Bandai, now a leading toy company of Japan, in the 1970s seriously challenged 1/32 and 1/35 as the standard for armor with its extensive line of 1/48 military vehicles, personnel and accessories sets. Practically every American, British, Russian and German kit produced by Tamiya at the time was matched by Bandai's 25 Allied, 29 German and 11 accessory kits. This included vehicles and detail sets Tamiya did not, and to this day does not, offer in 1/35.
Aside from the attractive fact that these are the same scale of maybe the most popular scale for aircraft, Bandai further trumped Tamiya by providing almost complete interiors for all of their vehicles!
Today Tamiya, Skybow and other companies are producing modern, exciting, high-quality 1/48 injection armor kits and accessories. Still, many of Bandai's classics are in great demand. After Bandai ceased production, after-market conversions and limited-run kits abounded supplementing this incredible line of models.
Bandai's palm and other kits are still well worth acquiring, if the price is right. The fronds are soft vinyl, the trunks hard styrene.
As 1/48 scale, but suitable for most military scales, whether for aircraft or armor modelers, Bandai's box of model palm trees are well cast and look good on dioramas. Bandai ceased this line of models some twenty-five years ago, but they can be still be found, though often at a high price. Some newer models are more detailed and advanced, some cheaper, but Bandai's date palms are still a fine model.
About Frederick Boucher (JPTRR) FROM: TENNESSEE, UNITED STATES
I'm a professional pilot with a degree in art.
My first model was an AMT semi dump truck. Then Monogram's Lunar Lander right after the lunar landing. Next, Revell's 1/32 Bf-109G...cried havoc and released the dogs of modeling!
My interests--if built before 1900, or after 1955, then I proba...
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