Landships II

Pzkpfw-e · Commander in Chief

Armortek MkIV

Schnuck · Sergeant

...for those with deeper pockets ...

biggrin

Volker

Pierantonio · Lieutenant-Colonel

In 1917 a REAL MkIV price was £5.000,00 biggrin

It lacks lots of rivest on sponson flat plate. Is it a pre production run?

Bye

Pierantonio

-- Edited by Pierantonio on Friday 19th of September 2014 05:44:55 PM

Ironsides · Legend

Yikes!

herrmill · Corporal

You'll find many photos of their new kit on the Armortek Facebook page that were posted in conjunction with the Tank Museum's WWI 100th commemoration event in August. It shows the build of the finished model that was donated to the museum as part of the Warhorse to Horsepower exhibition.

Also just saw that Military Machines International magazine released a World War I Vehicle Special issue that features a detailed article on the new Mk IV.

As with any of their limited releases, the run is limited to 50 kits & will surely sell out. If they follow up with an FT-17, I'll be one of the first to place a deposit.

James H · Legend

Yellow card for "FT-17".

CharlieC · Legend

James H wrote:
Yellow card for "FT-17".

Deserves at least 15 minutes in the "sin bin" or perhaps facing the tribunal on Monday night.

Charlie

BC312 · Colonel

FT-17 you mean French tank of 1917 or just a tank made by the French during WW1?

Morgoth · Major

Pierantonio wrote:
In 1917 a REAL MkIV price was £5.000,00

-- Edited by Pierantonio on Friday 19th of September 2014 05:44:55 PM

According to the measuringworth.com:

In 2013, the relative value of £5,000 from 1917 ranges from £244,500.00 to £1,852,000.00.

Depending on how it's calculated.

MRG · Major

Hmm, I am sorry to say this - but for that amount of money I would have expected a more accurate or detailed model... I saw them close up at Bovington Tankfest this year and I was not that impressed. Not enough rivets to start with! wink Plenty for the pedantic improver to do..

I am of course aware that there is a fine line to walk between economical reality and ideals. And - maybe I am just spoilt because I have been doing so much research that flaws in details stick out to me like a sore thumb.

herrmill · Corporal

Sorry to ruffle any feathers but whatever you want to call it it: Renault FT17, Renault Char D'Assaut 18HP, America's M1917, Italy's Fiat 3000, Russia's Reno or even the latter day FT31, it was undoubtedly the other most influential tank to come out of WWI that served many nations into the early days of WWII and well worth being in any collection.

MK1 Nut · Hero

FT17 rolls of the tongue so I'm sticking with that. Anyhow, beyond the mischief making, I have to agree, the FT should be added to their range.

One issue for Armortek I can see, is they may struggle to make a lot of money from the venture if the numbers made and sold are low. Although a small tank, I can well imagine that its production costs would be high. So it is a case of how much people are prepared to pay for what is comparatively small model. So they would need to keep the profit margin down and the numbers made high. It's a risk, but one I think they should take. The MK1 was the first Tank, but the FT was the first modern format Tank.

Helen x

herrmill wrote:
Sorry to ruffle any feathers but whatever you want to call it it: Renault FT17, Renault Char D'Assaut 18HP, America's M1917, Italy's Fiat 3000, Russia's Reno or even the latter day FT31, it was undoubtedly the other most influential tank to come out of WWI that served many nations into the early days of WWII and well worth being in any collection.

-- Edited by MK1 Nut on Tuesday 7th of October 2014 11:20:41 AM

BC312 · Colonel

When I saw the two Weald foundations FT17s what ever you wish to call them, although in bits is a very impressive bit of kit. It was interesting to recognise all the related bits, engine gear box and transmission parts to the Takom 1/16 scale FT I am building now.

herrmill · Corporal

Hi Helen, so nice to see your comments! How's your outstanding build coming along?

I, too, have always questioned how Armortek makes it but I guess their ROI is sufficient enough to warrant their limited lot release strategy towards the higher end collector market, which always tend to sell out. Perhaps they've discovered the secret to doing a small-scale family run business that I've never been able to figure out, especially given their recent investment they tout on their website: www.armortek.co.uk/about-us/

Given the interest in the UK for the WWI Centennial, I'd almost bet the house that Armortek will follow with the FT, especially with a number of variants the subject can offer that could be a very profitable kit for them. I do know that MetalBox in Beijing has no interest in doing it - their focus is on WW2 German armor but are considering an American M3 Stuart for their next release - so the market belongs to the Brits.

-- Edited by herrmill on Wednesday 8th of October 2014 12:39:53 AM

herrmill · Corporal

Agreed. I think it needs far more rivets but then Tamiya got it wrong, too.

MRG wrote:
Hmm, I am sorry to say this - but for that amount of money I would have expected a more accurate or detailed model... I saw them close up at Bovington Tankfest this year and I was not that impressed. Not enough rivets to start with! Plenty for the pedantic improver to do..
I am of course aware that there is a fine line to walk between economical reality and ideals. And - maybe I am just spoilt because I have been doing so much research that flaws in details stick out to me like a sore thumb.

MRG · Major

biggrin It just makes me wonder...

Developing an injection mold must by far exceed the cost and time which I have put into the plans and research of my Mark IV project?

But then they fall again for the inexplicable hatches within the luggage holder of Excellence.. Instead of taking a better look at Lodestar III in Bruxelles which has not been tampered with so much.

At least Tamiya got the rear plates and exhaust right. evileye

Best regards,

Martin