I feel out of my element here, but I love my bf and this is one of his hobbies he is passionate about. He “let it slip” he is looking for something called a Grizzly Bear tank, and a “tank hunter” kit from like 1966 or something. He is a history genius, and im the polar opposite, forgive me. I got him to tell me these were German tanks, but aside from that, im clueless. Does ANYONE know where I could acquire these items of my quest? And possibly recommend a good magazine/catalog he could order from? He does not do cell phones or computers so it would have to be an actual paper catalog. Please help me, this is also a personal mission since he made the mistake of saying he didn’t think I would be able to locate what he wanted, haha. He is my world and aside from that comment I just want to get him what will make him happy. Thanks in advance (im more of the car modeler, lol)
Hi Felixkitty,
I suspect the Grizzly Bear he is referring to is a Monogram 1/32 scale kit of the German Sturmpanzer 43 (Brummbar). It can be a difficult to find as it has been out of production for a long time, but you can sometimes find it on the secondary market or eBay. The same is true for the tank hunter. I think he is looking for Monogram’s 1/32 scale Panzerjaeger IV. I can’t find either for sale online anywhere and, fair warning, they can be expensive when they do popup because of the rarity.
There aren’t a lot of paper catalogs out there, but here’s store that at least offers a PDF you can download and they still do phone orders.
https://modelempireusa.com/?page_id=38
I hope that helps some. Good luck with your mission!
The Japanese company Tamiya produced a couple of Brumbaers in 1/35 scale: the first in 1976 and the second in 2017.
You can find the former on eBay and the latter on Amazon.
I suggest you pick up a copy of Finescale Modeler magazine and see if you can find some telephone numbers, then make some calls.
Bill
This is the kit in question and it has been out of production for nearly half a century. The company ended its armor line and concentrated on cars and planes long ago and was, for all intents and purposes, out of business within the past year or two.
https://www.scalemates.com/kits/monogram-7506-sturmpanzer-43--185423
Vintage kits kind of get a premium in price because collectors buy them for the nostalgia value.
But there are more modern versions by other companies, but it would not hold the same nostalgic value to your boyfriend. Many of us want the exact same kit we had as a kid and a newer version of the same kit will not hold the same intrinsic value to us.
Hope I don’t insult you here, but you sound like a dream come true trying to help your bf like this. A lot of signficant others aren’t as understanding of this hobby I’m sure. Sorry I can’t be of any help on this quest.
He’s probably looking for these. They were released in 1973.
I wonder if the four-page Shep Paine diorama guides were included in those German market boxes?
I want to remember one of the SP sites has copies of the guides fro mthe US market versions.
All of which gives me some severe nostalgia.
Check out the website www.oldmodelkits.com. I have seen the Monogram kits there occassionally. Their prices can be high, but they get new listings every week. They will also notify you when they get the kit or kits you are looking for.
By the way, many kudos to you for doing this for him!
Bill
Those Shep Paine diorama inserts were so very inspirational.
I have two SP sites bookmarked but both are now dead/deleted.
Otherwise both are available from Tamiya in 1/35.
Bill
Also, Italeri makes them in 1/35.
Bill
Amen.
Equal parts daunting and daring, and definitely inspiring. Even now, hunting the various site down still fires up the imagination (especially with the AM stuff available today).
Yeah, having to go “refresh” SP appears to be a “thing” we all wind up doing on a periodic basis. Which is why I have to be careful getting on Scalemates with “free” time . . .
I remeber those being my first armor kits. If I recall the Brummbar even had zimmerit.
They have rereleased a couple of those old Monagram kits, I saw the Mk IV G/H? at the local Hobbytown just today. It has that same sitting figure that is in both of those kits