I'm sure this has been asked before but I'm going to ask it again anyway. Why doesn't Dragon scale up all of their 1/72 M1114's to 1/35 scale? It really can't be that hard since everything is done in computer nowadays. I would really like to see the M1114 with uparmored gun shield in plastic. I know Mig has done it in resin, but its not available anymore, even on ebay. Anyway, it just seems odd that Dragon has a bunch of really cool kits in 1/72 that they should just scale up!

Cory,
No question is stupid, the only stupid questions is the one that is not asked.

As for the topic, I would guess that it has to do with production cost.
Just a shot in the dark with that.

I believe it is a matter of detailing - 1/35 requires much more details so a lot of job has to be done once again with the design. I believe that they would also have to redesign molds (once again due to the detailing. So basicly we're going back to cost issues...
Scaling down to 1/72 is much easier I think - you have to group details to moldable blocks and simply scale them...

Andrzej

"Why doesn't Dragon scale up all of their 1/72 M1114's to 1/35 scale? "

Well, Cory

this is an excellent question!

Not only because I have asked the same question more than once in this forum (but extended to all the pretty modern models DML offer in 1:72).

It is that the 72er models are equipped with features e.g. poly caps for the wheels the 35er have not.

Sometimes I have got the feeling both departments the 72er and 35er do not know about each other's existence and have to be acquaint with the other...

Poly caps, 1/72nd don't need no stinkin' ploy caps. We've got them. What's that got to do with it?
It's cost, plain and simple.
Plus the market is already flooded with 1/35th Hummer's. Bread and butter business tactics. Stick with what works.

" I would guess that it has to do with production cost."

"It's cost, plain and simple."

You and your costs.

I wrote about capabilities DML avail about in 1:72 and do not use for their 35er.

In fact idle capacities and wasted potential effectuate cost.

Either you reduce them or you fill them.

Remember the Zimmerit molded models long before they convert them in 1:35.

There are other nice fetaures in 1:72 like engine compartments (admittedly rudimentary) of the Tiger II we do not see in 1:35.

Or pre-painted(!) tracks the Leo 2A4 kit has got.


Costs, costs, costs...

Worries about shortfall when transfer these features in 1:35?

Well, DML will have as long as they put into their kits parts which do not belong to the model and are not necessary at all.

Think of the rear turret plate of the Jagdtiger you will find in each Tiger II kit.

And be sure you always have paid this needless stuff too.

I bet if DML once decide to produce e.g. their recent M2-line in 1:35 there will be enough buyers - more than enough.

Not to hijack Cory's thread, but along the same vein, when is Tamiya going to release some of the modern armor in 1/48? Abams, Bradley, Challenger, Leo II etc. etc. etc. I have to believe their is a market for the modern stuff as well as their WWII items. "Q"

Stimmt.

Either you get useless parts and pay for them or you get specific molds for each and every model and pay for new toolings (molds for each and every one of them...) and believe me they ain't cheap... it is not as simple as it seems. They don't sell milions of kits so the tooling price is significant part of whole price count.

I don't defend DML for lack of 1/35 kits available in 1/72, I simply know how it works - my work is to audit parts producers (mostly stampings but also plastics) and believe me - cost calculation for the mold is very difficult even if you are going to sell millions of parts made with this tool.

Andrzej

I understand what you mean Andrzej.

It would not beccome that easy to restructure their production line.

The segmentation of the DML's sprues we see nowadays are created years ago.

And in this case I agree with Brian not to invest vast amount of money as long as this production concept suffices.

But it is a pity...

Marco,

Sorry if I rattled your cage with the last post of mine.
It is too bad that there is that thinking in business, money talks.

Brian.

Gary what was the point of posting that the gy was only making a point that didnt need a comment like that the guy was only asking a question

Marco,

O.K., I feel better now.
Sometimes my brain works faster than the fingers and I start typing things that people don't want to read or hear.

Anyways,

Yer the guy voiced his so he has as much rifght as you so

I would buy several M1114 kits in 1/35th over yet another Sherman. The M1114 is a important historical vehical and would sell very well even in todays market. Plus there are so many mods that were done in country and to the production lines, after market companies would have a field day. My Platoon had 6 M1114's and no two were equiped the same. Plus we had large pusher type bumpers installed on halve of our trucks along with I.E.D jammers and Blue force tracker.