Plastics!

Plastics! Those of you who were lucky enough to attended Origins or Panzerschreck last weekend will have seen the first glimpse of our first two plastic frames. Judging from the comments and feedback on the forums it appears that our choice to try some plastics has met with understanding, surprise and happiness that we have not lost the plot completely and started making toys, but have chosen to do some plastics for all the right reasons. Right from our very first discussions about plastics we knew it was going to be a hot topic, but it did not take us long to realise that plastics for us were not about replacing models with kits in a new material but was about increasing quality and flexibility for modelling for a small assortment of core components.

The choice of what to try this new idea on was a simple one. We picked the set of tracks that we produce the most, the Sherman tracks used in 22 different variants, and Schurzen, something that in metal has never been as detailed or as much of a modelling variant as it should have been. As you can see from the frames we have been able to capture more detail as well as cast smaller parts that metal would have issues reproducing. You will also note that the sprue is small. So small it fits in a blister so it can be used in more than just box sets.   We have viewed these frames as great way to test how much of an improvement we can get but also to see what you think of them. Even this is a step forwards for us, but one that does not stop us making resin and metal vehicles forever.

Using the same logic of how we chose these frames the list of what else can be done is not as long as you would think. Many WWII vehicles do not share enough components to allow us to go out and make a new tool for every variant. For those of you worrying about us going down a certain path that should hopefully ease your fears as the future is not filled with all plastic tanks for us. We like resin and metal and the detail and feel they give. Plastic is a new way of improving some things but not the answer to everything.

Both of these sprues will come out with the two new box sets for these very popular tanks. As you can see from the images with the model assembled the only way you will notice your tanks have the plastic tracks are by picking the model up, as they obviously a little lighter, or by looking closer at the track detail. The schurzen frame gives you the chance to do some modelling and conversion that in metal is just so hard and given the model still has metal tracks only gives you a much more authentic model on the table.

You will see the first blister with the Sherman sprue out in August in the form of the 105mm variant. Apart from these two sprues we have commissioned two more frames that you will be seeing towards the end of the year. A M3 Halftrack frame and a 251/ Halftrack frame. Both of these follow the same logic as the Sherman frame in that they give you all the metal components for the resin hull. As both of these halftracks are so popular we thought making them easier to assemble with more detailed parts was a good way to round out our test for plastic frames.

We have planned nothing further past these four at present as we want too see what you all think before going any further along this path. John-Paul