The ¡ÈSkyraider #1: The SWS Skyraider will fly over the skies of Nürnberg!¡É in the ¡ÈOld Man Blog¡É (the President¡Çs blog) can be found here! ¢ö



The ¡ÈSkyraider #2: Skyraider Test Model 1 Debut, Part 2!!¡É in the ¡ÈOld Man Blog¡É (the President¡Çs blog) can be found here! ¢ö


Hello, everyone!
This is Developer T, very busy organizing the details of our business discussions in Nürnberg!

This year we also got lots of info! ¢ö

At last year's Toy Fair (2010) we announced our collaborations with established extra parts makers 'Eduard' and 'ABER', and our direct development with 'Mirage Hobby' began, and we received very favorable reactions from many SWS fans!

This time there were also many astonished new clients making their way to find us, so the development of SWS from here on is really something worth anticipating! XD

I can't help but want to rush to arrange all the info, and deliver the many new products and proposals to all SWS fans!
But I hope you can wait just a little longer. ¢ö

With that in mind, although I can't introduce the new clients in detail until things are finalized, I'd like to share a simple 'Nürnberg After Report' with you. ¢ö

As usual, rather than reporting which maker announced what new product at the fair, I'd like to focus on the discussions that surrounded the ZOUKEI-MURA booth. I appreciate your understanding.

For a quick overview: from previous info we had gathered, perhaps the biggest achievements last year were the following. On the development side we were able to realize collaborations between ZOUKEI-MURA's Extra Parts and Eduard, famous for their etching, as well as ABER, famous for their tooling. And on the business side, we were able to realize the direct procurement of items from Mirage Hobby of Poland, allowing us to acquire an abundant range of their products cheaper than anywhere else, as well as having a stable supply of their products.

And even before that, we earned the right to become a legitimate agent for Vallejo, makers of safe and reliable paints with almost no odor and an infinite range of colors.

So, how about this year?

Of course, there were discussions of the development of further items with our existing clients, and in addition, the cultivation of new clients, and in addition to that, with our exhibition as a model maker, we had many discussions about the worldwide evolution of our SWS products (offers for overseas agents, etc)!

We at ZOUKEI-MURA are still small when it comes to being a model maker; our production is on such a small scale that even for the provision of products within Japan, which is only done for our own stores, we are unable to guarantee a stable supply. However, thanks to the great support we have received from all our SWS fans, we have been able to gradually increase the production quantity, and become able to improve the problem of the items being sold out the instant they go on sale.

It is really thanks to all of you! Thank you so very much!

As a result, our popularity as an injection maker seems to be gradually rising, and the development manufacturers wanting to support our development concept, as well as the stores wishing to purchase our items wholesale, have also increased.

On top of that, we were also able to talk with model makers who hold the same ideals as us, and in many ways it became an exhibition that provided us an entirely different sense of satisfaction than previously.

In that regard, I'd like to share you with a little ¡Èleaked¡É info about our exhibit this time. ¢ö

I think I'll start with ABER, who have already made great achievements with their tooled Extra Parts for the Shinden and the Ta-152H-1.



A commemorative photo with Wactaw Peszko, representative for ABER. ¢ö



Leader K checking the samples of etching parts for the SWPS 'Kettenkrad' and giving instructions for revisions.



And... what's this?! Brass Shinden propellers and gun parts?! What on earth could these be for...


Next of all is Eduard, such a veteran of etching accessories (primarily for aircraft models) that it could be said that almost all of them originate with this company, and when it comes to color etching there is no other.

The etching accessories for the Ta152H-1 are already completed and delivered, and so the main subject of discussion revolved around our next kit, the Skyraider, as well as the possibility of whether the etching techniques that Eduard possess could be applied to a wide variety of genres.

We also received some advice about general marketing for our new products. ¢ö



And what product is it that Karel is holding?! The future development of extra parts is certainly something to look forward to! ¢ö



Karel also came to visit our booth! To have a magician of the etching arts visit us was truly an honor! ¢ö
Also, Master Box paid us a visit! This is a company you absolutely cannot miss in the AFV world.


This company's injection techniques are also at a very high level, but most worthy of mention is the expressive sculpting of their figures!



Alexander Surzhenko of Master Box paying a visit to our booth!


According to Alexander, the most important points for figures are ¡Èthe center of balance, and the expression of their pose¡É.
He was also kind enough to say ¡ÈZOUKEI-MURA's figures are sound and well expressed¡É!

In addition, he said that although of course having a high level of accuracy in the folds of the clothes, the equipment, and so on is an important part of the concept of quality, that is not where the worth of a 'figure as a human' is judged – this was advice that awakened those of us from ZOUKEI-MURA to the truth.
Naturally this is something that only someone in the know truly understands! As to be expected!

After all, that is the sort of level that we're aiming for!

Certainly Master Box's figures give off an intensity, an aura born of just that concept, and we won't be less than that!

We'll definitely learn from all that he said! XD



This is Piotr Zielinski from Mirage Hobby. Thank you as always for your product lineup of Polish aircraft and the like, so unusual in Japan! ¢ö


Until now, it has been rather difficult to get hold of Mirage Hobby products in Japan, however since last time we have been able to obtain them directly, at a lower price than the existing market price and allowing us to build up an abundant range of their items!

This time when we spoke to Mirage Hobby, they told us that they are preparing many great new products this year as well, so be sure to look forward to them! ¢ö

This is a total digression, but apparently one of the Japanese anime that Piotr remembers well is 'Captain Tsubasa'. ¢ö

He remembers his childlike wonder and excitement about that figure endlessly dribbling the soccer ball on the horizon. No matter what country we're from, our childhood memories are rather similar, aren't they? ¢ö *laugh*


Jean luc formery, a writer for the French Tamiya Model Magazine, explained to us about the model forum he manages via his iPad! This is really high-tech! ¢ö


As well as makers that we collaborate with, there were many people from various industries who came to visit the ZOUKEI-MURA booth, such as overseas writers, illustrators who create the box art for famous model companies, and more!

Of course among them were many who were unaware of the name ZOUKEI-MURA, but by chance happened to pass our booth and notice our displays (the Skyraider in particular seemed to attract attention), and with an exclamation of ¡Èthis is amazing!¡É they'd stop and pay us a visit.

There were those who have become new partners and I'd so love to introduce them to you. So look forward to it! ¢ö


Marcus Nicholls of the British Tamiya Model Magazine even brought along the latest issue of Tamiya Model Magazine, which features his own work (ZOUKEI-MURA's SWS Shinden). ¢ö


Several staff related to 'Tamiya Model Magazine International' whom the chairman himself personally introduced to us last time at the Tamiya booth also came by!

Of course the chairman himself was also there, and we received truly warm words of gratitude from him. How can I describe it; it was such an honor!

Furthermore, when we stopped by the Tamiya booth to greet everyone, they even treated us to beer, and spoke with us quite openly about their love of development.

It really made us feel that when it comes to Tamiya, their passion towards development is truly different from others.

This is definitely something we'd love to learn! Thank you so much!


The 2011 January (issue 183) and February (issue 184) of British Tamiya Model Magazine, which contain a serial article about the ZOUKEI-MURA SWS '1/32 Shinden'!

* Note: both are available for purchase at VOLKS Hobby Square. ¢ö


For our Shinden to be picked up in such a grand way in a magazine that Tamiya publishes for their international market is such a great honor! Thank you so much!

By the way, Marcus himself is also quite an open person, and while speaking of his passion for aircraft models, he enthusiastically inspected the Skyraider, telling us he'd also love it if we'd let him build it for an article. ¢ö


It makes us so happy that SWS models and articles created by modelers around the world are increasing in this way. ¢ö


And lastly, we were also able to meet with Wingscale, who could be said to have been one of the real drawcards of this particular Toy Fair!


This is a picture from when we went to visit the Wingscale booth to inspect the B-52.


We truly empathized with the sight of them, passionately discussing their love of the actual craft itself and their own concept. ¢ö

Martin is an incredibly candid person, and he told us plenty about his passionate ideas regarding development in a well-paced talk!

It also seems like he's really been keeping an eye on ZOUKEI-MURA's SWS, and he laughed and offered jokes such as ¡Èwe should share info so we don't have overlapping lineups!¡É - we were able to have a truly enjoyable time with him. ¢ö


Wingscale's Martin Oude Vrielink, who was like the eye of a storm at this Toy Fair, also came to visit our booth with one of the decal designers from their company!


We had also been greatly anticipating their B-52, and we wanted to see it in person as soon as possible. We were so excited when we saw the sample on display at their booth!

At the same time we listened to many discussions, and we felt how truly great it is that we have been able to expand this network of so many various people all over the world just by engaging in our SWS.

Of course this doesn't mean that we can do collaborations with everyone, and sometimes they may be rivals that we must compete with.

However, the passion we feel for aircraft and our thoughts and desires regarding creation are one and the same.

Everyone, I have to tell you – even just being able to personally experience that earnestness was enough to make our exhibition in the model hall this year worthwhile!

For our SWS, at last making their first move into that world jostling full of champions that is the model industry, the world-first public display of our third craft, the '1/32 A-1H Skyraider', was a real step forward.

Just how popular will it be in that world as a result?

Even as our hopes and fears spur us onwards, I feel so very grateful towards SWS, that gave us the impetus to place ourselves on the stage of that 'world'.

And for all of you aircraft and model fans around the globe, I'd love to suggest even more and more places you can actively take part via SWS!

Our customer's dreams are our dreams.

Our customer's enjoyment and happiness is our enjoyment and happiness.

We'll continue to work for just that kind of new model world to appear, so we hope for your continued support and encouragement!

Well then, once I've organized all the info about further developments, I'll report once again.

I hope you'll look forward to that! ¢ö :)



ZOUKEI-MURA's third SWS, the '1/32 A-1H Skyraider', spreading its wings to make its first move into the world!



To pre-order ZOUKEI-MURA's third SWS, the '1/32 A-1H Skyraider', including fantastic pre-order bonus items, ¢­click here!





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