[Ara1]

Assuming the company is still in business and interested in ideas, and assuming they will continue their trend of modeing Japanese a/c, what subjects do you recommend they release?

I say, first------------ enliven the current livery with fresh finishes...



(photos from Hyperscale.com)

[admin]

Did you do the repaint in the first pic? That's awesome! I love the mixed-tone aluminum schemes like EI's "INA".

I'm lovin that!

[Ara1]

No, unfortunately that model work is not mine, it's from a Hyperscale post earlier this year. A real, real fine model, and it would make a gorgeous diecast.

[hworth18]

I really like my frank and would be open to more repaints..
I do know that Marushin offered a new set of repaints in their fighter line and these were also preassembled, but they sold out quickly..

[admin]

I don't own any Marushin models yet, but I plan on collecting them after seeing one in person a couple of months ago. I've yet to see a picture that does them justice. They have very fine panel lines and clean overall castings. Oh yea, and heft a whole lot of it.

[planenutsfrog]

I would like to see the Ki 44 and Ki 100 being added to this line...

So, I would have a 1/48 model of each of the 8 main Japanese single engined fighter types of WWII.

[flyXwire]

I would get more Marushin Japanese fighters if they offered other paint jobs and livery instead of the usual dark green affair. I posted some color profile of the Ki-43 Oscar somewhere that I would love to have! If Marushin does decide to produce more diecasts down the road, I hope they will make some improvements in the cockpit areas. And since they excell in producing Japanese warbirds (gee, ya think? ) better than anybody else...I would like them to make the Mitsubishi F1M2 "Pete" floatplane and a Ki-44 "Shoki" in 1:48th.

[KG_Jag]

Today I dropped by the HobbyLink Japan both at the 2007 edition of the Dragon Hobby Expo, which is presented in collaboration with the IPMS (International Plastic Modelers' Society). I asked them if they had any information of what the next offerings from Marushin. Unfortunately, they had no information on what would be next or when the next release will occur.

[Epapazian]

New liveries for this line would certainly stimulate sales and more sturdy landing gear mounting designs along with clearer assembly instructions would be a big help. However, if Marushin is really interested in exploiting the upsurge in diecast collecting that we have witnessed in the last seven or so years, plus the failure of most other manufacturers to go beyond the "Zero", then the best way to rekindle interest would be to offer a few new models. Some excellent candidates would be the "Nate","Claude"or "Nick"---each of which could be offered in colorful camouflage schemes. Another idea would be to reissue the "Betty" bomber, which I and others, now regret not purchasing when it was available. Unfortunately, I doubt that Marushin will do any of this, which leaves it up to more venturesome companies like Hobby Master to give us more Japanese planes without the serious quality issues associated with the current IXO products.

[hworth18]

As I have said in the other thread, I get the idea that Marushin's diecast line is more like the owners "pet" project rather than a serious money maker like their replica gun line is.. I wonder why Marushin hasn't issued more in their "pre-assembled" planes which were available for a short time and are now discontinued??
I do hope that Marushin will offer new liveries and new planes, but seeing as these were originally issued 10 years ago, I doubt we'll see much from them in the future..