"The Economics of 15mm Plastic T-55's ?" Topic

In January, 2017 Battlefront will release models and a book for fielding East German forces in its Team Yankee rules, which is set (so far) in 1985 during a hypothetical Cold War gone Hot in Europe.

Apparently the East Germans were equipped with improved T-55 tanks. BF is going to make models for them, but only in resin and the price will be an eye-watering $72.50 USD for 5 models.

BF does a lot of plastic models, which are cheaper for consumers, and they were asked why not do the T-55 in plastic? The answer was, in essence, that they make only the popular, high volume stuff in plastic due to cost. The moulds for plastic models are more costly and thus only high volume sales produce a satisfactory return.

Now Plastic Soldier Company has just announced (or will shortly announce) that they will be releasing 15mm T-55 models in plastic.

So, it got me to wondering why PSC thinks plastic 15mm T-55's will sell well enough to justify plastic but BF doesn't?

What do you think?

Perhaps Battlefront can use existing resin molds and do a new resin mold for the turret and lead molds for the tracks and gun cheaper than making a completely new plastic mold. PSC, starting afresh, can make plastic mold without considering the cost savings of currently existing molds/stock.

Armies Army is also doing the upgraded T55 in the new year. His is also Metal and resin, but judging from his photo's and previous experience of his kit, it will probably be better and cheaper than Battlefront
see here
link

Having said that PSC makes nice stuff too (I just got their 25pdr-nice) and for a first foray into moderns I think T55 is a safe bet, particularly if they do some variants. Personally, I think T62 would have been a better choice.
Some of my latest Battlefront resin purchases have been just adequate, and not great. I think they're making game with the prices of their plastics, which considering they must outsell PSC by quite a stretch, are very expensive, unless you manage to pick up some of the stuff discounted by other suppliers. I will not pay full price for Battlefront plastics.

PSC may also be looking at a wider field of battle. T-55s can also be used in the Six Day War, India/Pakistan, Yugoslavia and African wars. Even more if you do double duty as T-54s

Probably just a combination of the respective company's different costs, perceived market places, and business plans. One may be able and or willing to work with smaller profit margins.

They'll easily sell thousands, probably 10,000+, so it's a pretty safe bet.

Costs a lot for the master and mold up front, but pennies on the dollar to cast such a small vehicle in plastic, especially in those quantities.

Few fielded the T-62, due to cost reasons, at least in Europe.

PSC has done enough plastic kits to know the financials around them by now. They are most likely banking on Battlefront creating a larger market that they can take advantage of with this lower priced kit.

I'll be using my 3D printed T55s and T62s for this reason. They look really good and are a lot cheaper to make.

I can see that.

Each gamer needs at least 10 – 13 of them, and, more likely, 30 – 40 for a major battle.

My guess is Battlefront will out sell any of its competition when your talking T-55AM2's.
Dennis

I'm betting PSC is doing plain T-55s, as these will sell in sufficient volumes to justify plastic tooling. But when it comes to East German T-55AM2s, this is a very specific vehicle, that will probably not have great rules gameplay wise, and how many people WANT to game East Germans compared to Soviets anyway? So I can see why BF is going T-55AM2s in resin/metal, and I can see PSC doing plain T-55s in plastic.

Damon.

Spot on Garand…
Dennis

Garand, apparently the PSC sets will let you make multiple different variants, including the East German model.

Timothy Harris from PSC has confirmed (on the unofficial Team Yankee Facebook page) that the PSC T-55 will be multiple variants, including the AM2.

For those of us that don't have Facebook, would someone post pictures here when they are previewed?

Have they mentioned when these might be available for sale?

I need some older, Cold War, T-54s/T-55s in this scale, e.g. 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s variants.

well who ever makes a 15mm t55 we we still have the avlb conversion ready to go!

This is the relevant post on FB:

Well that is good news if it is going to include the AM2 version! However, the fact that it will built into plain T-55s is still what the economics of this project make sensible.

Damon.

I am probably the last person on Earth that strongly prefers resin vehicles over plastic, but £21.50 GBP is a huge savings over $72.50 USD, so I can't complain. Looking forward to pictures!

I hope they will also produce these in 20mm.

and if they do late model Centurions…. :)

I love Centurions, but why no Mk XIII, apart from the old soft plastic Airfix one????

East German, and Polish, T-55s for me, back to the earliest variants from the 1950s – 1970s.

I also prefer resin WHEN it is not warped and chipped. BF continues to push out stuff that should not have passed a quality control check. I am lamenting the fact that they announced the DAK box set in all plastic for next year when I am fighting through 6 of their metal and resin Panzer IV D currently.

With every warped hull, flash filled metal track, and mold line deformed track I become more of a plastic convert. Weight and feel become more and more ephemeral.

Plastics all the way for me. Thanks for the intel on the T-55AM2's from PSC. I will get 25-30 for my future TY DDR army.

BF is going to make..(T 55), but only in resin and the price will be.. $72.50 USD USD for 5 models.

They wont need to make any with "my name" on them.

Ive never worked w/ resin. I hope theyve improved. The first I saw, 2014-15 left me very Underwhelmed. They were "Finecast", in name only. They were 'pitted', some beyond belief.

I dont play TY, but if PSC is 'getting into' the Early Cold War period, T-55, and US M60' (later version) I may 'have' to get in on the game then.

I have PSC WW II Sher. M4A3(late) and Pnzr. IV G, they look great! My only issue, the german & soviet have 'one piece' track additions along w/ the multi part track sections.
WHY dont they do this w/ the US?

The 'hands-eyes' arent as steady anymore. the Ger. look great naturally, but some of the US tracks, well.. not so much.

T-64's would be nice too.

I think the next practical plastic kit should be the M-60A1/A3. I think there is a need for this MBT considering three NATO countries used the M60 series, along with Israel, Egypt, Taiwan, and several Arab and Asian countries. i fail to understand the avoidance of the manufacture of a decent M60.

Don't worry Mr Blood, for those of us who want East Germans in God's Own 1/72 scale the Italeri AM2 will be along in the Autumn. On the other hand it will be a 100-part plus kit so fielding a regiment will take patience…

*Revell, my mistake, but anyway…

I concur on the M60A1s.

We need those stat.

Those would be a plus,Mako.