Hasegawa models: a very brief history

[@rapscallion3506]

You continue to be the Emeritus of these walks down memory lane. Thank you. ( Love the bumper music.)

[@jmfa57]

I LOVE Hasegawa kits. Yes, they're a bit tougher to build than many others, mainly due to the fine size of many of the parts. When I was a 6th grader in the late 1960s I would have given anything to find a model of a Kate torpedo bomber. I didn't find one until I was around 40. I now have five unbuilt kits in inventory and one completed on display. Scratched that itch but GOOD, lol! Thanks for another great video, Max!

[@georgecoventry8441]

Hasegawa's 1/48 scale Kate is a work of art! (And a big step up from the much older Nichimo kit.)

[@Slickboot21]

I was there with you, Mate! I was 15 in '64...way before they started locking the glue in glass cases. : ) I could buy a kit, maybe paint or glue and BBs and a couple of comic books with my weekly allowance of $2.50. Keep buildin'!

[@spreadeagled5654]

Hasegawa has some of the most awesome box-top artworks in the model industry. 🇯🇵👍

[@lancecaldwell3874]

Couldn't agree more. I frame mine.

[@theblytonian3906]

They sure do.

[@theblytonian3906]

@@lancecaldwell3874 They publish that box top artwork with that in mind IMO. I'll be border matting and framing mine as I finish each 1/32 kit. The George, Frank, Jack and Hien box tops are just stunning. P-40E's pretty good too. The older kits are even larger, but a different artist I think. The Fw 190D-9 in colourful JV44 livery is large and stunning too.

[@Kickback-dm7zt]

Their 1/72 "Macross" kits are fantastic..

[@joek600]

Being a teen in the 90's Hasegawa kits represented the creme de la creme of model kits for us. Our only info came through modelling magazines and every article use to praise Hasegawa. The problem was the price. When you had a small allowence you could get 3-4 Hasegawa kits a year and being stressed all the time that you are going to ruin it, OR you could get a Monogram, Revell or Italeri, Academy medium range kit every week. At some point I stopped making models. You know how it is. Starting to date girls, getting more into music, start spending on electric guitars and amps etc. After I finished with studies, the army service and got a job in my field, I finally had enough money to buy those little bastards at leisure lol. But as I was getting again into the hobby, I realised that many things had change. Acrylic colors had risen up, no need for the house to smell like a car painting shop. The top airbrushes were not Olympos anymore but Iwata, that look kinda the same lol. More and more kits were comming now loaded with detail and extras like photoetch parts. Companies had gone and new ones came. Hasegawa kits were not the top anymore. But the prices were, and having to chose between a Hasegawa or an Eduard profipack was a no brainer. Imo Hasegawa reminds me the rabbit from the old Aesopos myth. Fell asleep under the tree too sure about himself while the turtle kept struggling and got to pass the finish line first.

[@SlinkiestTortoise23]

Some of their kits are incredible though, especially the 90’s period and they paved the way for other companies to up their game and detailing!

[@stevie65able]

@@SlinkiestTortoise23 Perfect example- their F-104 from 1989. Still a great kit with top surface detail.

[@daveglowa9546]

Are the plane models worth anything,from the 80 and 90s still in box

[@JJ-cf7nb]

Love the fine panel lines and subtle details on Hasegawa aircraft kits. Their 1/72 F-104 kits are among my favorites.

[@stevie65able]

Those F-104s are incredible even now. Stunning surface details that don't pop until you hit it with some primer. Currently building an F-104S in Italian colours.

[@colintamiya]

Thanks for another informative video. Hasegawa's car kits in 1/12th scale are long gone, but their motorcycle kits in this scale are a joy to build. And contrary to Tamiya, Hasegawa tend to reissue their kits, at least in 1:24th scale. Btw.: It was Mr.Tamiya's idea to create the 1/700 waterline series amongst the four big plastic companies in Shizuoka. They wrote names of important ships on papers, threw them in a hat and one by the other pulled the names of the kits to make, so to have each of the companies get their fair share of the models to sell, not getting in each other's way and creating one single scale for collectors.

[@Twirlyhead]

I (in UK) discovered Hasegawa 1/72 WW2 military vehicles in the 1970s. By that time I was already well used to Airfix, Revell, Matchbox and Frog. As a youngster back then I was somewhat underwhelmed by the quality of Hasegawas but the availability of some (for me) unusual subjects was a great thing. Thus my purchases were limited to a few vehicles that I could not find elsewhere.

[@Edubarca46]

In my opinion, Hasegawa is tops except the price. Of some of their kits are outrageously expensive. Again, ecellent video. Looking forward to others.

[@MartintheTinman]

When you live in Australia every kit is expensive

[@frankryan2505]

@@MartintheTinman yup.. I priced at kit at hamnets (I think) in the UK, was cheaper to ship the kit to me than it was to buy locally. BNA often has stuff on special, I still have a bunch in my stash from their Christmas sale, they also stock pretty much everything. I get the odd thing from my local shop, the prices are shocking though..

[@MartintheTinman]

@@frankryan2505 . Yes, it sucks. I do buy as many kits as I can locally but I don't see why I have to miss out completely if a certain kit's not available locally. I've seen so many hobby shops disappear but I'd often walk in with money to spend but they had heaps of aircraft from all these other countries but never any with R.A.A.F. markings and when they did get them in it'd only be one or two and would sell that quickly. I could never understand why they didn't get more of what was selling. So it's no mystery why they failed

[@kl0wnkiller912]

Tamiya is still king but Hasegawa is right up there with them.

[@73north]

@@kl0wnkiller912 - agreed - and their Hasegam Mitsubishi Raiden 1/48 is miles better than the 1970's mould by Tamiya with raised panel lines and moulded on exhausts ,

[@iangarrett3308]

I have been building Hasegawa kits since 1986 back when I was a kid. Now more than 30 years later, I am back building some new kits. Right now I have two Hasegawa 1/48th scale kits, the J.A.S.D.F. F-4EJ 'Kai' Phantom II, and a U.S. Navy F-18E Super Hornet.

[@kenty2831]

Very nice picture of 10 year old? young man full of promise and optimism. Thank you for sharing this series bringing back a flood of memories. The gas operated model airplanes that ruined my fingers and flew in a circle making the operator violently ill. That was a one and done from a neighborhood friend.

[@wayned1807]

Thanks for your history series, it's been very informative. I'm in my 70's now and still fiddle around with models from various manufacturers. I was heavy into the hobby as a kid then got involved in sports, military, school, family, and work as a mold maker of all things. In the early 90's I thought I'd try to take up the hobby again and asked around as to what was best kits available at the time. Everyone said Hasegawa with Tamiya a close second. I have to agree. The overall quality of the parts are excellent. i build for fun, not to impress, so I give away all my completed models (mostly airplanes) to grandkids. Besides my wife says I can't keep them around.

[@ualuuanie]

LOL Take on me by A Ha in Japanese? Wow! your selection of music always surprise and tickle me :) Thanks

[@maxsmodels]

That is the idea. Thanks

[@georgecoventry8441]

I thoroughly enjoyed it too.

[@ph11p3540]

As a modern aircraft modeller, this is my favorite brand of model kit. Expensive kits but they are always a real pleasure to build and they made it easy for me to concentrate on the most realistic finishing effects. Worth every penny.

[@Loulovesspeed]

I have been building model kits for over 60 years and have to say that Hasegawa makes some of the finest kits available. I would rate them and Tamiya as the two best companies left in the business. My favorite to build and to observe when completed is the 1:8 scale Fokker DR1. Excellent material quality, variety and fit and finish along with excellent instruction manuals - something that was certainly not the case in the early days of Japanese model manufacturing. Yes, it's expensive, but like they say, you get what you pay for! The Tamiya 1:12 scale Caterham Super Seven is likely the finest quality kit I have ever built of anything! I built both versions - the BDR and the Cycle Fender Special. Kids today have no idea of what they are missing. Model building teaches you the importance of following instructions and fosters creativeness. By that I mean any model can be made to look more real if you put some thought and creativity into it. That was always my goal - make it look more real than the kit was manufactured to be.

[@13bravo72]

Nice video! Very interesting 👌 about these model companies. Especially the vintage ones! Brings back lots of memories of building models back when I was a kid..Got back into it 5 years ago after a 25 year hiatus. Keep these videos coming! You've certainly don your research!

[@jamiehay4994]

i,am new to your show ,models are my only hobby ,great information thank you so much. nice tunes ,favorite song.

[@lancerevell5979]

I've built Hasegawa kits since I was a young'un. Four decades plus. One of my favorites is their venerable 1/72 F-106A Delta Dart kit. I have built many, in different squadron markings and an unmanned target drone. In the late 1960s I was an avionics tech in the USAF, and worked on the Dart, among others. Finding a decal sheet with Tyndall AFB/ADWC decals took me awhile, but I now have two Sixes done up as aircraft I actually worked on. Cool! I have a few of their waterline 1/700 WWII ships, and have started one. Lots of tiny fiddly parts that challenge my 63 year old eyes and XXL fingers! I switched to 1/600 Airfix ships and 1/500 Revell and Renwal ships. Less frustrating. Hasegawa's older 1/72 scale planes were less detailed than Tamiya models of the same period, but newer Hasegawas are much better, and a lot more expensive!

[@richardklug822]

My favorite (and only) Hasegawa kits are those from their 1/32 aircraft line. I especially liked the ones that included metal miniatures of famous pilots in their initial releases.

[@georgecoventry8441]

Great video! Nice music at the end too. Hasegawa is a terrific model company! I think they and Tamiya are at the very top of their game, in both cases. The more recent Hasegawa toolings of 1/32 scale aircraft (such as the Raiden, Shiden, A6M5 Zero, Ki-61 Hien "Tony", P-47 Thunderbolt, Fw-190 variants, P-40, Stuka, etc) are THE best compromise out there between high detail, great accuracy, ease of assembly, and reasonable pricing. If you want to pay a lot more...and get even finer detail...then you go for Tamiya's 1/32 scale planes. Either way, you have struck gold with their kits.

[@rubyajero3769]

I learned scale modelling through Hasegawa¡! It helped me at be inspired and continued to a career in aviation. Now, I am a pilot

[@outrider7577]

To be honest, the only Hasegawa kits I have built are the 1:72 scale aerospace ground equipment, US Weapons V and Pilot and ground crew sets. But I am definitely a fan. The attention to detail is top notch and they were so much fun to build. They set off a diorama and go great with any modern 1:72 aircraft. Verlindin Productions books even say Hasegawa F-16 and F-15 kits are the best out there in any scale for these aircraft.

[@Ideo7Z]

My first model kit was a Hasegawa 1/32 F-14 Tomcat as a kid in the early 80s. That was like having a 5 yr old still on training wheels get on a Kawasaki Ninja and run it on the Autobahn, it was such a complicated and detailed kit for a beginner.

[@ph11p3540]

Consistently best quality aircraft kits in 1/72 and 1/48 scale. Insane number of parts in each kit. I love them.

[@jangelbrich7056]

Great! I built only one Hasegawa kit in the 1980s, a Focke-Wulf Fw-190 in 1:32. It was the most detailed kit I knew that time.

[@claudiomoncada4763]

Hasegawa add value when Shigeo Koike begin to ilustrate their box art. A true piece of art, an pro looking models. (90’)

[@charlieboye2009]

Hasegawa is the only kit maker I know that made a kit of a plane blown up by terrorists. Kit LD 002 Air India 747-200 Kanishka or Air India 182.

[@joeramirez9502]

This is a really great series seen how I used to be a fair molder,and I always love historical facts.Keep up the good work Joe.

[@cfitrob5888]

Another great video. The music and credits are fantastic. Keep'em coming.

[@sugarhillsrr]

Another good one Max, Thank You.

[@richardbishop3620]

I'm a fan of Hasegawa.

[@mybluebelly]

I`m a big fan ;-)

[@spreadeagled5654]

Richard Bishop, Me too! 👍

[@zulerodoeht329]

Nice video on model history, I have several of Hasagawa's kits, including a 1/450 IJN Battleship Musashi , a 1980 rebox of the 1972 Hasagawa kit. Alas so many kits, too little time.

[@christianjensen7189]

Hasegawa always had top notch art, which is always a "hook". It gave it a "quality" feel, something lacking on an MPC or AMT box's. The 1/72 series seemed more affordable on a meager 10 year old's hobby budget vs. Tamiya.

[@lonthrall5613]

Excellent history series, thanks for posting!

[@michaelnaven213]

Very good kits with a wide selection of topics.

[@briansonnenfelt7125]

For the most part pretty good. I had a stinker F-15C 1/48 kit that fit together pretty terribly, but I had a F-14D that went together amazingly.

[@AtomicBabel]

Oh memories, that Oscar in the opening was my first 1/32 kit. I kept that box cover for so many years.

[@andyroper1613]

40yrs ago I built the 1/32nd scale Grumman Hellcat. I still have it (in a partially unassembled state) It really was a fabulous piece of tooling and it went together beautifully. Only really been topped in recent years by the AIRFIX 1/24 Hellcat - which, of course, is a lot more expensive. 🛩️Andy (ex Halcyon)

[@73north]

For me , , Hasegawa is the number one manufacturer for quality , fit and reliability for excellent detailing on the surface details - I rate their 1/48 P-51D Mustang kit as still among the best in the world , I have the Mustang , Hawker Typhoon , Hawker Hurricane , N1K2-J George , J2M3 Jack , Ki.61 Tony in 1/48 scale - sadly their latest kits seem to be re-boxes and they have concentrated on Japanese Anime subjects - not new moulds - although their 1/350 ships are very good - anyway thanks for a lovely video

[@mhos6940]

My first choice for aircraft models. Thanks for the video!👍

[@billballbuster7186]

I remember Hasegawa as being one of the first companies to produce kits with fine recessed panel lines and finer detail. I bought every 1/72 aircraft kit I could get my hands on including those re-boxed by Frog. Later I built their 1/72 scale military vehicles and finally moved to 1/48th aircraft. I disagree that Tamiya was a rival as they concentrated on different scales. Tamiya were best known for their 1/35 scale military vehicles while Hasegawa mostly produced aircraft models. All Japanese companies organized the production of 1/700 waterline ships so there was very little overlap - a really great idea!

[@mikestanmore2614]

Back in the late 70's, Hasegawa made the only M4A3E8 Sherman around (that's "Fury" to the uninitiated). As a tabletop wargamer, they were just about priceless. The scale was all over the place though - from memory, the hull was about 1/70, the turret about 1/73. Their Tiger I, though, was and still is, excellent.

[@billballbuster7186]

Started buying Hasegawa when they began their 1/72nd aircraft range in the later 1960's, they were the best on the market and one of the first with engraved panel lines. I also built some of their armour models. Pity they did not get into 1/35th military kits

[@model-man7802]

Love these kits.Very Very rare tou have a problem and the fit is always very good👍👍👍❤

[@tombrunila2695]

1974 or about, the Hasegawa F6F Hellcat and F-86 Sabre in 1/32! WOW! They were at that time something very else!

[@DickieDelouise]

Another nice feature👌I've always enjoyed building Hasegawa kits, from my first, the 1:24 Repsol Porsche 956(or was it a 962🤔), to the latest (Promodeller rebox of the 1:48 F-4E.

[@jcwoodman5285]

I've always been curious about the 1/700 waterline series & the 4 Japan mfgs who collectively agreed to do the series back in the late 70s... The 'pitch meeting'🤗

[@jhorn64]

Seriously. I hope we get a video on the history of the series as a whole soon as about 75% of the 300+ kits in my stash and completed collection are 1/700 waterline kits.

[@rogerw3818]

I recently completed a 1:32 P47. The engineering was first rate, parts fitment was perfect and the decals as well. I would love to find the 1:12 GP motorcycles (1988 Eddie Lawson YZR500 Yamaha and 1989 Eddie Lawson NSR500 Honda), but no distributor seems to carry that genre.

[@SCSuperheavy114]

Next to Tamiya my favorite brand for models particularly for aircraft and ships.

[@balikolaci1]

As my 2 main topcs are 1/72 cold war jets and 1/48 ww2 Japanese, Hasegewa is just an inévitable match. Many "first of the type" kits (mig-21,23,25, Viggen, Kfir...), many late 80's early 90's toolings today still a gold standard (F-4,14,15,16,104,111,...) and many "the only address" topics (F-20, X-29, airfield and deck accessories)... when I retire, for sure I'll dare a museum kit of theirs... I'm sure it will be in production!

[@TheSaturnV]

I’ve only recently bought my first Hasegawa kits, a couple versions of their off-road racing 240z’s. They look to be excellent kits.

[@FastSports-ScaleCarGarage]

Another great video! Well done!

[@travis_thompson]

Hasegawa when I was younger I considered top of the line and looked great on the shelf but I was always scared to build their stuff due to the price here in NZ. They seem to have dropped off from the aircraft side of things and some lines are really showing their age but their 1:32 japanese fighters are hard to beat not to mention their 32nd P40s and 109s.

[@treetopflyer522]

Hasegawa is a great kit manufacturer. Ive built many (lots of years ago).

[@davidgarrison5270]

I lived in Japan in the late 70's and early 80's and loved the Tamago (Egg) Series Airplanes. I had several.

[@gsr4535]

Big fan of Hasegawa. 👍

[@DavidLee-df888]

I must admit to liking the "egg" kits they make... I made quite a few when I was younger. They seem to be the biggest manufacturer, or at least most commonly available egg or super deform kits I see, although Meng and AFV club have made a few recently.

[@rCory1945]

[@David-ty1xz]

One of my ears started bleeding before I could hit mute, lol. Thanks for the video.

[@Spindrift-id1ez]

WOW!. Right off the bat I recognized that 1/32 scale OSCAR as a model that I had hanging from the ceiling of my bedroom with all my 1/32 scale Revel WWII fighter models :)

[@a-fl-man640]

didn't see it in previous comments but after a little research the vent and water over the side of the carrier is for exhaust cooling. first time i've ever seen that, interesting.

[@broznkyra4853]

Their 1/32nd aircraft kits were peerless...I got theirvF16 kit almost as soon as it came into the US...sometime around 1976...

[@Crediblesport]

What about Al Trendle and Minicraft? Hasegawa connection and the 1/72 scale armor

[@maxsmodels]

Never heard of Trendle

[@Crediblesport]

@@maxsmodels al trendle owned mini craft

[@Crediblesport]

Or use to in the 1970s.

[@adrianaustralia9135]

Great video, many memories, thank you so much. Sadly no mention of the Frog/Hasegawa deal that lasted through the 60s/70s?

[@manthony1956]

I have to be one of the few modelers who has never built Tamiya or Hasegawa kits. I have worked for several hobby shops part-time in my lifetime, and got a discount, but could never justify the cost. But I should check out the 1/160 kits. It gives me ideas for a T-TRAK module (N scale).

[@danf321]

I seem to remember building tiny-scale jet models they made. I built them just because of the oddball sizes, but thoroughly enjoyed my “fleet” of planes.

[@Roman-hx3qj]

I have owned a number of their kits through my early college years and still own their 1/8 museum series unbuilt. I guess I’m saving them for retirement. Funny to say that it was only yesterday that I was a kid building models!

[@gendoikari6062]

Very nice presentation..! Do you guys have a link to a video on how do they make the metal half molds (jigs?) that produces the plastic models? Thanks

[@maxsmodels]

Guy, singular. It is just me. Here is something that may help you. kzbin.info/www/bejne/qHmXY32PapWcfrM

[@broznkyra4853]

Those museum series aircraft are classics...used'ta see the triplane on display at Orange Blossom Hobbies in Miami...sadly no longer in business...

[@Slickboot21]

I'm still searching for my 1994 Toyota T100 DX (it's an antique now). It's such a ground-breaking crossover sensation which led to the most popular V8 Tundra, whose early production was in fact with the T100 body. Single cab, full-size bed. I'd be very surprised to find there never was a scale representation or promotional model of this...anywhere? Closest I've found is an AMT 1992 single cab, short bed 4X4, just labeled - Toyota Pickup.. Close; but no cigar. I've thought about writing Toyota Corp. to find out something; but, I doubt I'd get very far with that. I'll keep looking. If you guys have any clues, send them over. Keep makin'!

[@teatime6597]

Not only excellent models. Hasegawa had (has?) the most beautiful and intriguing box art.

[@maxsmodels]

I did a video on their lead artist. kzbin.info/www/bejne/pZWTnYqQh7mLeJI

[@teatime6597]

@@maxsmodels Amazing! Thank you. My "model career" took place before internet and I now kind of go back in time exploring it. It's fascinating to learn things you didnt know that you didnt know.

[@johnjriggsarchery2457]

Wow, I'm a stick and tissue airplane builder, not a plastic model builder and am watching for the heck of it, but their model of a Yamaha DT250 intrigues me.

[@PlasticImaginationWorkshop]

Nice, very interesting video. I've never built one of their kits, but I may pick one up and give it a try. Have a great day.

[@charlesemerson6763]

Always liked them. Mostly easy kits to build but of high quality for their day. Built lots of their 1/76 tanks in my teenage yrs for wargaming. I never was game for the museum models.

[@scifiguy26]

That 1/1500 scale science fiction vessel it's called Captain Harlock's Arcadia only second in popularity to the Space Battleship Yamato😁👍🏾

[@nanorider426]

I like the Hasegawa kits. They are a joy to build. :)

[@ce1601]

Would love to see Trimaster added to the history series. Trimaster was a pet project of Mr. Hasegawa's eldest son. He wanted to create a higher grade series than Hasegawa. Shigeo Koike's illustrations were used for the boxart. After the limited run ended, Trimaster model kits shed the white metal parts, kept the plastic, kept the photo etch and rebranded to become Dragon/DML. Dragon/DML is based in Hong Kong (or Macau?). I am not sure if Mr. Hasegawa's son owns Dragon/DML.

[@KB4QAA]

@Maxmodels I remember them as Hasegawa/Minicraft from circa 1980. Can you amplify the story? Thanks for you great reviews of model companies. Brings back great memories of my boyhood.

[@yochitoranaga]

I have just checked my history of model kits assembly and short term future... and I don't have a single company where I did more than one kit: my first model was a Testor Ferarri Testarossa then an AMT USS Enterprise (Star Trek) with the shuttle. about 10 years later I did an MPC Imperial Star Destroyer I 5 years after that I did a Zoukei-Mura "Edelweiss" tank from Valkyria chronicles also did an Aoshima IJN Myoko then I did a Bandai Millenium Falcon with light kit last year now I have 5 kits in the pipeline for this summer: a trumpeter E-50 german standard medium tank a meng leopard 1 C2 Canadian MBT with plow an ICM P-51D Mustang a Hasegawa F-14A Tomcat and finally a Revel A-10 So far my favorite has been my Zyoukei-Mura Edelweiss. I wish I could get my hands on a "Nameless" from them too. In fact, it's the Edelweiss that brought me back into modeling... and gunpla.

[@maxsmodels]

just keep on building!

[@dxroadduke]

Some of my favorite aircraft models are Hasegawa kits

[@panzer-head]

That box art got me as a kid. That, and the cost was prohibitive. I remember my dad seeing the ME-262 kit that I begged him to buy for me. When he saw the kit cost $12.00, he said “No!” And walked out of the store. I was devastated, but what could I do? Well, I waited until I was a young adult and bought all those cool kits with my OWN MONEY, with the box art too!

[@kl0wnkiller912]

As a model kit collector (who isn't) I have many of those kits shown but I would love to get (and build) that 1/12 Fairlady kit. I have many of the older Doyoshu, Aoshima, Entex, etc large scale cars. I recently picked up that Sci-Fi "Project Omega" one on a table at a show for $16, still sealed. Hasegawa is still holding their own and their kits are top notch but the ever-increasing competition from China and others (Takom, Dragon, etc) are really starting to push them.

[@bigcharliesmodelgarage296]

Cool info. Thanks for sharing

[@richardwillett]

Right now I'm building a KI-43-1 Oscar from the Anime The Magnificent Kotobuki in 1/48! There is a bit of fiddly parts like the landing gear! And the decals cover the whole plane in camo like the Aztec decals on Polar Lights Ster Trek kits. I don't know if this is a good thing yet?

[@map3384]

You can’t talk about Hasegawa without mentioning the 1/350 IJN Akagi. Just model magnificence.

[@MartintheTinman]

There's only one Hasegawa kit I want that I don't have and that's their boxing of the Frog Vultee Vengeance

[@kellybreen5526]

I have a FROG Vengeance. The original FROG kits were pretty good for their time, but the Russian repops of the old FROG's are pretty ragged. Those tools are worn right out.

[@MartintheTinman]

@@kellybreen5526 . I have more than one Frog Vultee Vengeance. I really want the Hasegawa one though. That's what happens when you're an OCD collector

[@MartintheTinman]

Turns out there's two kits. Just discovered a 2019 reboxing of an F-111G that I'll now have to acquire but seeing as there's more than one person selling them on ebay I'll be able to buy one next week. As for the Vengeance I'll just have to keep looking

[@Habu12]

I should post the pic I took of Shunsaku Tamiya and Seisakusho Hasegawa standing together. If I can find it. Slight correction though, GSI Creos bought the Mr.Color/Gunze Sangyo line only fairly recently. The lines still operate under their respective names, however. I became a Hasegawa fan at just the right time. In the early 90s, right when they exploded with their retooled warbirds line, which I was very em passions with at the time. Still am.

[@mafmaf6417]

Built many Hasegawa kits, mostly 1/48, over the years. Never had a problem with the build. Would definately like to tackle some of their 1/32 kits, but with the price of kits now, probably will not happen.

[@strumminandwrenchin9162]

I love their 1:200 747 model kits, they are the best! However the 747-400 model kit could do some improvement especially around the nose area. That’s when Miliput sculpting putty becomes my best friend.

[@dmikulec]

I loved the Hasegawa 1/72 armor kits and their waterline series. I was unhappy that the 1/700 series didn't have US, UK, and German ships until much later.

[@tristanband4003]

I like the 80's J-Pop at the end. Nice touch.

[@tullskull]

Back in the day, lets say 15 yrs ago, you would accept the assembly challenges (needles over-complication) due to the superior detail. No more. It's 2020 and I'm sorry but the superior engineering design of Tamiya has positioned them on a whole other level of consideration. I honestly think that if it weren't for the great selection of unique offerings, Hasagawa would be really struggling right now. Is anyone in their right mind going to select a Spit or Bf109 offering from Hasegawa over Tamiya, Or Eduard, or even Zevd?

[@73north]

agreed - sadly they do seem to have fallen on their laurels with re-boxes and new decals - 15 years ago , they were world class for newly tooled kits - with a fierce competition with Tamiya for the same subjects - although to be fair they never seem to have produced the Spitfire Mk1 - I had to buy a Tamiya instead ( and damn good it was ) - and the comment is correct about a German 1/48 subject - I bought the FW 190 A8 by Eduard ( old tool from 8 years ago ) - and it was delighful and the fit and attention to detail was wonderful .

[@tullskull]

@William Myers Thank for your reply. I never got excited about any Hobby Craft kits. I had an early 109 that was decent but I remember finishing it got to the point where I felt like I had to punch in at the.time clock at work😊 I am not a prodigious modeller. I don't crank them out and usually spend quite a lot of time on a kit. I realized a long time ago that for me it is worth it to spend the extra money for, IMO, a great kit, as compared to anything else because I am exchanging my valuable time for building enjoyment and I enjoy building great kits much more than building something else. I will spend many hours with that model and I am not often in the mood to overcome obstacles due to engineering or quality compromises. That little bit of extra quality, detail, and or engineering skill helps keep me excited during the build. That is just me though. As I said I spend many hours on a kit. Others look forward to creating solutions to the problems they find in a kit.....and they are the better modeller for it!

[@stuartsteel1]

I only buy Hasegawa when I see them on offer or it's a rebox by another manufacturer. Their F-4 phantom is nice, but they still charge top dollar even though it's old now and there are better ones on the market for cheaper.

[@wonderbreadmodelsandhistor1566]

Big fan here...they always do a great job!

[@KZ-xb8fi]

My favorite kits are the 1/48 F-104 starfighter series.

[@killroy255]

One think I appreciate from hasegawa is that they actually do the Macross line and they've basically gotten almost all the mechs from the series, and they're really detailer, unlike what I've seen in the bandai kits, though those can transform!

[@farpointgamingdirect]

I used to build wooden planes back in the day covered with tissue and airplane dope. I still paint 6mm roman soldiers (that's 72 Miniatures on a 4mm x 6mm base). I'd totally take that museum line on! I just need to find a hobby store that carries them...

[@rooseveltbrentwood9654]

are we going to ignore “us weapons loading s***” at 5:59 f***ing hilarious!

[@m0ther_bra1ned12]

I like thier stuff. I'm not a fan of thier oddball scales though. I find it a little frustrating the more obscure subjects I'm interested in like that Ki48 bomber always seem to only be in 1/72. I prefer 1/48.

[@NHseacoast]

When I think of Hasegawa I think of high quality airplane kits. I don’t think they ever got into 1/35 armor. The 1/160 scale as is N scale model trains.

[@maxsmodels]

pretty much 1/72 on armor

[@flitsertheo]

Checking their 2020 catalog I found a 1/35 combine harvester, the YANMAR COMBINE YH6115. It isn't armoured but can be put to rather destructive use too.