Trumpeter, through their U.S. Importer, have just announced two significant releases in the form of a German Geschutzwagen IVb and (considerably more in the mainstream), an Sd.kfz.7 8-Ton Halftrack... The full report can be seen:

Link to Item

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Thanks!

Yes yes yes, a Geschutzwagen IVb with interior..... hoera. Going on the interior with the Brueckenleger this should be good. Very good. My name is on one of these, with great anticipation.

Cartwheeling with joy at the new Sdkfz 7... However, 848 parts?!? Oh my... It will take me years to build it at my slow speed...

Still, very good news indeed!

I hope Trumpeter reads our threads here. I've never seen one of their armour kits, just saw ICM and Bronco kits for the first time yesterday. I will volunteer to do a pre release build on their Sdkfz 7 kit. I'll even volunteer to do a Bronco or ICM German armour kit not reviwed here already.
Joe

This is great news!! How long till Dragon does the Sdkfz.7? These two companies seem to go head to head with almost everything.

Same thing I said until I read that 384 of them are for track links! Still, it's new and should (hopefully) be cheaper than the Ebay listngs for the Tamiya version so it's great news.

Awesome News ! Cant wait to get one.....Thanks for the heads up on this item.

Indy track links = joy and realism.

Tedious but with patience you'll be amazed at how fast you can slap them together. Even faster if they are Magic Tracks.

However, should I wait for the Dragon kit with corrections that Trumpeter might make? Only my hobby shop knows.

I'm with you guys on the Sd. Kfz. 7! I think we all expect that Dragon, and maybe even AFV Club, will also put one out shortly! I might just wait. Naaah....I'll buy one now! Wait and see how fast the price of the old Tamiya kits drop when this newer more accurate kit hits the market.

Jeff

Great news, I will buy one of those - maybe more. I am already considering a diorama of some these Sd.Kfz. hauling a damaged Panther.

Thanks for the update

Long Overdue it is great to see.

So now where is the 203 MM Russian Artillery piece.

Why should buying this be conditional on what DML does (or doesn't) release is beyond me..

AGREED!!!!!
where is it ? All manufacturers please see this thread!! finding this Russian fieldpiece is like finding the Holy Grail!

I was hoping for more Modern Armour kits from them...

Rejoice, indeed I'm really looking forward to the SD.kfz 7

Jim...I guess because we know the usual Modis Operendi (i.e. all releasing versions of the same kit at once) of these companies some people would rather wait until all of the kits are out , wait for the reviews, and then make a final judgement. If I'm going to buy a kit I want the one that has the features that best suit my needs. I bought the DML Flakpanzer 38(t)...If I had been smart and waited I would have gotten the Tristar version. I really can only afford to buy one..... so why not the best one. That having been said.....I've waited a long time for this kit and I'm usually not disappointed with Trumpeter and will probably end up with this kit at some point.
Thanks for bringing us the latest and greatest in the modelling world.

Jeff

Fellas, fellas,

Don't make any difference to me, looks like a very interesting kit. Admittedly I don't know a kfz from a kfc ( other than I like popcorn chicken) but this one caught my eye. I'll probably pay hell for the price of one but you only live once, right?

Just going along with what others are expressing, there seems to be a belief that, somehow, only DML are capable of doing particular subjects and that if another manufacturer does the same subject, they are somehow 'inferior' to DML. I take your point on (correctly) waiting to see if there ARE going to be other offerings from other manufacturers. However, there hasn't been any signs of it (24 hours later ) so, let's assume that DML might let this one pass. Personally, I think they'll announce in the next week or two. I've got a LOT of faith in Trumpeter - the only time modelers felt 'short-changed' was with their Stryker.

As far as AFV Club, i'm sorry they DIDN'T take the opportunity a year or two ago. Saying that, i'm more than happy with their release list for the next few months.

No, in the final analysis, what I get really irked at is repeating the same 'paper-panzer' , I guess the market could (easily) support a couple of Sd Kfz 7s...

What will be pitiful in the extreme will be a re-issue of it from Tamiya - no odds being given, this a 100% certainty...

Though I currently have 2 old Tamiyas in the works, I welcome updated kits like this. I don't know how much of it I can "scratch build" on those old workhorses, but I would not want to wait for another manufacturer, since Trumpeter's kit isn't even in the pipeline yet.

Looks good - just the thing for the AFV Club "88" or the DML Howitzer etc

It will probably build up into a nice Condor Legion vehicle !

http://www.sonicmodel.com/topicdisplay.asp?BoardID=3&Page=1&TopicID=2289971

Hah, that's for sure... Same old trick, "Oh, we had something like that in the cupboard, eh?" response. Slap a couple of figures, make a new box and let the "old dogs" loose.

Still, I won't mind this tricking business as long as it sustains the firm and reflected to us as brand new kits.

Personally I dont care wether one manufacturer has a rivet missing under the left fender or not ....Im just plain glad we HAVE the ability to choose our subject matter from more than 1 manuracturer!! I saved for a while,and bought that Verlinden feild gun and both Trumpeter AND Dragon promptly released their kits at a fraction of the cost....but Im not bitter. Looking at the bigger picture we are in the GOLDEN YEARS here guys!! relax and enjoy modelling! I know I am!

In response to my earlier post (scroll up) I made mention of waiting until DML unloads their kit before I buy. Actually I've had another "moment" in the model closet while digging for a kit to trade recently.

I have too damn many kits and at the rate that I build I'll die long before I finish the current stack of stuff. Thus my buying habits will now be centered on tools, reference and some aftermarket stuff. The exception will be for short run or limited production kits. If I do buy a mainstream kit it will be because I really really really really really need the damn thing to throw on the pile.

Times are a changing.