New MiniArt kit is coming soon, 1:35 scale #36067 Kharkiv 1943: Tram & Stug. III Ausf. G w/Crew. BIG SET
The set does look cool. Although I am more than sure there will be tons of “lookie Lous” that find such aggreges errors as not to buy it. LOL.
What a cool new set! I really like the idea of Miniart having so many 1:35 options that they’re now able to offer All-in-One diorama options.
Just to be clear, and for conversation’s sake; The title of this set is referencing the Kharkov-Belgorod Offensive of 1943 in which the Soviet forces finally took Kharkov for good? I believe that was in the very late Summer of 1943 which would explain the Stug variant and summer looking German grenadiers with M43 ankle boots and gemaschen gaiters.
Anytime I see “Khakiv” in a WW2 context, I mistakenly think of Manstein’s Counteroffensive in the deep winter of February/March 1943. With the Iconic brand new Panzer IV G’s, Tiger I earlies, and new fur lined heavy parkas. I either think of that or the Barbarossa-ish October of 1941 battle. I need to remember there was a final battle in August of '43.
I don’t get it. Any diorama enthusiast interested in doing a Khakiv dio (whether wintery or summery) would’ve already purchased those kits separately, they’ve had several years to do so. And any such diorama should have a burnt-out/destroyed tram, not a nice functioning one. It wouldn’t have been asking a lot if MiniArt had tweaked their tram sprues to make a derelict version – now there’s a real gap in the market. Looks like a fairly desperate attempt to clear unsold production sprues.
I tend to agree. Are the tank riders new moulds or two existing sets combined? Sadly, I can’t help feeling that they would sell more if it was pitched at Spring 1943, the Manstein Counteroffensive, with the figures being SS in the winter parkas, which MiniArt have done.
I’d love to build that, I really would. But Miniarts make me unhappy as a modeller. This set probably has well north or 2000 parts and none of them are enjoyable to me as a modelling experience. Huge respect to anyone who loves this style but I’m not there yet. Way too advanced and painstaking for me.
Not advanced Chris, but just plain painstaking. Miniart kits are a long labor to assemble.
I see your point but also having essentially four kits in one (tram, base, stug and troops) can be a cost effective way to get all those kits in one hit. The rub is whether the final price point is cheaper than buying each kit separately. I’m unsure whether this is the case as I haven’t seen the price for this kit yet. For us in Australia this price consideration really boils down to factoring in transport costs, either direct from an overseas supplier or the cost that’s added to locally based hobby shop prices.
I also do see your point about a damaged tram but most modellers would have different types and levels of damage they want to incorporate into a scene. If the version in this kit had a shell hole in one side, odds on the modeller would need that hole on the other side or smaller or larger, to fit into their scene. Having an unscathed version allows the modeller to damage/adjust/weather the tram to suit.
You guys are forgetting that MiniArt’s trams are often OOS. So good luck finding the components. I think this is a great idea, and I look forward to all the cool builds that will be coming. The trams aren’t hard to build, though they aren’t Tamiya “builds itself” simplistic baloney.
