I reviewed the covered wagon, is this a new version or just now coming out?

Two new announcements from LZ Models has a new German covered train wagon coming, and details for the soon to be release Indian Motocycle.

Link to Item

If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!

This is a new rail car from LZ, it is different then the G10, with different dimensions and shape.

I am VERY disappointed that Mirror / LZ continues to release kits and then puts essential details into separate "up-grade" sets that must be purchased in addition to the kit.

I found this to be a significant problem with the C15TA and Otter kits. It took me so much extra time, effort and money to track down the additional details sets for both the C15TA and Otter that I lost enthusiasm for the builds. The kits are now collecting dust in my stash.

Now I find the same issue with the new Indian kit. I see that the DRIVE CHAIN (of all things) now must be purchased separately as an "up-grade"! So, more time, effort and money if I want to build one of these.

Not this time. I delayed buying the Swash Indian (which comes COMPLETE!) because of the news that Mirror was going to release one. However, I will not pre-order the Mirror Indian until I can see just how much the COMBINED cost will be for the kit AND the REQUIRED PE "up-grade" and can compare that to the cost of the Swash kit.

Libor, if you're reading this, I implore you to just add that little PE fret to the Indian kit and be done with it. This marketing scheme is turning away your potential customers and you are losing sales because of it.

Getting low-production run kits is hard enough without adding in the extra difficulty and expense of tracking down essential added parts that the manufacturer has decided to withhold in order to make a few pennies more on sales.

Well, sir, if you make buying your kits so hard that your potential customers pass them by, then how does that help your bottom line?

Put the LZ-Models Indian "up-grade" into the base kit. Please.

Quoted Text

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I am VERY disappointed that Mirror / LZ continues to release kits and then puts essential details into separate "up-grade" sets that must be purchased in addition to the kit.

I found this to be a significant problem with the C15TA and Otter kits. It took me so much extra time, effort and money to track down the additional details sets for both the C15TA and Otter that I lost enthusiasm for the builds. The kits are now collecting dust in my stash.

Now I find the same issue with the new Indian kit. I see that the DRIVE CHAIN (of all things) now must be purchased separately as an "up-grade"! So, more time, effort and money if I want to build one of these.

Not this time. I delayed buying the Swash Indian (which comes COMPLETE!) because of the news that Mirror was going to release one. However, I will not pre-order the Mirror Indian until I can see just how much the COMBINED cost will be for the kit AND the REQUIRED PE "up-grade" and can compare that to the cost of the Swash kit.

Libor, if you're reading this, I implore you to just add that little PE fret to the Indian kit and be done with it. This marketing scheme is turning away your potential customers and you are losing sales because of it.

Getting low-production run kits is hard enough without adding in the extra difficulty and expense of tracking down essential added parts that the manufacturer has decided to withhold in order to make a few pennies more on sales.

Well, sir, if you make buying your kits so hard that your potential customers pass them by, then how does that help your bottom line?

Put the LZ-Models Indian "up-grade" into the base kit. Please.

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Thank you guys for your comments, I appreciate any feedback. Lets start with Indian kit. It is coming out on RRP 23 euro, and contains 2 full kits for that money. It has also included PE sheet with wheel wiring and all additional PE parts to get nice details. It is clearly shown at MM website.
From T20 kit MM has turned to produce kits in full plastic, without resin parts, and where possible without PE parts. T20 was strictly plastic kit, and so would be Indian, if there was any good chance to make wheel wiring in plastic with acceptable result. But there is not. Including PE parts in the kit puts at least 50% customers away, and they wont buy the kit just because of PE included. In this case of the Indian kit many guys will probably happy to handle PE wiring, because assembly is very simple, basically 2 PE parts put between plastic wheel pieces, but certainly many of them will not use even additional PE parts included in the kit for better detail. For strictly plastic builders it will create still very good result even without those PE levers and rods I think. Hope you can follow me so far. Plastic kit without PE parts-higher sales. These I need to keep going.
I have seen many plastic kits without any PE included, and I have seen many AM producers making PE detailing sets for those kits - but I have never seen that someone finds it strange, even if there are PE parts offered for parts not supplied with the kit in plastic
Now allow me a few questions.
Why should I supply with the kit PE drive chain, if the kit contains quite nice one molded in plastic? Why should I provide with the kit PE pedal levers, if there are quite nice molded ones supplied in the kit? Why should I add into the kit PE saddle holders, if there are parts molded in plastic in the kit? All these PE parts in detailing set are to get true to scale thickness or sharper detail, but why they should be supplied with the kit, if there is quite good plastic option included? How many people would use them to replace plastic parts? 1 of 10? Why 9 of 10 guys should pay more money for the kit with another PE set included, if they are not gonna use it at all? That one fella looking for true to scale chain will be glad to pay a little extra for the set he considers necessary for his detail level, but 9 guys would feel much stranger than you paying for parts they dont need at all.
All these PE parts offered with additional detailing set are included in the kit in plastic, and in my opinion pretty well molded - so why I should include in the kit also PE options for them and make the kit more expensive, when most guys will never use these PEs, but will be happy with good enough plastic parts provided?
If you check sprue images and test build images at the link below, you will see all these kit´s part are included, and my test build shows also PE parts included in the kit - except first two images, these are not primed before I glued on PE bits
click
So I did not forget to put these parts into the kit, they all are included in plastic, and I am not going to charge for them again - only the guys who want them true to scale (not many even see difference between 0,4mm thickness in plastic and 0,28mm in brass, but some do, and some mind, so for these the detailing set is created) I would feel much stranger to let everyone pay for parts they do not want to use.
Funny is that few months ago I read stories and complaints about PE parts included in kits, which were found rather complex and complicated, and guys shouting for full plastic kits, and now it is right opposite. But certainly there are many more who dont want PE upgrades, if the plastic parts are good enough. I believe our new kits offer quite high detail without any massive thick plastic, so tell me why I should include in the kits also upgrade sets to replace plastic parts? How many manufacturers do that?
Right now I can tell you that Diamond kits coming shortly are also strictly plastic kits with all parts molded in plastic, possibly except simple tool trays, which may be provided in PE. But certainly there will be again some detailing PE set available to replace plastic parts in the kits. The same for Chevy C60L and other kits planned.
Cheers
Libor