Academy has announced it's 1st quarter (armor/vehicle) releases for 2005. It has to be said from the outset, that it is not exactly going to get the pulses racing...

Some controversy was awakened a month or two ago, with rumors (unconfirmed) that Academy had cancelled the Lee/Grants in 1/35th scale. I have no way of confirming or negating the veracity of this story, only time will tell...

Academy's Future Releases

WWII GROUND VEHICLE SET-3
GERMAN FUEL TRUCK & SCHWIMMWAGEN [1/72] A two vehicle set consisting of a T-Stoff Tanker and schwimmwagen.

WWII GROUND VEHICLE SET-2
U.S. 2.5 TON 6×6 CARGO TRUCK &
ACCESSORIES [1/72]

Finally (confirmed) - U.S. AIRBORNE TANK M551 SHERIDAN [1/35]

Now, not wishing to go down the road of mixing editorial and news, I do however, have some observations...

The Sheridan is exremely welcome and from what I understand from various sources, this is a Completely new kit... A very astute choice. As we now have box-art it seems as if this is imminent...

The two vehicle kits in 1/72nd... As a 'dabbler' in 1/72nd, again very welcome, however, a couple of points. I for one (as would a number of others on the site) would be extremely grateful for a new (hard-cab) 2.5 ton in 1/35th scale. I wouldn't even mind one in 1/48th scale. In 1/72nd there are already a few kitsavailable...

The other release of the T-Stoff is, in my opinion at least, a missed opportunity. With what is happening in 1/48th scale and particularly with the profusion of 1/48th scale Luftwaffe subjects, why on earth did they not announce this in 1/48th scale? There is already a kit of this in 1/48th from GasoLine (I think...) which is outside many people's pockets sadly, being a resin kit. A plastic kit would have made many of the Luftwaffe modellers very happy indeed...

In conclusion, apart from the M551, a release list which seems too little and lacking in imagination...