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Armor/AFV: AA/AT/Artillery
For discussions about artillery and anti-aircraft or anti-tank guns.
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Why Doesn't Dragon Make A Flak 18?
long_tom
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Illinois, United States
Joined: March 18, 2006
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Posted: Friday, May 22, 2020 - 09:17 AM UTC
I have the 6287 kit (which I haven't started) and notice it has most if not all the necessary components. AFV Club makes a kit, but from past experience Dragon's kit quality is vastly superior.
ericadeane
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Michigan, United States
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Posted: Friday, May 22, 2020 - 01:47 PM UTC
DML hasn’t really shown a big effort with many of the WW2 subjects recently. A Flak 18 would require a new cruciform mount and new bogies. That’s quite a lot. Basically only the cannon is reusable. People who are interested in a Flak 18 probably already bought the very acceptable AFV club kit is what I suspect DML sees. So low returns on investment
Biggles2
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Quebec, Canada
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Posted: Saturday, May 23, 2020 - 03:36 AM UTC
The question should be, "Why doesn't Dragon make anything new"?
alanmac
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United Kingdom
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Posted: Saturday, May 23, 2020 - 03:53 AM UTC

Quoted Text

I have the 6287 kit (which I haven't started) and notice it has most if not all the necessary components. AFV Club makes a kit, but from past experience Dragon's kit quality is vastly superior.



The Dragon kit isn't vastly superior or have you both the same as I had?

As Roy said the AFV Club kit is very acceptable but then again as previous posts have shown you make these unsubstantiated statements and get some sort of kick out of the number of replies you receive.

That aside, your more likely to get a new kit from Takom, Meng, Rye Field Model, or Border than Dragon these days. They seem to work on the marketing strategy of bringing out a re-release with some minor bits added and some taken away, then giving it a new product code along with an attempt to get some of the market share on "interior included" kits with their latest Panzer III chassis variants. I feel their "place in the sun" has been overtaken by the strong competition now in the marketplace, which offer as much if not more for a lot less than Dragon kits at retail prices.

ivanhoe6
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Wisconsin, United States
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Posted: Saturday, May 23, 2020 - 04:06 AM UTC

Quoted Text

The question should be, "Why doesn't Dragon make anything new"?



Careful Tom you might get what you wish for

Biggles is right ! And when they do it's come in the form of their "Black Label" brand.

Your only hope as Alan stated your best chance might come from one of the new manufacturers.
long_tom
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Illinois, United States
Joined: March 18, 2006
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Posted: Saturday, May 23, 2020 - 04:54 AM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text

The question should be, "Why doesn't Dragon make anything new"?



Careful Tom you might get what you wish for

Biggles is right ! And when they do it's come in the form of their "Black Label" brand.

Your only hope as Alan stated your best chance might come from one of the new manufacturers.


Except that Dragon already has most of the components for the cannon part engineered. That is why I asked about Dragon.
ALBOWIE
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New South Wales, Australia
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Posted: Saturday, May 23, 2020 - 10:57 AM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text


Quoted Text

The question should be, "Why doesn't Dragon make anything new"?



Careful Tom you might get what you wish for

Biggles is right ! And when they do it's come in the form of their "Black Label" brand.

Your only hope as Alan stated your best chance might come from one of the new manufacturers.


Except that Dragon already has most of the components for the cannon part engineered. That is why I asked about Dragon.



As Roy said that is for the Gun, not the Cruciform Mount or Wheels etc which make up a lot of the kit. Only DML can answer your question but if I were a betting man I'd say they just don't see a good return on investment..
Al
Kevlar06
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Washington, United States
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Posted: Saturday, May 23, 2020 - 12:36 PM UTC
Since the AFV Club offering is totally adequate, why should Dragon even try to compete with them? Everything I’ve seen regarding Dragon (and I used to work for a Dragon distributor) indicates they are more about profit in their later years than they were at the beginning, and Dragon recognizes there’s no room in the market for such offerings where strong competition exists.
VR, Russ
ericadeane
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Michigan, United States
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Posted: Tuesday, May 26, 2020 - 01:50 AM UTC
Trumpeter makes the Bunkerknacker, kit no. 01585. German 8.8cm Flak 18 Selbstfahrlafette. Issued in 2012

That has the cannon. They'd be more likely make a stand alone new Flak 18 kit rather than DML.
Removed by original poster on 05/28/20 - 11:03:48 (GMT).
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