¹⁄72

Now this comes into the category of a Real Surprise - Tristar's website is showing images of some fascinating new releases....

Currently the modelling world is pulling in a number of different directions... Tamiya and Skybow have announced a large range of 1/48th vehicle kits, Dragon and AFV Club continue to announce new 1/35th kits (the same variants of the 251, it has to be said...) Dragon is also expanding its 1/72nd range as well as 1/144 and Trumpeter (for reasons best known to themselves...) , have announced an LCM (3) in 1/144th scale...

Apart from the 'oddities' in 1/144, it has to be said that 1/72nd has produced some superb kits - two companies are currently 'leading the charge' - Revell (Germany) and Dragon ...
A new company has entered the ring - TRISTAR. Now for those of you unaware of the company's products, they currently produce (in many people's opinions) the BEST plastic 1/35th scale figures on the market. They also produce a small, but interesting range of artillery/armor kits - again in 1/35th scale.

The new range, which will initially consist of four vehicle kits, has four variants on the same theme - the Czech designed 38(t).

The four (future) releases,which will be marketed under the Mini-Depot Series banner, are as follows:

No72001 - 38(t) Ausf 'A'

No72002 - 38(t) Ausf 'B'

No72003 - 38(t) Ausf 'E' & 'F'

No72004 - 38(t) Ausf 'G'

Hobby - Link (Japan) is listing them for DECEMBER release, quoting a price of around 3,000 Yen....

Now if these follow on the quality of Tristar's previous releases, they are certainly going to be well worth considering.... The pictures alone indicate that we can expect something VERY special....　

Stop Press, Stop Press, Stop Press 11/25/04

I have just had a letter from the MD of Tristar to Inform me that the kits will NOT BE PLASTIC as was first assumed, rather they will be Resin.

it is also worth pointing out - that Tristar is in two 'divisions' - Tristar (Hong Kong and Tristar (Japan)