Brian, I suggest you 'surmise' too much
After myself and a few other forum members complained about the scale issues of some of the earlier tanks Andy did say that there was some shrinkage. K & C subsequently rectified the scale problem. They also improved track detail on the tanks and also improved the general detail of the vehicles such as using clear rather than blue painted windscreens.
No doubt K & C would have made these improvements in due course - as they do. However, I believe consumer demand together with earlier competition such as Figarti and Honour Bound may have expedited the K & C improvements.
