Elefant, Imai Mk I
10-15-2018, 07:35 PM
#3
aiya!!!!!!!!
10-15-2018, 07:47 PM
#4
Thread Starter
10-15-2018, 08:35 PM
#6
Jerry, I forwarded it to some buddies of mine in Shanghai so will let you know if any of them bite. As you know, we've got buyers here who wouldn't blink an eye at that price just to show off in their den as a status symbol, probably right beside one of those new Warslug models that will never see dirt or mud.
10-16-2018, 06:16 AM
#10
Yeah, but is it worth more un-assembled in the box, or built and painted up with weathering?
10-16-2018, 06:35 AM
#11
But with the release of the Hooben Elephant, everyone can have an Elephant. To me it makes this kit less special since it used to be the only Elephant produced. Leaving it in the box would be the only way to preserve the value. I don't buy cars I don't drive or guns I don't shoot. I couldn't buy a tank I couldn't build. I've seen this kit sold for as much as $1500 unbuilt, but $5500 is just rediculous. JMHO...
10-16-2018, 06:48 AM
#12
10-16-2018, 06:49 AM
#13
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Yes, both kits depict the Elephant jagdpanzer, but they are not comparable.
Just as an highlight, the IMAI kit does feature scale armor thicknesses.
However, the unassembled kit is going to gain value in time.
Just 5 years ago it was still possible to find them at 3k usd. Now the price has raised, since as modelers build them up, less and less unassembled kits are available.
Just as an highlight, the IMAI kit does feature scale armor thicknesses.
However, the unassembled kit is going to gain value in time.
Just 5 years ago it was still possible to find them at 3k usd. Now the price has raised, since as modelers build them up, less and less unassembled kits are available.
10-16-2018, 09:28 AM
#14
It was once the "Holy Grail" of 1/16 RC tanks, NOT really available and NOT really affordable.
Now it's worth whatever someone would pay for it. If someone came out with a good RTR or even like a Tamiya offering the old kit would be worthless. But it's still cool to see one surface once in a while!
Now it's worth whatever someone would pay for it. If someone came out with a good RTR or even like a Tamiya offering the old kit would be worthless. But it's still cool to see one surface once in a while!
10-16-2018, 05:13 PM
#17
Thread Starter
It's old news I know but I'm reasonably familiar with the Imai kit. I built my first one around 1974-75, purchased at a local shop going out of business.
I'd seen them for years before but couldn't afford one. I have 4 of them, the last one being unbuilt in the box as this one but without the outer cardboard box.
At this point in time I don't see any reason to build an original. I'm sure many would disagree but being other options exist keeping an original kit as a kit just
seems appropriate.
I also have the Hooben kit as well as several variations of the Asiatam Elefant/Ferdinand kits. After all this time the others still don't hold a candle to the Imai kit, it just
wins in the quality and execution departments hands down. I don't intend to run down the two later kits, they are both quite nice models that will grace
the collection of any owner but the Imai has a place all its own. It really was a remarkable offering considering it is rapidly reaching 50 years ago it
came out. Something to think about....
I'd seen them for years before but couldn't afford one. I have 4 of them, the last one being unbuilt in the box as this one but without the outer cardboard box.
At this point in time I don't see any reason to build an original. I'm sure many would disagree but being other options exist keeping an original kit as a kit just
seems appropriate.
I also have the Hooben kit as well as several variations of the Asiatam Elefant/Ferdinand kits. After all this time the others still don't hold a candle to the Imai kit, it just
wins in the quality and execution departments hands down. I don't intend to run down the two later kits, they are both quite nice models that will grace
the collection of any owner but the Imai has a place all its own. It really was a remarkable offering considering it is rapidly reaching 50 years ago it
came out. Something to think about....
10-16-2018, 06:20 PM
#18
Yup, agree with Jerry. It's not worth 5K but the hooben kit doesn't come close to details and even the bogies are much better than the Hooben offering. Got mine basically unbuilt in the box for 1K around 12 years ago. With the Hooben release it's not so sought after.
10-16-2018, 09:50 PM
#19
I only paid $5500 for my 2008 Honda VFR Interceptor 3 years ago. Can't see spending that on a kit almost as old as I am... 
10-19-2018, 01:58 AM
#20
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Geezlus that is like my car payment @Erik. I think my friends would have an intervention or something, "we need to talk about your $5,000 tank.." haha.
Think about this, that tank has been sitting in that box all these years.. it's like a damn flower that's never going to bloom.
Think about this, that tank has been sitting in that box all these years.. it's like a damn flower that's never going to bloom.
10-19-2018, 09:46 AM
#21
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Nice kit, but way too pricey to risk as a future sale investment.
Mike.
10-19-2018, 07:20 PM
#22
Thread Starter
Imai's Elefant has always been too expensive for someone at any point along it's existence. When they first came out I saw them for sale from a Japanese company that sold mail order and in 1971-72 they were asking $410; a price I remember very well because at the time I was beginning to buy Taimya's 1/25 scale tanks and fiddling with them. Even the 1/25 scale were harder to get and at 25 bucks a pop for me they were already pricey( recall if you will gas had not yet broken 30 cents a gallon before the first oil embargo.). So I was scanning modeler mags for mail order joints and came across this one company whose name is lost to the years. They published a price list of their offerings and there all alone was the Elefant kit at a whopping $410 bucks. I had not even started a job after my folks had moved and at 20 I'd lay in bed at night looking over this list of stuff I couldn't buy...This all years before Tamiya released their first Sherman, their $99 RC Sherman.
I have no way to know if that $410 price was discounted , high or the MSRP. Based on charts the 410 bucks in 1971 adjusted for inflation would be better than $2,500 today so yeah I'd say the seller's price is high but that 410 bucks represents a kit that was still in production at the time....not a rare kit that's nearly 50 years old.
Here's another one for you. Auto Mag( .44 AMP, .357AMP) pistols when they first hit the market were what 200-300 bucks? Today they routinely sell for 3k and up, and there will be
new ones made shortly for 3800 bucks. Worth it?? yeah to folks who want them....
Something to think about before you condemn the seller or say the kit isn't worth it, subjectivity at its best.
Jerry
I have no way to know if that $410 price was discounted , high or the MSRP. Based on charts the 410 bucks in 1971 adjusted for inflation would be better than $2,500 today so yeah I'd say the seller's price is high but that 410 bucks represents a kit that was still in production at the time....not a rare kit that's nearly 50 years old.
Here's another one for you. Auto Mag( .44 AMP, .357AMP) pistols when they first hit the market were what 200-300 bucks? Today they routinely sell for 3k and up, and there will be
new ones made shortly for 3800 bucks. Worth it?? yeah to folks who want them....
Something to think about before you condemn the seller or say the kit isn't worth it, subjectivity at its best.
Jerry
Last edited by Tanque; 10-20-2018 at 06:51 AM.
10-24-2018, 05:54 AM
#23
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Imai's Elefant has always been too expensive for someone at any point along it's existence. When they first came out I saw them for sale from a Japanese company that sold mail order and in 1971-72 they were asking $410; a price I remember very well because at the time I was beginning to buy Taimya's 1/25 scale tanks and fiddling with them. Even the 1/25 scale were harder to get and at 25 bucks a pop for me they were already pricey( recall if you will gas had not yet broken 30 cents a gallon before the first oil embargo.). So I was scanning modeler mags for mail order joints and came across this one company whose name is lost to the years. They published a price list of their offerings and there all alone was the Elefant kit at a whopping $410 bucks. I had not even started a job after my folks had moved and at 20 I'd lay in bed at night looking over this list of stuff I couldn't buy...This all years before Tamiya released their first Sherman, their $99 RC Sherman.
I have no way to know if that $410 price was discounted , high or the MSRP. Based on charts the 410 bucks in 1971 adjusted for inflation would be better than $2,500 today so yeah I'd say the seller's price is high but that 410 bucks represents a kit that was still in production at the time....not a rare kit that's nearly 50 years old.
Here's another one for you. Auto Mag( .44 AMP, .357AMP) pistols when they first hit the market were what 200-300 bucks? Today they routinely sell for 3k and up, and there will be
new ones made shortly for 3800 bucks. Worth it?? yeah to folks who want them....
Something to think about before you condemn the seller or say the kit isn't worth it, subjectivity at its best.
Jerry
I have no way to know if that $410 price was discounted , high or the MSRP. Based on charts the 410 bucks in 1971 adjusted for inflation would be better than $2,500 today so yeah I'd say the seller's price is high but that 410 bucks represents a kit that was still in production at the time....not a rare kit that's nearly 50 years old.
Here's another one for you. Auto Mag( .44 AMP, .357AMP) pistols when they first hit the market were what 200-300 bucks? Today they routinely sell for 3k and up, and there will be
new ones made shortly for 3800 bucks. Worth it?? yeah to folks who want them....
Something to think about before you condemn the seller or say the kit isn't worth it, subjectivity at its best.
Jerry
10-24-2018, 06:38 PM
#24
Thread Starter
The Auto Mag, popularized by Dirty Harry was a cool idea, but in execution it left much to be desired. I find it ironic that they are highly sought after as the Desert Eagle is much more robust and reliable. The whole .44mag auto loading pistol craze is really not very practical anyway as they are nothing but clunky, heavy and expensive range toys or Hollywood props.
not self defense or certainly not law enforcement. Outside of making a lot of noise I'll give you the practicality, which is just above nil. A side note, the two 8 1/2" AMP used in the DH movie were custom made since the original company had gone belly up years before. As luck would have it the AMP has been resurrected and will hit the market soon.The New AMP.