Cyber-Hobby, have re-announced a model which many may see as little more than a reaction to ANOTHER announcement we made here on Armorama

Announced with little in the way of marching bands, fireworks or happy crowds thronging the streets (at the Japan Show a few months ago) was this:

6715 - MB Typ G4 Partisanenwagen

Now, it has been re-announced prompting some minor head-shaking and some real questions.

Now, those who know me from my work here on the Site, realize that I don't often do it, but there ARE times when some minor editorializing is called for.

Now, to bring you up-to-date with the story, ICM not only announced the same vehicle, but have regularly updated us with In-Progress shots of the vehicle. So, for one second truly believing in the Power of the Press, I feel it may be worthwhile asking some pointed questions...

1) The first, is the most obvious. Does the market REALLY need a second Typ G4? This is a vehicle which was produced in small numbers, only served the needs of VERY senior members of the 3rd Reich and would rarely be seen beyond ceremonial occasions.

2) Is this REALLY part of Cyber-Hobby's release program? Previously (with the exception of the widely-produced Opel Blitz) the company has released a series of VARIANTS on existing models - prototypes, one-offs and even hypotheticals have been the company's stock-in-trade. Why now announce a vehicle of this type?

3) Is it competion or a 'spoiler'? Competition is the life-blood of the hobby. Without it, one company would be dictating all releases, the technical improvements in models spearheaded by such as Dragon Models or Bronco would be inexistent. They compete to sell the best product - that's the world we live in. However, when a company like DML announces the SAME New Release, it can look like a 'Spoiler' against a smaller, less 'visible' company. There have been a couple of 'coincidences' recently that have caused more eyebrow raising than you'd see at a convention of Vulcan psychiatrists.

4) The 'i'll wait for the release by Company X'? Some companies know all too well that if a smaller, less visible company announces a particular release and a larger 'Hi-Vis' company announces the same, then people WILL wait for the release by the bigger manufacturer. Brand Loyalty, proven confidence, call it what you will, but it IS a factor.

5) Where IS the Threat? Now, if we were living in cloud-cuckoo land, we could argue that the high profile companies such as ICM get here, on Armorama, damages the business of DML. The latter STILL sell, get the headlines and generate more interest than the former. They've a bigger catalogue, a (longer) proven track-record of technical excellence than almost anyone else. So why, does it (at least from where I'M sitting) seem that DML get nervous at every other release by every other company? If it was a Panther, I could understand it. A staff car though?

Yes, my thoughts which may be shared by some (and rejected by many more), but an announcement like THIS does raise a series of curious questions....