SKP have been unfortunate with their choice of releases. First they released a Humber, only to see Bronco do the same. Whilst I don't, as any of us, have access to sales figures I'm sure Bronco managed to take a greater share of the market with their one rather than SKP. Next came the Tilly, much anticipated and wanted by Allied modellers, but again Tamiya releases another at more or less the same time. With the news of the Bedford coming on to the market from IBG https://armorama.kitmaker.net/news/6249 SKP must have taken a long hard look at the potential outcome and I know from an email I received from Jim Rae they made what was in their eyes a correct "cut our losses" decision for that moment in time. It's all very well writing how you'd by a few but what any business needs is to sell thousands and not be left with a warehouse full of kits and false hope given out by a few interested parties. I think they should have gone ahead and released their version, but fully understand their decision. In light of previous experience and their practical business knowledge, knowing when it would get to the marketplace, buying statistics and other vital information that makes up as an important part of any kits release as getting the details right. Lets hope this release sees them getting a good return on their investment. Lets wish them well with it and less of the pessimistic "I'll believe it when I see it" comments. Alan

Slightly off topic, but I think any company releasing British Softskins needs to take the long term view. SPK had what looked link a cracking version of the Bedford QLD and like Alan I can understand their decision not to press ahead with it. However, IGBs first 1/35 release whilst it got a fair review showed a lack of detail in 1/35 scale, so SKP may well have been ahead of the game there. Also sales wise both the Italeri 6pdr Portee and 15cwt Chevrolet have been selling steadily for 30 years or more. They go OOP every so often and get re-released but the reason they get re-released at slightly higher price is that they must still be selling. It annoys me a bit that the premis is alwasy that British kits don't sell. Yes, they will never out sell Axis stuff, but there must be a strong market there other wise Tasca, DML and AFV Club, Bronco, MiniArt, MasterBox would not be producing them and we have had a raft of new British stuff these last two years. Anyway I'll look forward to the IGB kits and hope they are reasonable. They also have in their 1/72 range upgrade kits for the various trucks for the different versions of Cab etc so that could be to their advantage in a big way if they introduce the same policy to their 1/35 scale kits. SKP did release a set of Bedford wheels so good for them on that score. It's great to see another Cromwell coming along, a fresh version of another plastic kit that is long over due. More choice for the modeller. Al

Well, if the kit's as nicely done as the Photoshop job they did on the Tamiya Cromwell IV box art, it'll definitely be worth a look

Something tells me there will be a rush of reviewers for this one! Hey SKP, I can't wait... Tom

Jon Thanks for the info. Looks like a nice kit.

Personally i think not going ahead with the Bedford because if would clash with IBG doing one is silly. Both brands suffer from lack of recognition. They're not exactly household names in modelling but I would suspect SKP is a little better known than IBG. That Bronco and Tamiya would outsell them isn't surprising. I suspect it's more a view that trucks don't sell, or have a limited market because this Cromwell is pretty much going head to head with the Tamiya Mk IV Centaur CS which is not exactly a bad kit, and the only real difference you're being offered is this one having the Type F features. But it's not exactly like you've come out with a model of tank that no-one else is producing, so they must be willing to compete on some level.

[/quote] Jon Thanks for the info. Looks like a nice kit. [/quote] No worries Chad thats why we're here! I'm just sorry we don't have any images of the master or sprues. Although I am going to email SKP and see if they are willing to send us anything other than this teaser image.

In case of Tamiya I agree, but I remember that it was just a few years ago when Bronco was titled on this site as the greatest disappointment of the year as they were just promising kits (I think it was the Comet). But finally they did it in a surprisingly good quality and that established their name. I do not have any SKP kits yet, so I know only what is in the reviews, but it seems to me that not only there was always an instant rival to their kits, but - unfortunately for them - that rival was always better than their work. I think that their key to their future success is to bring out something (almost) perfect, both in quality and in details. They are not cheap enough to be able to win otherwise.

Yes indeed. Naughty SKP or their commissioned artist