Hi, folks!
I went over to Tamiya World today to check out the new stuff on display at their "Tamiya Showcase." I took a few (bad) pix of the new 1/48 Tiger and Sherman kits, and had a chance to ask them about Tamiya's future with 1/35 and 1/16 armor kits.
First, the pix (which you've probably already seen in sharper focus elsewhere!):
Tiger I (Early)
M4 Sherman (Early)
Sherman close-up
The detail is incredible on these little kits, so if you were afraid that detail would be lost in 1/48, I can assure you it is not. The link-and-length styrene tracks in particular are excellent, and look better than Tamiya's 1/35 belt offerings.
To be honest, though, I'm a "bigger is better" kind of guy, and 1/48 is just too small for me, even though I ocassionally enjoy a 1/72 or 1/76 scale armor kit. These do fit perfectly between 1/35 and 1/72, though...and if size and price is your criteria, these little babies will be great. Then of course there's the compatibility with 1/48 aircraft for dioramas, etc.
I asked the Tamiya representative about the company's future in 1/35 and 1/16 scale armor. He said that for the time being, all resources are being focused on the new 1/48 line (the same team that works on the 1/35 line is working on the new 1/48 line), but that they have not abandoned 1/35 altogether. There will be new 1/35 releases in the future, but for the time being the 1/48 line will be the main focus.
As for 1/16 scale RC tanks, nothing is in the works for the forseeable future, but static kits of the Pershing and Leopard 2A6 will be released.
So, there you have it, from the horse's (Tamiya's!) mouth.
And here I've been, hoping for a new 1/25 scale series the whole time...