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REVIEW
Bronco SdKfz 6/2 3.7cm FlaK 36
bill_c
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Posted: Wednesday, July 20, 2011 - 03:16 AM UTC
Bill Cross reviews Bronco's Sd.Kfz. 6/2 3.7cm FlaK 36.



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pseudorealityx
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Posted: Wednesday, July 20, 2011 - 05:55 AM UTC
Nice review Bill. It does seem odd to gig Bronco for not including the trailer, when they do offer the correct trailer, just as a separate kit. Neither Dragon or Trumpeter even offer the correct trailer, so those comments are applicable to them.
bill_c
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Posted: Wednesday, July 20, 2011 - 06:37 AM UTC

Quoted Text

It does seem odd to gig Bronco for not including the trailer, when they do offer the correct trailer, just as a separate kit. Neither Dragon or Trumpeter even offer the correct trailer, so those comments are applicable to them.


Jesse, you have a valid point, and I wrestled with how to handle this. But I don't think it's unreasonable to have them include the trailer. Great Wall pulled the same thing when they released their sWS without a motor. Now they are releasing a motor + tranny kit for extra $$$$. If you're not going to show the bonnet open, you might just say "**** the engine, who needs it?" So maybe it's a gamble worth taking by companies looking to pad their margins in a very competitive marketplace.

I do realize it's a marketing decision: does a company price a kit higher & include the trailer, or are enough modelers going to purchase the kit sans trailer and not really care? Those of us who want accuracy know you need to have a source of ammunition, whether it's an Opel Blitz truck or a trailer. I will be ordering the Bronco trailer, so I suppose they beat me. I could also just as easily use the Wiener Modellbau trailer that has been waiting on the shelf for me to finish my Sd.Kfz. 7/2 kit.

DML has steadfastly refused to include trailers in its gun-toting 1/2 tracks. Trumpeter's trailers are either totally wrong (e.g., their Sd.Kfz. 7/1) or questionable hybrids (their Sd.Kfz. 7/1 Late War). Bronco's trailer appears to be correct, but will add an additional $26 to the build cost (plus any AM upgrades one chooses such as a turned aluminum barrel and brass muzzle brake).

In the interest of being consistent, I did subtract some points from my rating for not including a trailer. It's still a very nice kit, and many of y'all will likely decide you don't really need (or even want) a trailer. A huge number of surviving photos show these 1/2 tracks w/o trailers, so you're not exposing yourselves to ridicule if you build this trailer-less.
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