[Legio LXXII]

Momo,

I found the AAVP7A1 (2 of these), KV-1B, Type 61, and Panzer IV G. The Panzer IV G is the only one that I was half way interested in but I bought what I found because I knew a few people at home would be interested in the others. I probably visited at least 100 different corner newstands and though they all sold Altaya tanks, most said they normally sell out the same day they get them each week.

I'm right there with you on using plastic models to fill in gaps. I have alot of trucks, armored cars, staff cars, etc. that I can use with my diecast tanks. You stand a good chance of finding what ever you're looking for in 1/72 plastic kit form. If you want it bad enough, then the building and painting of it is all worth it. I still prefer prebuilts because I don't enjoy building kits much any more, but plastic kits are always there to fall back on for those vehicles you can't find already built and painted for you.

chascbv,

I have that same Altaya King Tiger you saw. While there's no mistaking it's a King Tiger, the details are very soft when compared to Dragon Armor or Forces of Valor. There's actually a comparison review at the Diecast 72 website between the Altaya and Dragon Armor King Tiger. The Dragon Armor King Tiger is much nicer than the Altaya King Tiger.

I agree fully that Altaya went to all the work getting this tank range made, they could have easily gone that one extra step to make the tanks more detailed and accurate. Some are worse than others, but they could all be much better.

[MoMo]

Thanks Legio LXXll.

This has given me a good impression of what I might aim for the next time that I go to Italy ( probably next year ). Chascbv has also given me a good idea of what I can expect when I go to Barcelona ( probably in October ) so I will be haunting all those newstands on the Ramblas.

For all of you who are rubbish at building 1.72 scale models, and who want to fill in gaps but don't mind plastic, start to haunt the Brit ebay sites devoted to wargammers' material, 1.72 painted and built scale models and the like, do a search under : 20mm, 1.72 tanks, 1.72 soldiers, 20mm wargamming, etc. You'll be surprised at what you'll find! Most 1.72 models are pretty accurate, and many on ebay are surprisingly well-built and painted. You can also find lots of built and painted material with which you can create your own dioramas to set off your Dragons, H.M.s, etc.

I'll repeat a complaint which I've made before on other threads : Hongwell/Schucco only do a jeep in 1.72 ( several good versions/lots of numberplates ) BUT they do a jeep in 1.43 AND a Kubel Wagon in several versions....this is unfair to collectors of 1.72...we want sets of vehicles ; imagine this :

two jeeps; two Kubels; an 8 Rad; an Opel Blitz; a Dodge Weapons Carrier

all diecast, in a box, and costing about $12.99. This is not so far from some of the sets of five Land Rovers which Hongwell sells for $9.99!

I know that this is a far cry from our thread on new Dragons in the U.K. but I thought that I'd repeat my wish-list so that if anyone from Hongwell reads this, they can get weaving!

I sent them a long email about two years ago...................but no reply !

MoMo

[chascbv]

Thank you for your inputs, Legio LXXII and MoMo.

Did I read trucks, lorries, trucks, lorries, and then some jeeps, staff cars...? YES PLEASE!!!

I also wish you good luck, MoMo, when in Barcelona; that beautiful city is also full of newstands, and then Altaya can be found in "Avenida Diagonal, 545". You can also buy online directly from Altaya, I believe... Their web page is www.altaya.es. On a small window on the left margin, under "Por palabra clave" (by keyword), you may type "carros de combate", which is Spanish for "tanks". For those of you who speak French there is also a French branch, whose web is in French... Under "Par mot-clé" type "chars de combat".

Good luck and happy hunting!

[MoMo]

Thanks for the intel, chascbv,

I'm sure that many members of the Forum may be tempted to explore the various avenues open to them on Continental Europe......adventure time!

Meanwhile, toybox have posted a couple of models which are due soon :

This Sherman 76, " Hell on Wheels " should be in the shops about now.

and this other M4A1(76)W 2nd ARMOURED Rgt., POLISH 1st ARMOURED DIVISION HOLLAND 1944
should arrive at about the same time :

[Legio LXXII]

I can't remember about the Hell on Wheels Sherman, but that Polish Sherman was out in the US a couple months ago. You guys in the UK have it rough getting things later and paying more for them.

[MoMo]

Legio LXXII

It's swings and roundabouts, legio LXXll,

I think that it's about 50/50 in terms of delivery times for Dragon, but FOV stuff seems to arrive here well before the USA.

BUT, as you sadly point out, we do get whacked by inflated prices on this side of the pond!

[PickMattock]

As far as 1/72 Dragon Armor goes it seems the UK is always a bit behind, but not by too much. In the US, we got the Polish 76mm M4A1 Sherman about two months ago, the same time as the Warsaw 1944 251. Next the 2^nd Armored M4A3(76)W was released with the German St.Lo 251 and the Hybrid Tiger I. Abram’s M4A3E8 came out at the end of June. The latest releases, the 35^th Tank Battalion M4A3E8 along with the “Mod. 1942 Casting Turret” T34/76, have been available for about a week now.

[Cardinal]

I see that the Dragon 1/35 Koenigstiger is now available at The Flying Mule - looks pretty good from the pictures .

[chascbv]

I see that the Dragon 1/35 Koenigstiger is now available at The Flying Mule - looks pretty good from the picture

My analysis of the pictures at The Flying Mule reveals an accurate, impressive model overall, and the zimmerit looks like it is a very fine, to-scale representation of the real thing.

However, I will not buy this model because, as I already posted elsewhere in this forum, Dragon forgot to include those most apparent sets of track link hangers that are mandatory for this version of the Koenigstiger, both fore and aft on each turret side.

My wallet is very happy, indeed!

[MoMo]

Hi Guys,

took a trip yesterday to my favourite hobby store in Edinburgh, Wonderland, and checked through what was new. There were many Dragons available, but all restocks of previously available models! Many modern period vehicles were available, which is good news for those who collect them.

I was looking for something new, however, and the new items I bought were not Dragon. The items which I was after were available in good numbers because they had just come in! The Hobby Master releases 3 and 4 were available : the KV-2 heavy tank and the British Centaur C.S.Mk.lV. Both these HM models have been available in the U.K. for a few weeks via Mail-Order, but I like to see what I'm buying and I was not disappointed.

Both models have die-cast turrets and are weighted within the hull to give them a bit of gravitas. In many ways they emulate the production techniques of the very first Dragon models, and as such they should remind Dragon of where they started! They also appear very much to be finished like the old CDC vehicles in that they have a 'perfect' quality because there is no weathering/distressing to make the models look as if they have been used. I was particularly impressed by the detail on the Centaur which is enhanced by the perfect transfers used to represent the ranging traverse calibrations on the turret sides.

No matter, it is a delight to all of us to see some of the gaps being filled in by this enterprising company and I look forward to buying up all of their models as they are released.

Now available are a range of pre-built and painted diorama features from Pegasus : I bought some of their sandbags ( available as straights or curves ) because you can just get away with imagining that they are in 1.72 scale. They are very impressive at $19 per set, and will add character to your display on any flat area.

Also available are : walls ( two types ) ; barb wire fencing ; wooden fencing. All of these are well made features, but seem to big in scale to stand with 1.72 models. Those of you who may wish to display a Dragon 1.35 model might find them useful.





Happy Hunting !

MoMo