khurasanminiatures | 15 Jan 2014 7:44 p.m. PST |
We are back from our holiday hiatus and have a new model for you -- it's the latest in our range of 28mm sci fi vehicles, the Federal Sabre Light/Medium Tank.
This vehicle can be seen as an equivalent to the Walker Bulldog of the 1950s to 70s -- a bit smaller than a medium tank although still able to fight them (just as the Walker Bulldog was able to successfully engage the T-55 in combat) whilst having a dominating influence over light armour in combat. With a plasma cannon as its main armament, for defence against close assault it also mounts two grenade launchers, and may also mount a smaller caliber weapon on its cupola ring. (The ring mounted weapon and several crewmen for the hatch will be made later this year.)
The vehicle is still widely used by the Federal Army, and indeed some have been retrofitted with an anti-grav upgrade pack. These retrofitted anti-grav vehicles will be separately released if this model is well-received. The Sabre hull also serves as the basis for the Scythian Heavy Cannon System, a dual-purpose vehicle which may be used either for artillery support or, in a direct-fire role, as a potent hunter of mecha or superheavy tanks. The Scythian, in both standard tracked drive or retrofitted with anti-grav drive, will be released later this year. (These vehicles have all been printed in 15mm scale as well and are now at the casters.)
The kits are very well cast, with only minor casting gates to remove, which are thin and come right off with wirecutters or other snips, then a bit of sanding or filing. When I cleaned this kit for the painter some of the gates just snapped right off in my fingers! The turret traverses, the gun elevates and the commander's hatch may be posed opened or closed.
Dwartist has done his usual amazing job painting this up for display. Available now, at this link: link |
kallman | 15 Jan 2014 8:00 p.m. PST |
OMG! That is fantastic! Well something to put on my birthday wish list. |
Lion in the Stars | 15 Jan 2014 11:44 p.m. PST |
Anyone building Colonial Marines (is this a stand-up fight or just another bug-hunt?) in 28mm should have one or more of these on their shopping list. Since I'm building *my* Colonials in 15mm, well, I will just have to add those to the list for my next Khurasan order. Hopefully the Soriog will arrive by then. |
BigNickR | 16 Jan 2014 12:23 a.m. PST |
"you can't pick up chicks in a tank" YouTube link YOU CAN IN THAT ONE! |
Ron W DuBray | 16 Jan 2014 6:50 a.m. PST |
Love this tank design. But $55 USD is almost 2 times the price I would pay for a tank model. Has the cost of resin really gone up that much. |
khurasanminiatures | 16 Jan 2014 8:19 a.m. PST |
Well, the pieces cost me about what you are saying you are willing to pay, so it looks like it's not a good fit for you, Ron. At the price I've set them at I need to sell 40 to break even, meaning I don't see a penny on this project until I've sold my 41st kit. Were I to price it down from here I'd need to sell that many more kits just to get to that break-even point So that's the price I have to set. This is a market in which a single 28mm Hobbit can cost $20 USD, and it's not uncommon for a single 28mm sci fi character model (and non-GW at that) to cost $8 USD-$12, so I don't think the pricing I've set for this tank is unreasonable. I can't speak to other peoples' price points, as they may cast their own, may design their own, etc. I can only speak to what it takes for me to get a model to market so people can buy them if they want them. |
Slagneb | 16 Jan 2014 8:46 a.m. PST |
Beautiful! I will be getting at least one! |
Slagneb | 16 Jan 2014 8:52 a.m. PST |
Do you have any side by side comparisons to the Caiman APC? |
(Major Disaster) | 16 Jan 2014 9:07 a.m. PST |
Great looking tank $55 USD a kit isn't unreasonable Jon, considering that GW's Space Marine Land Raiders go for nearly $70 USD a kit, and GW can afford to sell those for half of what they charge. I'd rather support your efforts, mainly because you listen to to your customer base(heck, sometimes I think you have ESP, in regards to kits your customers would love), so $55 USD is a bargain for such an awesome kit. |
Admiral Yi Sun Sin is my Homie | 16 Jan 2014 9:14 a.m. PST |
I can't believe I'm actually going to write this
A Land Raider is at least twice the size of the Sabre. If the shot of the tank with the infantry isn't too far off. But I expect that a niche small company will need to charge what they can to recoup costs and that means sometimes it won't be "cheap." I also really applaud khurasanminiatures for explaining how he came to the cost point for the Sabre. I'd much rather buy the Sabre than a freaking "box with tracks". While I want a bigger tank, if I get one Sabre in the meantime to paint up I'm calling it a win! |
khurasanminiatures | 16 Jan 2014 9:22 a.m. PST |
Thanks guys! Admiral Yi, I don't think the LR is quite twice the size of the Sabre, but it's been a long time since I saw GW vehicles. Also as its resin its probably heavier than the LR, a strange situation for a light/medium tank to be in. |
Admiral Yi Sun Sin is my Homie | 16 Jan 2014 9:32 a.m. PST |
You may be thinking of the "old" Land Raider. The latest one very well may be twice the size. But that's comparing apples to Asian pears. I think it's a nice looking tank and I intend to buy one. While I do play 40K I don't intend to insult the Sabre by using it in that kind of game. I plan on using it with a good Sci-Fi set of rules. Maybe I'll post comparison shots against the Lehman Russ and even a Baneblade just for grins. |
Slagneb | 16 Jan 2014 10:18 a.m. PST |
I think it is a great value in comparison to many AFVs out there. It looks like it is smaller than the Caiman APC
Is it? I'd love to see them side by side as intend to buy both if they look good together. |
khurasanminiatures | 16 Jan 2014 11:16 a.m. PST |
It's smaller than the caiman, but then again, what isn't? I think I have a pic of the Sabre next to the Polecat, I'll check
. |
IronWindStudioDev | 16 Jan 2014 12:02 p.m. PST |
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dwartist | 16 Jan 2014 1:36 p.m. PST |
"A Land Raider is at least twice the size of the Sabre
" No it's not – it's approx 40mm longer and the bottom track run is the same length as the Sabre's. The Caiman is about the same length as the Landraider. Here's the pic of the Polecat alongside the Sabre
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Lardie the Great | 16 Jan 2014 4:39 p.m. PST |
Dwartist, any chance of a pic next to a Zebu or Bear? top work by the way. |
dwartist | 17 Jan 2014 3:12 a.m. PST |
"Dwartist, any chance of a pic next to a Zebu or Bear?" I'd need Jon's permission
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Lardie the Great | 17 Jan 2014 10:35 a.m. PST |
Ok, no worries, just wanted to see if they fit aesthetically, as my 4x4 are Zebus & Bears with heavy armour supplied by Old Crow
.or if the Siler ever comes out. Another question is how big would a 28mm Siler be? |
Chuckaroobob | 17 Jan 2014 10:49 a.m. PST |
I dig the Sabre, probably buy one in Feb! Already hit the $ quota for this month. |
BigNickR | 17 Jan 2014 11:27 a.m. PST |
the price is fine for rein, but more important to me is that they "FIT" aesthetically within the line. Which this does. Big fan. Tax time is coming, this goes on the short list of possibilities
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Insomniac | 17 Jan 2014 2:12 p.m. PST |
It is a beautiful tank. It doesn't matter whether it matches the prices of other tanks
it is worth $55.00 USD. I am hoping that the APC version is as good
I need good APCs :) |
atom12 | 17 Jan 2014 4:51 p.m. PST |
Well i just bought two. Adam |
khurasanminiatures | 17 Jan 2014 8:50 p.m. PST |
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MrAverage | 18 Jan 2014 3:11 p.m. PST |
That tank is a hot piece of hardware. If anything gets me back into 28mm, it'll be Khurasan. |
markmors | 18 Jan 2014 7:52 p.m. PST |
Regards pricing--I do not think that Jon is gouging us like I think GW is. I too appreciate the way he and a few others have described their pricing and behind the scenes work. He works hard, he deserves the money he makes. Frankly, it makes them my first choice for my gaming dollar. And besides, are many people going to put more than one of these on the battlefield at a time? Although, I am sure that Jon would appreciate that. ; ) |
(Major Disaster) | 18 Jan 2014 9:35 p.m. PST |
Gotta wait till I get my income tax refund to order one But MrAverage is right; the tank is one hot piece of hardware. MrAverage, you won't regret coming back to 28mm. I left the Dark Side(15mm) to return to the Light Side(28mm) thanks in part to Khurasan's new 28's |
foggybottom | 03 Feb 2014 9:15 p.m. PST |
Once again, I was caught in dwartist's prerelease trap of frustrated desire when I first saw this tank, and then was wildly overexcited to find it was 28mm. Hooray! It's out and buyable. |
foggybottom | 03 Feb 2014 9:23 p.m. PST |
Maj Diz Aster, you can take your Khurasan 15s along with you as play 28-y games. They make great AIFVs (Artificially Intelligent Fighting Vehicles) in 28mm games. Not big enough to hold a crew. Big enough to fight really well. |
Gabriel Landowski | 01 Jan 2015 7:22 p.m. PST |
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khurasanminiatures | 02 Jan 2015 7:28 a.m. PST |
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Lardie the Great | 02 Jan 2015 8:22 a.m. PST |
I think he's asking if they're available (in stock?) though I'm guessing |