Tigers !!! (1 Viewer)

[Jack]

Your comment seems to be that making a detailed, accurate AFV at a correct scale is not economically viable and we should just be content with AFVs that are adequate, but not the best. Not sure I agree with that. The highly detailed AFV business model seems to be working out just fine for First Legion. Their last two tank releases (Sherman and grey Panzer IV) are extremely detailed both both sold out with no problems.

Not quite saying that because I would not have the knowledge to make that call. It was just an observation based on the fact that in a couple of cases companies with products that rated highly are not around any more. In those examples, for whatever reason, it appears not to have been viable. I do not have the backstory, so the owners might have won lotto and chucked it in. To fully 'out' myself I have never seen an Honour Bound vehicle in the flesh, have seen a half dozen Figarti vehicles in passing, and have only seen FL vehicles at the London Show so I am anything but expert.

I am certainly not suggesting that people should be content - or discontent - with anything other than at some point once the discontent reaches a level where it makes the enjoyment of the hobby difficult, time to have a rethink, but that is an extreme case I would think. It is a personal call so each to there own. I have a TCS Tiger and I really like it although apparently according to some 'expert' there are accuracy problems, the highlighting of which perversely made me like it a little more. I would not compare it to FL, for example, because that would be like someone travelling in economy and complaining that the service isn't as good as First Class. As for FL, and I will tread lightly here, they are quite a bit dearer so they offer a different level of detail which makes sense. I have no knowledge of FL but if they sold out good for them but I suppose they might cater for a niche within a niche so that still would not necessarily suggest that there is room for others in the same area.

I will say this though, and you have certainly not done it in your post, but do you think there is a bit of a goldilocks thing going on with armour? This one has broken tracks, this one has gunk in the tracks so they won't break, this one is too dear but the tracks are clean and unbroken? Difficult, if not impossible, for one maker to do all in a single vehicle.

 

[TomNT]

Not quite saying that because I would not have the knowledge to make that call. It was just an observation based on the fact that in a couple of cases companies with products that rated highly are not around any more. In those examples, for whatever reason, it appears not to have been viable. I do not have the backstory, so the owners might have won lotto and chucked it in. To fully 'out' myself I have never seen an Honour Bound vehicle in the flesh, have seen a half dozen Figarti vehicles in passing, and have only seen FL vehicles at the London Show so I am anything but expert.

I am certainly not suggesting that people should be content - or discontent - with anything other than at some point once the discontent reaches a level where it makes the enjoyment of the hobby difficult, time to have a rethink, but that is an extreme case I would think. It is a personal call so each to there own. I have a TCS Tiger and I really like it although apparently according to some 'expert' there are accuracy problems, the highlighting of which perversely made me like it a little more. I would not compare it to FL, for example, because that would be like someone travelling in economy and complaining that the service isn't as good as First Class. As for FL, and I will tread lightly here, they are quite a bit dearer so they offer a different level of detail which makes sense. I have no knowledge of FL but if they sold out good for them but I suppose they might cater for a niche within a niche so that still would not necessarily suggest that there is room for others in the same area.

I will say this though, and you have certainly not done it in your post, but do you think there is a bit of a goldilocks thing going on with armour? This one has broken tracks, this one has gunk in the tracks so they won't break, this one is too dear but the tracks are clean and unbroken? Difficult, if not impossible, for one maker to do all in a single vehicle.

Good post Jack, especially the last bit.

Tom

 

[BigMike]

Best winter panther in the hobby for along time !!

View attachment 185394

The Tank it self is well done, the only issue I have is the Tank Commander is TOO BIG!!!!.
His waist is the same size as the turret hole.

IMO the old Normandy Panther " Hitler Youth Division " from KC is better.

Neil :salute::

 

[Hunter Rose]

I will say this though, and you have certainly not done it in your post, but do you think there is a bit of a goldilocks thing going on with armour? This one has broken tracks, this one has gunk in the tracks so they won't break, this one is too dear but the tracks are clean and unbroken? Difficult, if not impossible, for one maker to do all in a single vehicle.

I don't think there is a "goldilocks thing" going on in the least. You seem to think it's "next to impossible" to make an accurate 1/30 scale model and we as collectors should be content, if not thankful when companies get it sorta, kinda right.

I couldn't disagree more.

It's not rocket science making a scale model. There's plenty of vehicles out there by multiple manufacturers in this hobby that get it all right on a single vehicle. That's what forums are about IMO. A tool to discuss, review, critique the products in order to interact with fellow collectors and make smart choices on where to spend your money.

I guess we just have a different take on the hobby and differ in what detail/accuracy level works for us.

 

[Jack]

I don't think there is a "goldilocks thing" going on in the least. You seem to think it's "next to impossible" to make an accurate 1/30 scale model and we as collectors should be content, if not thankful when companies get it sorta, kinda right.

I couldn't disagree more.

It's not rocket science making a scale model. There's plenty of vehicles out there by multiple manufacturers in this hobby that get it all right on a single vehicle. That's what forums are about IMO. A tool to discuss, review, critique the products in order to interact with fellow collectors and make smart choices on where to spend your money.

I guess we just have a different take on the hobby and differ in what detail/accuracy level works for us.

I did not mention scale at all, rather I referred to the trade off inherent in any kind of purchase. I don't think I said people should just be content or thankful, but I suppose I may have implied that accidentally. What I intended saying was that everything is a trade off - if you want the fastest tank in the world, it cannot have the biggest gun, if you want the biggest gun there is trade off in speed - more that kind of thing. So for me, if you want a cheaper model, you accept less detail, if you want more detail, you then pay for it. My point was that you cannot have everything in a single model, or else I could say that FL is ridiculous because it is dearer and that a twenty dollar plastic toy tank is absurd because there is no detail ... and everything in between is flawed as well because it is either dearer or less detailed than something else. I was not questioning the value of critiques, just raised a point I thought was interesting.

 

[katana]

Polystone Panzers are overpriced. A Minichamps 1/35 scale diecast Tiger I with working suspension and metal tracks costs less than $100.00. A 1/24 scale RC Tiger I from VS Tank with full motorization i.e. rotating turret, elevating gun operating suspension and tracks, and a level of detail exceeding the best polystone panzer, costs less than $200.00. Plus the main gun actually fires. I have a 1/24 scale Unimax M26 RC tank that exceeds the level of detail and accuracy of either TCS or Figarti polystone M26 Pershings for less than $150.00. The Diecast and RC tank manufacturers can make products far superior to the polystone armor for much lower cost. The polystone manufacturers need to improve their products or lower their price. I would rather build a model than pay the exorbitant prices of todays polystone pieces. You can pay to have a modeler build a tank to your specifications in 1/35 or 1/25 scale for less than the polystone equivalent and the model will have better detail and accuracy. Wayne and I have both posted photos of 1/24 scale vehicles; diecast cars and Tamiya model tanks with the large K&C and TCS figures to show the scale compatability and realism available. Waynes photos are excellent of his Tamiya T34-85 in a diorama with 68mm figures!

 

[uksubs]

Polystone Panzers are overpriced. A Minichamps 1/35 scale diecast Tiger I with working suspension and metal tracks costs less than $100.00. A 1/24 scale RC Tiger I from VS Tank with full motorization i.e. rotating turret, elevating gun operating suspension and tracks, and a level of detail exceeding the best polystone panzer, costs less than $200.00. Plus the main gun actually fires. I have a 1/24 scale Unimax M26 RC tank that exceeds the level of detail and accuracy of either TCS or Figarti polystone M26 Pershings for less than $150.00. The Diecast and RC tank manufacturers can make products far superior to the polystone armor for much lower cost. The polystone manufacturers need to improve their products or lower their price. I would rather build a model than pay the exorbitant prices of todays polystone pieces. You can pay to have a modeler build a tank to your specifications in 1/35 or 1/25 scale for less than the polystone equivalent and the model will have better detail and accuracy. Wayne and I have both posted photos of 1/24 scale vehicles; diecast cars and Tamiya model tanks with the large K&C and TCS figures to show the scale compatability and realism available. Waynes photos are excellent of his Tamiya T34-85 in a diorama with 68mm figures!

Good post but disagree that 1/24 rc tanks work with 1/28 scale figures as I've tried it out myself and there a big difference

 

[Vezzolf]

I did not mention scale at all, rather I referred to the trade off inherent in any kind of purchase. I don't think I said people should just be content or thankful, but I suppose I may have implied that accidentally. What I intended saying was that everything is a trade off - if you want the fastest tank in the world, it cannot have the biggest gun, if you want the biggest gun there is trade off in speed - more that kind of thing. So for me, if you want a cheaper model, you accept less detail, if you want more detail, you then pay for it. My point was that you cannot have everything in a single model, or else I could say that FL is ridiculous because it is dearer and that a twenty dollar plastic toy tank is absurd because there is no detail ... and everything in between is flawed as well because it is either dearer or less detailed than something else. I was not questioning the value of critiques, just raised a point I thought was interesting.

Some good points....All TS companies have pros and cons....ranging from scale accuracy, sculpts, paint, level of detail, price etc.etc......Nothing is perfect or right for everyone....Sometimes it's a trade off....That all said with the current "high prices from all manufacturers" collectors are more discerning and demanding better quality and scale compatibility for those dollars....If it's poorly detailed and/or inaccurate in scale or over-priced for the level quality, collectors are speaking out with dialog and more significantly their wallets.

 

[katana]

Very well stated. Quality and price are equivalent. First Legion Armor and figures earn their price point with their high quality. TCS and TG have adequate quality at a fair price point.

 

[DM101]

If Polystone Panzers are overpriced (which means there is $ to be made) I wonder why Minichamps or Forces of Valor don't come into this segment to join in the "fun" and make $ ? {sm4}

Also FOV could make their diecast tanks and vehicles in 1/30 instead of 1/32 - but why they are not doing so ? {sm2}

 

[katana]

Perhaps you should reverse the hypothesis. 1/30 grew out of 1/32 the polystone makers could not compete with the diecast makers or the pre-built plastic makers like 21st Century Toys; so they changed the scale. Wonderful, no competition until Figarti changed from 1/32 to 1/30 and advertsed the change. Even W.Britains who created 1/32 scale (54mm) has moved to 1/30 scale (60mm). Some polystone makers have now created a new Toy Soldier scale 1/28 (68mm); where does the scale/size shifting end!