The 2010 Shizuoka show was a big one for Aoshima, as it marks the first year of the show with the company acting as the importer in Japan for Dragon/DML. For now, Aoshima is only bringing in Dragon’s scale kits, but there was a strong selection this year, starting off with the long-rumoured M7 Priest announcement. That and the Scharnhorst display dominated that area of the company’s booth (see our separate report).
Another major chunk of Aoshima’s booth was dominated by a real Lamborghini Countach, positioned there as part of their announcement that they were tooling the same in 1/24. This will be a kit of the debut model of this classic super car, and be the first time it’s ever been rendered in plastic.
Aoshima also got serious points from real space modelers with the display of their upcoming Hayabusa kit. Due in June — the same month the actual spacecraft is set to return its sample (hopefully!) to Earth, this is a kit of the first spacecraft that is attempting to collect an actual sample from an asteroid and return it to Earth. Launched back in 2003, this represents the climax of a rather long mission for the little spacecraft, and will be a huge feather in Japan’s space exploration cap if it actually was able to gather a sample (problem during the mission have prevented engineers from establishing if it actually got a piece).
Click the thumbnails below for access to full-size images.
![[url=http://www.hlj.com/product/AOS04743]1/24 Lamborghini Countach LP400 Photo-Etched Parts Set[/url]](http://www.hobbylink.tv/v/shizuoka10/aos//aos04743_0875.jpg.html "A separate Countach photo-etch set will debut in July, too.")
![[url=http://www.hlj.com/product/AOS04871]1/24 Autozam AZ-1 w/Option Wheels[/url]](http://www.hobbylink.tv/v/shizuoka10/aos//aos04871_0865.jpg.html "Option wheels make for even more of an eyeful!")
![[url=http://www.hlj.com/product/AOS04900]1/24 C-WEST Lancer Evolution X (Racing)[/url]](http://www.hobbylink.tv/v/shizuoka10/aos//aos04900_1597.jpg.html "This sleek Evo X variation will be on the way in July!")
![[url=http://www.hlj.com/product/AOS04907]1/48 ARX-7 Arbalest[/url]](http://www.hobbylink.tv/v/shizuoka10/aos//aos04907_0848.jpg.html "This snap-fit kit from")
![[url=http://www.hlj.com/product/aos04189]1/32 Hino Profia Low Floor Chassis Air-Suspension Type[/url]](http://www.hobbylink.tv/v/shizuoka10/aos//aos04189_1616.jpg.html "The chassis gives you a new appreciation for heavy haulers!")
![[url=http://www.hlj.com/product/aos04189]1/32 Hino Profia Low Flor Chassis Air-Suspension Type[/url]](http://www.hobbylink.tv/v/shizuoka10/aos//aos04189_1615.jpg.html "Coming in July, this big beast is packing detail galore!")
![[url=http://www.hlj.com/product/aos04670]1/24 Lamborghini Countach LP400[/url]](http://www.hobbylink.tv/v/shizuoka10/aos//aos04670_0817.jpg.html "The '70s super-car is back--and how!--with this all-new-tool kit!")
![[url=http://www.hlj.com/product/aos04670]1/24 Lamborghini Countach LP400[/url]](http://www.hobbylink.tv/v/shizuoka10/aos//aos04670_0872.jpg.html "The doors can be built either open or closed, but the engine hood can move!")
![[url=http://www.hlj.com/product/aos04670]1/24 Lamborghini Countach LP400[/url]](http://www.hobbylink.tv/v/shizuoka10/aos//aos04670_0873.jpg.html "This sharp-looking kit is slated for release in July.")
![[url=http://www.hlj.com/product/aos04870]1/24 Autozam AZ-1[/url]](http://www.hobbylink.tv/v/shizuoka10/aos//aos04870_0862.jpg.html "This July release completes the")
![[url=http://www.hlj.com/product/aos04901]1/24 C-WEST Lancer Evolution X (Street)[/url]](http://www.hobbylink.tv/v/shizuoka10/aos//aos04901_1596.jpg.html "The Street version will feature a different hood and GT wing.")
![[url=http://www.hlj.com/product/aos04902]1/32 Asteroid Probe Hayabusa[/url]](http://www.hobbylink.tv/v/shizuoka10/aos//aos04902_0839.jpg.html "This June release will launch the new")
![[url=http://www.hlj.com/product/aos04902]1/32 Asteroid Probe Hayabusa[/url]](http://www.hobbylink.tv/v/shizuoka10/aos//aos04902_0842.jpg.html "The kit includes parts for small-type rover Minerva, too.")
i don’t know if i’m directing this comment to the right people but i am tired of model car companies (japanese and american) that keep releasing model car kits that i built 25 years ago. how about something new,i’m not talking about the 20 or so new evo’s and skylines how many of those can one person build.i’m begging for a new honda civic si sedan or a new nissan altima both these cars in real life are top sellers in america,in new york city nissan altimas are used as police cars and taxi cabs ,the civics are raced in the american grand am racing series and not to mention the hundreds of tuner civics i see on the streets , these are just a few things you can do with these two models alone. i hope these comments don’t fall on deaf ears. if my thoughts are on the wrong track could you please respond. thank you.