ALAN FLAKPANZER 38t (1/35th)

QUOTE: Originally posted by tone HI, Has anybody built the kit yet?, i keep reading that its a piece of **** I must admit that I am hesitant mainly because i know that if i do buy it the next day TAMIYA will bring out their version-they already have the gun & chassis. chhers

go on buy the kit. i want the Tamiya one

welcome to the forums

Welcome to the asylum, Tone. While I haven't built Alan's Flakpanzer 38(t), I am still trying to finish Alan's ZIS-5 Russian Truck, and let me tell you, it IS a piece of . Missing wheels all together, holes half the size for the part to fit into, poor fit, brittle parts that shatter when you try to cut them off the sprues....the list goes on..
I'll never buy another Russian made kit, what a pain in the Katyusha.

Don't hold your breath waiting for Tamiya to release anything in 1/35 anytime soon...they've gone off into the wilderness with their 1/48 crusade.

Tamiya have passed up much in not expanding on ther Marder III Ausf M chassis. Not only the Flakpanzer, but with a little effort they could have manufactured a decent Sig 33 and added it to the chassis for a late model 'Grille'. They could even sell the Sig 33 as a separate field piece.

If they used the basic running gear and manufactured a 38t and then an Aufklarang SdKfz 140/1 they would sell like hotcakes.

If your modelling skills are up to it, then the Alan kit can be made up quite well, but it is not one for the faint hearted. If you want a real ggod one, then I'm afraid you may need to scratchbuild on the Tamiya Marder IIIM chassis.

I stay away from Russian kits also.
On a lighter note, welcome to the forums.

ICM is from Ukraine right? I like them, they have a few great kits

Tone,i have the Alan kit Gepard flakpanzer 38[t] are we talking about the same kit? if so i have made mine yet.but the kit seems to be not too bad.it has seprate links for the tracks and one pe part.so go ahead and get the kit,you will never know if it is good or not without the kit. have fun.


gdarwin[roy]

I own the kit, but have yet to build it. Here's some information:

"Overall the kit is of a very high standard, although modelers might want to replace some of the tools..."
http://www.missing-lynx.com/reviews/german/alan_gepardflkpzer.html

"This is a great subject vehicle and the extra work required will make the extra effort worthwhile."
http://misc.kitreview.com/armourreviews/gepardreviewsp_1.htm

I'm looking forward to building it...

Tone: I think what it makes a good model is not the brand is the Modeler you can have the worst brand in the market and make a great model with all your experience...and help from others....

But that's my personal opinion.....I have a model from RPM and I'll do a great model....

Gabriel Salazar...

Ah, but crappy model is still a crappy model. That someone can make it into a great looking model is a fine thing indeed, but if it is a crappy kit, no matter who builds it, it's still a crappy kit.

Yeah, don't count on Tamiya for any more versions of the 38. I was hoping for a Hetzer or maybe a PzJag 38(t). They also could have done the Grille or Aufklarungspanzer
38(t). Perhaps a Bergpanzer 38(t) Hetzer. All they seem to be caring about is 1/48.

Thanks chaps, I guess I may go with the ALAN kit,
after all it IS the only game in town!

QUOTE: Originally posted by tigerman Yeah, don't count on Tamiya for any more versions of the 38. I was hoping for a Hetzer or maybe a PzJag 38(t). They also could have done the Grille or Aufklarungspanzer 38(t). Perhaps a Bergpanzer 38(t) Hetzer. All they seem to be caring about is 1/48.

And their 1/48 Hetzer will be released February 2005!
The next Tamiya 1/35 release will be a Leclerc next spring.

Ah, yes...some Ukrainian models...after surviving the building of the SKIF BMP-3 below, I feel like I can tackle anything...

Some of my clubmates have built the Alan Flakpanzer kit, and although it's not an easy build, it does turn into a nice model. If you're not afraid of a little (OK, maybe a LOT) of work, I'd say go for it.

QUOTE: Originally posted by J-Hulk QUOTE: Originally posted by tigerman Yeah, don't count on Tamiya for any more versions of the 38. I was hoping for a Hetzer or maybe a PzJag 38(t). They also could have done the Grille or Aufklarungspanzer 38(t). Perhaps a Bergpanzer 38(t) Hetzer. All they seem to be caring about is 1/48. And their 1/48 Hetzer will be released February 2005!

Yeah, isn't that ironic. Very disappointing. I thought they were onto something different with the Marders they released.

I have built a few Russian kit that were not that bad.It is the company and not were the are made.Digger

tone, i'm planning on scratch building a flakpanzer 38(t) based on tamiya's Marder IIIM kit. ive got the alan kit just for reference and maybe to scrounge some parts from. mine's gonna be decked out with italeris flak 38, PE fenders, Eduard flak 38 detail set, friul traks, and whatever i need to scratchbuild. its going in a dio. ive got a fairly good amount of reference if ya need some. ive been researching for about a year. also, get the friul tracks my friend, they're a godsend compared to the ones alan gives you. trust me. i havent built mine yet, but its gonna get started soon.

BTW- i agree, dont look for this or many other pz 38(t) kits comin from tamiya soon. they're workin on newer AFV's, their tiger collection, and etc.etc. those little tanks just aren't, in their eyes, what everybody wants.