1. Kurt beat me to the punch. I looked through the two kits I have, the early and late D-30, and it is exactly as he said. The the "late" D-30 (kit 02329) is NOT meant to have the double baffle.

2. The Trumpeter BTR kits are VERY fun. I have already converted 2 BTR-70 early kits into 2S14's. VERY nice to work with, very well thought out, and have all the PE the kit really needs for the average builder.

The best comment I've heard was "All models are wrong, some are useful." They were talking about finite element models, but I think it applies here. When I buy a kit, I ask what can I learn? Is there something to interest or teach my kids with this model? A cheap WWII B-17 early Revell 1/72 kit with the right markings can tell about the organization and aircraft's unit. The 1/32 scale HK B-17 model can help you plan out the full scale restoration of your actual warbird's radio room. What would YOU like to get out of YOUR model? I appreciate the ARMORAMA forum and the reviews to let me know what is available. I've enjoyed the Trumpeter modern offerings like the M1117 Guardian.

You identify yourself as "PatriotaModels", a company that offers conversions and corrections, right?

So what is the problem???....just cash in on Trumpeter's mistakes and sell some conversions and corrections!

And Yes, Trumpeter has released BTR-60, BTR-70, and BTR-80 kits. They are all very good.

So.....getting close to locking this thread up. Good discussion, but it seems to have run its course. Just don't want it popping up again with new comments in a year or two. I will give it another 24hrs.

My only hope is that Trumpeter would stop releasing the early and late version of the same model (Canadian grizzly and cougar) separately, I would prefer that they include both parts for the early and late version in one kit, and let the modeler decide which version is preferred.

You say "if you don't like it , don't buy it.". Well if they were not the only ones offering this particular MAZ kit believe me I wouldn't be buying Trumpeter.

From strictly a production/cost per unit stand point, producing "two-in-one" "early and late" kits would be much more cost effective for the manufacture. Make one slightly larger plastic part set, one box, one larger set of decals, one instruction sheet and then sell twice as many units. This would decrease production, shipping and marketing costs thereby greatly increasing profitability.

After a bit of research, here is the basic deal:

D-30 (early): Slotted baffle

D-30 (late): Slotted baffle with changed towing lug location

D-30A (or D-30M): New "double" baffle.

D-30J: Locally made Serbian D-30A.

Hope that helps clear it up a bit.

If the major armor model manufactures are not monitoring blogs like Armorama for trends and feedback information they are idiots! And if they are not you can bet their distributors are.

Anyway, I have seen many of the subjects whose photographs and measurements I have sent become kits. I can only wish that they look at the aircraft references I sent as well.

Regards,

Well, if they ever want to do a Black prince or ARL 44 kick them my way, I have measurements galore for them!

Hello Trumpeter,

I decided to make it official and point on some facts about the way how accurate and how selective you are producing your model kits.

I can´t ignore anymore the fact that every model kit you are producing has a lot of shape issues or missing details, which have to be solved with additional expensive etched parts from China and Co.

Let´s take an example. Your late D-30 howitzer is a joke and a diret insult to every serious paying modeller. How can you dare to sell it as a "late" version when the muzzle brake stills the same. At your catalogue you have posted a picture for the "late" type #02329 (page 39), using Yugoslav military archives:


It shows an Yugoslav late D-30 howitzer during excercise in 1997.

here´s a picture from the Yugoslav army in 2002, using the same late D-30 howitzer:


here´s my D-30 howitzer, built from SKIF:


and this is your "late" D-30 howitzer



Probably you management can remember, some 4-5 years ago, I wrote to you an E-Mail with a complete list of Soviet / Russian Cold War era vehicles. All the tanks and vehicles you are producing and selling meanwhile are from the list I sent to you. Meanwhile I´m wondering why you still producing 2-3 different Iraqi T-62 tanks, a lot of T-64 tanks and so on. You have never thought about trying to make some serious stuff from the Yugoslav civil war in the 90´s, like the M-84 and M-84A tanks, Yugoslav M-80 and M-80A APC´s or OT M-60.

You never tried to solve the issues with your SA-6 KUB air defence system (chassis or the ridiculous rockets).

What about some different sets for Soviet/ Russian tankers during Cold War era or different sets of Yugoslav army forces in 1/35. But no, you still producing German-Nazi vehicles, airplanes and soldiers from WWII in this version, and that version, at any scale and so on. Who cares for WWII anymore?

If you want to be a serious company, with your meanwhile expensive retail prices, you should take more care for accuracy and about the stuff the people want to build.

Please do not forget, quality is important, not quantity !