Tamiya - 1:24 Nissan GT-R

Finally got the GT-R.  It quite expensive cost more than $200 (not including the PE parts).  I recall the Ferrari Enzo and FXX (the detailed kits) are about the same price.  However, I later find out from various forums that some shops sell the kit for less than $200.  Oh well, another bad deal!  I've better shop more and read the regarding forums before I drop the hammer next time.
The Tamiya official site shows that the model has the engine details.  However, when I opened the box, the engine compartment and the upper part of the engine details is molded to the body part.  I'm quite disappointed with this kind of Fujimi-liked setting, it shouldn't be found in Tamiya kits.  Other than this big disappointment, Tamiya is tend to simplify the whole kits (also like the Fujimi style), some details in the front and back suspensions are skipped as the details would be hiddened behind the chassis panels.  The suspensions are very easy to assemble.

Despite of all the disappointments, there are positve sides, the panel lines on the body seems thinner and sharper; the wheels are made of two parts, the rim and central frame, which make it easier to color the whole wheel.

Thumb up: 1. Crisp panel lines; 2. Two-part wheel assembly; 3.Added details in air chamber cover (D15); 4. Look realistic even without the PE parts (except the brake discs).

Thumb down: 1. Fujimi-liked engine details; 2. Lack of detail for the unseen parts; 3. Poor detail in brake discs (can be improved with the usage of the official PE); 4. Expensive compare to the detail of the kit.

Rating: Car-8 ; Detail-6 ; Craftmanship-6 ; Skill level-5 ; Worthiness-5 ; Overall-6.

Fujimi - 1:24 Isuzu Bighorn (Trooper); Tamiya - 1:24 Nismo R34 GTR Z-tune

Yesterday, I went to shop for the latest new model kit from Tamiya - the GTR R35, but none of the shops has it on the shelves yet.  However, I found another new Fujimi model kit - Isuzu Bighorn (Trooper).  Since I am a fan of this 4x4 back then, so I bought the kit right away without checking the parts.  When I got home, I opened the box and read the instruction menu, my first disappointment, without checking the parts, is the kit is originally designed to be motorized, it has motor and battery bays in the chassis.  Ususally, this kind of kit doesn't have much detail, especially the interior.  As I read further and checked the parts, I found that the parts are designed to be snap together to minimize the usage of cement, this would further decrease the details.  The interior is made of one piece with all seats already molded on, it is not what I am expected.  Besides, the model contains very few parts, it is a kit for the beginners.

Today, I returned the kit to the shop for swapping.  I have been browsing the models on the shelves for almost 15 minutes still could not find any models I am interested to buy, it doesn't have much choice.  I finally settled with a Tamiya GTR R34 Z-tune, which cost $30 more than the trooper.  I paid the additional and leave for another model shop, I found the same model sell for $48 cheaper than the one just bought.  I am very frustrating!!