WOW and price WOW

Just received an answer to my inquiry yesteray...

But something that they said, "with another retailer to increase your chances of getting one.", made it clear that they were NOT the maker of the model so I did a Japanese serach on Yahoo.co.jp and found the maker and their website for the 2009 V-Max Model.

Here's the English page...
www.hpimoto.com/en/index.html

The JN page is...
www.hpimoto.com/index.html

I understand now why it costs so much (58,000 yen projected retail)...it has many moving parts and is really detailed...


---(Quote)---
Hi,

We expect stocks of the item to arrive on or about November 30 as indicated on the item page. We do not know the exact release date.

Unfortunately this item has been placed on "Order Stop" because we have taken as many orders as we expect to be able to fill with the amount of product we're likely to receive.

When the item arrives here, if we find that we have surplus stock available, we will make the item available for purchase once again. However, we cannot guarantee this and you may wish to place an order for this item with another retailer to increase your chances of getting one.

We apologize for this inconvenience, and very much appreciate your understanding.

The "whitening out" of photos is unintentional. Thats' caused by flash from the camera as well as the spotlights that were on the model.

Thanks for shopping with HobbyLink Japan!

---
Joseph Tsai
HobbyLink Japan
(www.hlj.com)

Any idea what's the brand of that kit? I'd love to get one but could not find another retailer to carries it.

fxstein wrote:
Added this after posting this quote...

HPI USA (HPI Racing)
70 Icon St
Foothill Ranch, CA 92610
Phone: (949) 753-1099
FAX: (949) 753-1098


That URL that I included for hpi-Racing has the history on that kit...anyway, hpi-Racing (Japan) is the maker...

I went to the hpi-Racing link, ended up on on their Japanese page, found Asia and Oceania distributors along with USA Link...once there, when I went to Where To Buy...it asks for your Zip Code and a list of the nearest distributors comes up...kind of funny because the first one on the list for me was "Krazy Kevin's" which is like 2-3 minutes by car from me...

www.hpiracing.com/dealersearch/

Anyhow, here's a pic of the USA Distributors link page...just go to the Where To Buy link on the left hand side...

Ok folks, did some more digging around the Japanese internet, in addition to Pascal calling hpi-Racing here in California for the scoop on this 1/6 Scale Gen-2 V-Max Model.

First, hpi-Racing here in the USA, have no idea about this "secret" project which originated in Japan by hpi-Racing there and the model was announced as a late 2009 release at the 2009 Modelers Show held in October in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan (about 100 miles South of Tokyo). Somewhere in all of that writeup, they mention that the model is based on the 151HP 2009 V-Max in Japan and this model was developed for the Japanese market although the North American market is what made the V-Max famous...they go on to say that PERHAPS in the future, they may decide to sell in other markets outside of Japan.

I found some model shops and dealers that have the model on their websites but only ONE is taking PRE-orders for an anticipated Mid-December 2009 release.

Here's the links (sorry, they are all in Japanese for the most part);

---

1)
www.1999.co.jp/10089992
This one lists their Pre-Order price as being 45,675 Yen but they are not taking any orders (actual or pre-orders), but there is a command button to the right of the V-Max picture and below the area in RED that lists the 45,675 Yen Price. If you click on that button it will enable you to enter your email address so that when the models are available for orders, they will email you. Don't know if they would ship outside of Japan.

---

2)
store.shopping.yahoo.co.jp/digitamin/z673.html
This one lists their Special price as being 51,800 Yen but they are not taking any orders (actual or pre-orders).

The only links they have are the standard save as favorite vendor, save URL, etc. But no email notifications, etc.

---

3)
model-car.jp/SHOP/hpi-8490.html
This place is taking pre-ordrs at 54,810 Yen, ONLY one unit per person. But all of the shipping and billing data on checkout is ONLY for Japanese Addresses. Alright for me, since I can have it shipped to my place in Tokyo and either leave it there or have my better half, ship it to me in San Diego. Doesn't help the rest of you...kind of like the Y's Gear accessories saga...

---

The model# is a hpi-8490, if you happen to be surfing the web for it....

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Just as a footnote, hpi-Racing design team really went overboard on this model with the details and as far as taking the model apart and putting it back together...what I mean is, that they made it a lot like the REAL thing, where most of the major pieces are individual with all of the screws, bolts, nuts, etc.

Why would someone want to spend $500-$600 for a model???...because it is available and looks like the real thing...because people in general are crazy...whatever the reason, it is a personal choice...like having the real thing and buying after market accessories that cost TOO much...we have seen a lot of that going around...but we still buy those accessories...

If I hear more, I will drop a line here...I put myself on the mailing list of the third place...haven't pre-ordered yet...

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Just for reference, at today's US$1.00/98Yen exchange rate, this is what you are looking at;
hpi-Racing MSRP is: 60,900 Yen = US$684.00
Vendor #1 above is: 45,675 Yen = US$513.00
Vendor #2 above is: 51,800 Yen = US$581.00
Vendor #3 above is: 54,810 Yen = US$615.00

---

Cool!

Thanks for digging up all the info and sharing it!

fxstein wrote:
LOL That's funny. I hope they don't have a miniature VIN/Order# frame badge program with these!!

thanks so much for doing the research on this model, after looking the pics on that 3rd website i so want one at 1:6 scale how long would this model be approx? would be hard to tell the model from the real thing if ya took the right photograph and that is cool

itgoes wrote:
What fun would it be just getting a model, without having a "Trading Pool" to match the VIN# to the BADGE#...lol...I wonder if these come with individualized VIN#s???...lmao...

squeeky wrote:
Here's the specs that I could find...not sure about the weight...just copied it off of the makers website...

Taken from Makers Website;
1/6 Scale
Synthetic resin is used as the main material.

Molded ABS resin and metal parts are also used in order to realize details as true to scale as possible.

The model consists of over 250 molded parts and over 320 metal parts.

Weight of complete model: 13kg (28.6 lbs)
Length x Width x Height: 400mm (15.75 in) x 140 mm (5.52 in) x 200 mm (7.88 in)

Movable F/R suspension.

Movable wheels, disk-brake and steering.

Many other movable or detachable parts included.

Comparison (Yamaha REAL V-Max Specs versus Model Specs);
Length 94.3 in / 6 = 15.72 in
Width 32.3 in / 6 = 5.39 in
Height 46.8 in / 6 = 7.80 in
Wet Weight 683 lb / 6 = 113.84 lbs. (ok, so just add 10 gold bars to compensate for the weight difference)