This is just something I was thinking about today, almost every well-known kit manufacturer has released atleast one version of their own kit or re-boxed kit of the Abrams.
Only AFV hasn’t? They’ve recently released their Stryker kit, RWS accessory kit and their Abrams track links are well known. They planning a kit for the future that someone has heard of?
The most common builds you see on the forums are Tigers,Shermans and Abrams. Although a lot more T-34s and Panthers these days - Dragon might have something to do with that.
There is a market for another kit, surely? Yes the AIM and SEP have blown the competition out of the water but I’m sure another accurate kit would be welcomed?
Just wandering if anyone else has any thoughts on this.
“almost every well-known kit manufacturer has released at least one version of thier own kit or re-boxedkit of the Abrams”
It’s called “market saturation”
I think they did the smart thing by going with the Stryker. Something different to get the modelling dolllars of the Modern Armor fans.
Personally, although I’m a die-hard Panzer afficionado, I’ve seen enough “new” Tigers, Panthers, etc to take me into 2012…I’d much rather see some older WWI stuff–why has no major manufacturer done a GOOD “Little Willy” or Mark I? Or some more wierd variants, like the .88 Flakwagen.
When you stop and think about it, what manufacturer hasn’t done an Abrams? I have the Tamiya and the Dragon with the Mine Plow myself and I have seen literlly a dozen other M1A1 kits on the shelves.
Personally, I’d love to see a superdetailed T-72 with various options or even a decent Challenger kit. With so many other armor subjects spanning decades of warfare, I’m one who would like to see some other subjects get some much needed exposure. Of course I’m not an armor expert by any stretch, but it just seems to me that everytime I hit the hobbyshop the shelves are filled with Abrams, Hummers and other common subjects we see so much of these days. Just my opinion though which probably ain’t worth much.
…since when has market saturation mattered to model companies?..LOL…(half in jest)…I mean, some subjects are OVERDONE…classic example: Tiger I…
Ironic thing is, as many times as companies have attempted the Tiger, IMO, only DML has really nailed it, so maybe saturation of a product just forces the other guy to kick the next attempt up a notch or it won’t sell…after all, most reviews compare the new kit to the last one made, and if it is an improvement, most people will shell out for it if it is a subject they like…
…getting back to your question: they probably won’t touch it after DML’s release, because from what I have seen and read no kit can come near to it…
I agree with the market saturation, but it was also a product of having the right contacts provide them with the necessary information.
Abrams kits go back to the early 1980s with the Tamiya (#1), mid 80s with the Esci/AMT/Ertl M1 (#2) and M1A1 (#3).
Dragon released their M1A1 (#4,5,6) and M1A2 (#7) during the 1990s along with Tamiya’s retooled M1A1 (#8-9) and the Academy clone (#10).
Revell of Germany released the Dragon Abrams kit in their box during the 1990s as well.
Trumpeter showed up with their multiple boxings of the M1A1/A2 (#11-13) around 1999-2000.
Italeri then released a new tool M1A2/A1 (#14-15) a couple of years ago followed by Tamiya’s retool of their Abrams into a 3 in 1 kit (#16).
The above Italeri M1A2 was also reboxed by Revell of Germany.
Both Academy (#17) and Dragon (#18) reissued updated versions of their M1A1s during the beginning of the Iraq invasion in 2003.
Last year we had Dragon’s definitive M1A1AIM (#19) kit along with this years’ M1A2SEP (#20).
I know I’ve missed a couple of variants, including motorized versions by Tamiya and Trumpter and the Panther II kits, but there are at least 20 different basic boxings of the Abrams by the major manufacturers.
And thank god to that. With all due respect, I would rather see just one kit of a never done vehicle or even an updated version of something that has only been done once or tqice, than 2 dozen new variants of a tiger or a sherman.
HOLY %$#& ! ! ! Rob!!! That’s some impressive documentation of the kits’ history! Please tell me you didn’t pull that right of the top of your head![(-D]
I agree with Mansteins point that market saturation hasn’t stopped anybody before.
I’m sure many Tiger lovers have just bough the new 3-in-1 Late kit even though they bought the previous Dragon releases.
As inaccurate as some of the other kits are of the same thing, how many modellers haven’t ended with one finished model which is made up from multiple kits?
If somebody makes it, modellers will buy it. - (Generalising)
The AIM from Dragon is unbelievable in terms of accuracy, however a lot of people have complained about the instructions,magic tracks and complexity etc.
The SEP has improved upon the AIM in that the instructions seem easier to follow therefore making it an easier build (theoritically) and the DS tracks have replaced the Magic Tracks.
Now what forces Dragon to get better? They’ve set the new standard, what forces them to improve?
IMO, rivallry. If another company produced an Abrams of the same or better quality, modellers would buy it. (Atleast the M1 lovers would).
Yes, the list is off the top of my head. Yesterday was my 20th anniversary in the active US Army. I’ve spent the last 24 years in and around US armor starting with the M48A5 and ending with the M1A2 (non-SEP).
It seems to me, you are right. If it’s easy to assemble and good fit and cheap, people complain about lack of detail and such, and if its got all the tiny parts, indie track and a couple PE frets, then other people complain it’s too complicated. So instead of complaining about the Dragon kit, they should simlpy try a simpler one, and vice versa to the “detail freaks” [:D] Jst my honest, humble opinion. Don’t know enough about Abrams kits for that to mean anything specific about the kit, it’s just what I’ve noticed from other releases.
…well put…who would have thunk a year ago that today some modelers would be complaining that kits were to complex and/or had too many parts, instructions hard to read, etc…?
If any of the recent DML kits are too much for anyone, take the above advice—I WANT MY SMART KIT !!!
Sure market saturation. What the manufacturers don’t realize is that with the exception of the Dragon kit, most of the Abrams kits are a few years old to say the least. Manufacturers too many times feel that since there are 2 or 3 out there already why make another? Sure the other 2 or 3 are 30-40 years old but people still build them. Of course they do, they want the subject and they don’t have any other choices. I myself was just thinking how an AFV Club Abrams would kick some major ass. I would like to get the Dragon version as well, but the cost is high and I can’t find them anywhere.