I don't have time to write much, but here are some shots from the 2002 All-Japan Model and R/C Show. This show is second to the Shizuoka Show, but still a great place to see what the Japanese makers are up to. Special note: the **entire** Waterline series in one place, the 1/35 scale CWIS from AFV (not in stores until early 2003), the resin Pitroad Arizona and new Hasegawa Ise and Hyuga Battleship/Carrier Hybrids. The (sort of) bad news: the trend seems to be heavily in favor of R/C: small cars for the kids, big tanks for the Dads. In plastic it is planes, planes, planes and then cars and tanks. Few new ships. No sign of the once-mentioned Tamiya WWII-era Iowa's.
Peter Van Buren