Crumb-worthy (or, what would you beg Dragon to make for you)

Modeling Subjects Armor
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Following on from a suggestion in “If you could influence Dragon, what would your choice be for a new Zimm kit”, where I expressed my opinion that If I could influence Dragon, it would be for something that hasn’t been produced, like an Infantry Tank Mk I, a Vickers Mk VI, A9, A10, A13 Cruiser or A34 Comet (and that’s not even mentioning a plethora of armoured cars like the Roll-Royce, Marmon-Herrington and AEC), and one response was that modellers should be well-pleased with the production of Allied armour in recent years …

For crying out aloud!

We’re seeing, this year, the release by both Trumpeter and Dragon of Pzkw IVB Bridgelayers. Now, I’m all in favour of this, but by both Trumpeter and Dragon? Last year, Tamiya made a Char B. That’s a wonderful model, much appreciated. I’m really sorry that the Germans never applied Zimmerit to it, or maybe they did … field-applied, no less. Now we get a Tiger II (not a “King” or “Royal” Tiger - I’ve heard that “Koenigstiger” translates as Bengal Tiger, evidently) with Zimmerit and suddenly all is fantastic with the world.

We have a few Shermans. No Crabs, Bobbins, AVRE Churchills (which actually went some way to winning the war, as opposed to the Pzkw IVB Brueckenleger, or Maus), and we don’t have much in the way of Desert armour, trucks or armoured cars unless they happened to have been adorned with black crosses (or heavily-armed with machine guns and bearded irregulars). We have a Crusader and Crusader AA. We have a Matilda and Valentine. A Churchill Crocodile. AFV Club has made a lovely Centurion. Mind you, that was post-war, so counts not.

I don’t think that there is much on the German side that has not been kitted. The British tanks (weak though they were) are mentioned above. I note that there is much similarity, if not commanility between the Valentine and the Cruisers and Matilda I, especially in the running gear. The Rolls-Royce is a pretty simple little vehicle, relevant to two world wars.

A DD Sherman V would be nice.

A Panhard armoured car … (heaven forbid, these were used by the Wehrmacht too, so they’ve probably already been kitted).

A 3.7" AA gun, 2 pdr AT gun, 17pdr AT gun would all be good. A 2pdr and /or 6pdr Portee would be a nice touch.

But, if I could beg Dragon for ONE kit only, it would be for a Vickers Mk VI.

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Oh - you want to keep this to WWII era. Staghounds. (Didn’t the MkIII use a Cruiser turret or something? -Found it, is a Crusader turret- Should be easy to reuse molds that way…)

http://www.armyvehicles.dk/staghound.htm

Outside WWII, my top pick would be a CV90. Especially with an AMOS turret. After that, a Ferret.

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Where should I start!

British Vickers Mk VI light tank

British early Cruiser Tanks (Mk. 10, 13, 14)

FIAT Ansaldi M13/40 series tanks (M14/41 and M15/42)

FIAT Ansaldi Semovente SPG’s based upon the M13/40’s

Italian infantry, support weapons (ATG’s, AA’s, etc.) and other figures.

Early British infantry including desert settings.

Mike T.

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I’d love to see a Crusader I/II in 1/35.

The Duplex Drive Sherman would be cool.

British Airbourne Jeep w/howitzer and crew. (why not the glider too)

British Comet.

Is there an updated version of the deuce and a half? or “duck”

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I agree wholeheartedly. The DD Shermans, Churchil AVREs and other “Funnies” were built and used in combat in greater numbers than many of the more recent new kit offerings. The basic kits: hull, turret, suspension, etc already exist for the basic tanks. So why not do the research, make the needed parts and come up with these kits also. I dont think it would be too difficult of a task. And yes, the armor used in the Western Desert campaign (some of which also was used in France 1940 and sent to Russia Lend/Lease) is SADLY under represented.

I wont even get into figures. While Soviet soldiers appear to finally be getting their due, Commonwealth troops with their distinctive headgear just do not exist in plastic. Yet there are more sets than you can shake a stick at of various German units…

My begging in the end would be… M4A1 DD

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To be honest, enough with the Shermans and even the Tigers. Dragon has no British armor except the old Alan Valentine, Bishop and the newly released Sherman III.

The Tamiya Matilda is how old? 34 years or so? Love a new one

A Dragon all-new molded Valentine! Yes that would be my choice, the Alan kit was full of flash that I ended up selling it many years ago. Lets’ not even talk about the tracks…

Though Italeri has some nice Crusader’s I, II, and III, they too are dated a bit and I really want a Crusader II, without the MG turret and the latter sans shields found on the Mk III’s. The one i got is an early II with the older sand shields and turret.

How about an updated 25pdr.?

I’m still waiting for someone to produce a BT-7. Always liked that little guy and little shelf space would be taken up. LOL

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There are plenty of interesting, unkitted, subjects on this page:

http://www.desertrats.org.btinternet.co.uk/artefacts2.htm

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Any of the Soviet BT series would get my vote. Same thing with the Crusaders. Earlier war Allied/Commonwealth subjects are lacking in styrene for a variety of reasons…but those are ones I’d love to see materialize.

Staghound is being released by Bronco for those interested…they’ve got their Humber as well out, so the Brit SC crowd is getting a boost there too. http://www.perthmilitarymodelling.com/reviews/vehicles/bronco/cb35011.html

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Although there were few in number,I’d like to see an Italian P 40.A DD Sherman would rock.

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Kudos to you, Brew, for starting an obviously popular thead for what is undoubtedly a legitimate gripe; the lack of good kits of British armor.

I agree–although I can’t say that I’m any big fan of Brit armor–that they are under-represented and slim-pickin’s!

I think that what makes the German armor so well represented is both the mystique and the legend–deserved or not–that has grown up around them. They were feared, loathed, almost spoken of in whispers in many books I’ve read, and, from technical points of view, many were much more complex and well-made than their Allied counterparts. (I realize this is a subject for much contention and debate!)

But I think that the same reason that you see many more Muscle Cars in production than, say, Edsels or Chevettes, is the same reason you see more German armor than some of the British tanks, none of which outside of the Firefly were really much of a threat to the Axis panzers. I’ll bet that sales figures reflect that, and I’m sure that that’s what drives the market, IMHO!

Having said that, I’ve been wishing for years for a series of the early WWI British tanks–the “Original Bad Boys” of our hobby! “Mother”, “Little Willy”, and all the Marks that crawled across the battlefields of the Somme and at Cambrai! I can’t believe that nobody’s picked up the ball on these baby’s besides a few cheap kits that are way below the current standards! [%-)]

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I agree Doog. It may be the mystique or hyped legend, or what I like to think of as the “underdog status” i.e 1550 Tigers versus 30,000 T-34’s that intrigue German armor builders, but also the many different types of tanks and SP’s and of course, those funky camouflages that we love to replicate.

I think early war vehicles are quite unrepresented, though a few more have came out recently: Char B, numerous Pz I’s, a few other French tanks. I’d like to see a Somua, a far better tank than the Char B. As mentioned earlier, the earliest Cruiser tanks would be fun for North African enthusiasts.

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ahhhh … wiener envy :slight_smile:

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I am sick of WW2!!! Lets get some more modern armor! Anything from The South Africans. People take for granted the Armor that contry has produced. Alot of countries are using their stuff. Also the Cadillac-Gage series of V armored cars, and Aml armored cars. What about a M-103 heavy tank? Or more Trucks. Samil 20, and 100, Or a new US tank transporter you don’t have to sell organs for to possess! And put some interiors in the kits for God sake so you have a base to detail off of. Okay gents start knocking holes in my post. Im ready.

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As I’ve said elsewhere, all I want is for Dragon to produce an M-7 Priest (thank heavens that Academy is finally releasing one), an M3 Halftrack Tank Destroyer, and a Cromwell. Be it a Smart Kit or a Premium Kit, I don’t care. I just want the Dragon logo on the boxtop. [:D]

And I completely agree about WWI armor, that is undiscovered country right there. Even some armor produced between the wars, as I’d love to model the tank that my great-uncle’s unit used in the Wisconsin National Guard. First Tank unit in Wisconsin. Of course I can’t get any info whatsoever on the unit until they were called up and sent to the Philipines and their subsequent travels on the Bataan March. He didn’t make the trip over there though due to a medical condition that left him stateside…

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How about a USMC Ontos?

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An Ontos would be good!!! Forgot about that ugly little beasty.

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I have to put my votes in for some new AmTracs. The LVT3 / LVT3C which no one anywhere produces, and the newest of the bunch, the EFV. If you haven’t heard of or seen this thing, I gaurantee its capabilities will impress you! (When its running right anyway)

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Is that the new Hydrofoil type trac? Those things look wicked!!! Semper-Fi!!!

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90fr9kjbl;,l,opiu87976r6eeeeeeeeeeeeerdddgfdghfyr556eetyftyfttvyvccdfrters/*7849899896544 This is what my ferret has to say on matters. I think she put it well dont you?

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I want Dragon to make a half-descent non-desertized Challenger 2 in 1/35 because not even tamiya wants to re-release their desertized version with new side skirts which is all it would take!