[chascbv]

Yes, DirtyACE, you're absolutely right!!


In this case Dragon forgot the zimmerit (again, all King Tigers with the Porsche turret should have zimmerit!), but all those tools, cables, etc., are in place (here Dragon went a bit too far and added non-existing track links to the turret! Track links were added to surviving Porsche turrets as of November 1944, and photographs illustrate the unit on firing practices in May 1944). I for one prefer these unzimmerited models to the poorly zimmerited ones, and, I absolutely agree with your closing paragraph, DirtyACE!!

[DirtyACE]

Yes, often times it seems that we (the collectors) and they (the manufacturers) are in different zones of thinking. I think when they release a model their thinking is that "it's good enough" while at the same time ours is "close, but no cigar". Unfortunately though for us as collectors, it is often the manufacturers that successfully dictate what we see on the models and we have very little or even no input at all as too the details that should be present.

[Legio LXXII]

Some of this stuff is extremely easy to fix yourself. Accessories like tools, stowage, spare tracks, etc. aren't that expensive and can be weathered quite easily. Attach them on yourselves and have something unique and more interesting than the original.

[DirtyACE]

Originally Posted by Legio LXXII

Some of this stuff is extremely easy to fix yourself. Accessories like tools, stowage, spare tracks, etc. aren't that expensive and can be weathered quite easily. Attach them on yourselves and have something unique and more interesting than the original.

That is true. Unfortunately I have absolutely no experience in those kind of alterations. I would most like mess up the model pretty badly.

[PickMattock]

And at the prices they are charging we shouldn't have to add anything ourselves. It seems Dragon Armor is climbing by the dollar with each new model they release, and with that increase in price I'd like to see an increase in accuracy or at least in complete model out of the box.

It's like buying a pizza that doesn't come with any cheese. Yeah, it's extremely easy to fix ourselves...Cheese isn't that expensive and melts quite easily. But it should really come on the pizza already. Tools, cables, etc., really should come on a pre-built "diecast" model already. Making the 'pizza' ourselves defeats the point of ordering out.

[Legio LXXII]

Originally Posted by PickMattock

And at the prices they are charging we shouldn't have to add anything ourselves.

Here's an interesting thought. Dragon Armor costs less than twice the price of the regular Dragon Models plastic kits that are not built or painted (remember that Dragon Armor tanks are simply Dragon Models plastic kits prebuilt/prepainted). Take a $10 Sherman from the Dragon Models kit range, then take a $16 Dragon Armor Sherman that is the same plastic kit but already built and painted. That's just a $6 difference to have something built and painted. Now say it would take you 2 hours to build and paint it, that means you got paid about $3 an hour. I bet there's no one here willing to work for that amount per hour.

I honestly don't think $16 for a prebuilt/prepainted Sherman is that much when it's only $6 more than the plastic kit. If you're in the US and paying much more than $16 for a Dragon Armor Sherman, then shame on you, LOL.

[Legio LXXII]

Originally Posted by DirtyACE

That is true. Unfortunately I have absolutely no experience in those kind of alterations. I would most like mess up the model pretty badly.

Maybe there's a market for these kind of alterations. I know of an online retailer that customizes Minichamps tanks, I don't see why that sort of thing couldn't be done in smaller 1/72 scale for the discerning collector.

[tezdeb]

Guys the lack of details on the King Tigers with zimmerit must be a cost cutting decision.They have actually produced a 72 scale KT with zimmerit and cables/ Track links on turret etc.Last years DX06 KT for Alred Kurzmaul had more deail than many of their other offerings in this scale.

Regards Terry

[klussdog]

Hey Guys, like all manufacturers some have great products and then a few real dogs come along (Sorry - nothing personal Dogs). One of the best releases that Dragon / Cyber-Hobby ever released was of a King Tiger with Porsche Turret and Zimmerit in a winter white camo, #60144. Just a beautiful piece! Now get this, the item had tow cables but no tools. Hey, remember when Dragon used real cables on their tanks instead of those plastic injected molded things!

[chascbv]

So Dragon knows how to make good zimmerited King Tigers, after all!

Tools are still missing, but the added cables make it look alright. In fact, the tank in the posted picture looks quite impressive!