I would'nt see it as a "waste of styrene". There have been the same releases of Panzer I, II, III, IV and so forth, but we're finally seeing a DECENT mortar carrier kit in like how many years? Dont get me wrong though, i love panzers just as much as the next guy, just seems that the halftrack is alot more interesting and welcome release

Given that the tracks shown for the F are the narrower type, I'm witholding judgement on the roadwheels until an actual kit is available to check. Knowing that DML occasionally shows 3D CAD drawings in the release announcements that don't always match up with the actual kit contents, it's quite possible this one will have the earlier narrow types to go with the track type they are including. Of course they list them as 38cm track so they may have just thrown in the tracks they used on the early Pz IV "Super Kits" and kept the wider wheels from the Pz III J kits...hard to know for sure until it's released.

the m21 looks really nice. shame no modern stuff though.

These 2 new releases bore me How about a new vehicle or something, and less variants?

Variants are what keep a company profitable. If you tool the Pz IV (for example) you want to get the maximum return on your investment, The only way to do that, is to bring out variants built on the same chassis. This 'Return' allows a company to invest in COMPLETELY New subjects further down the road. Modelers would soon look for alternatives if DML only produced 1 Pz IV - the first 'Ausf' of the PZ IV is VERY different from the last. Not everyone is going to like EVERY New release, however, I don't want to play the 'Numbers Game' but more than 4700 Site-Users have found this Report sufficiently interesting to view it.. That's as good an argument as i've heard for the 'Pitfalls' that CAD (rather than Actual) images of a New Release create. The function of a News reprt is simple - to give advance news of the release of a new kit. It isn't a Review, it rarely elicits comments in the Report (unless its a particularly innovative or DUMB release) it's function is simply to pass on what we've been sent by the manufacturers or 'trawled' from their Websites. Perhaps it's time I started putting 'Contents may Vary in the Production Kit' in every Report?

yep, those are good news for some, and great for others. I don't think there is anyone not interested in the news section Jim it just seems to me that folks would like to see something 'really' new and not another variant. not meaning those kits aren't welcomed, but there are a lot of afv's that people would like to see in styren or old kits that needs a new edition.

The problem, for the manufacturer is always a series of calculated risks. There's a 'Need' from my PERSONAL point of view, of a New, Universal Carrier in 1/35th. If I was to ask what people would like to see, 100 would respond with 100 different replies. Was it not an Israeli political commentator that said that in Israel, each member of the population had their own (personal) political party? Exactly the same in modeling. the difference now, compared to 5 years ago, is that there is a much more dynamic approach from ALL of the manufacturers - they are ALL looking for new subjects to release whicle continuing with the 'core' releases. It's an incredibly healthy situation..

I agree. Given the hobby I left 30 years ago and the one I re-entered 2 years ago, it's literally worlds apart. Back then, there was only Tamiya for anything approaching accuracy. Those kits look pretty bad at times now, but with a little AM tender loving care, they build up nicely. That's another important difference: choice of options. Do you want the ultimate PE-resin accuracy, or maybe just some grill screens and tool brackets? And I disagree about the proliferation in variants. They make for a healthy diversity in all this. I have seen as many as 10 kits for the Sd.Kfz.7 and its AA platforms from two companies, and the interest in them has been good for the hobby (and good for hobbyists with choice for time period, vehicle and price, yes PRICE). I don't model much Allied, so the profusion of Shermans doesn't float my boat. But given all the variants, I'm really happy we're in the midst of a Sherman epidemic. Not all of them will be good kits or terribly popular, but choice drives the marketplace these days, and that's a good thing IMO.

I think people need to keep a little perspective. I think American Football is one of the stupidest games I've ever watched, probably only equalled by Soccer. But plenty of people seem to like it and they probably equally think Cricket is dumb. I don't build russian so to me a release of "yet another T-34" would be meaningless but I can appreciate that there are probably people out there hanging out for a particular variant yet to be released. I on the other hand have two or three of every version of the StuG III and IV and Sd.Kfz 4 and 7 because those are what do it for me and so I eagerly await a waffle zimmed Ausf G with Rumdumfeurer to add to the umpty versions I already have. I think people overlook the variety that is ( or is planned ) comming out. Tamiya have given us French and DAK subjects, there are artillery pieces galore, much awaited trucks. I think because Dragon is the most prolific releaser of the main manufacturers that people tend to only see the constant sub-variants coming out ( which ironically is contributory factor in why they can release so many in a year ). They're the Audi of the model world with platform sharing as their way to produce more cheaper. So I suspect their choices are always going to be based on vehicles which they can put out in at least 4-6 variations. For the rest I guess we just wait. I know that there are probably 100 subjects that could be done and some seem glaring ( where is an up-to-date Willys MB for example - not to mention a Universal Carrier, Kubel and 25pdr ) but at the end of the day they are in it to make money so they're going to make what sells the best and leave the rest to the resin companies.