Hello,

Trumpeter has just released iits BMP-3 available e.g. at HLJ.

An interesting feature is the addition of an interior (except an engine).

Thanks Marco,

mine's on the way from Historica Hobbies !

thanks Marco, great news.

Paul, it's still in the pre-order on Historica!!

Yes Jamal you're right ... since February..

but I have just received an e-mail that it'll be on the way soon

Whats the Europe release date on this and does anyone know who in Europe/UK will have it available first?

Here is the 1999.co.jp page with scans of the instructions

http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10057680

Here is the instructions covring the interior of the turret - no color calouts though



Thanks to 1999.co.jp.com for posting images of the instructions

North American release is mid to late July, so unless Historica gets their Trumpeter kits direct (which I doubt since Stevens International is the US importer for Trumpeter), then it will likely be mid July at the earliest before Historica gets them. All depends on when the boat arrives and Stevens gets them cross the country.

I wonder how long it will be before the up-armored version is out!

any picture of the box art yet???

Rob Calandriello

Ouch ! I'll wait with bated breath !

Can't wait to get one

My comments about the release date wasn't to step on anyone's toes, but considering that the June releases for Trumpeter just arrived at Stevens International yesterday (Friday), the July releases will likely not be here on the market until about this time next month. Anywhere from the 15th to the 20th depending on boats and trucks!

Not all American stores buy from Stevens International...

Then where are they buying them from? Stevens is the US importer, so unless they are getting the from an Asian outlet....you pretty much can't get them.

Trumpeter will sell them to you direct, but you have to buy a container's worth at a time. I can't think buying them from some place like Lucky Model or HLJ would be cost effective by the time you factor in the shipping, import taxes, etc, at least if you want to make a buck or so out of it.

I know of two ways to get a smaller, inexpensive amount than directly from Trumpeter:

1. Buy from a "contact" in Hong Kong. They are able to buy small amounts of kit direct, usually through employees or "backdoor" deals.

2. Buy from a "dock bidder" in LA, San Diego, where ever the container ships come in at. Seems there are always some extra kits that can be bought, enough for some suppliers anyhow...

How to make those contacts? Network, network, network. And no, I have no contacts at the moment...sorry. I do not know where Andy is getting his kits from, maybe he has a deal with Stevens?, but those are two methods that I have used back in the past when I was trying to pair up kits with conversions.

$57.99 for the Tru mpy BMP-3 !!

Whaaaaaa

$57.99? That is a little high, I currently have them for pre-sell for $44.50CDN, reg. price is only going to be $49.50CDN.

Not sure who is selling them for $57....but at that price, they won't sell many.

Thanks for the info Jacques.

Since I most probably won't be building it right away, I'll just wait a couple of months and get it from one of the Hong Kong stores. I never buy Trumpeter or Hobbyboss kits from Japan.. the price is sometimes double.. it's just a matter of waiting a little longer!

Hisham

Mine arrived today from Historia Hobbies

Very happy

Cheers

Paul

First impression?

It has an interior and a Turret basket... which I didn't expect. The hatches are also molded seperately.

It'll be a while before I build it as I have many projects ahead of it ATM.

Two optional paint schemes are shown, modern Russian 3 tone camo, and another plain green.

I can't speak for accuracy, but it looks good so far !

Cheers

Paul