I was visiting www.discountmodels.com ( a site mentioned in another thread on buying kits on-line) and clicked on their DML link to get to their list of DML items for sale. There was a message on that page that said the rumor going around was that DML was going to cease production of model kits. It was the first I'd heard of it. Does anyone know if this is true, likely, etc.? One would hope it is just that, a rumor. We've lost enough kit manufacturers lately. I would hate to see them added to the list.

Mike

I would have to say that that is pure rumor drummed up by those little elvish imps over at the Rumor Mill.
I just visited their Home Page, and nothing there would even remotely suggest of such a demise. I hope...
As we the consumers need a healthy market for the manufactures to compete in, losing one would not be a good sign. After all, it's a competive market which drives the competition into doing or building the "new" models that we desire so much. It's their efforts which help keep em ahead of the others.
lets hope that it remains as such Tread...a rumor

Read this from their HP:
Welcome to Dragon-Models.com! Please feel free to explore this site and discover the tremendous variety of action figures and scale models that make up our lines. Keep up with all the exciting new releases and watch us expand into many other ground-breaking areas, while continuing to lead the way with our existing series. Dragon Models is committed to bringing you, the hobbyists and collectors, the highest quality and most innovative models possible.

http://www.dragon-models.com/html/mainf.html

BTW mj, don't think I've seen you here before...Welcome aboard Mike! Glad to have ya!

Hola,
I sure hope that it is just a rumor. Anyhow, I cant get any of the pictures on the dragon site to load, am I the olny one with this problem?
Thanks

Yes....

I hope the rumors are false. However, what does bother me is that DML seem to be focussing on those action figures ("GI Heinz" I call them) instead of plastic (armor) models.

weird
I have tried both from home and from school, it dont work from either one.
Hmmmmmmm......

What browser are you using, Anders?
I have tried with IE 6 and Netscape 6. Both worked ok for me.

Im using IE something lol, nnot sure what I think 5.5 or something maybe 4.0 not for sure, where can I look to see?

Thanks!

Go to help at the top of your browser then choose "About Internet Explorer"

Hmmm, funny thing here too. Yesterday it worked fine, today is another story. Oh well, try again later.
I noticed that too David, with all those GI Joes. I still doubt they'll end their plastic line. :-)

I certainly hope so. Those GI Joes are no fun, they cost $$$$$$$$ and all you can do is dress and undress them LOL
Big boys don't play with dolls
Strange that some of you are having problems with the DML website and I'm not....

Its version 5.5 that I have. I'll just try later!!

Thanks
Anders

It is kind of strange that their kits are mostly out of production. This is not really a good sign.
I was talking to local hobby shop guy and he said they would rather make kits and have somebody else box them,so could be,he also told me that they make all the AMT kits.

From what I gather Italari is goig to start making the kits for them.

linkname


Matt

I had no problem accessing the site. I did notice on the new releases page a great looking illustration by Ron Volstadt depicting 4 G.I.s in winter gear circa '44...had anyone heard about this set?

No not more Italeri plastic I hope they use Dragon's molds and plastic.

I believe that's why the supply is so low...... they're moving molda & equipment....


Matt

I have heard many rumors. A few venders at the various model shows that I attend mentioned that DML is slowly moving production to the figures. As other people have mentioned in this post...they are gradually discontinuing alot of their AFV's...ranging from their Panzer IV's to the JagdTiger (which is an old Gunze kit). I also was told (from a vender at AMPS) that DML is trying to have their kits distrubuted by other companies). I do not the validity of this, but it seems like it true, considering this current trend of discontued items!!!

DML and Tamiya seem to be diversifying more into 'toy' items or collectibles
I expect this means that they are making more money from general non assembly toys - I wonder if this means I should by more model kits to encourage them... :-)

well you have to discontinue somethings to introduce new things, only way a business can make a profit. if you have to much inventory and can't move it, you run into problems of overextending your inventory without the customer base to puchase it. remember the old adage "out with the old, in with the new". also a lot of old dragon kits are being sold by shanghai dragon, revell of germany and gunze sangyo of japan. i heard dragon is moving a lot of its manufacturing facilities to vancouver, canada

Anybody ever try contacting them to see just what the low skinny is? Just a thought.

I also heard that they are closing down their production line (or at least, down sizing) it for the production of the G.I. Joes....

i left an e-mail with dragon an should get a reply soon

This has been a running debate on these message boards for quite sometime. If Dragon/DML continues to discontinue alot of their kits, maybe this rumor might become a reality. I spoke to a few vendors at AMPS and some said that DML was graduallyt fading out their kit production. Only time will tell. So try to buy up all those great kits before they go bye-bye!!!