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Dragon secret item announcement
RobinNilsson
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Posted: Saturday, October 01, 2016 - 08:05 PM UTC
Most of us got some fun and laughs from this thread so I don't worry too much about Dragon getting some free advertising
On the other hand, some of the fun has been poked at Dragon so maybe some of the free publicity isn't exactly what Dragon had desired.
We'll just have to wait and see what happens, maybe it's only yet another Panzer, maybe it's a Japanese fulltracked amphibious tractor armed with two Long Lance torpedoes, maybe it's some HEMTT-variant ... who knows ...
/ Robin
slug955
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Posted: Saturday, October 01, 2016 - 08:19 PM UTC
Over the years DML have released a 'Surprise' unannounced kit virtually every year. Rest assured any surprise release will be exactly what DML want to release. Meanwhile some no name outfit will release what we want......Key buying period is fast approaching. Get those letters off to Santa...
JSSVIII
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Posted: Saturday, October 01, 2016 - 09:21 PM UTC

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I'm sorry Kurt, I was going by this:

"Nope, neither of those (I hope). They say it is an all-new something in 1/35th scale. Sales start on October 1-st, the National day of PRC."

and nobody has bought anything yet, we don't even know what it is yet, LOL.

In all seriousness, I AM excited to see a new release, it might not be something I am interested in, but then again maybe it might be one of my "Holy Grail" items, who knows, but I prefer to see the FUN in it. My sincere apologies if I'm wrong but, you seem to treat it as some kind of scam "You bought it hook, line, and sinker" and I respect that, if I was standing in line for hours/days, or had prepaid for the item unseen, I would agree with you completely, but since I did not, I'm just enjoying the fun of anticipation.


The "scam" is that DML did nothing but they got all kinds of people talking about it. Free advertising and manufactured anticipation about . . . Well, nothing really. All we know is the scale, but everyone is projecting their individual hopes and dreams upon it. What's even more bizarre is that DML's recent releases have been nearly uniformly panned. If I learned that my "holy grail" was coming from DML, I can't say that I would view that as a certain good thing . . .

KL


I have to agree with you on the fact that I would rather have almost any of the OTHER major companies release a kit in my field of interest, BUT if DML was the only company who is going to release it, I'll take it. I have a much easier time working with plastic rather than a resin base kit. I was under the impression that their M48 series was a very decent kit, and their T54 tank looks much better than the original CAD drawings, so maybe they have started to listen to our complaints.

As for "projecting our individual hopes and dreams upon it." what is wrong with talking about what we would like to see? and for that matter, name one company ANYWHERE that wouldn't like free advertising?
slug955
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Posted: Saturday, October 01, 2016 - 10:00 PM UTC
The last DML kits that I bought at shop price are 6001 Nashorn and 6004 Hummel. Yes I still have to spend periods in a darkened room rocking to and fro, more fro than to. I have never looked into a Black Label box so cannot comment. Whatever DML produce that piques my interest will one day appear on Ebay as 'buyers remorse'. When it does I may or may not put in a bid.....Until then..Meh.
Dioramartin
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Posted: Sunday, October 02, 2016 - 10:20 AM UTC
Ayyiyiyiy, seriously?

Sure I’ve extracted the urine out of Dragon but not out of malice, it’s an affectionate dig and purely intended to lighten things up, happily some other guys not suffering sense-of-humour-failure joined in. It was just some fun, like the hobby’s supposed to be.

Seems to me that the more venomous critics of Dragon must actually care about that company and its products, otherwise why bother making any criticism? E.g. my attitude to Italeri – with few exceptions utterly second-rate, but what’s the point in venting spleen about them? - won’t make a blind bit of difference, I just vote with my wallet.

I’m actually very grateful to Dragon for energising my own return to the hobby back in the mid-90’s when nobody else was getting close to their then-output/range/quality. Ever since, sure they’ve tripped a few times but overall come out with some great stuff. And as many others have said, if they ever come up with the perfect kit (er and which other manufacturer has pulled that off?) there’ll be nothing to improve on. Isn’t one of the bonuses to kit-making to inject your own personal corrections/enhancements?

I’m delighted MiniArt and (insert your favoured company here) are driving hard to out-do Dragon, we’re the winners even if we have to fork out more than we’ve ever had to before. Compared to most other generally male diversions…gimme a break.

(And no, I don’t have Dragon’s lawyers holding a 1/1 scale .44 to my head while I’m writing this)

Onwards and upwards, Tim
TerancekW
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Posted: Sunday, October 02, 2016 - 03:48 PM UTC
A Type 97 tank which was the first tank of PLA.
Wierdy
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Posted: Sunday, October 02, 2016 - 08:30 PM UTC

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A Type 97 tank which was the first tank of PLA.

M4A1Sherman
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Posted: Sunday, October 02, 2016 - 08:37 PM UTC

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oh no!!!what's next,pac-man when he was at the battle of gettysburg?


Pacman never took part in the battle. He was suspended for the entire 1863 season as of a result of an incident at a Vegas strip club.


Yeah, I got the "skinny" from Vinny Lasagne, one of the club's bosses- Pac-man had made his way up to the stage, and was trying to "gobble" on one of the "dancers". Vinny got 'im with a Fly Swatter, before the "Bulls" showed up...
M4A1Sherman
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Posted: Sunday, October 02, 2016 - 08:38 PM UTC

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A Type 97 tank which was the first tank of PLA.



Looks like a Type 97 "CHI-HA", to me...
M4A1Sherman
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Posted: Sunday, October 02, 2016 - 08:48 PM UTC

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If I learned that my "holy grail" was coming from DML, I can't say that I would view that as a certain good thing . . .

KL



I can't do anything but second this!!!


I'm for THIRDS!!!

DRAGON's reputation for accuracy hasn't been all that great, lately. Exceptions being their new StuG.III Ausf.C & D kits. Haven't seen "open-box reviews" of any of their Hetzer-based kits yet though, so other exceptions are still possible...

PS- IF the aforementioned Type 97 "CHI-HA" is indeed the new "Mystery Kit", and if it's as good as their "HA-GO" and "KA-MI" kits, then they will have another "Winner" to add to their belt of scalps. Then, they will also have other possibilities to capitalize upon with the "CHI-HA" Chassis, i.e, the "SHI-KI" Command Tank, "SHINHOTO CHI-HA", "SE-RI" Recovery Tank, "HO-NI" Tank Destroyer, "CH-HE", "HO-I", "CHI-NU", "CHI-TO" and "CHI-RI"...

The name of the game is:

"Money, Money, Money, Money, Money..."
KurtLaughlin
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Posted: Sunday, October 02, 2016 - 09:03 PM UTC

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Looks like a Type 97 "CHI-HA", to me...


That's what it is.


So there you have it: Woo.

Who had as their holy grail a model that Tamiya did ages ago but is still pretty good and that Fine Molds did not long ago that is even better?

Hook, line, and sinker.

KL
M4A1Sherman
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Posted: Sunday, October 02, 2016 - 09:12 PM UTC

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Looks like a Type 97 "CHI-HA", to me...


That's what it is.


So there you have it: Woo.

Who had as their holy grail a model that Tamiya did ages ago but is still pretty good and that Fine Molds did not long ago that is even better?

Hook, line, and sinker.

KL


Hi, Kurt!

AGREE most emphatically, but read my last post- There are plenty of WWII Pacific War fans out there that would love to get their hands on a "state-of-the-art" Type 97 "CHI-HA", myself included. PLUS, DRAGON will have created an entirely new "Japanese-style Pz.III/Panther/Tigers I & II-market" for themselves...

That's a pretty smart move on DRAGON's part, if you ask me...

Who knows what else DRAGON may have up it's sleeves? They've been VERY successful with their 1/35 "HA-GO"-series and their "KA-MI"-series kits- They're even coming out with a new "HA-GO"-based "KE-NU" with "CHI-HA" Turret boxing.

DRAGON's also doing a nice selection of Hetzer-based kits, so I don't think that it would be too much of a stretch of the imagination if DRAGON were to go ahead with all-new "early, mid, and late" Hetzer kits, and their own version of an all-new "Bergehetzer", to boot...

DRAGON may not be listening when it comes to WWII US/Allied and Post War US and British kits, but in all fairness, they ARE starting to fill a void that has been largely ignored in the last few years by coming out with TWO "new" WWII Japanese Tank kits, and the TWO new StuG.IIIs, which happen to compare very favorably to the new BRONCO StuG.IIIs...
RobinNilsson
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Posted: Sunday, October 02, 2016 - 09:23 PM UTC

Quoted Text


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Looks like a Type 97 "CHI-HA", to me...


That's what it is.


So there you have it: Woo.

Who had as their holy grail a model that Tamiya did ages ago but is still pretty good and that Fine Molds did not long ago that is even better?

Hook, line, and sinker.

KL


HOO-RAY !!
I've already got both of those so I don't need to get this new one
SgtRam
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Posted: Sunday, October 02, 2016 - 09:29 PM UTC
One thing to remember is the Japanese model market is much bigger then North America. So in a way, makes sense for them, especially following the Tokyo Show.

brekinapez
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Posted: Sunday, October 02, 2016 - 10:56 PM UTC

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One thing to remember is the Japanese model market is much bigger then North America.


This.
cabasner
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Posted: Sunday, October 02, 2016 - 11:06 PM UTC
I wonder how much bigger the Japanese market is than here in the US. Consider how much larger the US is compared to Japan. It would be really interesting to know. I think about how much I have spent on models and all the accessories (ALL the stuff, air bushes, compressor, paint). I think about paint ALONE and it makes me cringe. Just like computer printers are cheap compared to the paper and ink it costs to use them, model kits are the cheapest part of the hobby. What about aftermarket tracks, photo etched parts, books. Wow! Scary!!!!!

Way off topic I know, but even with the costs involved, I wonder what it would look like if you factored in the cost PER HOUR of the hobby. I bet that it isn't that expensive when you look at it that way. Or maybe it's worse 😢
KurtLaughlin
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Posted: Sunday, October 02, 2016 - 11:30 PM UTC

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One thing to remember is the Japanese model market is much bigger then North America.


So? What does that have to do with it? This release was billed as celebrating the first tank of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, is made by a Chinese company, and was released on Chinese National Day; while the previous, quite nice and still readily available releases were made by Japanese companies.

If this were a Japanese vehicle that had never been kitted before or only done poorly, there might be some connection, but not with this.

Finally, can anyone provide ANY tangible, verifiable, data comparing the Japanese and North American or European markets? Kits sold, money made, something with concrete numbers attached to it? Anything?

KL

RobinNilsson
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Posted: Monday, October 03, 2016 - 12:31 AM UTC
Some concrete numbers:
US population: more than 324 millions
Japanese population: a little more than 126 millions
(almost 198 millions more in the US ...)

If the Japanese modelling market should indeed be larger than the US market then modelling has to be at least three times as popular in Japan vs the US.
It's possible but hard facts are needed if one wants to make a definite statement.
Sales statistics doesn't really help since some traders/dealers in Japan sell to the rest of the world (I have bought from them via ebay ....) so getting at the "domestic" sales could be a little complicated.

I still want one of these though:
http://www.tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2/jap/Type_4_Ka-Tsu.php





/ Robin
KurtLaughlin
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Posted: Monday, October 03, 2016 - 03:18 AM UTC

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I still want one of these though:
http://www.tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2/jap/Type_4_Ka-Tsu.php





/ Robin


Hmmm . . . In the drawing the torpedo is 75% of the length of the suspension, on the model the torpedoes are 120% the suspension length.

KL
JSSVIII
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Posted: Monday, October 03, 2016 - 03:59 AM UTC

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Looks like a Type 97 "CHI-HA", to me...


That's what it is.


So there you have it: Woo.

Who had as their holy grail a model that Tamiya did ages ago but is still pretty good and that Fine Molds did not long ago that is even better?

Hook, line, and sinker.

KL


There you go...More negative waves!!!!
Have a little faith baby...have a little faith...LOL!

you were right Kurt, it is not one of my "Holy Grail" kits, but Robin hit the nail on the head, they now have the suspension and many other bits for some of the more obscure tanks, and the way DML likes to squeeze every possible variant option out of their molds, the idea doesn't seem too far fetched. The one I would like to see is this one:
This Yellow Cat kit is not supposed to be very good, but sold on Ebay for $179. If DML releases it, even if it is flawed it will be a hell of a lot less than that I think.

As to "Hook, line, and sinker" nobody has bought anything, so being happy to see a new release, costs absolutely... NOTHING, NADA, ZIP, BUPKIS, JACK, ZILCH. so what's the problem with it?
RobinNilsson
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Posted: Monday, October 03, 2016 - 04:03 AM UTC

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I still want one of these though:
http://www.tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2/jap/Type_4_Ka-Tsu.php





/ Robin


Hmmm . . . In the drawing the torpedo is 75% of the length of the suspension, on the model the torpedoes are 120% the suspension length.

KL


Yes, I did notice the difference. One, or maybe both of them, is obviously wrong but it was the clearest illustrations that I could find in a hurry.

Wikipedia, shows that the torpedoes are shorter


/ Robin
alchemymike
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Posted: Monday, October 03, 2016 - 04:39 AM UTC
yeah more 1950's US AFVs!!!
bots1141
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Posted: Monday, October 03, 2016 - 04:44 AM UTC

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I still want one of these though:
http://www.tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2/jap/Type_4_Ka-Tsu.php





/ Robin


Hmmm . . . In the drawing the torpedo is 75% of the length of the suspension, on the model the torpedoes are 120% the suspension length.

KL


Yes, I did notice the difference. One, or maybe both of them, is obviously wrong but it was the clearest illustrations that I could find in a hurry.

Wikipedia, shows that the torpedoes are shorter


/ Robin


Maybe the one in the drawing is a Type 91 at 17 feet and the one on the model is a type 93 at 29 feet???
Bravo1102
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Posted: Monday, October 03, 2016 - 04:51 AM UTC

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One thing to remember is the Japanese model market is much bigger then North America.


This.


And there is a Girls und Panzer Der Film tie-in! So I was close. Actually the Fine Molds kit was already boxed as it so this is probably Dragon trying to get a tighter hold on the market.

Model building looms larger in their popular culture as does animation and manga. When was the last time you took the train and saw people reading comic books or model building magazines the size of a phone book?

One example: the USA model building is something to make fun of in Calvin and Hobbes, there it's treated seriously with an experienced builder showing a newbie the ropes (and she's wearing a Tamiya apron!) Even down to seam scraping and using putty! When was the last time you saw that in a popular show?

It's different. Anime sites advertise the model kit tie-ins. Comic book sites in the US advertise toys.
KurtLaughlin
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Posted: Monday, October 03, 2016 - 04:52 AM UTC

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Maybe the one in the drawing is a Type 91 at 17 feet and the one on the model is a type 93 at 29 feet???


That's an obvious explanation (different torpedoes). Someone who cares about that vehicle should probably sort that out.

KL
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