Neucraft Resin - PzKpfw 38H 735(f) 170906

[Rubicon Models]

Plastic is better than resin in my opinion, but we all know there's either whole kits or potential conversion kits that just wouldn't be cost effective to do in plastic.

It all depends on the forecasted sales volume vs breakeven point of the mould(s).  If sales volume is low, resin or pewter is always the best choice.

I think forge world (despite the price) have proved what you can do with resin/plastic hybrid conversion kits.

Resin/plastic hybrid is always on our project list, but never had the chance to go to that point yet.  Other companies are doing this already with our products, so we are not in a hurry.

[ultravanillasmurf]

I agree that resin opens up some interesting possibilities. Although I am a little concerned we don't end up with things in resin that would have been significantly better done in plastic. This tank maybe an example of that. I'm trying to keep an open mind.

This allows Our Gracious Hosts to test the market for French tanks. If stuff is going to sell in sufficient quantities it is more economical to produce it in plastic. The moulds last much longer, the materials are easier to handle (and cheaper?) and there is a certain cachet to a plastic kit.

Remember these are a bought in product that has been given the Rubicon treatment.

I hope they make it to Warfare in November.

[tyroflyer]

I see your point UVS. The difficulty, as I see it, is you might sell X number H39's in resin and convince yourself there isn't much of a market. Whereas if they had been plastic the sales could have been something else entirely. Rubicon I suspect will know this isn't the best test of the popularity of early French vehicles. Particularly when early French tanks have been available in resin for some time.

Nonetheless I acknowledge it is good Rubicon plan to use both materials. As a potential purchaser of the kits I would probably wish they had been made in plastic more often than the business bottom line will permit.

[ripley]

Warlord are  also releasing some plastic / resin / metal hybrid kits , they showed  a Japanese SPG ( Ho - Ra ) based on the Type 97 plastic kit in one of their news letters . And 1/35 companies have been doing it for years

[Pinky]

I saw the new Japanese SPG; initially I was wondering why they would do such an obscure vehicle in plastic.

Given that Rubicon will soon be doing some early-ish Panzers in plastic, and Warlord has the Char B1 bis in the works (which looks as though it's plastic), hopefully both Warlord and Rubicon will start to explore more early war armour - such as the Somua S35 I mentioned earlier, and perhaps an early British Cruiser.  The Somua could (like Rubicon's H35  and the forthcoming Char B1 bis) include parts for a German version.  I guess the Cruiser could be a MkIII/MkIV combination. 

[EarlyWarGamer]

I also hope Rubicon will explore more early war stuff in plastic!

[lou passejaire]

for those who searched for Vichy French H39 in Levant :
some R35 ( with the short barell low velocity AT gun all )




some Lorraine 37

and some FT

[Captain Blood]

Merci Lou.

Very interesting to see on the photographs of the FTs that they still wore their very bold and distinctive camouflage scheme, even in the middle east.