Homage to Honour Bound Panther (1 Viewer)

[jazzeum]

Honour Bound's Panthers were some of the best tanks ever made. Just look at some of the detail work here. When they first came out I didn't sufficiently appreciate it, thinking the K & C Panther was almost as good. Boy, was I wrong.

This tank was the trend setter and I'll go out on a limb to say that is the tank that changed everything. Without this tank who knows where would we be today. Maybe the same place but who can say for sure.

What makes this tank special for me is that it was the first one ever made and especially made for my by Honour Bound, a pioneer in this hobby.

Let us never forget the continuing contributions of Daniel, Ana and Gabriel.

 

[Louis Badolato]

I sent an e-mail to another forum member today discussing the effect of Honour Bound and some of the other companies which constitute competition to King & Country in the 1:30 scale WWII market. My e-mail completely concurred with Brad's that these competitors and K&C's reaction to their products drove the level of quality in this hobby forward farther and faster than it would have progressed otherwise.

On the other hand, Honour Bound's and the other competitors' prices, as well as the much improved quality that resulted from this competition also either started or fostered the trend towards much more expensive armored vehicles in the hobby (up until the release of the Honour Bound Panthers, a polystone vehicle cost between $89 and $124, after the failure of the "Honour Bound Gold" edition vehicles to prove profitable at $350 and up, we now regularly see principally polystone vehicles priced north of $200). Isn't it strange how in our hobby competition seems to drive up rather than drive down prices?

That being said, congratulations Brad on having the very first Honour Bound Panther produced for you. That is a truly unique and wonderful edition to your collection.

 

[agmtanks]

I am in 100% agreement with you Brad. HB has made Figarti, King & Country , and CS make all their Tanks with more detail and more to scale. I was very upset when they decided to stop making their tanks.HB tanks were a work of Art in my opinion.

I have a Winter Panther, Sherman, Jagdpanther, and Gold Edition Winter Tiger in my Collection.

Your certificate is awesome by the way.

 

[nasirkasmani]

agree with you guys.

that time, i was hoping and rooting for Louis to be successful in convincing the Donzinos to reinstate their tank productions.

still hoping though.

 

[nmrocks]

Brad,
A very special item you have there, a real keeper.

 

[Rob]

Excellent pics Brad.I have to agree with the comment re HB here.The Panther is without doubt one of the landmark releases in this hobby.The winter version is a highlight of my collection,a real fave,the quality just shines through.

Rob

 

[jazzeum]

Thanks all. At the time I did a little legal work for them, completely gratis, but in appreciation, they gave me the first Panther, with certificate. It was a heck of a nice gift.

HB did make that first breakthrough in quality. As far as also raising the level of prices, I suppose that's possible but as the old saying goes, if you want more bells and whistles, it's going to cost you. I think (but can't be sure) that prices were starting to go up by the time the Gold Editions were announced but it did make us more accepting of higher prices.

 

[marco55]

That is quite an honor Brad.I know you are very proud of it.Is this your show piece of everything you have in your collection?
Mark

 

[desk11desk12]

That is quite an honor Brad.I know you are very proud of it.Is this your show piece of everything you have in your collection?
Mark

The toy soldier world isn't the same without the excellence of Honour Bound armor. Figarti made the Japanese Medium Tank earlier (1/32 scale) in the true modelers tradition but it was Honour Bound that launched the revolution in the 1/30 scale armor that creating the paradigm shift forever in this market.

I remember when KC and Honour Bound launched their Summer version of the German Panther almost simultaneously that created a firestorm and countless comparisons among us collectors. KC months later started to incorporate some of these techniques (e.g. see through boogies) in there armor making many of us happier and them more profitable. You have to love capitalism.

Back to HB, I consider myself very fortunate in having a great quantity of there armor releases including three customized Tigers (I got carried away) and one of three Sherman Snorkels M4’s they made.

Thank you again Ana and the Team.

Carlos

 

[Louis Badolato]

Carlos,

I came to the party late, but I too got carried away . . . I have enough Honour Bound vehicles to fill a good sized showcase with a couple left over for a diorama, including a Gold Edition Tiger (thanks to our good friend Nasir), a Gold Edition Snorkel Sherman, and a regular Sherman with Gold Edition foliage camouflage/netting (applied by our good friend Ken Osen). In fact I have at least one version of every Honour Bound vehicle (usually more than one) with the exception of the Gold Edition Sturmtiger (which I tried to order, but got in my order a few days too late).

Honur Bound vehicles were the best principally polystone vehicles made to date in my opinion. Only Figarti vehicles (which have dozens of metal detail pieces, so are not principally polystone) are superior. Frankly, I consider it tragic that they no longer produce vehicles (as my efforts to ressurect their vehicle production attest).

 

[fmethorst]

It was Honour Bound Panthers that got me into this hobby with the winter version being the first piece I acquired. You guys are definitely right about these pieces raising the bar on detail and realism. I think prior to that vehicles were more of a scenic prop to complement the figures rather than being designed to be the main subject of a display.

Brad, congrats on acquiring #1.

I think I may have possibly snagged the last one with this custom version completed at the end of the Gold Series run.

 

[jazzeum]

Marc and Frank,

Thanks.

Frank, I know you purchased a lot of their Golds and I wish I had gotten one. At the time I thought they were too expensive but considering what we know that was probably a little shortsighted on my part.

Somehow you think you have all the time in the world to get one but economic reality has a way of intruding. I am glad to have gotten the ones I did however.

That Panther you pictured is very nice. I think it will be a long time before anyone can top the Panthers made by HB.

 

[Phantom Warrior]

I had never seen an HB AFV except in photos. Louis convinced me as to how good they were. Although HB had alraedy stopped producing AFVs, I was able to find a Panther, Jagdpanther, Bergepanther and Sherman before they disappeared. I looked on ebay today and there are a few HB panthers at good prices.

Terry

 

[wayne556517]

Thats awesome Brad #1 nice way to say thanks,yep ive been chasing HB panthers ever since i got into this hobby.I wasn,t collecting when HB where making AFV,s so far i have 422 and 424 and Jagdpanther # 114.Also a bit off the beaten track there field kitchens look A1 to and the damaged Panthers (dont like the base its on) +winter and summer Bergepanther,s which are superb.I missed the winter Panther this morning on ebay ($150.00 US) it sold for, my alarm didn,t go off........ Oh well the hunt continues.

 

[Go for Broke]

Here's my Panther. Remember when they first came out, they were $125!

 

[redhugh]

What I like about the Honour Bound tanks, is not the realism but the artistry that goes along with their detail. The Honour Bound panther is very imposing and menacing in a diorama and the track is sculptured in a dynamic way that makes you think its either speeding along or about to crush all in its path.
Not just a model but a piece of art imo

 

[damian]

When were the HB Panthers released?

 

[lancer]

The HB Panther and especially the Jagdpanther I own are my best models. Detail and paint are outstanding. The ambush pattern on the Jagd is the best done paint job I have seen on a model, bar none. I got Panther #421 and a damaged summer scheme Panther to round out my HB vehicle collection. It is a modest size collection but I am very pleased that I was able to get them at all. I love that Jagdpanther! -- Al

 

[Blowtorch]

plus the first & only tank unit

 

[jazzeum]

When were the HB Panthers released?

Damian,

Approximately late Spring to early Summer 2006.