Landships II

Greetings to all forum members, as I'm aware there is a growing number of people who lament the almost non-existant range of 1/35 Great War subjects in styrene. Except a few honorable exceptions (such as RPM's Renault FT-17 tanks and Ford-T variations or Emhar's artillery and tanks) the meagre bag of existing 1/35 styrene models are either mediocre or bad quality. However, thanks to the huge impact of internet on communication, model producing companies became far more accessible to modeling community while a growing number of them show genuine interest to hear the wishes of their customers. The outstanding new Ukrainian company Master Box Limited which introduced an almost revolutionary new range of 1/35 WW2 figures is such an association. Thus I decided to write an e-mail to them as a modeler wishing to see a regular range of great war subjects on the shelves. However, maybe due to a problem by my side, my mail should not be delivered. I'm wishing to share the text with you, with a hope that you may successfuly send similar e-mails and make our voice heard.

"Dear Sir,
 
I'm an academic historian whose main hobby is model building. It's my 8th year since I started to use serious technics to build 1/35 AFV and figures. In my 8 years, I never saw a more revolutionary approach to 1/35 figure market than that of yours. As I hate from dabbling with resin figures, your range came as a life saving relief. I really owe you a great thanks for changing the face of my hobby.
The comments on your webpage imply that you have a very dynamic interaction with your customers while developing your products. This gave me courage to share my ideas with you with a hope to see them realized in future.
1/35 figure range seemingly approaches to a saturation point in WW2 themes. Especially after you reintroduced interchangeable figure concept it became possible to create virtually hundreds of various different poses with same sets. From a commercial point of view, I'm on the opinion that these are providing you a steady business. Perhaps time has come to introduce your revolution into the different eras of historical figures. The first period which comes to my mind is the First World War. This world transforming struggle is almost absent from the 1/35 field. Also, as the year 2014, outbreak of war's centennial nears, there is a widening new public interest to the Great War. This may be a good boost for your business if you decide to introduce World War I subjects to your catalogue. Again also, much of the Great War equipment were in widespread use during the second world war; so if you would produce some key weaponry among them, they would be put to good use by WW2 modellers too.
 
My initial suggestions are as follows:
 
1) Sets of basic infantry and cavalry
 
Germany: Infantry 1914-16, Maxim 08 machine gun set, Uhlan lancer cavalry with both traditional headdress, stahlhelm and options for gas masks, stormtroopers (preferably with a flamethrower included and options for gas masks).

Austria: Mountain infantry in greatcoat, hussars
 
Britain: British Infantry, ANZAC light horse
 
Ottoman Empire: Ottoman Infantry
 
2) Some artillery sets
 
Germany: Model 1916 7.7 cm Field Cannon and 10.5 cm Field howitzer with both short and long barrels. All three guns were built on the same carriage, what was different was just the barrel. If possible, also the Model 1903 15 cm heavy howitzer.
 
France: 75 mm field gun. There is no decent plastic kit for this most important artillery piece of modern history.
 
Britain: Model 1915 6 inch howitzer and Rolls Royce armored car. Both two weapons were used in the second world war.

I did not suggest infantry figures for France or Russia, as the basic uniform was the same for most of the second world war, so there are enough sources for modellers to obtain great war infantry and cavalry. I tought it would be better to start with unexisting sets in case you decide to introduce a great war range.
 
In the ever expanding world of 1/35 scale today, I have a strong belief that a move into unused themes in plastic models are offering a great potential for commercial and artistic success.
 
Yours Truly"