In the stash? What about on the display shelves? Those are not exactly small builds... like say an FT-17. Those are chock blocks for these suckers!

Point taken Stik!!  But if I just build brand new kits, what will become of the lonely closet kits that have been waiting their turn??  

Guess the only answer is to not buy any new kits until the older ones are built!!

bufflehead

Point taken Stik!!  But if I just build brand new kits, what will become of the lonely closet kits that have been waiting their turn??  

Guess the only answer is to not buy any new kits until the older ones are built!!

The best way to acquire kits like this is via the secondary market. Guys who have to have it now, but let them sit in the closet until the next "got to have it now" comes out. Then they sell the past "hot" kit at about 50% off in order to buy the next "hot" kit.

I'm thinking of doing just that Rob.  Other than eBay, any other online venues to thin out the stash of older kits?

No matter what, I think I'll wait until I'm ready to build that monster M103 before buying it!

Many of the other online model websites have buy/sell/trade forums. Track Link, Missing Lynx, HyperScale, etc. but always do a discreet search of the seller's history in case one of the "known bad traders" slips onto the site.

I hate to be the one dredging up ancient threads but I couldn't wait and picked one up at a pretty reasonable price at the Richmond, Va show this weekend.

Opened the box but haven't opened any of the bags yet- very impressive so far.

Normally I'd wait till I can get a better price but I couldn't help myself!

This thread hardly qualifies as ancient ;-) I am waiting to see a WIP thread or finished one here!

Indeed... selection of obscure subjects has never been better. As well as umpteen Panthers, and Tigers, and Mk.IVs (oh my!)

Panzer Mark IV...  Theres a bajillon of those available

Plenty of other WWI tanks coming out recently. Meng and Takom seem to be running with that ball. Who knows? Perhaps a new series of that family as well.

stikpusher

This thread hardly qualifies as ancient ;-) I am waiting to see a WIP thread or finished one here!

Lol, hope you're not hinting about a WIP tread here! I started a simple one years ago and never finished it. 

I pulled some of the kit out of the bags last night and looked it over. The suspension components and road wheels sprues are from Dragon's twenty year old M46 kit which isn't too surprising since the M103 was based off that AFV. I've heard some people complaining about the detail being a little soft but it doesn't look too bad to me.

The hull and turret of course are all new and though maybe not the best they don't look too shabby either. The main gun is one piece plastic - I'm assuming using the slide mold technology. The turret is almost as large as a M24 Chaffee just by itself.   

Having seen a few in person, I can tell you that they are indeed a huge tank. Bigger than a M60, which I always thought was a big beast.(with a little Hollywood makeover, I think M60A1s would make better King Tigers in any "Bulge" movie- the turrets have a similar shape) Interesting to hear how Dragon is using their old M26/M46 suspension parts, but not suprising at all. They are family indeed. If you could post please photos for us to see your score here...

SP: I took a few last night but I've been having some problems with my ISP, if it doesn't clear up I'll post them from work.

We'll be here my friend.

Ok, some quick photos I snapped with the cell phone- I think they're mostly in focus 

The M103 in the middle flanked by a Dragon M46 and the old Tamiya M60:

Turret alongside a late 76mm Sherman turret:

Yeah, the turret alone

is almost as big as a Chaffee!

Turret detail, the forward hatch is molded shut. Good detail on the cast texture though I've been spoiled by Tasca/Asuka and AFV Club:

Bow of the hull showing the driver's hatch:

One piece molded 120mm main gun, looks good though I'm sure a turned metal aftermarket replacement is coming out soon:

Detail of the rear engine deck:

The new type 'rubber band' tracks, not complaining here since they're nicely detailed and for 'live' tight tracks with no sag I'm too lazy to do multiple piece tracks. I think AFV Club for one has sets that would work though you'd have to buy two I'd think for the longer length of the M103 hull: 

Nice! thanks for showing off... I mean sharing! Yes, AFV Club makes a workable set of those indy link tracks of that type (Txyz or whatever), although I have heard that they are quite fragile. I think Bronco or one of the other Chinese companies does now as well. It will be interesting to see what AM stuff comes out for this kit.