What we really really need now are some appropriate tank crew figures now! I am still waiting for them

I hope they do a better Job on this kit... I built the 2S6M Tunguska - one of the three periscopes on the turret hatch (1x part B102)was definitely NONEXISTENT, even in the instructions ! So, I passed their BMDs.

Good news - Trumpeter have a PLA tank crew on the way (though the poses are ceremonial): LINK

The ZTZ 99s hulls are elongated T 72 hulls but this is totally new from the ground up and but has been designated ZTZ 99A2. I reckon this is an interim tank and has been developed out of the MBT 3000 program as the hull and aspects of the turret seem to share some similarities with this vehicle. I think Mike is right and it will not be long before characteristics of the T 14 creep into the concept. I also agree with Andreas, currently struggling with the Tunguska but will definitely get this kit although I wonder why they have not offered plumbing for the external fuel cells.

ztz-99 series has some common features with t-72 but it is indeed not an enlonged T-72. In addition, Neither A/B NOR A1/A2 FOR ztz-99 series is official name. in official profile they are all called ztz-99 tank. (using phase1 and phase2) this ztz-99A IS NOTHING SAME WITH OLD ZTZ-99 SERIES EXCEPT THE NAME.

Hi Guys; Well wharever the Industrial Designator for this vehicle really is, its still IMHO more like A ZTZ-96, and yes the ZTZ-99 was some four feet longer and more like A BT-72 even tho it (99) has six road wheel stations not seven as in the BT-72 ! In any case this looks like A Superb kit and kind of reminds me of the Hobby Boss ZTZs-96 altho the Panda has More Details from what I can see and appears to be A Better kit than Pandas other vehicles. CHEERS; MIKE.

ztz-99 series has some common features with t-72 but it is indeed not an enlonged T-72. In addition, Neither A/B NOR A1/A2 FOR ztz-99 series is official name. in official profile they are all called ztz-99 tank. (using phase1 and phase2) this ztz-99A IS NOTHING SAME WITH OLD ZTZ-99 SERIES EXCEPT THE NAME.[/quote] Zhu, First off the official Chinese industrial code for the ZTZ 99 is WZ123 and it officially entered service in 2001 and was developed off of the T 72 as referenced below LINK ZTZ99 main battle tank programme …PLA entered into a contract with Norinco in the year 1989 for the development of the tank. A Russian 125mm gun with autoloader built in 1990 was the earliest known prototype called Type 90. After careful observation of the Gulf war, PLA realized the ineptness in design in comparison to the Western MBTs. Several improvisations led to the revised design Type 98. It featured a T-72 hull which was 1m longer… LINK …When the tank went into service it was renamed the Type 99. According to military information website Global Security, the Type 99 has a lengthened T-72 hull… LINK …Hull of the Type 99 MBT is very similar to the Soviet T-72, but is one meter longer… LINK …The Type 99 first appeared as the Type 98, which was itself an improved version of the Type 90 - and that itself as a further development of the Soviet-Russian T-72 MBT line… LINK …The tank is visually similar to the Russian T-72 series, but is one meter longer… The A designator applied to these vehicles is similar to the NATO reporting names that were applied to Soviet aircraft during the cold war (such as the Mi 24B NATO name Hind A and Mi 24U Hind C) and thus allows photo interpreters a way to differentiate between similar vehicles, consequently the designator ZTZ 99A2 and it appears that the official Chinese industrial code WZ123 still applies to this vehicle. Secondly as I stated this is totally new from the ground up and so indicated that this is an interim tank… [that I feel] …has been developed out of the MBT 3000 program as the hull and aspects of the turret seem to share some similarities with this vehicle; meaning the MBT 3000 and therefore I don’t understand - IS NOTHING SAME WITH OLD ZTZ-99 SERIES EXCEPT THE NAME and further there is no need to shout.

It may be due to me eyes not being as good as they used to be or to the photos quality, but I keep seeing the usual "Panda" characteristics... I already understand that this will be a newer version of the tank -and so something different-, but talking only about quality, I cannot see any better details than the previous HobbyBoss or Bronco offerings. I'll wait until some brave man gets this kit and share with us a preview.

Zhu, First off the official Chinese industrial code for the ZTZ 99 is WZ123 and it officially entered service in 2001 and was developed off of the T 72 as referenced below LINK ZTZ99 main battle tank programme …PLA entered into a contract with Norinco in the year 1989 for the development of the tank. A Russian 125mm gun with autoloader built in 1990 was the earliest known prototype called Type 90. After careful observation of the Gulf war, PLA realized the ineptness in design in comparison to the Western MBTs. Several improvisations led to the revised design Type 98. It featured a T-72 hull which was 1m longer… LINK …When the tank went into service it was renamed the Type 99. According to military information website Global Security, the Type 99 has a lengthened T-72 hull… LINK …Hull of the Type 99 MBT is very similar to the Soviet T-72, but is one meter longer… LINK …The Type 99 first appeared as the Type 98, which was itself an improved version of the Type 90 - and that itself as a further development of the Soviet-Russian T-72 MBT line… LINK …The tank is visually similar to the Russian T-72 series, but is one meter longer… The A designator applied to these vehicles is similar to the NATO reporting names that were applied to Soviet aircraft during the cold war (such as the Mi 24B NATO name Hind A and Mi 24U Hind C) and thus allows photo interpreters a way to differentiate between similar vehicles, consequently the designator ZTZ 99A2 and it appears that the official Chinese industrial code WZ123 still applies to this vehicle. Secondly as I stated this is totally new from the ground up and so indicated that this is an interim tank… [that I feel] …has been developed out of the MBT 3000 program as the hull and aspects of the turret seem to share some similarities with this vehicle; meaning the MBT 3000 and therefore I don’t understand - IS NOTHING SAME WITH OLD ZTZ-99 SERIES EXCEPT THE NAME and further there is no need to shout. [/quote] I used to using capital letters for indicate important information and it has nothing to do with shout. if you think this is shout. im very very sorry, mister. As a people who took part in both HB ztz-99 and panda ztz-99A. i still keep my position and believe the internal intel(written in mandarin) we got. let just agree to disagree. best regard.