Shizuoka Hobby Show 2009: Other Domestic Makers' Highlights
Kyosho
Kyosho was here with more RC offerings than ever before! Demonstrations of their various RC lines zipped around the booth nonstop.
We'll focus on their lines that HLJ carries.
This year's show had a wealth of wicked real cars, with these two featured in Kyosho's space, and one apiece in the booths of hpi-racing and Aoshima.
It's already the 10th anniversary of the about-1/24-scale Mini-Z Racer series (where does the time go?!).
And of course, where there are Mini-Z Racers, there's the Auto Scale Collection line of beautifully finished bodies!
Nearly half the size of the Mini-Z cars, but every bit as fun, is the 1/43-scale dNaNo series. And hey, modelers, there are plans to market injection-kit versions of them, too!
There weren't just RC cars; plenty of high-quality completed car models whetted the appetites of auto aficianados.
Concept mock-ups of Audi's R8 super-sportscar and a four-wheeled star of manga "Circuit Wolf," the Dino RS, were on display.
hpi-racing
Hpi-racing, specializing in RC and diecast mini-cars, also had a busy booth.
Ita-shas and Maid Robo and G-Dogs, oh my...!
An impressive 1/6 Yamaha V-MAX and 1/43 Celica GT-FOUR are among their latest high-quality offerings.
The booth's staff also explained to visitors how 3D models are created from photographs.
Takara Tomy
Takara Tomy's standouts in this year's display were their Yamato Terrestrial Navigation model and prepainted F-15J/DJ kit.
This crowd-pleaser bends reality as it navigates across a board resembling an ocean surface.
It's slated for release at long last in September!
With plans to also sell the controller and movement mechanism without a ship, other 1/700 waterline kits can be modified to start cruisin', too! You'll even be able to create your own port, thanks to these kits for docks and other background structures.
Get an eyeful of this 1/144 prepainted F-15J/D kit! This prototype was produced with the assistance of Hasegawa.
Some great variations are in the works, too, like an Aggressor and commemorative markings!
Tomytec
Tomytec is mainly a producer of railroad models, but HLJ also carries their mini-cars, figures, and scale buildings.
Their popular Train Musume and Bus Musume figure lines continue to expand.
Here are some upcoming additions to the Tomica Limited Vintage series. (I think I want that ladder truck...!)
The parts were on display, too; they're considering releasing kit versions of this series.
Yamato
Known for its mecha toys and figures, Yamato also produces scale-type items...and how!
This 1/6 Kawasaki Z1 attracted quite a crowd. There's plenty to enjoy as it is, and it'll be customizable with option parts, too!
Among the Macross items, especially memorable was the 1/1-scale helmet (not able to be worn, unfortunately...).
New items include a slick-looking 1/60 VF-22S Sturmvogel II Gamlin Custom.
Planned for release in October, here's the corvette Rodger Young, from SF classic "Starship Troopers."
The "Pedal ID" customizable model bike series will get a "Transformers" version!
Watch for it this summer, for a planned retail price of 3360 yen.
Studio 27
With F1 resin kits and parts at the heart of their business, here's Studio 27.
Announced at the show was this Ferrari F60. Could this really be Ferrari's final F1 car...?
