Trumpeter

[Jeffry Fontaine]

Michael Benolkin has uploaded an in-box review of the Trumpeter 1/35th scale kit #1004, M1078 Light Medium Tactical Vehicle (LMTV) for your viewing pleasure.   


(image source: CyberModeler)

While I was overjoyed at the idea of a new military truck in 1/35th scale, that joy was soon displaced when I discovered what the distributors are charging for this model.

From the images that Michael has provided of the kit contents this looks like a very nice kit.  If you can find a cheaper source (other than a price gouging distributor) I say go for it and pick one up!

[frank2056]

While I was overjoyed at the idea of a new military truck in 1/35th scale, that joy was soon displaced when I discovered what the distributors are charging for this model.

Holy Elvis on a popsicle stick! Are they nuts? No wonder Russian armor is more popular - you can get a Gaz-66 truck for $20 and change.

[Mossie]

Don't think it's just US distributors.  It's going for around £45 here in blighty, around $70US at current exchange rate.  Most similar sized 1/35 trucks are around half that price, I can't see them selling many.

[ChernayaAkula]

70 USD or £45?  Crikey, you guys are getting ripped off! Here in Germany it retails for  36 EUR, which is about 47USD or £32. Still expensive. And the industry wonders why they sell fewer and fewer kits. With today's shipping charges, it's mostly cheaper to order from China or Japan directly.  Some importers are really makin' a killin'. Maybe they should watch who they're gonna kill in the end. 

For those that like 'em big, Cybermodeler has a review of the 32nd scale Trumpeter EF-2000
http://www.cybermodeler.com/hobby/kits/tru/kit_tru_2278.shtml

Thanks for linking, mav!

180 USD! Wow!  Wait for the Revell kit later this year. Half the price and twice as good.  No, really. Revell gives an MSRP of 50 EUR, which is about 65 USD or £44. And the assembled test-shots of the Trumpeter kit, show some shape errors, such as the boxy rear-end. And then there's that panel line in the Trumpeter kit, that's not there on the real aircraft, but as a moulding flaw in one of the 1/48 Revell kits. Coincidence? 

[pyro-manic]

I really don't get how Trumpeter can justify £100 for a 1:32 jet fighter, when Revell sell their superb Hunter kits for around the £30 mark. Ok, the Trumpy kits have more parts and internals etc, but not enough to justify a price three times higher.


And just a quick rant - why are kit companies (Trumpy and Hobbyboss) referring to the Typhoon as the "EF-2000A" (single seat) and "EF-2000B" (twin seat)? AFAIK those are not official names, and no operators refer to the aircraft as such. Seems like a bizarre attempt to impose the US designation system onto it...

[Green Dragon]

Modellversium has posted an in-box review of the 1/35th scale VRC-105 Centauro. Like the looks of this a lot but I'll have to wait till it hits the bargain bin somewhere!

Paul Harrison

[entlim]

and the decal sheet is inaccurate................

[Jeffry Fontaine]

Michael Benolkin has uploaded an in-box review of the Trumpeter 1/35th scale kit #1004, M1078 Light Medium Tactical Vehicle (LMTV) for your viewing pleasure.   


(image source: CyberModeler)

Before this latest offering from Trumpeter, there were two other models of the M198 available in 1/35th scale.  The most recent was from Mouse House Resins and long before that there was a mulit-media/vacuform kit from Germany (don't recall the name).  So this is nothing breakthrough on Trumpeter's part other than it is in injection molded plastic instead of resin or a vacuform kit.  If you can find a cheaper source (other than a price gouging distributor) it might be worth adding to your collection of artillery pieces. 

[Aircav]

I really don't get how Trumpeter can justify £100 for a 1:32 jet fighter, when Revell sell their superb Hunter kits for around the £30 mark. Ok, the Trumpy kits have more parts and internals etc, but not enough to justify a price three times higher.


And just a quick rant - why are kit companies (Trumpy and Hobbyboss) referring to the Typhoon as the "EF-2000A" (single seat) and "EF-2000B" (twin seat)? AFAIK those are not official names, and no operators refer to the aircraft as such. Seems like a bizarre attempt to impose the US designation system onto it...

Don't forget that the Hunter is now a old kit

[pyro-manic]

Fair enough, their new Ju-88 then. That sells at the same sort of price, and is not a small kit by any means. I don't see how such prices can be justified from the likes of Hasegawa and Trumpeter, when Revell can put out top-notch kits for less than half the amount.

[kitnut617]

And just a quick rant - why are kit companies (Trumpy and Hobbyboss) referring to the Typhoon as the "EF-2000A" (single seat) and "EF-2000B" (twin seat)? AFAIK those are not official names, and no operators refer to the aircraft as such.

Just been reading my latest Combat Aircraft magazine which was in the mail yesterday and noticed that the British and German aircraft were refered to as Typhoons but in another article the Italian one was an EF-2000

[Green Dragon]

Don't know what the official designation is but the Italian ones have Typhoon on the tail fin. http://www.airliners.net/photo/Italy---Air/Eurofighter-EF-2000-Typhoon/1512570&tbl=&photo_nr=2&sok=&sort=&prev_id=1512592&next_id=1512119

Paul Harrison

[Green Dragon]

Modellversium has posted an in-box review of the 1/35th scale Australian Army ASLAV-25. I love the LAV designs but I'm not keen on the rubber tyres, had some trouble where the tyres reacted with the plastic of several kits. http://www.modellversium.de/kit/artikel.php?id=4132

Paul Harrison

[JayBee]

Modellversium has posted an in-box review of the 1/35th scale Australian Army ASLAV-25. I love the LAV designs but I'm not keen on the rubber tyres, had some trouble where the tyres reacted with the plastic of several kits. http://www.modellversium.de/kit/artikel.php?id=4132

Paul Harrison

I had a similar problem with the old AIRFIX tank tracks many yeaqrs ago, the answer is to paint the plastic before puting the "rubber" bits on.

JimB

[Green Dragon]

I had painted the parts Jim, and they still went dodgy. Maybe not enough paint! 

Paul Harrison