Subject: Re: HLJ updated their product page with pics
Date: Fri, 7 Feb 2003, 19:00:17 -0800
From: "Ron Volstad"

As far as I know, those photos are NOT of the final production version of the Dragon
kit. I don't know exactly what transpired, however when Tristar and Trumpeter announced
that they were doing Karl, Dragon had to rush to put something together to promote
their version of the kit. The same thing applied to the boxart that I did for it.
(And I'm still recovering from the 20 hour days! I'm way too old for that nonsense).
;-

In any event, I can pretty much guarantee that Dragon's work on Karl began at least
12 -16 months ago. I doubt very much that they had any knowledge of what their competitors
were up to. Coincidental work on similar projects is nothing new in this industry;
Tamiya and Italeri both produced panzer IV kits back in the 70's. The Karl comes
along at a time when the bulk of the German inventory has already been produced in
kit form and the process of elimination easily suggested that this could be a winner.
(I have it on good authority that pre-orders are well beyond expectations. Personally,
I had NO interest in such a subject until I spent two weeks wrapped up in every detail
of it whilst doing the boxart. Now I find it rather compelling.

While I do agree that there are MANY non-German subjects that deserve doing, a recent
conversation with the owner of DML indicates that the modelling community will buy
German subjects in numbers FAR beyond anything else. Like it or not, it is a business
and while I prefer to build subjects related to the winning side, I do understand
the
manufacturing point of view!

Cheers,
Ron V



This was from Track Link. Mr Volstad makes some interesting observations reguarding production and choices for production. Don't you think?

Well Tiger, I posted earlier in another thread that most companies ask what we want at the many trade shows around the world!!!! When I'm asked what i want to see I almost always reply with subjects from the German army... The only exception was a comment card for the guys at Hasagawa, a 1/48th hi-vis A7-E Corsair II, It was released last month!!!!! So, on that note y'all need to find ways (e-mail, comment cards, talking to company reps) to let them know that you want more yuki allied stuff, you never know you might get it!!! stug

I find it interesting that with only 6 of the thing actually built, we've got 5 companies making models of them... one more and we've got as many model COMPANIES making them as there were REAL vehicles.

Hasegawa, CMK, DML, Tristar and Trumpeter.. who else will make one?

Mike

I didn't feel like starting a new thread for this. Sorry to revive an old one. These are going to be HUGE. No 1/72 stuff here.

Hi,

Tiger101, is that the K5 Leopold at 1/35 that rumours have been eared about ?


Must be huge.

That it is TUGA. The photo is from DMLs Nurenburg display on the web site. That thing is going to take up its own shelf. If you did a dio you would need a whole room. LOL :-)

Getting back to the Karl for a moment, there's a thread over on M-L right now. It seems someone just got one in Hong Kong and was not to happy with it. No specific details given yet, though.

http://www.network54.com/Hide/Forum/thread?forumid=47207&messageid=1045059924

Very interesting post Tiger ...... thanks for sharing. Im not gonna buy any models this year ...... except for this! Looks so coooool!

ukgeoff
I saw that post too. It sounded as if they expected much more. I have seen shots of the sprues, I can't tell yet. I really think that Tristars will be better but, for the price ($70 something) I don't think you can beat it. The Leopold looks awesome! I can't wait to see that in a hobby shop.

It sounds like they are comparing it to the old Nashorn to me.

Rob

Yeah, I already responed in this thread about the whole ordeal.

Andrew

Oberst "Crotch Block" was you? Do you think that DML is the first rush to market? They will prob. win in the end due to price.

Tristar's will be cheaper. Get from inside information. And I saw the DML one in HK as well, I have to admit, it doesn't look too good, and very simplified.

SS-74 Tristar will be cheaper? That's great news. I'm going to wait till I see the real thing myself. Mr Volstad seemed to be impressed with the product (could be brand loyalty).

INTERESTING POST TIGER
ROBERTO

Yes, Tiger, will be cheaper, I mean the Tristar one. I totally understand Mr. Ron's statement here, after all he got PAID to do DML boxart, right? no offense to Mr. Ron. He is doing the right thing.

I was looking at the picture and I noticed something that made me laugh, did anyone notice that small thing hanging just under the Leopold

I did see that little note paper, but I just figured out what it is......no pictures......d'oh!
Maybe that's why the photographer has the side of some dudes head in the shot....probably pretending to take a pic of the people or was unable to aim properly while trying not to draw attention. LOL....we got spy photos :-)

Hey guys, that pic is from DML's web page, hehehe i saw it there earlier!!!! but still those are some huge kits hehehehehe, i like railway guns!!!!! stug

This photo isnt the best but it came from Dragons web site. They have a bunch of stuff from their Nurenburg display. Not much 1/35th scale. Most of it was "Action" figures.

Well I still have mine on hold Dml Karl for the price I was quoted I think I will get it anyway unless Does Hobblink Japan have the Tristar one yet?
Thanks for the heads up on this one

Well guys, I just got My Karl today!!!!! Wow to me it looks nice and nowhere near toy like!!! But i have differnt standards than most, I'm not a rivet counter!!!! oh thats my 2 cents stug