New MiniArt kit is coming soon, 1:35 scale #35449 German 3t Cargo Truck 3,6-36S Mid Prod. PmQ600-Type
OK let me be the first to say it - just as has been said about oh so many, ump-teen “NEW” Pz. IV’s or Tiger I’s:
There are several versions that COULD HAVE BEEN OFFERED: Several of the enclosed cab with extended headroom. Also a version where the loadbox sits low on the frame and the rear wheel wells protrude upward into the load area. Also a version with an extended loadbox that utilizes the bus chassis.
Then again NOBOBY except Plus Models has ever had the guts to produce the all rad, 4-wheel drive version !!!
Yet once again we are offered ANOTHER edition of the venerable 2x4 Opel Blitz - Oh Rapture, Oh for joy!
To go even further with this rant; why copy Tamiya? Why not lead off with one of the Blitz fire trucks or one of the fuel trucks, or a tow truck, bakery truck, signals truck, ambulance, ANYTHING other than yet another standard cargo truck ???
A good bit of reference and variants on the Opel Blitz 3.6 can be found here in the archives:
I tend to agree. We have any number of the “S” type standard body trucks. I personally would like to see more of the special purpose bodies, particularly a tanker truck and workshop truck. The venerable Italaeri box body could do with an update in styrene including an interior from somebody. We have no end of tanks with interiors which you can’t see when complete; something more accessible like a workshop truck would be a really cool kit. I’d even settle for a 4.5 ton version on the Bussing/NAG chassis. I know we have Russian style ones from MiniArt but I’d like to see one on a German chassis. There is BTW, no kit in styrene of the Phanomen Granit ambulance, the most common type in German service.
My impression is that many companies now target model collectors rather than model builders. Release a single Panther, a model collector buys one. Release 7 Panthers, a model collector buys 7.
It does not bother me. Scale Hobbyist currently shows 3,519 1/35 scale models in stock. Some percentage of that is barrels and sand bags and telephone poles and stuff, but at least half of it is full vehicles. That does not include hundreds of full vehicle models that went out of stock but still appear in other stores. It does not include cars or planes or ships.
If I manage to build one model a month for the next 20 years, that is 240 models. It is a drop in that bucket. A model collector will purchase way more models than that. Way more.
If MiniArt makes money selling every possible variant of this truck to collectors, more power to em.
Also, once research is done and drawings are on file, modifying a computer generated part layout, sending it to a computer controlled milling machine, and cutting a new mold is easy. Somewhere in these forums is a video of the people at Academy going through the entire process. Preparing a variant takes a small fraction of the time required to research and draw a new subject.
I do encourage the people at model companies to research, draw, and mold new subjects. I do not mind them making money off collectors.
Mostly agree.
But we have the Dragon Opel Blitz Maultier ambulance with full interior, at least.
ICM did a fairly complete series of KHD trucks: “S”, “A” and Maultier. The Ford truck has also lots of variants.
Give MiniArt some time, and I’m sure they’ll come up with more interesting variants.
Again so why start the process with the MOST commonly know variant of the vehicle?
Interestiing that you differentiate model buyers/collectors from model builders
Yes, that puzzles me also. Usually a company starts with more exotic variants to attract more buyers, and only then release the more middle-of-the-road ones.
Regarding collectors: a very valid point! I think Dragon was one of the first to specifically target collectors. Their kits are quite pricey, at least in the US/Canada and in Europe, but every release is only available in limited numbers. If you don’t buy one now, chances are you’ll never get it in the future. Or years later, and then in a different boxing. In other words, they purposefully create a sense of scarcity, which for some justifies the high price, apparently.
Cyber Hobby White Box kits are quite clearly intended for collectors.
I’m not a deliberate collector, it’s just that the stash grows faster than I can build them!