Landships II

compound eye · Colonel

*Possible* 1/35 styrene Mk IV Male from a well known Japanese model company???

MK1 Nut · Hero

Please look away as I'm about to vent!

Airfix pull your thumb out of your A** and do a World War One Tank!!! Sack the bean counters in accounts and 'INVEST' some money in an iconic MK1 British Heavy Tank in 1/35. I will give you any info I have for absolutely NO MONEY!�

PLEASE, as a British Institution, can you get an accurate, brand new mould out in time for the 100 years commemorations of the First World War.

If I see one more rehashed kit nearly as old as the thing it is modelling, dragged out 'again' to commemorate something important... well... I think the blood vessels in my head will explode!!

Rant over!

Anyone know how best to contact Airfix?

Oh and good on Tamiya xx

Paul Bonnett · Hero

Helen,

�� Please forward your rant to http://www.airfix.com/contact-us/�

Paul

Lothianman · Colonel

You might not have much luck with Airfix as they just don't do 1/35 (apart from sporadic buys-in of other folks' moulds over the years), and as for 1/72 and 1/76, they've recently revamped their old Mark 1 mould into boy and girl variants (yes, yes, I know it is a compromise). Still, by all means have a go!

MK1 Nut · Hero

OK I've calmed down and email Airfix... nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Helen x

TinCanTadpole · Legend

Tantalising prospects - although, even if they are planning a MkIV in 1/35, I suggest not raising hopes too high about accuracy since Bovington's MkIV is missing the two rear spaced armour panels and has a longer-than-normal exhaust pipe - flaws likely to be reproduced, unless said company does some good research into period photographs as well, and uses their own photos and measurements for size and shape rather than absolute accuracy.

That said, we'll just have to wait and see. If it is Tamiya, I think there might be a reasonable chance that they'd consider individual track links, since the pitch is large enough and they did so a few years ago with their Char B1 kit.

rue_d_etropal · Captain

It does sound interesting. Would have thought they might have been interested in an FT as Japan used them after WW1. Many people forget that Japan fought on our side in WW1, including flying so maybe there is opportunity for Japanese marked airplanes as well. Would prefer Tamiya to look at areas not covered properly, especially road transport. A Mack AC for starters, but some of the other classic lorries of the period. The Mack might have more interest, in particular from USA. A Mack transporting an FT, that would be my preferred model combination.

TinCanTadpole · Legend

I'm in agreement with that! Mack AC would make an excellent choice in 1/35, likewise the Latil TAR. I hope they don't bother turning out an FT, because Meng seem to have that base covered very nicely now, and if they feel like it Italeri might release their promised kit. Better to have some variety than have every kit manufacturer turning the Mk IV and FT into the Tiger and Sherman of the WW1 era! (ie all producing a plethora of kits of the same thing).

Schneider and St Chamond would be required too, of course, whilst a FIAT 2000 wouldn't go amiss - ooh, and a Char 2C!!

rue_d_etropal · Captain

I have diecast models of the Mack AC, but in 1/32 so would not go well with the FT. If I had not seen the photos I don't think I would have believed how they carried the FT on the back of the truck.

CharlieC · Legend

�

Just to wave the flag for cardmodels - a 1/25 FCM Char 2C was released by Modelik a couple of years ago - it's a monster.

If Tamiya talked nicely the Queensland Museum they might be able to get a set of the 1/25 and 1/10 scale drawings that were made of Mephisto in the 90s.

The drawings were very detailed - down to the rivet and bolt sizes (there are 3 different rivet sizes on an A7V hull).

Regards,

Charlie

-- Edited by CharlieC on Saturday 2nd of November 2013 01:25:07 PM

compound eye · Colonel

Well, I wouldn't get too excited about the prospect of oddball WW1 trucks just yet... Don't forget, this first kit has to be a huge ice-breaker - got to start with something in the universal consciousness, otherwise you've just got a flop on your hands. Hence why, when Tamiya wanted to dip into French armour, their first was a Char B1 bis, and THEN the little two man tracked carrier and then a modern AMX variant. The 'Tigers' & 'Sherman's pave the way for the oddballs, to round out the compliment and add modelling scope - if a slew of Rhomboids & Renaults flood the WW1 styrene market, it can only enhance the prospects of other designs seeing the light of day. Also bear in mind that Next year is the centenary of the outbreak of The Great War, and despite Rhomboids not having their 100th until 2016, what could be more iconic than a MkIV? [esp when Meng, Takom and possibly Italeri are all jumping on the Renault FT bandwagon]

Meanwhile, I can reliably confirm that not only did '102' at Bovvy get scrutinized BUT 'Flirt II' in Lincoln also had it's rivets counted by Tamiya. Now, neither are complete or completely accurate tanks/restorations [esp Flirt II] BUT that bodes well for either an option kit or seperate male/female releases. The smart money is also on the MkIV having click tracks like the Char B1 bis kit did.

I cannot reveal how I got this confirmed, because I don't want to drop my contact in it, BUT this is no fanboy BS post - I'm not making it up.

Based on this being a 99% certain release for 2014 [unforeseen issues excepting], I'd put a small wager on Tamiya fondling 'Mephisto' some time soon with a view to appeasing their loyal 'panzerhead' customer base with something a bit more Teutonic from WW1 - based *of course* on the MkIV flying off the shelves, and I wouldn't be suprised if some Beutepanzer decals/colourways make their way into the MkIV kit on this basis also.

Lothianman · Colonel

It is, no doubt, relevant that the first Imperial Japanese Army tank was a Mark IV, as any fule kno, to quote the great Molesworth:

www3.plala.or.jp/takihome/tanks.htm

As for the future, we will see what we will see. But TCT may be pleased (as I am) to know that the Char 2C is already beginning to take (very bulky!) shape ...

www.perthmilitarymodelling.com/newkitnews/mengmodel.html

TinCanTadpole · Legend

Lothianman, that news page for Meng just put a smile on my face - thanks for the link! "Cement-free workable tracks" Excellent! Of course, it might well be a modest seller, requiring a mortgage to afford, but still - it's nice to see such kits on the way.

Date: Nov 30, 2013

you seem to forget another truck that was used by the usa during ww1 that would be the M1917 Liberty B 3 ton

compound eye · Colonel

Just had the clearest hint yet, that the Tamiya 1/35 Mk IV will probably be announced at the Nuremburg Toy Fair at the end of this week. No news on whether it'll be Male or Female, an either/or 'option' kit, or two seperately 'sexed' kits. As I said before, both Bovvy's '102' Male and the Museum of Lincolnshire Life's 'Flirt II' Female had their bumps felt & measured.

BC312 · Colonel

CharlieC wrote:
�
Just to wave the flag for cardmodels - a 1/25 FCM Char 2C was released by Modelik a couple of years ago - it's a monster.
If Tamiya talked nicely the Queensland Museum they might be able to get a set of the 1/25 and 1/10 scale drawings that were made of Mephisto in the 90s.
The drawings were very detailed - down to the rivet and bolt sizes (there are 3 different rivet sizes on an A7V hull).
Regards,
Charlie
Are these scale drawings available to buy from the Queensland museum?

-- Edited by CharlieC on Saturday 2nd of November 2013 01:25:07 PM

�

compound eye · Colonel

That's a bit spammy, isn't it? Have you got anything relevent to this thread to contribute, or are you just going to trumpet on about some old cardboard kit again and again?

Lothianman · Colonel

Er, Compound Eye - if you have a look (no pun intended) you'll find the posting has got a bit mangled and in fact the new question is from BC312 re the possibility of scale drawings being purchasable.

Ergo CharlieC can be wholeheartedly cleared of attempting to emulate Hormel Foods Corp ...

Not that I disagree about the desirability of a rhomboid or five, or an A7V either!

-- Edited by Lothianman on Thursday 30th of January 2014 04:26:00 PM

Lothianman · Colonel

www.tamiya.com/english/nurnberg/

No luck this time - but rather early anyway even with a late 2014 release. I suspect a 2015-17 anniversary will be chosen ...

compound eye · Colonel

Indeed, not announced at Nuremburg after all, BUT the man at Tamiya said 'patience'. See the comments under�this photo, if you are an FB member...

https://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?fbid=10201497263581811&set=gm.10152005962509821&type=1&theater

There is still the BIG show at Shizuoka in May, which is Tamiya's home territory.

The Mk.IV is coming, soon.

�

Lothianman · Colonel

Strictly speaking, Marcus is the man at the (British) Tamiya Model Magazine - but he is indeed well connected to the model company, even if he didn't actually say it is a Tamiya kit to be patient about. But yes, I had forgotten about Shizuoka! We'll see!

compound eye · Colonel

Marcus is hardly likely to openly�spill the beans before authorized by Tamyia�central to do so, and he is hardly likely to have knowledge enough of another manufacturer's mid/long term�plans & pipeline kits to suggest 'patience' will be rewarded.

The Tamiya Mk IV is coming. Shizuoka, in May now�seems likely since there were no surprises at Nuremburg�- in time for the 100th anniversary of the start of The Great War in July. We all know that the 100yr anniversay of the first tank action is September 2016, BUT I'd suggest any model company who is going to wait that long will find very few expectant modellers to cheer their bandwagon.

Hell, we'll probably have 500+ piece Dragon WWI armour kits by 2016, with scale representations of everything down to the driver's sandwich, pet rat and photo-etched acne for the youngest crew member.

The only variables are a/ when in 2014 the kit will be announced / shipped, b/ male / female� or options for both, c/ indy click-link tracks or rubber bands, d/ Beute markings or not.

Quite what Friuli think they know by diving in early with various 1/35 WWI tracks, I don't know... Who, apart from masochists, would want to bring an Emhar kit up to scratch? Why would Friuli wait this long to support cruddy old kits? Big things are afoot on the WWI front in 1/35. They must be.

Lothianman · Colonel

Points duly taken!

It's possible that the Friul tracks are intended for Emhar kits, and the Interus Mark V, let's not forget it, as well as resin ones from various folk, to keep them going for now. But also to be ready when whatever is new turns up. The tracks are sort of semiautonomous on any kit. Indeed, one could sling them into an Emhar kit now and transfer them later on when a nicer rhomboid comes along. I can't remember the full Friul Model track listings, but the plastic equivalent, Model Kasten, has or had some tracks only applicable to limited run resin kits.

compound eye · Colonel

It's 'on'. The MkIV Male is official...