More good news for WW I AFV modelers! Supposedly with an interior too, so unload those Tauro dinosaurs and get ready for some 21st century tooling! To be fair I built the Tauro kit back around 1978, and while not a Tamiya by a long shot, it was a challenging but enjoyable model.
There were less than two dozen real A7Vs built, and aside from the Rochling and Krupp hull variations, there were a surprising number of small differences which distinguished individual vehicles. The Tankograd monograph does a nice job of illustrating these. http://www.tankograd.com/cms/website.php?id=/en/sturmpanzer-A7V.htm Deffo worth a look if you are into this pioneering German panzer.
Im currently building the French FT-17 from Meng, and it has lot of fitting issues. So, Im in the “so-so” for Meng, but that German tank looks very very tempting…hmmmm…will see.
What kinds of fit issues does the FT-17 have? Is it the large body pieces, or detail bits? I deferred purchasing the original cast turret version, as I was hoping to snag a boxing without the interior. Then Meng issued the riveted turret version without an interior. Still waiting for a cast turret version without the innards.
The A7V is a just big box, so hopefully it won’t have major fit issues. I wonder how Meng will treat the various features of the tank, like the two rooftop ventilation grates. Tauro molded them like heavy cast iron, but they are actually thin sheet metal. There are two variations on that feature too on the real deal. Hope Meng has read through the Tankograd book to sort the myriad detail differences.
Meng is certainly hitting a lot of great subjects and having built their AUF 1, I’ve been really impressed at their quality and detail. I’ve heard nothing but very good things with only one minor complaint, that they use a “softer” material from other armor companies. I have a French FT-17 on the shelf and look forward to more WWI kits.
With the St Chamond, the MKIV, the F17 and recently the Schneider tank just put out by Hobby Boss (just ordered one!) the catalogue of WWI tanks is virtually complete for whatever you’d want in terms of the major players! I couldn’t be more thrilled!
Now, if they would just get onto producing the big American SPG Howitzers like the M55 and all of those cool beasts that used to line the road going into Aberdeen!
All that is left is the Whippet and the other marks of the British rhomboids. I wonder if Meng will carry the A7V to the gelandwagen supply carrier and the experimental flakwagen variants?
I’m now optimistic someone will do a German K-Wagen as well (think British Mk.IV on steroids). Someone tried to sell me the Kora resin kit, but I didn’t feel like spending $200.
Anyway, it is (finally) a good time to be a WW I armor modeler. WW I soldier figures are also slowly marching in too. I don’t think it will be long before we see guys in gas masks.
The M1919 (?) 8" rail mount coast artillery piece would be very cool in 1/35, other than finding US rolling stock to match (much of the “I”/1 gauge stuff is European style.)