Spend my model budget on another regurgitated Panther? No I will wait to see what the new kids on the block will offer.

I'm sure that this one is a re-release of the Cyber Hobby Befehls Panther G kit CH6551. Which in turn was, I believe, the Dragon Panther G SmartKit 6268 with added bits for the different antenna systems and the modified gun-mantlet that may or may not have "graced" any of the 330 or so A and G Panthers which were built up as "Befehls Panthers". The original CH kit is a great kitty kit, and it came with Magic Tracks and PE and clear periscopes, etc. The version is real, the version is NOT some odd one-off but actually an important and fairly common variant. And one had (probably still will have) the option of doing a straight-up earlier Panther G or the targeted command version. You will have to add on the zimm (if you seek maximal accuracy) - most likely this earlier G had zimm, as all A and all G built before SEP 1944 came with zimm from the factory. And, if you want them, you'll need to add the schurzen as well - the CH kit lacked this known G feature, and probably this re-release will follow the leader on that. And, if you are like me and feel your gorge rise at the thought of DS tracks... Well, I guess it'll be get some AM links for you, too! But that's the way the D has gone. It is an important and kinda interesting variation, and if you missed the now-rare original CH kit... This one probably will fill the bill OK and put a befehls-kitty into your stash after all.... And IF you are really a builder as versus mostly a buyer ( ),you'll end up with a nice kitty on the shelf, too! But those DS tracks... That has to STOP. Bob

My kitty, (she's real; a Maine Coon), parks herself wherever she pleases... THAT'S WHY all my completed efforts are displayed behind glass!!!

Yeah.... I have a real "befehls-kitty" too - an overly-opinionated and full-of-herself orange tabby part-manx stump-tailed sort. But we have worked out a bribery-based agreement; she stays out of the model-shelves and I feed her about 10x the cat-treats as normal cats get!

I can TOTALLY RELATE to the "bribery"- I spend a small fortune on her for treats every week, but she's worth it! I couldn't ask for a more loyal and affectionate pet!

I for one really like the look of the command variants. If this proves to be easier to find than the Cyberhobby option I'll gladly buy it. Provided I don't have to take out a bank loan to do so....

RETAIL prices on some of the latest DRAGON Panzers run in the $70-80 dollar range. If I were you, I'd wait a few months. Once the furor dies down over any new kit's release, you can still buy DRAGON stuff for (in this day and age, anyway) "decent" 21st Century money, i.e, $50 bucks, give or take... I'm not exactly happy about the pricing of today's plastic model kits, but that's the way it is, so I deal with it as I see fit... What else can one do..?

Or wait and see if it goes on sale at dragonusaonline.com I have bought a ton of stuff from there by waiting until it hits the 50% off sales.

You beat me to it! You can rest absolutely assured that the high new-release price will fold and drop as other new stuff comes out, and more so if it proves less-than-popular, and it will appear on on-line sales events. I always wait until the new stuff settles down in price. And it's always still just as new to me even if I buy it several months later than the impatient guys get it! Bob