late 1970s. So why spend big bucks on a mythical perfection from late 1970s?

with that money 5100US I could bought a 1/8 full METAL kINGTIGER OR sTUG 3 FROM EITHER BIGTANK SCALES OR TANK MODELS IN hong Kong.

i dont donate to church... i dot donate personally to the person in need... We are all waiting to see how well that works out for those kids" probbly you havent done a medical mission to other countries... and see those hungry kids... no offense but sound like you got offended about that diseased model when we startrf saying its too pricy.
you can get a HL whch is cheap and you can upgrade it and it'll last long..

daryl

2 Years ago Tom wanted $4000 plus postage for this tank that was when times where good but if you have the spare cash and can afford this sort of money then you will probably find a better deal else where.

Pcomm 1, you say in 9 years you have never seen an Imai Elefant for sale this is incorrect, I know of 5-6 that have sold on e-bay over the last 2 years rare they are but not impossible to find built complete Elefants have gone for as much as £1500 and there was a boxed un built Elefant in the states but I cant remember what that went for, you say that Tom is of PHD level in the modelling world as talented as Tom is at painting and weathering he certainly is not at the level you suggest especially as his builds are all box standard save the odd off the shelf part this will never amount to a PHD, I personally have never had a problem with Tom as he has never done me any harm but I would doubt that he could sell this tank for $500 with the reputation he has in the US and Canada

EugeniRUS , you REALLY should not be making accusations like that unless you can back them up!

Pcomm1 may have his faults - brutal honesty and heavy use of sarcasm - but being Tom Z isn't one of them. Do little research on pcomm1 and you will find he has done some very fine models himself, so comments about the level of skill can be trusted.

Regarding Tom Z - a few bad comments would not have driven him away. His obvious modeling skills aside, where there is smoke, you usually find a fire. The few dealings I had with Tom did not leave me overly impressed with his business skills.

Question for colllectors - When a model kit sells for $3,000 isn't it because it is an UN-BUILT kit complete with box and instructions? Doesn't the collects value drop once the kit is put together?

its tithe not tide unless your in the laundering biz......

WOW!!! And I thought this 1/15 Bandai Stug was kind've pricey at $189 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...STRK:MESELX:IT Not anymore.

Many of you dudes are using hearsay to slam Tom's reputation for the dumbest of reasons and that is WRONG.

I said Tom has a Ph.D level interest in WWII history.

And in 9 years I have never seen a high quality, full option DMD, built, RTR with zimmerit, great paint – weathered Imai Elephant on ebay and neither has anyone else!

And if you are not blind; all his models speak for themselves: they are all really good!

As to our friend Tom's business tactics, he is just a Chinese enigma!

He works it just like a perfectly trained ALL AMERICAN USED CAR SALESMAN and what is wrong with that?

Seems to me it is the same thing as whatever it is all you guys try everyday: he is not any better or any worse and this is a non-issue for me.

And he has tried all that wheeling and dealing with me too and I just roar with laughter.

The Tom I know is happily married, raising a family and a solid Christian family at that, which makes all the other stuff you guys bash him about seem petty by comparison.

He is a master modeler and some of you guys don't like that fact, I guess.

And for those dudes, why not show us what you got by posting your tank images, instead of negatively critiquing Tom's models?

Thought so!

And Tom's rc tank builds do earn him solid acclaim from Tamiya and others and he does sell them and has for awhile to a group of loyal collectors.

So, lastly, did you get your $500.00 Enzo yet, comrade dreamer? And yes I'll defend a guy who seems to have been slammed in the past because of, well, mean, sorry reasons such as, his national origin and worse the type of car he drove. I also read that East Coast and British diatribes. Really now people, it is all driven by envy over the quality of his rc tank builds, by people without talent or skill.

Tom ain't a perfect guy, but he is a good guy and a proven master rc tank modeler.

And to the guy who does medical missions to other countries, good for you and shame on you for posting your trash here. You should be better than that.

With Kindest Regards,

John

Tidings, to tide, so what? What are you: "its tithe" "its tithe" a stuttering Texas buffoon?

ksoc has the terrible misfortune to know my round eyes comrade dreamer, so I ain't Tom and live on the opposite coast of the old USA too.

And who are you comrade dreamer? Get that Enzo for $500.00 bucks yet?

And ksoc, thank you, brutal honesty and sarcasm is a good fault to have, it is also solid Yankee style communications.

Political correctness is not of any interest.

There are many types of model collectors, mint in a sealed box is just one type of collectable and each category goes by what the market will tolerate.

If he can sell the ebay Elephant, good for him and if he doesn't who cares, he will eventually.

But for sure that tank will remain sought after, irregardless of whatever Tamiya or HL does.

And I hope they both release 1/16 Elephant rc models and soon. So all us peons can run one including comrade dreamer.

as i japanese model kit collector since highschool (not tanks) i agree to that.. once the kit has been assembled the value drops down... discontinued kits prices goes up once its unassembled and in mint condition..

daryl

just a lisp......imagine when i found out a thong was not thomthing you thing