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Out of Stock Meng/Takom
TopSmith
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Posted: Tuesday, May 21, 2019 - 11:52 PM UTC
I have noticed that many of the online model retailers in the US are out of the same Meng and Takom kits. I wonder when the next big shipment arrives in the US?
ReluctantRenegade
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Posted: Wednesday, May 22, 2019 - 12:40 AM UTC
Apparently not just them: Luckymodel currently has only 4 Takom and 7 Meng 1/35 armor kits in stock. And that’s a Hong-Kong based company...
RobinNilsson
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Posted: Wednesday, May 22, 2019 - 01:16 AM UTC
Plenty of Takom:
https://www.modellbau-koenig.de/Hersteller/TAKOM-MODEL?Page=1&Items=100&Filter={%221%22:[6],%22category%22:[978],%22producer%22:[279]}&sort=5&view=list

A few out of stock or low stock for Meng
https://www.modellbau-koenig.de/Hersteller/MENG-MODEL?Page=1&Items=100&Filter={%221%22:[6],%22category%22:[851],%22producer%22:[40]}&sort=5&view=list

/ Robin
SpeedyJ
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Posted: Wednesday, May 22, 2019 - 04:34 AM UTC
Robin: LOL
For our beloved MENG
Hits on the market with an E: 136 of which 36 are free of shipping costs.
For our beloved TAKOM
Hits on the market with an E: 212 of which 9 are free of shipping costs.
Just now, takes 2 minutes to get such info.

Happy modeling
RobinNilsson
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Posted: Wednesday, May 22, 2019 - 04:49 AM UTC

Quoted Text

I have noticed that many of the online model retailers in the US are out of the same Meng and Takom kits. I wonder when the next big shipment arrives in the US?



Could it be that they are out of stock for those kits which haven't been released yet? Just a thought ....
Modellbau König lists them as "Appears soon" instead of the simplified: "In stock" vs "Out of stock"
/ Robin
TopSmith
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Posted: Wednesday, May 22, 2019 - 06:05 AM UTC
No, Mengs Merc 4. Takom Jagdpanther G2 and others have been out of stock for a while.
Pak_40
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Posted: Wednesday, May 22, 2019 - 07:04 AM UTC
Has anyone tried 1999.co.jp or hobbylink Japan, praytell?

I use Hobbysearch which is the first site I put up. I have a Late G Panther with IR and AA-armor on order from them.

They seem to have a good supply of things whenever I buy from them...
Kevlar06
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Posted: Wednesday, May 22, 2019 - 09:36 AM UTC

Quoted Text

I have noticed that many of the online model retailers in the US are out of the same Meng and Takom kits. I wonder when the next big shipment arrives in the US?



I’d take a look at what Stevens International has in stock, they are the largest US distributor. You might look at others, I think Dragon handles Meng. Sprue Brothers just got a new Takom shipment, but I’m not sure if they have what you want. Having once worked in a LHS, I can tell you kits are produced and distributed worldwide, so there are often times “dry spells” in availability depending on the practices and procedures of manufacturers. I’ve experience this with many different kits in the past, the most recent being the Bronco M19 which was widely available for a few weeks, then dried up. I finally got one on Amazon, but it came from Hong Kong, HLJ put up a notice on it— “unknown if it will be available from the manufacturer in the future” Sometimes kits are manufactured and limited in “the first printing” even with the expensive costs of cutting a mold. It could also be sellers don’t want to stock certain items for any number of reasons, or a transportation issue.
VR, Russ
m4sherman
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Posted: Wednesday, May 22, 2019 - 09:56 AM UTC
Are you trying to find the Merkava kit? I was browsing a few less traveled vendors today and FreeTime has/had the kit in stock.
TopSmith
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Posted: Wednesday, May 22, 2019 - 12:58 PM UTC
Stevens is temporarily out of stock of their Merc 4, at $95 ouch.
Kevlar06
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Posted: Thursday, May 23, 2019 - 03:15 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Stevens is temporarily out of stock of their Merc 4, at $95 ouch.



If Stevens is out of stock, that mighht explain why others are out too, since Stevens is a distributor to many hobby shops and On-line outlets in the US (they don't do direct sales outside their own NJ location). But, I'd think it's a manufacturer supplier or transport problem. I would often tell customers "all" models are in fact limited run to some extent or another. Good luck with your search--have you tried Amazon?
VR, Russ
m4sherman
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Posted: Thursday, May 23, 2019 - 07:32 AM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text

Stevens is temporarily out of stock of their Merc 4, at $95 ouch.



If Stevens is out of stock, that mighht explain why others are out too, since Stevens is a distributor to many hobby shops and On-line outlets in the US (they don't do direct sales outside their own NJ location). But, I'd think it's a manufacturer supplier or transport problem. I would often tell customers "all" models are in fact limited run to some extent or another. Good luck with your search--have you tried Amazon?
VR, Russ


Freetime Hobbies still has kit MEN-TS036 for 57.59 plus shipping. At least one is in stock.
ivanhoe6
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Posted: Thursday, May 23, 2019 - 07:47 AM UTC
I just checked Sprue Bros. They list having 101 Meng Kits with 31 of the most popular kits (IMO) out of stock. Takom: 103 with 43 being out of stock.
I've had 2 Amusing Hobby kits ordered from Squadron for months now and they don't know when they'll arrive last I checked. I hope that they will honor their sale price if & when they show up.

Where there's smoke there is usually fire.
bill_c
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Posted: Saturday, May 25, 2019 - 08:43 PM UTC
My advice to Meng and Takom fans is not to wait on purchasing any kits you lust after. Can't say any more.
barkingdigger
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Posted: Saturday, May 25, 2019 - 09:35 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Where there's smoke there is usually fire.



...or teenagers!


I'd be interested to know what size production runs these newer kits are getting. Is it possible they only make short runs - say enough to pay off the tooling and wages - and then wait for these to sell before doing more? That way they could keep up the scarcity that drives up prices. So instead of a constant flow the way Tamiya operates, these smaller companies might only make & ship a few containers-full in a batch, and then there's a dry spell before they pop the next run. A lot depends on whether they have their own moulding machines or simply rent machine-time at one of the bigger toymakers...
HK_AFV
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Posted: Saturday, May 25, 2019 - 10:33 PM UTC
I think the latest tariff on goods from China to US imposed this month covers 100% of toys (assuming "toys" to include plastic models). Not sure if that is the reason.
vettejack
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Posted: Sunday, May 26, 2019 - 01:08 AM UTC

Quoted Text

No, Mengs Merc 4. Takom Jagdpanther G2 and others have been out of stock for a while.



I've had the Meng Merkava IV (with Trophy) for about two months now, yet Hobby Link Japan still list the kit as "not yet available'.


Sounds like availability is subjective at best. Who do you count on?
Kevlar06
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Posted: Sunday, May 26, 2019 - 04:42 AM UTC

Quoted Text

My advice to Meng and Takom fans is not to wait on purchasing any kits you lust after. Can't say any more.



Ok Bill, you can't just float that one into the punchbowl and hope it won't get noticed!

It's always been my philosophy to "buy it now" if I wanted it. Having worked in a LHS, and knowing the ups and downs of many of these companies (especially the foreign ones--but now they are all foreign!), I'd advise all our customers to "buy it now if you really want it"-- you never know what the future will bring, and ALL model kits have an end to the production run. But you are implying something more "sinister" by adding "you can't say more"! What's strange is I still see these companies releasing new kits-- so business is either good for them, or there's something else afoot here....
VR, Russ
bill_c
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Posted: Sunday, May 26, 2019 - 09:59 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Ok Bill, you can't just float that one into the punchbowl and hope it won't get noticed!

... you are implying something more "sinister" by adding "you can't say more"! What's strange is I still see these companies releasing new kits-- so business is either good for them, or there's something else afoot here....
VR, Russ


Russ, I am not at liberty to reveal my source, other than to say that the business model of some Chinese modeling companies is not based on sensible economics. The trade war with China is going to bite, but more to the point is the cash flow of some firms.

In the past, kits would be released and then "live" on the internet (eBay, etc.) forever. Chinese resellers are constantly offering them, for example.

I just would not wait to purchase a kit if it's really on your A-list. I can't say more, and hope that everyone will accept my advice with good grace.
Kevlar06
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Posted: Monday, May 27, 2019 - 04:08 AM UTC
Bill, I do understand what you are saying-- and agree wholeheartedly. It's always been my philosophy to "buy it now". Especially from certain firms. You can see certain models "drying up" almost immediately. For instance-- Some Bronco offerings. And yes, even some of these Takom and Meng offerings. And whereas some kits do appear to go in-and out of production/stock with the larger vendors, my experience in a LHS is exactly what you have implied above. There is a "crowd" of folks who believe "it will always be in stock" or "they'll be able to get it later". And there's another thought that "someone else will re-pop" a kit. I agree with those folks-- to a certain degree-- but at what cost? Years of waiting or highly inflated prices? So buy it now has always been my philosophy. You may not get another chance.
VR, Russ
RobinNilsson
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Posted: Monday, May 27, 2019 - 04:40 AM UTC

Quoted Text

but at what cost? Years of waiting or highly inflated prices? So buy it now has always been my philosophy. You may not get another chance.
VR, Russ



Ahhh! Yes! The rock solid philosophical view behind most stashes in the modelling world. I live by that rule too
/ Robin
Kevlar06
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Posted: Monday, May 27, 2019 - 05:32 AM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text

but at what cost? Years of waiting or highly inflated prices? So buy it now has always been my philosophy. You may not get another chance.
VR, Russ



Ahhh! Yes! The rock solid philosophical view behind most stashes in the modelling world. I live by that rule too
/ Robin



Yes, and I have a "few" kits in the stash-- but not as many as I once did. In over 50 years of "collecting", I used to buy anything that "struck my fancy" at the moment. But since I've become a more experienced and "seasoned" (which means just about done I guess) modeler, I got rid of most of the kits in my huge stash and I'm down to about 250 I might actually build! One thing I've learned is to use kits as trading material, and as sales material. But there are those that I've always wanted, which comprise most of my "current" stash. There's always two or three a year that come along that I "have to get". But I now make it a habit to get rid of a few that I know I won't get around to building. But I don't wait to get those two or three. I'm also blessed with a good LHS that specializes in OOP kits, that I can trade for "new stock". I started with about 2200 kits back in 2005, which became quite a burden, 250 is much more manageable. I've given away, traded away, and sold (some at quite a loss), but now I have what I'm really interested in, and even build a few once in a while! But the bottom line is-- you can't take it with you, so collect and build within a narrower interest. I'm well off topic here--but at the same time-- buy it now, or you may regret it later.
VR, Russ
M4A1Sherman
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Posted: Monday, May 27, 2019 - 05:49 AM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text

No, Mengs Merc 4. Takom Jagdpanther G2 and others have been out of stock for a while.



I've had the Meng Merkava IV (with Trophy) for about two months now, yet Hobby Link Japan still list the kit as "not yet available'.


Sounds like availability is subjective at best. Who do you count on?



No one...
M4A1Sherman
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Posted: Monday, May 27, 2019 - 05:51 AM UTC
"Stash" is another much over-used word...
M4A1Sherman
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Posted: Monday, May 27, 2019 - 05:54 AM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text


Quoted Text

but at what cost? Years of waiting or highly inflated prices? So buy it now has always been my philosophy. You may not get another chance.
VR, Russ



Ahhh! Yes! The rock solid philosophical view behind most stashes in the modelling world. I live by that rule too
/ Robin



Yes, and I have a "few" kits in the stash-- but not as many as I once did. In over 50 years of "collecting", I used to buy anything that "struck my fancy" at the moment. But since I've become a more experienced and "seasoned" (which means just about done I guess) modeler, I got rid of most of the kits in my huge stash and I'm down to about 250 I might actually build! One thing I've learned is to use kits as trading material, and as sales material. But there are those that I've always wanted, which comprise most of my "current" stash. There's always two or three a year that come along that I "have to get". But I now make it a habit to get rid of a few that I know I won't get around to building. But I don't wait to get those two or three. I'm also blessed with a good LHS that specializes in OOP kits, that I can trade for "new stock". I started with about 2200 kits back in 2005, which became quite a burden, 250 is much more manageable. I've given away, traded away, and sold (some at quite a loss), but now I have what I'm really interested in, and even build a few once in a while! But the bottom line is-- you can't take it with you, so collect and build within a narrower interest. I'm well off topic here--but at the same time-- buy it now, or you may regret it later.
VR, Russ



One thing that I'm NOT going to do is "buy now", because I WON'T regret it later. If I "miss out", so what..?

Some more than likely not wanted advice:

MENG or TAKOM are not going to run away. Think about it... PLENTY of MENG and TAKOM stuff on Ebay...
 _GOTOTOP