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Zvezda: Ferdinand
varanusk
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Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain / España
Joined: July 04, 2013
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Posted: Sunday, September 10, 2017 - 11:37 AM UTC


Zvezda is preparing a Ferdinand at 1/35.

Read the Full News Story

If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!
Dioramartin
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New South Wales, Australia
Joined: May 04, 2016
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Posted: Sunday, September 10, 2017 - 12:36 PM UTC
I never have understood this manufacturer – it’s like they live on another planet where no other makers have ever existed, and here’s another example. Dragon made a reasonably definitive Ferdy what? 5 years ago? maybe more. Perhaps Zvezda has noticed mould/mold technology has advanced since um 1990, and that there’s now a company called MINIART ah but of course they're Ukranian...
RobinNilsson
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Stockholm, Sweden
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Posted: Sunday, September 10, 2017 - 01:09 PM UTC

Quoted Text

I never have understood this manufacturer – it’s like they live on another planet where no other makers have ever existed, and here’s another example. Dragon made a reasonably definitive Ferdy what? 5 years ago? maybe more. Perhaps Zvezda has noticed mould/mold technology has advanced since um 1990, and that there’s now a company called MINIART ah but of course they're Ukranian...


It could just possibly be that they see a possibility to undercut Dragon on their local market.
I have no information about the local Russian modeling market but maybe Dragon kits are difficult to get?

I had the same initial reaction, a big "Why?" ......

/ Robin
MassimoTessitori
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Italy
Joined: March 14, 2013
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Posted: Sunday, September 10, 2017 - 02:12 PM UTC
On the local market, a kit of Zvezda should cost about 40% of a kit of Dragon, or less.
barkingdigger
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England - East Anglia, United Kingdom
Joined: June 20, 2008
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Posted: Sunday, September 10, 2017 - 02:30 PM UTC
Even if Dragon kits can be had in Russia, is the DML Ferdy still available? If they ran it five years ago, stocks could be low enough to tempt Zvezda to plug a new gap...

(This won't just be a DML re-box, will it? That's another possibility!)
ayovtshev
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Sofiya, Bulgaria
Joined: September 22, 2016
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Posted: Sunday, September 10, 2017 - 02:51 PM UTC
Massimo gave a good reason.
Plus- they have a Ferdinand half an hour drive from their factory(Kubinka).So why not?!?
BTW, the quality of latest 1/35 armor releases of Zvezda is much better compared to their previous productions/repacks.
I've built both the Panther Ausf.D and the Pz.Kpfw IV Ausf.H and found almost nothing to complain about.
weesiep
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Drenthe, Netherlands
Joined: October 30, 2010
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Posted: Sunday, September 10, 2017 - 03:47 PM UTC
that Pz IV looked quite good, but the roadwheels seemed a little off to me and a few other quirks have been identified, but yes, Zvezda is improving considerably. It indeed seems they just go out and make "big" items (all done before).
reteip9
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Friesland, Netherlands
Joined: February 20, 2017
KitMaker: 21 posts
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Posted: Sunday, September 10, 2017 - 06:06 PM UTC
Why release a new ferdinand when DML has already done one? Well the DML Ferdinand costs around €70 like their King Tigers, the Zvezda King Tigers on the other hand are around €30 and I expect their Ferdinand to be similiar in price.
Bravo1102
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New Jersey, United States
Joined: December 08, 2003
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Posted: Sunday, September 10, 2017 - 06:42 PM UTC
There are only two other Ferdinand made. Dragon's hard to find and pricey piece and a half-hearted Italeri. Everything else is an Elefant. So it's not like this is going up against a stable of other kits like the Tiger or PzkpfwIV.

What is this? Dragon does a German piece and like it's "definitve" and no other company can ever revisit that kit EVER!?



For me, I prefer recent Zvezda kits to Dragon ones. One is affordable and builder friendly and the other is intimidating and relies on too much photoetch.
KurtLaughlin
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Pennsylvania, United States
Joined: January 18, 2003
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Posted: Sunday, September 10, 2017 - 09:28 PM UTC

Quoted Text

What is this? Dragon does a German piece and like it's "definitve" and no other company can ever revisit that kit EVER!?


I don't take the original statement that way. I see it as: "DML did a pretty good version that still holds up and is still available. That kit probably satisfied the I've-been-waiting-years-for-a-new-kit crowd. It just doesn't seem that there's much room for another company to exploit and convince customers to buy their kit rather DML's."

KL
trickymissfit
Joined: October 03, 2007
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Posted: Monday, September 11, 2017 - 01:06 AM UTC
I've built several Zvezda aircraft kits, and never got a bad with one exception (kit came with a bad clear spru). I bought the Panther D on a whim, and expected to have to do a lot of work on it. Nay not so! It's a pretty good kit, and a steal at the price.

It seems that Zvezda is listening to us a lot more than the lizard. We whined about quality, and they responded. We wanted more WWII Russian subjects, and they have responded in spades. So lets give them a chance as they seem to be getting better and better by the issue.
gary
Bravo1102
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Posted: Monday, September 11, 2017 - 05:44 AM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text

What is this? Dragon does a German piece and like it's "definitve" and no other company can ever revisit that kit EVER!?


I don't take the original statement that way. I see it as: "DML did a pretty good version that still holds up and is still available. That kit probably satisfied the I've-been-waiting-years-for-a-new-kit crowd. It just doesn't seem that there's much room for another company to exploit and convince customers to buy their kit rather DML's."

KL

Price point and availability. If one is scarce and expensive and the other readily available and affordable, unless a specialty buyer, the latter one will sell enough to recoup any initial investment.

Dragon may satisfy the so-called boutique buyer but the rest of the public will go for the Zvezda. That is, if you can find a Dragon Ferdinand.
Taeuss
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Manitoba, Canada
Joined: January 03, 2016
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Posted: Monday, September 11, 2017 - 07:35 AM UTC
I'm secretly pleased that I bought a few of both versions offered by Dragon/ CH several years ago and don't have to wonder any more than if the Zvezda kit is a good kit or not, and not if I can get one/afford one. I don't want that to seem smug but rather a back-handed comment on how FREAKIN' NUTS the price increase has been over the last decade. Which makes Zvezda apparently a good buy, all things considered.
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