"HAT Armourfast Hanomag News?" Topic

Hi All.

Does anyone have any "insider" info on when the HAT/Amrmourfast 1/72 Hanomag will be released? I've been to the HAT website and seen that it is phase #8, so please don't tell me that. Instead, I am looking for anyone who might actually know more than is currently available publicly on when it might be released.

While I'm on the subject, can anyone think of a good reason why the Sdkfz 251 hasn't been done by more companies sooner in quick-build format? It seems a no-brainer that lots of people would buy them, yet Roco never put one out, and Pegasus seems to be in no hurry. It's as if they don't know their market…

Cheers!

Target has a nice one as part of the Forces of Valor line. You get a painted halftrack, a pak 40, a handful of infantry, and some scenery for $14.99.

It has been at catergory 8 for 2 or 3 years now. I don't think it will ever appear.

The same can be said for PZIV's, Italeri and HaT both do PzIII and Panthers but no PzIV's. Strange.

I was thinking the same thing myself – looks like it's a non-starter…

Ehm…. link

:-)

Thanks all for your comments, even if they are largely depressing. :-)

The Italeri Pz IV (#7007) is as far as I can tell a standard model kit, not a quick-build like the Hat, Pegasus, or the Italeri two-packs. I know several manufacturers make the Hanomag and the PzIV in "regular" model kit form, but for wargaming purposes the construction time is too great, unless you just like to build detailed kits with lots of tiny parts. Likewise, there are metal and resin kits, but these are either horribly expensive (Italeri fits that category too thanks to the strong Euro/weak dollar) or not easily available. I also like the flexibility for modification of the plastic kits, but prefer quick-build because I want to game, not glue. :-)

Thanks all again, and if anyone hears anything definitive, please let me know.

Milicast has their Battleground series with simplified details, here's the link to their Hanomag. link They are 1/76, but are beautiful little models and may be what you are looking for.

Frontline wargaming has a single piece Hanomag, a simple model, but you can't beat the price. They also have PzIV:s.
link

what about the Dragon ready built stuff, not my cup of tea personally but seem very popular

The Italieri model is definitely the old ESCI Mk IV G, it is the shorter barrel 75/L43.

re Hat sdkfz 251

I dont have any inside information but I suspect that a late stage design issue or mold accident meant that the project was set back.

Hat did tell me by email that the boxes for the hanomag were printed, that was 2 years ago. Miniart/Caesar? also announced lots of ww2 apc projects which never seem to have been completed.

Strange its causing so much hassle given arii did a clip together hanomag to a reasonable standard in the 1970s. I imagine Italeri will give us something within a couple of years whether or not Hat deliver their hanomag model.

Stephen

I waited and waited but in the end had to give up…and went for the dragon pre-paints…glad I did!
see them here:

link

We stock Armourfast and I too am waiting for the Hanomag and the U.S. H/track. These Kits have their critics but I think they are excellent wargaming pieces, quick to build, sturdy and with a bit of deailing make a great addittion to any WWII wargame. We just got the U.S. M36 Jackson tank destroyer in stock so I'll be making a couple of these babies up!

I think Armourfast are great models but do you think they will bother with a US half track now that italeri have done it? I know the Italeri model is an early version but there is always a chance Italeri could make a late model too..

on the hanomag, I hope Italeri will do that too as sadly the AF project has been stuck for a long time.

Great new about the M36, are these pre release versions you got your hands on?

Stephen

Target has stopped carrying the Force of Valour line.

apparently rumour has it progress is being made and the hanomag is due for release soon…but we have heard that for a few years :-)

armourfast have released quite a few new models this year although I think they have largely been based on previous kits, nonetheless at least there is some momentum in the range again

Hmmmm…."rumour has it." :-)

Well, let's hope that these rumours are finally correct! After all, they have to release it at SOME POINT, right?

I am ashamed to admit that I still regularly visit the HAT site for updates, only to see that it is perpetually stuck at stage 8.

I am going to play with 15mm for a while. Perhaps I will come back to 20mm when Hat releases their Hanomag.

Hey! That could be a new byword! Instead of something bleepable freezing over, we could say "When Hat releases their Hanomag!"

"Honey? When are you going to fix that faucet?"
"When Hat releases their Hanomag!"

I think it has potential!

apparently the info came from the manufacturer via email as a suggestion of "before the end of 2009" –

armourfast.com

their website is minimalist but they are responding to emails

cruchy frog – you have a few months to procrastinate yet!

I suspect that open top models are difficult for the armorfast format.

Airfix did a poly one years ago .
This is ,of course not helpful now but for a long time the only tanks they did were Centurions, Pattons etc.
Then in the dying days they did T34s, Panthers and I think a Pz4.
Just thought I'd mention it.

Apparently the armourfast hanomag is due for release in the next few weeks according to the official Hat website.

Also heard that their old T34/85 and 76 models have been retooled to the quality of their other kits!

Hi Iceolate,
That is good news. But I have to ask, where did you see this? When I look at the HAT website, I see the same old listing of the design stuck at "8", and I don't see it in the upcoming releases. Am I looking in the wrong place? (I hope so.)

Hi

I found it buried in a general update on the Hat discussion board on their website. The information was confirmed separately by email with armourfast at armourfast.com

cheers

quote 12 Apr 2010 from General Update and Notes last post 13 April 2010….

"Gentle readers, just a short note to let all the forumers know how much we appreciate all the input and comments that we have received. They really have been very useful on many levels, from uniform/weapon details to just general feedback. Thank you.

E16 is arriving around late April but may take longer than that to reach shops. WWII armour fans will pleased to note that the Hanomag will be releasing with E16."

Good news! Thanks!

and crusader is due next!

Stephen

link

its nearly here – shipping next week!

Stephen

Thanks for the update! It looks lovely and well worth the wait.

And yet…HAT's website still shows it stuck at "8".

Anyone want to be HAT's volunteer webmaster in exchange for free kits?

:-)

hat site updated now crunchy, though it seems hat and armourfast are parting ways to some extent.

got an email from armourfast today to say my hanomags are in the post! Now to decommission all my part built italeri ones for spares….

Stephen

Anyone seen these stateside yet?

Well, a few months have gone by and everyone in the world seems to have them but us Yanks! Has anyone seen these available in the USA, or know when they will be?

Yeah, I would love to find an online vendor here on this side of the pond. The only one I can find on eBay is in the UK.

I'm in Oz. I have 4 of them sitting next to Italieri models right now. Fairly close in comparison.

Looks like Michigan Toy Soldier Company has them as pre-orders, assuming these are the ones everyone's talking about:
link

Don.

Thanks for the heads up GM, just ordered some.