This just isn't where they put their big money. You want a new Sterling bomber or Sunderland flying boat they cut all new molds . But 1/35 armor just isn't worth the capital outlay for them.

Then only new items in the M113 ACAV kit are the additional trim vane and flotation devices, and the decal sheet. To be honest, Italeri's M113 is just a copy of the old Revell M113. Poor to say the least. Academy and Tamiya are still leading in the ACAV department.

The old Revell M113 was the old Italeri kit reboxed. The molds were created by Italeri. The kit goes back to the early 1990s. The Tamiya M113 goes back to the 1970s. Even this kit is head and shoulders above the venerable Tamiya one.

Yeah, but the Sunderland and the Stirling are 1/72 kits, leaving the 1/48 fans such as myself out in the cold. As for myself, "NOPE!"... I'll wait for the AFV CLUB kit of the M113, rather than buy an old, old, old kit with three "new" parts... I'm under-whelmed...

Bravo1102, I prefer Tamiya's M113. More interior parts, better fit and the linked tracks are easier to work with. Academy's ACAV still wins, but I would rather build another Tamiya M113 any day than buy this 'new' kit. I will admit that the decals in the new Italeri kit look nice.

now italeri kits is direct copy of the tamiya and academy kits.

No, never were, never will be. Each has their own molds for the M113 ACAVs. All 3 are very different with Academy's currently being the best of the lot. Can you actually post a coherent, logical post? I hope it is just the language barrier.

Aside from doing more than tanks they stay in business by offering stuff that is "good enough" at "good enough prices" for many in the hobby. Not everybody wants a "perfect" kit with 300+ parts including "assemble yourself" tracks(1) and so instead of say a Meng Leo1A5 at 52€ one rather buys a Italieri/Revell Leo1A5 at 25€. Add in a few things that only they have and their exchange with Revell that is THE Brandname in germany among younger modellers due to shop presence(2) And if I only need a background piece (Say a Harley or a Jeep) then the 10€ kit from Italerie (2 Harleys) is good enough, why waste a 30€ Miniart (1 Harley) Finally their kits go together quite decently, their instructions are good (better than say Dragon) and their availability is good as well (1)I hate them. Even more so since with many modern tanks they vanish behind track guards or bazooka plates anyway and live tracks as used by most post WW2 vehicles have no sagging (2) If a german toy store has scale models they are most likely Revell. Even more true for ToysRUs and MyToys, the two big chains around

Aside from doing more than tanks they stay in business by offering stuff that is "good enough" at "good enough prices" for many in the hobby. Not everybody wants a "perfect" kit with 300+ parts including "assemble yourself" tracks(1) and so instead of say a Meng Leo1A5 at 52€ one rather buys a Italieri/Revell Leo1A5 at 25€. Add in a few things that only they have and their exchange with Revell that is THE Brandname in germany among younger modellers due to shop presence(2) And if I only need a background piece (Say a Harley or a Jeep) then the 10€ kit from Italerie (2 Harleys) is good enough, why waste a 30€ Miniart (1 Harley) Finally their kits go together quite decently, their instructions are good (better than say Dragon) and their availability is good as well (1)I hate them. Even more so since with many modern tanks they vanish behind track guards or bazooka plates anyway and live tracks as used by most post WW2 vehicles have no sagging (2) If a german toy store has scale models they are most likely Revell. Even more true for ToysRUs and MyToys, the two big chains around[/quote] Just a comment on the above; "Live" Tracks were in use on many US tracked vehicles WAAAY before WWII- That's just one detail about US Tanks such as the M4-series Shermans; an M4-series' Tracks were designed to go 2500 miles. Your average German Tank's Tracks would only last 500 miles, if ever...