Rubicon Models
Rubicon Models => General Discussions => Topic started by: Rubicon Models on December 30, 2015, 10:27:03 pm
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(http://i1373.photobucket.com/albums/ag377/RubiconModels/Misc%20Images/2015%20A%20Year%20in%20Review%20151220-1_zpspfqruflp.jpg)
Looking back, Rubicon Models had our first releases in late October 2014, and 2015 is basically
our first “Year” in business. Being a young establishment, 2015 had been an absolute great year for
us, and we couldn't have done it without the backing of all our fantastic followers and customers like
you. We have to say a huge “THANK YOU” for your continuous support!
Located on the other side of the globe (latitude and longitude are 22.2670°N, 114.1880°E), it is
very difficult to reach out directly to our customers. Fortunate enough, our Regional Distributors
had done a great job to get our products across! With their support, we’re looking forward to
continuing in 2016 with even bigger and better products for everyone!
2015 had been a year of learning for us. Running a business is very different from managing a
design studio. We are still learning, and we are getting there! New digital technology in design
and manufacturing had given us a leading edge to get our products quicker to the market; and
social media had given us an excellent platform to talk directly to our customers... YOU!
2015 is also a year of foundation laying. Selective products that we had released this year will
be the “base kit” for a whole new range of “add-on” products enabling you to expand your
wargaming arsenal and for your military model collections.
Looking forward, Rubicon Models will be churning out a lot of plastics – not just plain plastics –
but high quality, fine detail plastics!
- the Rubicon Team
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I think this year saw a huge improvement in Rubicon's kits. The initial releases for the year were good - especially the SdKfz 251, which is an excellent kit - but the M5A1/M8 kits really raised the bar, in my view. Sure, there are still a couple of niggly little issues, but they are such a pleasure to build, and look so cool, that I bought several just for the fun of building them.
Less exciting to build, but perhaps more important in the bigger picture, are the Opel Blitz and stowage set. The Blitz signalled Rubicon's willingness to release less glamourous but hugely useful vehicles like softskins. And the stowage set made it possible to customise (German) vehicles and add stuff to dioramas and gaming tables relatively cheaply.
It would have been great if Rubicon could have ended the year with the release of the Hetzer, M8/M20 and M10/M36 (as intended), as these also promise to be great kits, but I'm sure we'll see them soon.
I think we're all eager to see the first of the 'new generation' figures that have been previewed here, and I'm especially looking forward to the SdKfz 250. Roll on 2016!
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Happy New Year, everyone!!
(http://i1373.photobucket.com/albums/ag377/RubiconModels/Misc%20Images/FB%20New%20Year%202016%20v1_zps4hhfrjfp.jpg)
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A few figure sets would be great ...Tank crews etc ?
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I see that Warlord/Italeri have finally released their M10. They opted not to provide optional parts for the M36 or Achilles, but did provide a US and British crew. It looks okay, but the detail seems a bit basic. It appears to have the same tracks and running gear as their M4, as evidenced by the (incorrect) track sag [edit: but without the chevrons]. I might get one for the crew, but it's the Rubicon version I'm looking forward to building.
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I see that Warlord/Italeri have finally released their M10. They opted not to provide optional parts for the M36 or Achilles, but did provide a US and British crew. It looks okay, but the detail seems a bit basic. It appears to have the same tracks and running gear as their M4, as evidenced by the (incorrect) track sag. I might get one for the crew, but it's the Rubicon version I'm looking forward to building.
If you looked closely at their images, Italeri's M10 is basically a scaled down version of their 1/35 kit; even the tank crews are scaled down!
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In the pictures that Warlord posted,it looks to have the earlier rubber padded track without the molded chevrons,and the rear idler wheel is a solid one without the ribs/spokes.
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I've never seen a rear idler wheel with four relief holes like the one pictured on the Warlord M 10 . Screw up ? Having two crews is a nice touch , but full figures or just a upper body / head swap ? Hard to tell from the pictures . Personally I would like the option of adding crew or not , so separate figures is what I want . And the more the merrier I say on companies making kits . You know you have to have at least one of each .... or six !
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The 2016 Italeri preview is out with a 1/56th Churchill announced.
http://www.italeri.com/imgup/Preview%20Italeri%202016%281%29.pdf
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Interesting - only the Churchill and M10 are mentioned. They chose a good variant for the Churchill - plenty of useful options - but if that's it for 2016 it looks as though Rubicon are well ahead now. Italeri seems to prefer re- boxing existing kits for World of Tanks...
There's also a modular building, which is apparently for both 1/72 and 1/56 scale (which seems a bit of a cop-out). It looks okay for what it is, but seems rather unambitious.
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I had assumed that the Churchill was a PSC one scaled up, though the NA 75mm is not on their option list.
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I had assumed that the Churchill was a PSC one scaled up, though the NA 75mm is not on their option list.
I assumed that too, but that wouldn't be released under the Italeri label. It's Warlord itself that scales up PSC kits. I think Rubicon mentioned that there was an M4A4 in the works - maybe that would be another scaled up PSC kit?
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Exactly.
Hopefully that means there will not be the fill issue on the escape hatch that blights my 15mm ones, and you do not need to scratch build the AVRE gadget fixtures (there is a technical term, but I do not know it).
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I've never seen a rear idler wheel with four relief holes like the one pictured on the Warlord M 10 . Screw up ?
Looks like a mistake. Seems like a rather strange error to make when they've already produced this suspension so many time previously.
Hopefully that means there will not be the fill issue on the escape hatch that blights my 15mm ones, and you do not need to scratch build the AVRE gadget fixtures (there is a technical term, but I do not know it).
We're getting off topic (it's a Rubicon site, after all), but what is missing from the PSC version?
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but what is missing from the PSC version?
If you check on the PSC site you can find the instructions (the reinforcements defintely have the sprue and assembly info).
The petard mortar is included, but the mounting point and the slide bracket on the side of the track plates that seems to feature on all pictures (used to attach dozer blades, bobbins etc.). I will see if I can find some unpainted photographs of my 15mm and message you.
Now back to the scheduled programme.... ^___^
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The petard mortar is included, but the mounting point and the slide bracket on the side of the track plates that seems to feature on all pictures (used to attach dozer blades, bobbins etc.). I will see if I can find some unpainted photographs of my 15mm and message you.
I see. It does look as though those fittings were standard. I guess PSC thought they weren't worth including in a 15mm model.
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We can change the topic to make this more appropriate for this discussion, lol.
M10 - We did noticed Italeri/Warlord version of this tank destroyer. It is our fault not been able to release it earlier, but we think the flexibility of our build and competitive pricing will make ours more worthwhile to purchase and build.
Churchill - We have split-feelings on this one! We recalled the Churchill was in one of our earliest surveys, but never had the chance to start this project. Since Italeri had announced it (but may not release it until end of 2016), we are keen to wait and see how it turned out before we tackle this as a new project. Also, there are so many variants to do! No meaning to release the same variant... even though some might think otherwise!
Expectations - We are really surprised to see Italeri only had intention for ONE new release in 2016 under 1/56 scale (other than the M10). Why? No idea... but repackaging and selling World of Tanks models probably is bringing in more cash$$$ for them. Sales of "wargaming" models is not a lucrative business as they think it is!
Any more thoughts?
;)
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Not all companies have a full release schedule, some projects are held back to be announced later in the year. Also because Italeri is tied to Warlord who have a much shorter release schedule the new models are not announced until Warlord is ready to do the same. So I would not be surprised if more kits are released this year.
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Not all companies have a full release schedule, some projects are held back to be announced later in the year. Also because Italeri is tied to Warlord who have a much shorter release schedule the new models are not announced until Warlord is ready to do the same. So I would not be surprised if more kits are released this year.
This might be true, but from what information that was provided in Italeri 2015 catalog, it was exactly what was released. Of course, Warlord had their own plastic line that are not tied in with Italeri. So we are also not surprised if more kits are released under the BA brand name this year.
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My feeling is that this was Italeri testing the water, but as a sideline. Warlord must have thought that it was in their interest to have another source of vehicles.
There might have been a contract on the number of joint venture kits.
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We are really surprised to see Italeri only had intention for ONE new release in 2016 under 1/56 scale (other than the M10). Why? No idea... but repackaging and selling World of Tanks models probably is bringing in more cash$$$ for them. Sales of "wargaming" models is not a lucrative business as they think it is!
Italeri do know about selling wargaming kits. They must have known what it involved when they got into bed with Warlord. But they are an eccentric outfit, with a reputation for inconsistency and unpredictability. They also like to pull kits then re-release them at regular intervals. Prior to the release of their M8/M20, I would have said that their Churchill was likely to be a great kit, as they had a run of really excellent kits (especially the StuG III and Panzer III). Now I'm not sure. I think it's encouraging that we're not seeing more copycat releases off the back of Rubicon's Hetzer and SdKfz 250.
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There's also a modular building, which is apparently for both 1/72 and 1/56 scale (which seems a bit of a cop-out). It looks okay for what it is, but seems rather unambitious.
I was looking at the pdf again (Churchill) and noticed a familiar "1/56" scale plastic building in the Bastogne diorama. It is better scaled for 1/72.
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Good spot. And their forthcoming modular building seems to be included in the 'Operation Cobra' set, which is clearly 1/72 scale, so it's going to be undersized. Maybe Rubicon should revisit their own modular design. My problem with Rubicon's initial design was that it was rather bland and didn't really capture the look of the architecture you see in photos of the fighting in NW Europe. But with all their subsequent experience I'm sure they could come up with something better now.
Btw - that word you quoted should have been 'unambitious', not 'unambiguous'.