Hi, I just saw something over on Track Link of a "premium" kit that
Dragon is coming out with some time in April of a 1/35 scale German Elefant. It's supposed to have some top grade additions to it like the aluminum barrel, separate tools, clear viewing blocks, and up-graded commander's cupola, new "Magic tracks" and a bunch of other items. Just wondered if anybody here has heard anything about this yet? Whether it's just this one and only kit, or if they are going to be upgrading some of their other older kits. Sounds kind of good.

Take care, Larry

Larry, the premium kits going to be issued over the next year will reuse existing sprues and parts, but will also include updated parts and sprues made using more modern technology. Such things as PE frets, metal barrels, and new decals.
Kits such as the following will be re-issued as 'Premium' kits:


Nashorn
Ferdinand
StuG III G
Jagdpanzer IV

Also others in the pipline include:
Sherman MkIII
250/9
252 with Ammo Trailer
Panther G/M10 'Ersatz'


Vinnie

Hi, Thanks Vinnie. You know, it sure would be nice if the folks at Dragon, what will all this state-of-the-art model technology they have been bombarding us with here lately, would be able to go that one step farther along and make those "Magic Tracks" truly magic by molding holes in the links so we could assmble them like the Fruil tracks. Now that would be some real gound-breaking news for the builders like myself who are so fumble-fingered that we have yet to be able to build a set of these without losing what little patience we still possess and simply chunking them in the re-cycle bin and having to spring $30+ dollars for another set to finish just one vehicle.

I don't know maybe there's some kind of patent or something that doesn't allow other manufacturers to make tracks like this or it's merely the molding technology that just hasn't been able to do this yet.


Anyway, it sure would save a chunk of cash for those of us who buy the new kits and set them aside till the cash flow catches up so we can buy a nice set of tracks to go with them from another maker.

Just my rant, so to speak, for the morning.

Thanks and take care, Larry

Larry:

Another kit I heard that they were redoing is the JS2( or the JS1 ). Will be a nice addition to teh stash.

Larry,

I work in the metal casting industry and am still amazed every time I look at a Fruil track link. Casting that .020 inch hole in the lead based metal Fruil track is tough enough. Trying that with injected plastic, with the temps and pressures involved, would be even harder. Doable, sure, but really hard.

Shaun

Larry -

Have you looked at the resin, snap together tracks put out by WW II Productions? You can 'e-mail' them directly at; [email protected] or try
http://www.perthmilitarymodelling.com/reviews/vehicles/ww2prod/ww2prod.htm

I've got a set for my JagdPanther and they flex and 'lay' like "Friuls" but are less involved to put together (minor flash clean-up). Detail is outstanding and priced about the same as the "Friuls".

Vinnie - thanks for the info. Will be watching for these releases.

Blade48mrd