Academy M3 Lee "Delayed for 3 years"?

[dharper]

Oh boy, here we go again... According to the Academy U.S. importer, Academy has never officially announced the M3 Lee kit in 1/35 scale, and they are not going to be releasing a kit of one in the next several years!

VLS has been told to stop all advertising for such a kit, and all of the backorders that have been taken need to be cancelled.

Has anyone else heard this information?

Does anyone have any solid information on what's up with the rumored Academy M3?

I can't believe that the build up, box art and sprues shown at Nuremberg were a hoax?

Anyone have any reliable Academy contacts?

[RC_Hill]

Originally posted by dharper@Mar 8 2006, 01:06 PM
According to the Academy U.S. importer, Academy has never officially announced the M3 Lee kit in 1/35 scale, and they are not going to be releasing a kit of one in the next several years!
Then what's with the box art floating around the net then? :o
Did someone at Academy just feel the urge to draw one? or is it like a trick that someone has done?

[M4 nut]

Maybe Academy is tired of all the e-mails asking when it's coming out, so they sent this message to stop those. Now they will probably get even more asking what the heck is going on.
Eric

[MrPlasticmodel]

This is odd, I Pmms under news for Academy this model i sceduled for spring 2006!, but if you check for their homepage, then it is unavailable!! :o
what is going on ??

[general zod]

That really sucks I know a good kit of the M3 Lee/Grant is long pverdue :angry:

[M4 nut]

I've been thinking about this since I saw the message and first responded. I wonder if what is going on is Academy's reaction to some post on another DG. Some of those posters were ripping the kit from just the photos. Now I don't know but I think this kind of discussions is currently what is wrong with most internet DGs. Without even having the kit in their hands people feel the need to voice their opinions on what's wrong with every kit ever made. These same people probably sent e-mailed Academy about what is wrong with their kit. If I was a manufacture I would think twice about spending any money on production when the kit is already being reamed on-line knowing that bad internet reviews will probably hurt any chance of making a profit. I have no problem with giving bad reviews of kits once they are out and you have it in your hot little hands and can prove your review.
Anyway that's my 2 cents.
Eric

[Evan August]

Conspiracy theory- Axis modellers, determined to prevent the release of a non German subject, have ripped on the kit on various message boards and in e-mails to the manufacturer. The desired effect being that Academy would pull the Lee from their line up.

Just kidding... ;)