Above is the poll result on the "what do you want" poll. No more voting in the last few days so I try to pump it up as I would like to keep this poll alive as long as possible. If there is no more vote for a certain period, the poll will be deleted. So if you are new to this blog or you haven't voted yet, please spend a minute to vote so we can keep this poll as long as possible. The poll can be found on the right hand side of this blog.Back to the result so far, the interesting point is although mainstream manufacturers keep producing more German Panzers, it is the leaset wanted item on the list. Something for Dragon to think about.
5 comments:
I think your poll is flawed slightly.
I think (some) people are fed up with getting lots of the same items turning up again and again (lets not get into the takara/bandai scenario!!) but equally the only USA/British tank that gets produced from WWII until WTM8 i the sherman, and another sherman and another sherman... even then they have only produce USA shermans.. it would quite easy for them to have done a Canadian, British or Russian sherman color variants.
at least the russians have had a a couple for t-24s and some SPGs!
I think we all still like the tanks, but we would also like to see some more variation to include soft skin vehicles.
We must also keep in mind the main market for all this is still Japan and the japanese still want "X" or "Y" even if that is more German Tanks then that is what will be produced. There is still a lot of geran items to cover!
back tracking to the colour options again, admittedly ther German forces largely seem to have the monopoly on color variation for thier tanks, and the allies were a bit dull..... with most thinkg being paint well... werm dark green and ...erm dark green... ok ok, the russians did use a bit of kakhi or brown.. at least the russians had some fun painting slogans on the side of thier turrets!
if your looking for more variation you only have to look at the Micromachines range to see how many more varients they hae produced a bridgelaying tank, a russian Katusyha(?) rocket launcher, jeeps, trucks etc, or even the Gashopon range of Furuta (ok I know where moving into aircraft again) airplanes even within the WWII area many more interesting items than dragon, takara, bandai and ftoys have produced - although i think of the "big boys" f-toys are often the most innovative!.
and finally lets not forget the 1/150 Yujin tanks range, ok it had a panther, sherman and t-36 but even the T-36 had the varinet with alternative fuel tanks.. but they also produced a Churchill & Chi-ha...
Army Group North
I somewhat agree with what you said. Me myself 1ike other Asian, mostly collect German armors. For example, I mostly collect German fighters, but I still can't understand why Takara just keep producing another Famous Airplanes of the "World" series mostly made up of Bf-109. For the same reason, if buyer has an option, I don't see how a Sd Kfz 234/2 Puma or Famo can be outsold by another variart of Tiger I. Takara's WTM is better as it at least is balancing each series a bit by selecting something else from the Allies. I won't surprise me if they come up with a Katusha in the future WTM releases. The same cannot be applied to Dragon Cando. In fact, you can find Dragon is going backward as ealier days, you could still get a Bergtiger or a Tauch Panzer III as specials. Lately, you normally just get the same tank with different markings, such as the Modern German Series, M2, and the lately Blitzkrieg.
I also like F-toys and Konami on how they look at this business. F-Toys, or Popy in the past, always tries to do something different and not just copying each other. Konami on the JGSDF series, just trying to keep this series more interesting by adding more values to what it offers, such as those figures in regular releases or different setting of the base. I wish they all jump into the boarder armor market.
I'm not trying to condemn Dragon or Takara releasing German Armors. As you said, a bridge layer is a good one. I'm just saying we all like something different no matter they are new releases of German Armor(such as a new series of different Bergpanzer will be awesome) or from the Allies. Copying each other won't kill your competitors (I don't see Dragon or Takara will kill each other by releasing the Nashorn about the same time). In the long run, it will just kill the interest of the buyer and then at the end kill the 1/144 business as well.
Yes I agree ..we are trying avoid the repetition... because overdoing the same planes and same tanks will make the consumer less motivated to buy the sets.. and get down the sales...and consequently down the new releases ..
If the makers listen the consumers..they could make best sellers sets...
Who don´t like a WTM 11 set with a Famo + 88 flak, american jeep, a british Matilda , a russian katiusha, a Opel blitz,and a GMC truck? so someone could say this would kill future market.... but so change for WTM12 with chieftain,m-60,m-60A2,merkava II,scimitar, land rover(modern), hummers,..a WTM13 with 40mm bofors,0.50 quad, etç...
Same for the planes...why not takara release a He-162 in place of one of Fw-190 D9 or a ju-88(so used and with so many variants in place of another me-109F)
The bandai WC..release a very good set L3(and 1st time I buy a boxet..not only 1 but 2 boxets) with P-47,me-110,ta-152,seiran,and YAK 9...but they fail in the new..boxset... more Me-109s and Zeros.. and I will snipe only the IL-2s...
Popy was very interessanting..bring us luft46.. and so nice specials.(better than regular kits) that ketten and flak are amazing...but se lost this source ...
F-toys have a good point since they try bring helos,acro teams,seaplanes,now bombers and JSDF this way they shoot at different targets and can fell what the market wants and don´t fell in Takara FAOW trap..
I sent a e-mail to Takara ..and not received a answer yet.. to bad..
Robert K, I totally agree with you. If Takara releases the same way you suggested, I certainly will buy ... many many. Sometimes I don't quite underatand Takara's marketing. For WTM09, I know they are all new tanks, why not something more popular. I think the T-10 is an awkward decision. However, if the pciture shown in the latest Model Graphix is true, we will get a Puma and Famo in the future. May be Takara is listening.
Good to see I´m not lonely..you, bluedonkey and a few others 1/144 entusiasts ,we want be listened
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