Any more rumurs regarding 1/350 Japanese Carriers?

Luckily, Fujimi doesn't seem to play the same sort of games that Trumpeter has been doing in the last couple years, and just as they did with the presentation of their 1/350 Kongo, my guess is it won't be more than a few months before Shokaku hits the streets.  After all, if you have already made the molds, the rest is just boxes and distribution!  Trumpeter has made a habit of 'presenting' prototypes that really ARE prototypes that often need a lot of revision (the 'Repulse' virtually had to go back to the drawing board because it was so crude, and that combined with all the economic issues, has put this one on the back burner for a long, long time!!)....  It wouldn't surprise me much to hear that Lindberg pulls the plug on their 1/200 Graf Zeppelin for just these sorts of reasons as well (and really, what a ridiculous choice for this scale!!).

Check out the video interview with Tamiya, Inc. chairman Shunsaku Tamiya. While not mentioning any thing specific he talks about having his people do more subjects in the upcoming year in response to the economic conditions. What I enjoyed most was seeing how enthusiastic he is about models. The link is here:

http://www.hlj.com/

searat12 wrote:

That's my take as well.  There is an Akagi, and soon to be a Shokaku, and that's probably all we can reasonably expect for a year or two, given the state of the world economy (good thing too, as my budget is busted and my closet full of unbuilt kits at the moment!!)..... That said, there ARE a number of excellent Japanese 1/350 kits due out, or are already out, such as a 1/350 Mogami (in carrier mode!) from Tamiya, the hybrid battleship/carrier Ise, light cruiser Nagara, light cruiser Agano, and rumors of the heavy cruiser Myoko/Haguro as well....

I'll believe the kit of the "Shokaku" when I see it...don't get your hopes up on this one...

That's my take as well.  There is an Akagi, and soon to be a Shokaku, and that's probably all we can reasonably expect for a year or two, given the state of the world economy (good thing too, as my budget is busted and my closet full of unbuilt kits at the moment!!)..... That said, there ARE a number of excellent Japanese 1/350 kits due out, or are already out, such as a 1/350 Mogami (in carrier mode!) from Tamiya, the hybrid battleship/carrier Ise, light cruiser Nagara, light cruiser Agano, and rumors of the heavy cruiser Myoko/Haguro as well....

Japanese model companies are pulling back due to the economy, so new releases other than those already mentioned are not likely for some time.