BMW R75 with Sidecar - Bike crew update 170215

[elias.tibbs]

I've spoken to a friend who used to work at BMW Motorrad. I think he helped with part design or something.

He thinks it's an enlarged Air filter to deal with desert conditions, but he's going to check with some of his old colleagues.

[elias.tibbs]

I got a response

"On earlier models has been a toolbox on top of the tank which did get replaced and it became the Airbox. Under this cover is the Airfilter"

It then was deleted compleley. Afraid I don't have a date/model of when it was deleted.

Does that help? Any further questions?

[Rubicon Models]

Thanks~ that's basically the same conclusion we had at the studio.
We just wanted to confirm it is for desert use, and not for other theatres!

[Pinky]

It's the metal cover for the air filter, which was relocated from the transmission to the top of the fuel tank in June 1942 so it wouldn't pick up as much road dust.  It was wasn't just intended for desert use.  You can find photos of bikes on the Eastern front with this feature.

Maybe leave this feature off if it's messing up the figure design?  Your kit can depict the initial version, which was arguably the most important anyway.

[Rubicon Models]

An update on our DAK bike crew...  Decided to revise crew with long trousers
instead of shorts to go inline with the Perry's DAK. If you still wanted the crew
in shorts, we might release them at a later date.


Enjoy!

[Pinky]

Excellent!  Would it be possible to remove the rifle from the figure driving the bike?  He wouldn't normally have one, and it would also be really useful to have more figures without webbing, as they can then be used as tank crew.  These troops would also be wearing less gear - in particular, the machine gunner wouldn't have rifle ammo pouches, and they wouldn't be carrying pistols.

[stevepalffy]

Looking good
Obviously a box of DAK tank crew and vehicle riders is now in order ?

[Rubicon Models]

This is the proposed sprue layout for the BMW R75 with sidecar.  Similar to the
multi-variant Willys MB Jeep, we are putting the crew asides into blister packs.
This layout is NOT final, will put some extra goodies into it!

The driver and crew will be available on blisters of your choices - Blitzkrieg for
early war, DAK for the African campaign, and mid & late war in Kradmantel...


Comments?

[Pinky]

My only comment on providing separate crew is that it seems to be a lot of additional blisters for a single (quite small) kit.  Is that really practical?  Is it really necessary to do so many different crew?

[Rubicon Models]

My only comment on providing separate crew is that it seems to be a lot of additional blisters for a single (quite small) kit.  Is that really practical?  Is it really necessary to do so many different crew?

This is more of a marketing issue; actually is also cheaper to package as well.
We are still working on the details on how this can be carried out, so is sort
of preliminary...

[airborne]

You`ve tempted me with this entry, so my 2 pence worth is I like the separate crews. For me the Africa source would be my last buy if at all, my gamming being in Europe, and "Sea lion" and not yet reached the "Dark continent".

[Pinky]

This is more of a marketing issue; actually is also cheaper to package as well.
We are still working on the details on how this can be carried out, so is sort
of preliminary...

Unless you're packaging 2 bike sprues in every box, I think many people may feel that a single bike without crew isn't a very attractive purchase.  I would include the crew (and sell them separately as well).  You don't need 3 crew per bike, for a start - you rarely see more than 2. 

[ripley]

I agree with Pinky . Either a  kit of 2 Bikes and separate crew blisters  or a single bike and a Kradmantel crew  . It might be a good idea to make the blister packs a larger , say 10 man set . Say the 3 bike crew , a 3-4 man tank crew and 2-3 of seated driver type figures for trucks and halftracks  . You could make them DAK or late war specific . Take a look at what Miniart and Masterbox ( 1/35 scale  kits) have done with their figure sets for ideas . Really looking forward to this kit release 

[Rubicon Models]

RE: Blister Packs

Since we do not have the intention to produce infantry box sets yet, we will only
focus on blister packs.  Blister packs have standard size because of store wall
mountings - this applies to ALL miniature manufacturers who produce blister
packs.  We can only put so much plastic figures in a pack.  A good commercial
example will be those from Games Workshop nowadays!

At present, we'd just queue up the jeep and the bike for mould making. Right
now is peak season for us - OEM projects for Christmas releases.  Doubt we
can get any of these done right away!  Plus the figures are still in QC for final
approval.

Don't want to disappoint anybody... 

[Rubicon Models]

Almost a month without update on this project...


Enjoy!