Kaiyodo: New for 2023

[DefinitelyNOTDilo]

Btw @Blade-of-the-Moon have you received yours yet? And if so, do you possibly have any pictures/descriptions of the buildup? How difficult would it be for someone who's never build models before?

[Over9K]

Is anyone aware of any places to get the Rex kit (and the other zoo sets) in the us? The closest I can find is bbts which only has the Rex, and has it listed at $70 USD while a Japanese store I found has it for a converted ~$30 USD (according to google), and I can't find any of the zoo ones outside Japan. Is it feasible to ship them overseas, and if so, how much could I expect to pay for shipping (I live right on the west coast)

Hobby Search in Japan has them all (Elephant/Lion/Rhino/Giraffe/Gorilla/T.rex), and they're all currently 26% off and each one is between $16 (Giraffe) and $27 (T.rex).

T.rex: https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10974906

Elephant: https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10925103

Rhino: https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10916033

Baby Gorilla: https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10905503

Lion: https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10884065

Giraffe: https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10884037

Just for turds and tee hees, I went ahead and filled a cart, and got a quote.

$128 for all 6 sets and $77 to ship them EMS. EMS is air shipping that takes 7 days to the USA address; 3 days in Japan, 1 day on a plane and 3 days in the USA (depending on US Customs).

I checked and you can get any 3 of them shipped Surface Parcel for ~$22. Surface Parcel is cargo container ship shipping. 3 days in Japan, 9 weeks on a boat and 3 days in the USA (depending on US Customs).

Example: Trex ($27), Elephant ($21) and Giraffe ($16) for ~$65 depending on exchange that day, shipped for ~$22, total $~90. Once you add a 4th kit to the order, Hobby Search no longer offers the Surface Parcel option, because the box is probably too large to fit the limitations for Surface Parcel.

So just make two separate orders, three kits in each order, shipped Surface Parcel. That way you get all 6 kits, shipped for ~$44, rather than ~$77 for EMS.

I use Surface Parcel from Hobby Search as much as I can, because I don't require instant gratification, I can be patient to save a few bucks. My stuff has always arrived in perfect condition (better than stuff sent USPS), and you can literally set a clock to how long it takes. From the moment you hit "place order", it will take 10 weeks for that order to hit your porch. I understand that some folks can't wait that long, but I figure if I am saving $30/$40/$50 in shipping that adds up fast, and to me the wait is worth it.

[Blade-of-the-Moon]

Btw @Blade-of-the-Moon have you received yours yet? And if so, do you possibly have any pictures/descriptions of the buildup? How difficult would it be for someone who's never build models before?

Unfortunately I'm having a friend build/paint them for me, my eyes aren't as good as they  used to be with small details.  I can ask her though.

[DefinitelyNOTDilo]

Thanks!