Shrink-wrapped??

Here in the UK, many kits are sealed either with shrink-wrapped or with very tough stickers. Revell' stickers in particular are a pain! And of course, shop assistants do not like opening up the boxes...

That's another thing I miss about not haveing a decent hobby shop around anymore. When our local shop was open, the owner always had a copy of the latest open on the counter to look at. No better way to decide if you want to spend your money or not. Sigh....
Lee

Now that you mention it... YEA! The kits I get from Japan are not Shrink-Wrapped... usually just some clear tape holding them closed.

But I am lucky that one of the local hobby stores WILL let you remove the wrapping to look at the kit (tho you have to ask).

But it sure would be nice to always get to look at what you are buying first.

I guess that's where kit reviews come in. I would love to be able to browse through a kit before I bought it though. That would be cool. I wonder if the kit manufacturers would be able/willing to post pictures of the contents of each kit along with the other information about each model on their respective websites? That would at least be a start.

BTW, J-Hulk, you better watch out. If you keep talking up the state of the hobby in Japan, you're gonna make all of us want to move, or you'll have to start a courier business bringing models back for all of us. :-)

Ray

QUOTE: Originally posted by heylonghair BTW, J-Hulk, you better watch out. If you keep talking up the state of the hobby in Japan, you're gonna make all of us want to move, or you'll have to start a courier business bringing models back for all of us. :-) Ray

Yeah, I sometimes worry that it might sound like I'm gloating and bragging a bit about living in a modeling paradise...
But geez, folks! It is!!
And, for me anyway, Japan is just a great place to live overall, the hobby aspect notwithstanding. I truly love it here.
I would heartily recommend to anyone to come on over and check it out for themselves!

Courier business...hmmmmm......

Here in Buffalo/Niagara Falls we're lucky to have at least one shop that will usually have a sample of each new kit open for patrons to peruse.

I almost had a personal "courier service" to and from Japan. My cousin worked for Disney and they sent her all over the place to work on any of the new Disney theme parks that opened throughout the world, Euro Disney and such. Anyhoo, she was studying Japanese for quite some time in anticipation of her next assignment which was an Ocean-theme Park that was being built in Japan. Long story short, she wound up going to Universal Studios on the basis of her experience in her field as well as her commitment to learning Japanese. Universal was also planning to open a park in Japan. Where did they send her? Indonesia. LOL Oh well, c'este la vie!

Fade to Black...

Bummer for your cuz!
Yup, we have Universal Studios Japan right here in Osaka, and Disney Sea opened up in Tokyo a year or so ago.
Neither carry a very good selection of models though...

Well "cause of the lack of "A" hobby shop in my area ( imean we have a train shop that carries models and some supplies, there expensive and somewhat rude) i do most of my shopping on-line,or ebay.... 99% oof the stuff i get is shrink wrapped.....

Hi J-Hulk.. Lived in Japan and Okinawa for a while. Lovely country and people. The hobby industry was just taking off when I was there (a LONG time back :) I do understand your affection for the place and envy you a little. I do a lot of e-shopping on HobbyLInkJapan. Best of both worlds! -Ed

Yup, I sure do love the good ol' US of A, and it's great to go back to my little rural hometown in Georgia, but for the forseeable future, my home is here.

I've been getting a bit of correspondence from folks asking about hobby connections here, but all the shops I talk to don't do international mail order.
Does HobbyLinkJapan have a good selection of all genres? Perhaps I should recommend them!

Or start my own business!!

The only problem that I see with living in Japan (other than I can't speak the lingo) is my NASCAR and Hockey.

Lets---go---Redwings (stomp---stomp---stompstompstomp)!!!!

Sorry, I took my meds and I'll be better in a minute.

O yea, did I mention that at 6'5" and 398 lbs I would be more of a fish out of water there than I am now here in the states. But at 5'1" my wife would fit in just fine.

Not that I'm venting.

Well, I'm 6' 5" and 260 lbs (ya got me beat there!), and aside from finding clothes, shoes, and bumping my head on doorways, I fit right in, no problem! Great conversation starter, actually. Many a friendly conversation has started with a local saying to me, "Ooooooooh, dekai!" Which means, "Ooooooh, you are huge!" Some may take offense, but I just look at it as an opportunity to communicate.

We do have NASCAR here once a year, at Suzuka Circuit. NHRA dragracing, too!

Fair bit of Japanese hockey here, too...if you look for it! Company teams. No Redwings, though.

But, yes, models! Modeling! Modeling forum, here!
The Japanese companies sure don't offer NASCAR and NHRA cars. Guess they figure Revellogram and Ertl have that market wrapped up.
See plenty in the shops here, though.