Com-Central.net

Hi Guys-
I have probably covered this before. Am I the only one who does not like to see competition between companies that results in two companies releasing the exact same version of a particular subject instead of each company doing a different version? Dragon and Tristar are both releasing Pz.Kpfw. 38(t) Ausf. E/F kits putting the two companies in direct competition with each other. I would be happier to see one of them do the Ausf. E/F and the other do the earlier version with the stepped driver's plate. I realize Dragon and Tristar are not likely to confer with each other over their releases in order to do as I suggested. However, making what appears to be a deliberate effort to go toe to toe does demonstrate a knowledge of what the other guy is doing, why not use that knowledge to do a different version? As you are all aware, the 38t is not the only example of Dragon and Tristar trying to match each other kit for kit, the Panzer IV Ausf C being one other example.
I also would prefer kit manufacturers release kits of AFVs that have not been kitted before rather than do new versions of older kits. Okay, some older kit releases are now showing their age and need replacing. One example being the Italeri 38t. Never the less, if we already have a kit that needs some work, that kit is still better than no kit of something else.
Thanks for listening-
Geoff Steer [;-{/)

Why do you end up with a McDonalds and a Burger King next to each other on the highway? Or a Kmart and a Walmart across the road from each other?

Market Research. Each organization does their research and come up with 'the traffic we want is best at location X' or Modelers want a Pz 38 that was used in the battle of ????.

So they start the process to produce such a kit or build a store there. During the process they probably learn what their competitor is doing but they have started the research, made the molds, leased the property., or whatever the preliminary steps are. They don't want to throw away that investment and the certainly won't admit that since the competitor is entering the same market they should avoid it. So you have Mcdonalds next to Burger King when I wished one of them had built a mile or so dwn the road so I could have a place to stop when I am at that end of the shopping district. Or Kmart and Walmart across from each other when I really would like one of them to be on the other side of town so I can pick up odds and ends when I am visiting Mom.
And two Pz 38E/F .

Kit manufacturers seem to be running into the same problem as classical music CDs. There's the standard canon of 'old warhorses' (Tiger I for models, Beethovan's 5th for classical music), then there's the more esoteric products with a more limited appeal (BT fast tank for models, Alfred Schnitke for classical music). After awhile the producer starts to run out of new product (a finite number of tank types/classical composers); or starts to run out of ways to cleverly market old product ('limited edition' releases); or to run out of customers for his product in an already glutted market! And like classical music fans, there's always that one obscure piece that people beg to have... then don't buy it when it finally comes out

I see this more an issue of industrial espionage. Tristar, Trumpeter or whoever gets in touch with several notable model experts to assist with development of the latest "ultimate" tank kit.

Those guys start putting out feelers from their online friends for information on that type of tank. Those guys help out their friend and provide information readily available on the web.

One of those friends has a friend who has helped Dragon develop kits in the past and mentions that Tristar/Trumpeter/etc. is looking for info on a particular type of vehicle.

Dragon gets wind and rushes to produce a similar kit. Since they have an extensive product line, they can produce that variant much more quickly using the hull/tracks/suspension of an existing kit.

Dragon uses cheaper Chinese labor and then trumps the other manufacturer to get their kit out quicker and for less money.

Buzz is already being created for this variant by the hints for the original kit dropped on various modeling forums. Dragon pops out similar kit, perhaps with some aftermarket items added or the 3 in 1 features and cashes in on the buzz.

Hard to look at the Tristar PzKpfw IV Ausf. D at the $40+ price when Dragon has one for less money with a PE fret and aluminum barrel, indiviual track links, etc. for $15 or so less.