Hello, fellow modelers, and greetings from a cold Pennsylvania! In the last couple of months, I have had the pleasure to have had the opportunity to review MB LTD's line of armor kits, and I have shared these reviews with you here at the Big " A ". Unfortunately, these model kits are not easy to find in the U.S., as the company is based in the Ukraine and there are no U.S. distributors as of yet. Which leads me to my question to you, after I had the chance to see these kits and make an unbiased set of in box reviews for them, I must say that there is some minor fit problems now that I've had the chance to build the kits. I still believe the kits are good and my opinions haven't been changed by the fit problems. I have been thinking about becoming a U.S. distributor of these models to make it a little easier to obtain them in this country, and I am wondering about your thoughts on this subject...Is there enough interest in these kits to make it a worthwhile effort on my part? I would really like the opportunity to bring these kits overseas and share them with the modelers in this country. I am sincere in my request to all of you, as I have already asked Jim Starkweather about this to get his feedback before I asked all of the modelers at Armorama. Thank you for your time,
Sincerely,
Mark " Gunny" Smith

I see the MB kits at my local shop, they (LHS) use Stevens International as a distributor (among others). I also notice these kits in the Squadron monthly flyers and the 2005 Squadron catalog as well. They only have the command tank (MQB3502) and ammo tank (MBQ3504) listed in the annual catalog, but on their online site, they list both of them under "Maquette" and in addition, the ambulance track is item number MBQ3506.

Here are their prices:
Kleiner PanzerBehfelswagen 1 KLA (MBQ3502) $13.46
Munitionsschlepper 1 Ausf A (MBQ3504) $13.46
Panzer Ausf. A Ambulance Version (MBQ3506) $19.96

They also list several Maquette models that are panzer I chassis vehicles. I suspect that these kits may share a common lineage. The Maquette panzer I kits they list are:
PzKpfw I Ausf A Light Tank (MQ3571) $10.96
SdKfz 11 Munitionsschlepper I (MQ03573) $8.96
Flakpanzer I (MQ03574) $33.46--this one has resin, PE and single link tracks.

Just a hunch, but I think they all may be related. The Maquette Munitionsschlepper is an Ausf. B chassis with the lengthened hull while the MB one is an Ausf. A with the shorter hull.

Not trying to rain on your parade, but just showing how these kits are available and at a decent price.

Thanks for the reply, Robin...
And yes there are a few suppliers around that carry some of MB Ltd.s products, but there are no true Distributors per se in the U.S. as of now...The prices of their kits would be drastically driven even lower if there was one here...The major problem is the shipping costs from the Ukraine,and as I'm told, there are but a few viable companies that can handle such a task...Have you had a chance to build any of their models yet??? So far, Faust is the only one here at Armorama that has responded with an answer to my queries, and He's currently building the Behfelswagen as of the last time that he had PM'ed me...I would really like to know of other modelers experiences with their products...

Gunny

Mark, , I applaud your loyalty towards MasterBox, a company which in my own dealings with, demonstrates a courtesy which other companies should copy - prompt replies to e-mails. Others are either too 'big' or too full of their own (self) importance to even reply to messages which are in their interests...

However, although you obviously like their products, to introduce a cynical note into all this, is this really a good basis to consider a business relationship with them?

Let me explain further. In my work with the news section, I occasionally get carried away with my own enthusiasm - I tend to 'wax lyrical' about companies like Alpine Miniatures, Formations, Tiger Model Designs and several others. Small companies compared to DML or Tamiya. I also, got VERY enthusiastic when I posted a news story on MasterBox... However, and here comes the cynicism , there is more excitement generated by the new releases of the Dragons and Tamiyas of this world than 50 Formations put together...
Not just my opinion - the Webmaster of a well-known MM site is of exactly the same opinion...

In other words, no matter how well MB or anyone produces, moulds and researches their products, they will always be in the minority and the public will always go to the 'well-known' brands whether or not they are buying a 'Dog in a Box' or a superbly crafted model.. That, Mark, is sadly the state of play amongst may modellers. Masterbox will sell to the more discerning modeller who are in the minority. Tamiya will continue to sell 30 year old kits in huge quantities, not I fear because of what's in the box, but the box itself... Sorry for the cynicism , Jim

Hello, Jim, Greetings from Pennsylvania, sir...
Unfortunately, I must agree with your cynicism, and I don't really know what I'm going to do at this point...I like their products, but I feel that you are 100% correct about the Corporate Giants...My enthusiasm will not be quenched by this, I like their subjects, and I will keep buying and building them...Thanks for the feedback, sir...
Sincerely,
Gunny

Hi all i have to agree with the posts and i find it sad when a modler who wants to bring a product to the market place to benifit MODLERS and the HOBBY has to take on the corporate big boys when they repackage kits or dont use much immagination.
I think the hobby needs the likes of Gunny and all the others who love the hobby and put their heart into it .i like to think of my self in the same vain and very often the worse thing that any large company can do is to be complacent arrogent and ignore the power of individuals that want to create change i.e British Airways / Virgin it has an awful habit of creeping up on you and biteing you right in the back side .
So who knows things might change if those changes happen then we all benifit but mainly the ones that have developed this hobby and they are the ones that put the money in the till

Just my thoughts ( excuss my spelling got a bad cold so i think its a Jack Dls toddy for me
Cheers Chris tango 20

Hey Chris, Thanks for your support, Bro...It's most unfortunate that us as modelers have to deal with things the way that they are, and I don't think that there is much that we can do about it. When I first learned about MB Ltd. through Armorama, I was very excited about their product line, some subjects that we haven't seen, you know?...That is the sole reason for my enthusiasm in persuing this subject as much as I have...I don't really know if it is a good idea now, though, the feedback from my original post tell's me that the interest for these finer subjects isn't as great as mine...I guess it's better to find out about it now than later...

Gunny

Hi Gunny
i echo your sentiments to and those of tango 20
i love the neat stuff in this hobby
if its different then i'll buy it all day long
if disribution is what you feel is required for MB in the U.S. look into it more get in contact with them and talk to them
i'm hopefully about to start having my own figures manufactured and will be entering the great model battle with the bigboys ,but i dont expect everyone to like em and some will hate them .but thats the way of the world . without the smaller companies like MB and even Tristar there wouldnt even be any real variety
and this hobby constantly needs new companies to keep the life blood circulating ,
everyone has to start somewhere, dont they ? good luck Mark whatever you decide to do!

Kenaz,
Thanks for your support, also...I think that there are alot more of us out there that feel the same way, and I wish that we could do something to change the hobby that we all share and love...I wish you all the luck on your private venture, sir, and if there is anything that I can do to help, just let me know! Unfortunately, it's the small guys that get trampled by the giants but only us as modelers and consumers can change it...may sound a little fanatical, but it's the truth. I am having mixed feelings now as far as starting a business relationship with MB Ltd., not quite sure which direction to go...not a cheap thing to do and I don't want to lose my !@#$%^ on the deal.

Sincerely,
Mark " Gunny " Smith

sure mate its a difficult decision
i feel the more commited the modeller the more active we should be about changing the details of our hobby
after all we practically live on the stuff
:-) thats why when i see new company emerge, if the products good and a fair price ,i make a point of buying something even if its just cheap ,just to let them know of my support
keep going mate and if i can do anything for you let me know !

Sounds like a major investment, I'd do a whole lot more investigation if I was you. the storage tax, is that still in effect, cause I remember the garage where I got my truck worked on, they had to eliminate all their stock, and have little delivery trucks go get the parts as they needed them, cause the tax ate them alive for having the parts on their shelves.

Now that is just one thing, we could go on all day of all the other surprises the government may have in store for you. But you will haft to store some models some where.

I know a lot of companies used to move some shipments on the tax quarters, so they wouldn't be in on the count, or at least that is what they told me.

Then expect you to hold onto it until it is over. This day and age it is real hard ball, and Uncle Sam taxes the Tax, and you got to be a real good book keeper.

You will find getting the money and starting the business, was the easiest part.

You got that right , Kerry...I've got all the fine details worked out already, but I want to make sure that I will be able to sell the products that I'm importing...Local Hobby shops so far have expressed the greatest interest in these kits, but I will need more commitments than that...It's turning out to be a roll of the dice on my part, and I'm not much of a gambler, if you know what I mean...Like I said before, so far the only major cramp is the shipping costs from the Ukraine, everything else is basically simple business.
Thanks for the input, sir...
Gunny