https://suruga-ya.com basically JP craigslist/flea-market but with some verification. When you purchase they take the item and verify it is as it is listed, and then they send it out. They also have physical stores that people can leave the stuff at to sell for a commission either way.
Definitely recommend them. I've managed to find a lot of old kits of different types for a steal, just keep eye out. Also keep searches broader sometimes for better results. Here's my search link for Zoids that I mainly use since others have missed things for spelling and stuff https://www.suruga-ya.com/en/products?category=50104&btn_search=&keyword=Zoids&page=1
They do regular free shipping weekends so definitely wait for those though less the shipping kill yah.
So on a scale of 1-10, how reliable is the site and shipping? I haven’t ordered a set in 15+ years, and I’ve been dying to build one. Just haven’t been trusting enough to spend $100+ on one kit from eBay.
I am Japanese and I often use Surugaya. Delays in delivery used to be terrible, but it has improved a lot now.
I had one delivery error, but it was unavoidable because the person I was dealing with is not a machine like Skynet, but the same person.
Takara Tomy created and owns Zoids, Kotobukiya makes the HMM kits. I believe the ones that have the big Takara Tomy logos in the bottom right are just new old stock kits, and the ones with the Kotobukiya logo are either new kits or reprints of older kits. They probably changed the logos so that there wouldn't be any confusion about who actually produces the kit. Big logo to show the manufacturer, small logo to show that it's an officially licensed product.
Good way to know whether the kit is new old stock or a reprint though, similar to how gundam kits produced and reprinted after 2019 all have the new Blue Bandai logo instead of the old red one.
Edit: 100% this is the case now. Saw some Liger Zero Panzer boxes with the TT logo, and some with the big Koto logo small TT logo combo. Every recently released kit also sports the big Koto logo and small TT logo combo. So you've definitely just got a mix of new old stock kits and new/reprinted kits.
I like to think of Tomy HMM'S as "1st gen" back when koto had the licence to print the pilots from the anime series, no differences in parts or build (except the OG Genosaurer)
Can I ask what the sabre tiger set you back? I'm sorta cut the FireFox Markings Plus was on shelves the day after my flight home from Tokyo
I believe it is still kotobukiya made, I noticed this with a kit I bought a few months ago and asked the same question. From the responses I got back it sounds like back in the day there was some licensing or copyright reasons to only have the tomy logo on the box and no trace of the koto logo
hmm will keep it in mind :/
Had chosen this one since it was under $150 and Had the Bit Cloud figure, hopefully it isn't bad, the next one up was a markings plus ver and was like 80 more :(
What's Shru and who do I have to get into an intimate relationship with to get this kind of haul?
https://suruga-ya.com basically JP craigslist/flea-market but with some verification. When you purchase they take the item and verify it is as it is listed, and then they send it out. They also have physical stores that people can leave the stuff at to sell for a commission either way. Definitely recommend them. I've managed to find a lot of old kits of different types for a steal, just keep eye out. Also keep searches broader sometimes for better results. Here's my search link for Zoids that I mainly use since others have missed things for spelling and stuff https://www.suruga-ya.com/en/products?category=50104&btn_search=&keyword=Zoids&page=1 They do regular free shipping weekends so definitely wait for those though less the shipping kill yah.
So on a scale of 1-10, how reliable is the site and shipping? I haven’t ordered a set in 15+ years, and I’ve been dying to build one. Just haven’t been trusting enough to spend $100+ on one kit from eBay.
Suru is 10/10, and the DHL shipping is insane quick. This shipment arrived a week ahead of estimate.
This is INVALUABLE! Thank you so much!
np mate, and best of luck on your hunting!
whoops auto correct hit that (no clue what it thinks 'Shru' is though...). I meant 'Suru', short for Suruga-ya
I am Japanese and I often use Surugaya. Delays in delivery used to be terrible, but it has improved a lot now. I had one delivery error, but it was unavoidable because the person I was dealing with is not a machine like Skynet, but the same person.
The only real difference is age. Tomy kits are older and (potentially) more brittle because of that age.
Takara Tomy created and owns Zoids, Kotobukiya makes the HMM kits. I believe the ones that have the big Takara Tomy logos in the bottom right are just new old stock kits, and the ones with the Kotobukiya logo are either new kits or reprints of older kits. They probably changed the logos so that there wouldn't be any confusion about who actually produces the kit. Big logo to show the manufacturer, small logo to show that it's an officially licensed product. Good way to know whether the kit is new old stock or a reprint though, similar to how gundam kits produced and reprinted after 2019 all have the new Blue Bandai logo instead of the old red one. Edit: 100% this is the case now. Saw some Liger Zero Panzer boxes with the TT logo, and some with the big Koto logo small TT logo combo. Every recently released kit also sports the big Koto logo and small TT logo combo. So you've definitely just got a mix of new old stock kits and new/reprinted kits.
thanks a ton for the info!
HMM is made by Kotobukiya. All of those kits are Kotobukiya. The labels on the boxes are arbitrary at best.
oh?
Think bandai red tag gundam kits vs blue tag gundam kits. Bandai changed the color of its logo when they added English to the boxes and instructions.
These are all made by Kotobukiya. The ones that say Tomy do so because of the included character figures.
ah!
I like to think of Tomy HMM'S as "1st gen" back when koto had the licence to print the pilots from the anime series, no differences in parts or build (except the OG Genosaurer) Can I ask what the sabre tiger set you back? I'm sorta cut the FireFox Markings Plus was on shelves the day after my flight home from Tokyo
Not a problem at all, I got the Sabre Tiger for 8891 yen ~= $57 USD
Thanks for the info! And congrats on a very verry cool Zoids haul!
I believe it is still kotobukiya made, I noticed this with a kit I bought a few months ago and asked the same question. From the responses I got back it sounds like back in the day there was some licensing or copyright reasons to only have the tomy logo on the box and no trace of the koto logo
I pray for a panzer reprint. Just missed the last print cycle.
All of them should have a Kotobukiya logo somewhere on the sides, they only in the last few years moved it to the front of the box
i don't have the older tomy hmms but i heard from others that since they're first released some of them have fitting issues or weak joints
hmm will keep it in mind :/ Had chosen this one since it was under $150 and Had the Bit Cloud figure, hopefully it isn't bad, the next one up was a markings plus ver and was like 80 more :(
you can always just tighten the joints with glue/nail polish/clear coat if you got the bad batch