Preview, production casts of M41 Walker Bulldog from Company B

[CompanyB]

We should have some at Historicon, yes.

Right now I'm searching desperately for another casting source in the U.S., to handle some of our moderns backlog.  And I think I found a place in the UK to help there as well.  If those work out, then getting the M59 and Duster out (along with the BTR-50, PT-76, Weisels, etc...) would be pretty easy.  Right now I literally have an Army of WW2 and interwar motor pool waiting to be released. So any new moderns would be pushed back for a long while. 

I might be able to get crew for the M41 going sooner than expected.  If thats the case, and we do an M59 and the M42, what do folks really need?

-Brent

[carlos marighela]

Crew would be nice but please not Mike Broadbent. He has done some good work in 15mm but 28mm really isn't his thing.

[Arlequín]

Before the mob gathers to select their stones, I have to say I think the same. His 15mm & 20mm stuff is head and shoulders above the rest (in a quality sense, as opposed to size), but I'm not keen on his 28mm work.

Maybe Carlos and I are too 'picky'... but there you have it.   

[CompanyB]

I have a new chap who works in Zbrush.  So since we are using spin casting to do some of these vehicles, and this same guys is working on some other moderns and WW2 vehicles for us, we may let him loose on a few crews.

Then we can finally release the M51 sherman 


I'm gathering data on the following models that are essential variants of stuff we already have:
M59
M42
PT76
PT85
ZSU-23-4

[carlos marighela]

By PT-83 do you mean the North Korean PT-85 or the Chinese Type 63? The former is based on a completely different chassis and as far as I can tell almost nobody outside of the DPRK uses it

The Type 63 is the PT-76 derivative with an 85mm gun and new turret. The hull is a bit taller. It has seen quite a lot of service and was widely exported. I should imagine that those folk who bought into the Empress PLA would probably like the modernised Type 63 A but that would involve modifying the hull considerably plus providing a new turret.

As the Cold War seem to be developing renewed interest, I'd suggest looking at the Czech and Polish derivatives of your BTR-50, the OT-62/TOPAS. Same hull and running gear, minor variation to include a second cupola, turret options and maybe the RCL armed version. These were widely exported and have seen a lot of service.

Some Soviet jeeps would be handy too and bound to be popular. Gaz-69 and UAZ 469

[CompanyB]

Maybe it's the wrong designation.  I was looking for a new turret variant.  The Topas seems like a must do, since it's such a simple change to the existing CAD work we already have.  Maybe you should stop now Carlos before you give our casters a heart attack.  The I'm sure the 3D printing bureaus we use will be quite happy.

On the new models, slight hull variations are fine, as we are building them as modular kits.  It's actually cheaper in the long run...1 set of tracks, several hulls, hull variant modules, and different turrets.  

The molds we now use for resin spin casting cost the same if you stick one turret/hull in it, or three to six.  Our issue now is that we need to fill the molds to maximize the space in the mold with either more variant parts or new models  

You'll see the same method applied to our re-release of the Jeep, and forthcoming BT-5/7 tank series models.

-Brent

[Arlequín]

Turret variants of the PT76 are few, the most obvious variant of the PT76 is the Chinese Type 63 light tank, but that is a little more than just a turret swap.

The PT85, as Carlos said, is a wholly different vehicle and owes its development from the confusingly designated Chinese Type 63 APC - another vehicle that has avoided being put on the wishlist, besides being very widely exported.

 

[carlos marighela]

Sneaky Reds! Type 63 Light tanks, Type 63 APCs even damn Type 63 assault rifles. Mighty confusing, especially since the Type 63 rifle didn't come into service until 1968.

Brent, tell your casters to avert their eyes.....

If modular is the way of the future and  I can see the eminent sense in that (Rubicon have seen it too) then the logical chassis and hull combinations that recommend themselves are:

PT-76/BTR-50.

Essentially the same set of tracks will get you the various iterations of the PT-76 and the BTR-50 plus the foreign copies like OT-62 and the Type 77 APC , Type 63 light tank etc. Probably not a huge seller but nice to see the early PT-76 variant with multi baffle muzzle brake.

In addition you can also get the MT-LB and some of it's soft skin half brothers from the same running gear. Perfect for those secret Arctic base scenarios.

A similar case can be made for the BTR-60. Apart from roof/no roof/turret options it's just the placement of a few hatches that differentiates the BTR-60 P/ PA,/PB/ PK/PU etc and the Romanian TAB-72 ( slight turret mod required but easily done as a glue on extra bit).

Between those two you have some of the most widely used post war vehicles in existence.

[CompanyB]

Yeah, the BTR 60 is something I was looking at, but the Bush Wars models took priority.  But now that those are out I can look at it again.  I think we already had CAD started on the BTR-60 and variants before we moved to reworking the BTR-152 and 40.  As I mentioned the BTR-50 is already done and masters printed 

I think if we did those and the aforementioned M41 cousins, it's a good start to the Cold War line.  Not to mention I have a bunch of accessories, like Engine Snorkels, Winches, tools, etc for the Unimogs that can be added to just about any modern model or diecast toy, we will have a pretty good lineup.

[Arlequín]

It is a good start and to be honest more than I expected to see any time soon. There are some great vehicles in your range overall.

Now we just need the figure makers to catch up. 

[Chuckaroobob]

Love that Bulldog!

And the M51 Super Sherman is a must have just because the gun is so Huge!

[Arlequín]

Indeed, I almost expect photographic evidence that they tipped over when firing at anything but a 45° arc to the front. 

Still not as bad a fit as the M5 Stuarts made to 'look like' (a total fail actually) T34/85s in a few Korean War era movies... now they really look odd.