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!)

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.

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).

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.

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.

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

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

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[/quote] 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.

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.