Hilbert Zuijdendorp (Hilbert) reviews Dragon''s Sd.Kfz 166 Stu.Pz Brummbär Early Production with Zimmerit. Kit # 6596

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The objection to the number of unneeded parts is based on a misunderstanding of the economics of kit production. By using sprues developed for other kits, Dragon is actually saving money. The unneeded parts represent only a few cents worth of styrene, but if they cut all-new molds to reduce the parts count, they would have to spend additional thousands of dollars on tooling, driving up the final price of the kit.
Just look at the extra parts for your spares box as a bonus.

Magic tracks and zimmerit? Nice move from Dragon!

I second Gerald on the extra parts issue. It's simply just more economical to reuse already existing sprues than to make new ones containing the same parts. I got the mid-production panzer IV ausf.J currently on the workbench and that's quite a collection of sprues from different Panzer IV based kits. In fact, there's only one single sprue labeled "panzer IV ausf. J". Everything else is from previous kits.
Makes sense to me, and my spares box isn't complaining either.

Magic tracks and Zimmerit; got to agree with Eetu, nice move from Dragon. Shame they didn't put the Magic tracks in all the PzIV kits. As regards the mass of unwanted parts, I think Gerald is dead right; DML are making maximum use of their expensive dies. The "pips" moulded on a lot of parts are vents to let air out of the mould. This is because DML are pushing the boundaries in moulding technology; I would expect to see these on any parts with very thin sections, undercuts or anywhere else that trapped air could prevent the mould filling properly. I don't think you would be able to get the pin sharp detailing that you get from DML without these.

I thought that they were to keep ejector pin marks off the parts, though they could do both.

It is fun to read that other think different on the comments. My point of view was I would pay more money for sprues I probably won't use. That's a shame in my opinion, therefore we are paying more while dragon is more economical.. So, dragon is economical but we pay more money. In my eyes they are making profit cause 40% of the kit is some kind of useless [for me] lets say that's $20. No one can convince me that the production costs are $20 dollar for the unused parts. But it is a logical step for dragon to let us pay for all the sprues. All I want to say is that I would have seen less unused parts for less money.

Ow, I don't want to make a huge discussion of this. I'm just saying how I think about it! Thanks

Also, I didn't knew about the "pips" thanks for explaining.

And again, the kit is simply great and give a good presentation of the real deal.

Kind regards,
Hilbert

I think it's a great kit by Dragon. So many are complaining about the extra parts but I consider this a "bonus"! I'm working on another kit and I can use the sprocket wheels to complete the other kit. I always know of someone that can use certain parts and sometimes it's me!!!

Only one unit decal... I have quite a decal stash to solve that little problem.