says he saw on a website a report that Italeri was doing a 1/48 Panther ausf A in the future. Does anyone here know what that is about? He hasn't yet responded to requests for clarification. Considering that Italeri's 1/35 Panther ausf A kit had some serious accuracy issues, I'd plan to stick with Bob's resin conversions myself. The news is interesting in that, IF true, it would indicate Italeri may be planning to enter 1/48 armor modeling in a big way, and that would be a big help to the scale. Tamiya would be forced to deal again with the same competitor that forced them to improve the detail and accuracy of their models back in the 1970s. I'm down with that....
It appears Italeri's participation in quarterscale is more collaberation with Tamiya than competing with Tamiya. Thus far Tamiya has been able to avoid their own mold work on three "new" kits. (You must realise the possibility of a Tamiya tooled version for any of the three is extremely unlikely.)
but on the other hand, tooling a Panther A for Tamiya would have been a cinch, since the turret is virtually the same, so only the upper hull would have been completely new. Still, it would be nice to know if Italeri IS interested in entering the 1/48 armor lists. Many of Italeri's older (1970s-80s) armor kits were in fact considerably better than the contemporary Tamiya kits. I really don't care if Tamiya markets them in Japan, as long as we get another source of good 1/48 kits going. I wish they wouldn't dance around the kits that could be converted into a dozen versions each, though. I am getting used to paying more for the resin kits, and that helps, since many of those won't appear as plastic for some time, if ever. If Tamiya and Italeri are planning to work together, that's great - we still have more new kits we wouldn't have gotten from Tamiya alone.
Of course Italeri's participation is a welcomed innoculation into the arm of our struggling scale. The same can be said of ICM, and UM. Should either of the later choose to release further down-scaled kits of their 1/35 range our grocery list will grow nicely.
However, it seems these companies lack the marketing savy of Tamiya, and languish in the dark until they "cut a deal" with the Wizard & Co. I may be entirely wrong about this, but from my limited perspective, it certainly looks like they can't breach into new markets without that collaberation.
if only to get another manufacturer working in 1/48. If linking up with Tamiya reduces their perceived risk so they actually develop new kits, I'm for everybody with an injection mold machine getting in on the act. Even the ICM '222, flawed as it is in some areas, still looks great when built neatly, and corrections are in hand from Hauler. I like the UM GAZ because the chassis and wheels can be used to scratchbuild WW2 vintage German Ford trucks (the GAZ was a licensed copy of the Ford Model A truck). I can also use the wheels and a scratched cab to make Ford Maultier conversions from the old Bandai Maultier kit. For some reason, I once measured up a 1940 Ford truck cab, and I owned a 1940 Ford 1.5 ton 4x2 when I did some re-enacting. Kismet....
...procured the UM GAZ, please start new tread and tell about it. I've yet to see one in the flesh, and am anxious to see a review.
Back to this tread, don't you think we'll see the Sahariana next from Italeri ? It's a natural next step. And you are absolutely on the button about their 70s released M13/40; it was an excellent kit. And I'd give every dime in your pockets for a 1/48 rendition.
and I'm here to help you (just like the government)..... I certainly would not worry at all about a possible Italeri Panther A in 1/48. First, it's not at all confirmed or even corroborated as yet. Then, it could take a year or so to get one to market. You're making only 75 sets of Panther A and D conversions, and those should be gone long before Italeri and Tamiya come up with a kit. And, the 1/35 Italeri Panther D and A had significant errors that will have to be addressed if they reappear in a 1/48 incarnation.
As far as the M2/M3 halftracks are concerned, same deal as the Panther. I have a lot of readily available stuff that could help you. I also have the Monogram kit (really crude but accurate overall) and a Wespe T19 SP 105mm howitzer (better, but still rough in spots). But, I do have drawings and pix to help you over the rougher spots. Some of these are model shots, but they show the details very well, and we're working in 1/48, not 1/16. IF you really want to do this, I'll be a very happy camper, and I'll do my best to make you and your customers very happy campers also. Whaddya say? Roll the dice; it's only money.....
I want one too much, and they'll dangle the possibility in front of me for years, but they won't do one soon. (I'm trying negative reinforcement here....) It would be great, and it's a very popular vehicle. I have 1/48 plans just in case.
but it looks like a decent kit. Shots of the test sprues looked a bit softer than Tamiya's better stuff, but not by much. I think it will be a very good kit - after all, this was their "deuce and a half." I'd guess it's pretty well detailed, and probably close to the chassis setup I need for my WW2 German Fords. When I owned my 1940 Ford 4x2 truck, the rear differential was stamped "1931", so Henry didn't believe in change for change's sake. The Ford front end and cab will be nasty little projects with all those curves, but I have lots of Bandai Opel Blitz cabs to use for a start, and the Einheits cabs are looking really good to me right now.....
Can the UM GAZ chassis be used for a BA-6 or BA-10 armored car? It sure looks like the right chassis. This is really what I want to see this kit evolve into.
The gent on the M-L 1/48 DG mentioned the website: it's Moduni in Germany. They list several Italeri military vehicle kits as coming, including a Panther ausf A, an ISU-152, and a Valentine Mk I. The problem is they do not give a scale. The listed prices would indicate 1/48 scale, but no confirmation, and there are no dates for release. There are no illustrations or other details at all. At present all we can do is wait and see what they are when they come out. All would be great kits IF they are accurate (at least reasonably so). We now return you to your regularly scheduled programming, already in progress.....
as this still can mean a combo of a 1/72th scale tank
with their 1/72th scale figure sets. Especially as there
is a new release listed called VIETNAM WAR though with a
slightly different product code.
These are probably the ex ESCI 1/72 kits and their own ISU152 combined with figure sets. After checking the site listed, Italeri have other combi sets with the same 1033 prefix in the 1/72 section, and for the same price. The 1/48 Supermodel/Italeri combo kit prefix is 1035.
Lets look on the bright side. If Italeri had released a Panther A to the same inaccurate standard as their 1/35 Panther Ausf A. Then we would have all been twice as disappointed at the lost opportunity. Just like the Hobby Boss Sherman's
Plus it would of affected Bobs Panther conversion sales, which means he is less likely to do other conversions.
Then we would of been in a lose/lose situation.
This way we don't get a poor Panther and Bob keeps us happy with better conversions and make a couple of $s.
Excellent work, Andy! You ought to give our Mr Brown a call, he might need the services of a good spin doctor. What chances do you reckon on Cambell, Blunkett and Blair being back in the Government by Tuesday? He'll certainly need some spin to explain that....
Tim
PS My apologies. I shouldn't bring politics onto the forum. Except this isn't politics, it is Gothic Horror....
That was a scare! Thought it was too good to be true that Italeri would get into the 48th scene. Oh well, 30 Panther A's gone, 45 to go. 15 Panther D's gone, 60 to go. Still 75 M-2 Halftracks and 75 M-3 Halftracks, 75 Daimler Mk. I's, 75 Bedfords, 75 Panzer II F's, 75 M-24 Chaffees, 100 M-113's (raising the stakes on that one), 75 M-12 King Kong's, 75 Opel Blitz Late Radio Trucks,75 Panzer III G's, 75 Panzer IV F/G's and ooops, got alittle carried away!
Bob and Steve
Top Gun Military/IRON DIVISON Resins
http:www.topgunmilitary.com
Ya say ya wanna do the M12, bunkie? Ya say it's burnin' a hole in your brain cells? Gimme a call, bunkie; we can do business..... Oh yeah, the M2/M3 tracks? Have I got some stuff - restoration pix - all taken apart so you can see every stinkin' detail..... OOHH, I feel GOOOOD..... (Probably too much elderberry wine.....)
Bob, just keep all the stuff you need for masters until you're done with them. And give me a call before you start the Opel 4x4 Blitz; the original kit I sent you needs tweaking a bit. You may want to get the WWP book on the Opel Blitz also, as it covers the chassis of the 4x4 Typ A model very well. I think it's still available.....
