Well, at least it's the prototype. This will create some wild diorama possibilities such as: Guys in suits watching it come out of the water. Guys in suits watching it go INTO the water. Guys in suits watching it drying. Guys in suits discussing the merits of THIS and the Bronco and HobbyBoss Versions... Nope, not dramatically impressive... [/quote] Now we just have to hope that Dragon releases a Guys In Suits Figure set. To be frank, I'd look forward to Dragon Civilians Figure Sets. This new release...well not so much. Passed on it when Squadron was basically giving away the HB kit, not going to bite now.

Now there's paper-panzer for ya! Der PoopenKleenenWagen (PpKlWg) Ausf. Scharmann... Hah!! Dragon! Are you listening? Come on... you can do the Vesrsuchskraft Poopenkleenenwagen (VK PpKlWg) for the prototype first and scoop all the competion! Of course, the series wouldn't be done until you've kitted the 1946 proposed version in octopus camouflage, so you'd better get busy. (Say, didn't that one have the IR set-up, too?) WWII German armor fans the world over are waiting with baited breath (or is that holding their noses?). Ah, at least this LwS was good for a laugh, if not a build... Guess I shouldn't complain too much though, Dragon did release those very nice US halftracks, so they're not a complete lost cause, but this one does make ya wonder what they're thinking sometimes...

Now there's paper-panzer for ya! Der PoopenKleenenWagen (PpKlWg) Ausf. Scharmann... Hah!! Dragon! Are you listening? Come on... you can do the Vesrsuchskraft Poopenkleenenwagen (VK PpKlWg) for the prototype first and scoop all the competion! Of course, the series wouldn't be done until you've kitted the 1946 proposed version in octopus camouflage, so you'd better get busy. (Say, didn't that one have the IR set-up, too?) WWII German armor fans the world over are waiting with baited breath (or is that holding their noses?). Ah, at least this LwS was good for a laugh, if not a build... Guess I shouldn't complain too much though, Dragon did release those very nice US halftracks, so they're not a complete lost cause, but this one does make ya wonder what they're thinking sometimes... [/quote] Thank you for a good monday morning laugh Mike! This should get me through the morning... Cheers! Stefan

My point exactly. For years, every new German release, was followed by loads of cries for a new halftracks. Now there are several, but how many are being built? If you go by whats being shown online ... its not much more than when there was only the Tamiya kits available.

Mmmm... I don't know if anyone realized the fact that this vehicle isn't a Land-Wasser-Schlepper at all...!?! In fact this one is a "Panzerfähre" which was a quite different vehicle and (as far as I know) wasn't released in Styrene until now. Only available kits seem to be the resin kit from Azimut Production and an old Vacuformed Kit from Schmidt, Mutterstadt. So please look twice first prior to flame Dragon for this kit...

Ingo; Thank You Thank You Thank You! It has seemed a little bit confusing and I was wondering whether folks were maybe sometimes confusing this Panzerfahre with the many-kitted LWS- were they looking at the kit or its artwork or its description whenever they were mentioning it in the same "breath" as the LandWasserSchlepper? It's NOT one a those! Ugly? Sure is! German AND one-off (OK, there being a prototype 1 and 2, two-off)? Yeap! LWS? NO. These Panzerfahre are something different, and while I might not ever buy one, they are an interesting and new addition to the Dragon line-up (and talking about the prototype 1 vehicle, new to styrene, I think!). And those who have noted that while Dragon has released several halftracks seemingly in demand, they seem not to be showing yet... - do, I think, have a point. But I'll bet this ugly duck will hit the tables soon (That's my murky crystal show ball prediction, mates) - suits or no suits! Bob

This looks like it could be a fun and simple kit to build up. Both Bob and Ingo are correct that this model should not be confused with the LWS both by Bronco and HobbyBoss. I've been considering building this new kit from Dragon, but right now it's the price tag that is pushing me away from it. It looks like a simple, yet small boxy vehicle with very few parts, so why is the price so high on it. After all Hobby Boss has one listed on their webiste that should be alot cheapy than Dragon's version. I'm a modeler not too concerned about accuracy and just loves building models, but come on with this crappy economy we are living in, I just can't see paying so much for some of Dragon's newest kit and they have great kits out there. But I still look foward to seeing this kit built up and maybe one day I will just break down to buy one. Here's HobbyBoss rendition.

Hobbyeasy sells the Dragon kit for $55.90... and the Hoobyboss kit for $26.50. But Dragon kits (generally) do have a higher level of detail. So, it all comes down to how much each modeler is willing to pay for the higher level of detail. Hisham

Well... So what does the HB kit plastic look like? Between the box blat and my experience with Mr. D, I can bet his kit is pretty swift, even if this is a bit like a tracked box without even a rudder ! (But I'll guess the real McC steered by reversing a prop or some such, so the lack is probably honest!) And so there could be more value in it over the HB thing (but that's a matter of opine, and I'm actually more in the like to build fun club...)? There's some hope out there for D fans - I saw one go on evilbay for just about US 43 shipped last nite from a well-known e-dealer. While still a big hunk, I could at least consider that, over the posted retail of maybe 50+ round men plus a shipping bill! Bob