Armor/AFV
For discussions on tanks, artillery, jeeps, etc.
A Plea to Plastic Model Manufacturers
AlanL
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Posted: Wednesday, January 28, 2009 - 05:46 PM UTC
Hi David,

Yes, there are, but things are getting better, some cracking releases this year already.

Al
AlanL
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Posted: Saturday, February 07, 2009 - 02:43 AM UTC
Hi Guys,

Alanmac gave me the heads up on these 2 new releases from Plus Model. I would love to thnk they are in plastic but most likely resin. What say you?

Al





paulchatfield
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Posted: Saturday, February 07, 2009 - 02:57 AM UTC
Great looking kits either way Al, but as you say plastic versions of the kits would be great news(if only for reasons of cost)
Still good to see British/commonwealth trucks whatever they are made of.

Paul
AlanL
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Posted: Saturday, February 07, 2009 - 10:56 AM UTC
Hi Paul,

Agreed, plastic or resin it's good to see these but if resin then they won't be available to all as PLus Models kits don't come cheap, which would be a real shame.

Still it's promising and they look great.

Al
newfish
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Posted: Saturday, February 07, 2009 - 11:02 AM UTC
Two great releases shame about their resin and the price tag

never the less great to see more allied vehicles

newfish
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Posted: Saturday, February 07, 2009 - 11:16 AM UTC
Al i dont know if your a braille scale modeller but look at this

http://henk.fox3000.com/ibg.htm

AlanL
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Posted: Saturday, February 07, 2009 - 11:44 AM UTC
Hi James,

Yip, I saw them in Hannant's a few months ago, not for me, too small but a great addition for 1/72 scale. It's one reason I started this post to get similar in 1/35 scale.

Cheers

Al
newfish
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Posted: Saturday, February 07, 2009 - 12:11 PM UTC
Indeed Alan there's always hope

Mad_Dan_Eccles
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Posted: Sunday, February 08, 2009 - 06:01 AM UTC
I don't know how I missed this thread, but FWIW I'll try and come up with some suggestions - while I'd like to anything on the list I'll try and cut it down to a few

I'll leave out the CMP trucks as these are already avaialble from italeri- I know the kits are older and a bit clunky in some areas, but they do build up nicely. Crosskitiing and miscellaneous bshing with parts feom their Chev gun tractor and Tamiya Quad will give you enough basic parts to model a range of cab 11, 12 and 13 trucks

Light trucks 8cwt
Humber FWD - same chassis as the Humber heavy utility so a clever manufacturer might get two kits out of this

There was also a FFW truck based on the Snipe so there could be another opportunity for getting a twofer

15cwt
Bedford MW series, Morris Commerical and Fordson - all these came with several body vairations from GS to specialist wireless and tanker versions

3 tonners

While we have Bedford QL portee from the same source as the CMP trucks this is a unique and relatively shortlived variant. A GS woudl be terriffic

Hevay stuff
Scammel Pioneer - I have a resin one from A-A, but building a collection will get really expensive really quickly
AlanL
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Posted: Sunday, February 08, 2009 - 06:10 AM UTC
Hi Adrian,

Thanks for the in put. I'd agree, my preference would be for:

The Tliiy and/or Ford WOAI in Light Utilities

Humber in Heavy Utilities

Morris and Guy Ant in the 15 cwt

3 ton, well with the basic Bedford chassis a lot of variations are possible.

A Scammel would be nice too.

Thanks for taking the time to post and voice your support.

Al
JohnByng
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Posted: Sunday, February 08, 2009 - 07:08 AM UTC
Hi Al,
I would like to see in plastic:

Morris 6 wheel Bofors tractor (and gun!)
Scammell tank transporter
Scammel Recovery vehicle
Bedford OY series
Bedford QL series
Morris C9B
Morris BEF versions
Tillys - looking forward to the Tamiya 1/48 kit but 1/35 would be especially welcome
Humber Box
Fordson (all types)
Austin K

And HMS Kent (1942) in 1/350 scale

Regards,
Roger


gatorbait
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Posted: Sunday, February 08, 2009 - 07:48 AM UTC
Hey Mac ! I'm in.. .Maybe with this we can see some more British, US and French vehicles ! .Hell, I'd love to see a good diamond T or Corbitt 6 tonners along with the great variety of British and Canadian big boys in something other than the very spendy resin stuff.

So, heck yeah, let's get some of these things out there .By the way, i agree about the Land rover

Dave
AlanL
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Posted: Sunday, February 08, 2009 - 10:24 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Hi Al

Only just found this. I'm with you all the way on this one. Anything British would be great, especially if it will convert into a gun tractor of some sort.

Derek



Hi Derek, That made me smile

Rodger and Dave , thanks for the support guys and for dropping in.

Al
AlanL
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Posted: Friday, February 13, 2009 - 09:51 AM UTC
Hi Guys,

A though occured to me when I was thinking about the Plus Models trucks. If a large or small resin manufacturer produces a kit like that then they must be fairly cetain there is a market for it. Given that they have cost of item almost working against them, and assuming that productons runs are shorter and possibly more expensive, I does seem strange to me that very few plastic injection manufacturers are producing similar vehicles. It would appear, on the surface at least, that they have a disinct advantage, especillay in cost and production.

Not being fully aware of the production proces of either I may be way off the mark, but the 'risk' if you want to think of it in those terms must be about the same, but the advantage I would think is with the plastic injection process?

Anyone any thoughts on this?

Cheers

Al

Hodson
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Posted: Friday, February 13, 2009 - 11:15 AM UTC
The medical device company I work for designs plastic molded parts and also resin parts made with silicone molds. The plastic parts require a far greater expense in part design, mold design and tooling costs. The resin parts require less design and much cheaper molds. We only design plastic molded parts if the quantities justify it.

If a model exists in resin it does not mean that there is enough of a market for injection-molded, mass production. Sad, but true.
AlanL
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Posted: Sunday, February 15, 2009 - 12:34 AM UTC

Quoted Text

The medical device company I work for designs plastic molded parts and also resin parts made with silicone molds. The plastic parts require a far greater expense in part design, mold design and tooling costs. The resin parts require less design and much cheaper molds. We only design plastic molded parts if the quantities justify it.

If a model exists in resin it does not mean that there is enough of a market for injection-molded, mass production. Sad, but true.



Hi Hodson,

Thanks for that, it is good to get a better understanding of the processes involved. It then raises the question of why resin kits are so much more expensive than plastic, but that I assume is a production/market thing?

Thanks again.

Al
Hodson
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Posted: Sunday, February 15, 2009 - 04:24 AM UTC
yep, a resin kit takes more labour to produce than a plastic kit and fewer of them will be sold.

I've only been involved in fairly simple plastic part design. Scale model kits are far more complicated. I'd love to see the mold-making and design process at Tamiya or another big model company someday.
AlanL
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Posted: Sunday, February 15, 2009 - 06:24 AM UTC
Thanks again Hodson,

Al
bluesix
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Posted: Sunday, February 15, 2009 - 06:50 AM UTC
Add me to the list ..................
AlanL
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Posted: Sunday, February 15, 2009 - 05:49 PM UTC
Hi Bluesix,

Consider it done.

Cheers

Al
Beastmaster
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Posted: Tuesday, February 17, 2009 - 12:24 PM UTC
I posted this in the other thread but I may as well post in here too.

How about giving us the option of individual plastic links for the Shermans Dragon and Tasca as not all of us like DS or one piece vinyl tracks. Sometimes it's nice to have everything in one box.

AlanL
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Posted: Thursday, March 05, 2009 - 04:43 AM UTC
Hi David,

Not quite the right thread, can we assume you'd like some new trucks to?

Hi Guys

Thought I'd circulate this again to see if anyone else might like to join the call? We've had 6921 viewings, pity you didn't all sign up, make my life a bit easier lol, lol.

Cheers

Al
Beastmaster
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Posted: Saturday, March 07, 2009 - 10:54 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Hi David,

Not quite the right thread, can we assume you'd like some new trucks to?

Hi Guys

Thought I'd circulate this again to see if anyone else might like to join the call? We've had 6921 viewings, pity you didn't all sign up, make my life a bit easier lol, lol.

Cheers

Al




Oops......silly me Alan.......I've read the whole thread but somewhere along the line I've mixed it up with another thread and got it into my head that it was for tanks as well as trucks. I'm not a huge truck person but as I said I'd love to see an AEC Matador (plus variants) for a start.
AlanL
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Posted: Saturday, March 07, 2009 - 11:18 AM UTC
Hi David,

Sounds good to me. I'm with you on the tracks lol,lol.

Al