The Next Heng Long

[Tanksparky]

Hi All.
The latest Heng Long is yet another German Model. Is it not time they put out an Allied tank. How well would a Firefly or
Cromwell sell. I bet these models would be best sellers. What do you think. We need something to take on all them Germans
All the Best
Tanksparky

[LMN118]

Next one looks to be a Chinese MBT which will be a huge seller for them. The problem with British tanks is they probably wouldn't sell that well.

A small batch production for the tank enthusiast would be best but for the general masses British WW2 tanks not only look naff, performed poorly (in the main) but had somewhat girly names. These would all effect how well they would sell to the average shopper.

The added difficulty is the often complicated suspension which would be difficult to replicate.

[Tanksparky]

Hi
I don't quite get your take on WWII British Tanks. Yes the early ones did have some what untank like names(Matilda for one) And as for how they looked, that is in the eye of the beholder. The later tanks had names like Cromwell, Challenger,Centaur and Comet. Not forgetting Of course the Sherman Firefly, hardly girly names. The suspension on these tanks are no more complicated to replicate
than that of any of the German tanks Heng Long has made.
It would be nice for me to own a tank or two(maybe three) that my Grandfather when into battle along side.
Just my opinion of course.
Tanksparky

[LMN118]

What I was trying to say is that the majority of sales are not made by tank enthusiasts, model enthusiasts or even radio control nuts. They are generally bought by people with no specific interest in military history, vehicles or even radio control toys. Of course for some the tank may spark an interest but not many I wager.

I did write a longer post but it is easier to say that for many people, they look at what they want for their hobby. In a forum like this you are in with mostly like minded people but for the people making the tanks, it is a business. Business factors such as potential sales and costs will always trump what would be good, so they will be looking at what is good for the market, what will sell to a general audience and what will sell to tank and model enthusiasts.

That is the reason why we have Tigers, Panthers, Tiger II's on the market. People know them, people will buy them. How many people would know a 38T, 7TP, M3 or a Comet. The other issue they need to consider is market saturation, the more tanks they have in the line up has the potential to reduce sales of any one line. If sales stagnate, retailers will have an overstock and will stop buying them. I wouldn't be surprised if some point in the future if they start retiring the less popular tanks.

Our best hope lies with companies like Hooben, since they have been producing tanks that are not made by other companies or have been out of production for a long time. I have been asking the companies to not produce new tanks, but instead to concentrate on perfecting the tanks they do have, and making new parts for the ones we do have.

I too would like a Matilda, I just don't see them making them.

[caddyshack]

I have to agree on whats all ready been said. Its sad but probably true. I too would love to see a British WW2 tank in the line up.
May be a churchill, after all it carried his name and for the jobs it done it done them very well. Its ability to climb slopes/gradients were second to none, most other tanks couldn't match it there.
It also came in may variances so theres a big scope this tank could fall into,support or main roll after all Monty loved them, may be heng long or tamyia could do the same .

[tanks_for_the_memory]

Surely the biggest mystery, given what has been written above, is why companies like Heng Long haven't produced the classic early Sherman. . .

[caddyshack]

Yes it would be nice but...its yet another U.s tank..bring on the british after all i think we did play apart in that war ..even before the yaks came along

[seafire]

People have been asking for a 1/16 Centurion for years! One of the most widely used tanks in the world, and in it's day, one of the best. The sheer number of of variants and modifications make would make for infinite modelling possiblities.

[Saxondog]

Guys, get together and produce some specific engineering details,some photos and as much information(Links) as possible. Create a post for this purpose and I KNOW we can ask this very question of Manufacturing.

It's difficult to explain to the powers that be why this is a good idea,what could we say? All the market reasons have been stated and re stated,but I SEE A DIFFERENT younger group getting involved. And the engineering challenge does play a part.

My knowledge of British Armor is very limited,but if you guys go to the trouble I can only say the people at Waltersons know the forum well enough to accept what we submit,and to give us a reasonable answer and hopefully ask for more information and respect you guys on this forum enough to give you a straight yes or no answer.

I AGREE their needs to be British Armor it just makes sense. I just believe the best way to achieve that is to make the production profitable for Waltersons. They have provided this forum with information,and they are interested in the opinion of Tankers, modellers and RC enthusiast. US.

The best proof is specific information,and that is important,you guys want to do the work,I'll commit to placing the report in the hands of the sales team at Waltersons. But understand this is about the forum(you) and what the forum feels is needed.

It is not about my opinion,or my feelings about British Armor. Produce the information,and the History of the tank in battle and we can at least find out why British Armor is undeveloped in the RC Market,and how we can change that.

Blake