1/72 TPM Model - Sdkfz.247B Crew (IMG&Link Review)

[Panzer_Grenadire]

It is quite unusual for a 1/72 resin vehicle kit to include figures and while TPM Model’s “Personenkraftwagen SdKfz 247B” accommodates some crewmen, they are now extendedly reviewed at the link below provided, various photos, including some with the kit, being also supplied:

http://ww2germans.com/index.php/compone ... 7b-tp72164

The StuG from the photos is my friend's Cristi Atanasiu​ work.

Cristian Florescu

[Peter]

That are some nice figures! The one lying down could also be usefull in a restplace!

The tank is beautifull painted!

[panzerman]

Good review as always. Thanks for sharing this with us. Useful and we'll sculpted tank crewmen.
Bill.

[Panzer_Grenadire]

That are some nice figures! The one lying down could also be usefull in a restplace!

The tank is beautifull painted!

Indeed, the lying down fig fits to lots of emplacements.... Although not my work but my friend, I am happy you like it and definitely it is a nice looking vehicle with lots of aftermarket parts....

Good review as always. Thanks for sharing this with us. Useful and we'll sculpted tank crewmen.
Bill.

Thank you very much and the next review will be kind of surprise......

[Tony Barton]

Cristian , as you now already know from the replies on Missing Links, these figures are pirated AB figures.
Whoever makes TPModels has taken three figures from the AB Figures DAK crew, and switched some heads around, then recast them.
This is not acceptable behaviour.

[Kekso]

This is not acceptable behaviour.

Copying other people's work without any authorization is definitely not acceptable.

However, Cristian is distinguished and active forum member and I'm sure he's not to blame for that.

[Tony Barton]

Indeed , Cristian has nothing to do with it, he merely makes the review.
But TPM have made illegal copies, and people should know that.

[Beano Boy]

This is the Dynamite subject which results in total silence.This I realised at my own cost.
Wearing a different head, and a coat that buttons up on many sides i prepared this statement.

Most certainly re-casters are seen as a blight that is destroying the model hobby business. However even with new laws now in place in Federation Europe ,top producers like Zvezda,Italeri,and Waterloo1815,will not act to protect their own Copyright .
Disney , Marvil Comics ,and Hornby,along with AIRFIX, now owned by Humbrol,are very large Companies that will police their own Copyright. Bravo
Yes, we can all protest upon this act of cutting up figures,and after re-assembly of parts ,then casting up model figures for sale,but a few days ago on this very Forum such an act ,with ample evidence shown,and with end results leading to production of such, was highly praised ,and certain members willing to buy them.
Often the end results of Recasters is they end up with good looking stuff, much better than that in which they cut up in the first place,but that is not how the Law looks at those producing such products for sale. Members like Alex and Sho and others like them ,with highly praised work should have their own stuff protected ,not just by Law,but by fellow members tapping upon the keys.
My conclusion is if people can produce their own work because they have a certain gift to do so,then they should make their own model figures or what ever it is they are making,from the top to the very bottem stuck onto its base. BB

[Ochoin]

Like any piracy, it hurts everyone because it discourages original work.

donald

[Bluefalchion]

There may be a difference because the French defenders of Bir Hakiem are just a few sets sold to recover costs whereas the reviewed set is mass produced. I bought set I of the French and noticed some familiar legs here and there but I was quite happy with them.

[Panzer_Grenadire]

Cristian , as you now already know from the replies on Missing Links, these figures are pirated AB figures.
Whoever makes TPModels has taken three figures from the AB Figures DAK crew, and switched some heads around, then recast them.
This is not acceptable behaviour.

Hello Tony,

Sorry for the later reply, but as you might know from Missing-Lynx forum, I was not home, but in Geneva at WIPO GA where I spent 12 days, including a 22 hours negotiation in the last day....
While AB figs are in 1/76 scale, unfortunately I am not familiarised with those, and also it is impossible for one person to know the content of all sets in all scales... Only on my website there are listed almost 600 sets, strictly on 1/72 WWII Germans...
If i knew the similarities with your figs, I would have certainly mentioned those inside the review, as I did with various other sets like Caesar, CMK etc.....
However, I took a look on your website and I could not fiind any fig looking like the seated one.. maybe it was in one out-of-production or something similar or a mixed between more figs....As regards the bust, it is fairly hard to demonstrate, I know lots of busts looking very close...
Anyway, it is obvious you know much better than me your work and my advice, as one that main job is copyright, is to address to TPM, asking them to remove the figs from that kit....
In addition, if you feel you are right and you can certainly prove it, you may consider further steps...
However, it will be a difficult case, international copyright infringements in our hobby are quite often and I saw multiple examples, even more clear and without no consequences..
On the other hand, scrolling in AB website I noticed two other figs looking like yours, I do not know if you or the sculptor from El Viejo Dragon created those first, but they are quite close.... Or maybe both creators inspired from the same reference images...
It is about your set Panzertruppen 1940-43 and EVD's German Panzer Crew (1/72 R01)
While I like very much your figs, my regret is that you do not issue them in 1/72 scale, but I hope one day you shall do it.. If I can help you with some advice or other stuff, just let me know...
Kind regards,
Cristian

[Tony Barton]

Cristian , thanks for your kind and considered reply.
There is no doubt that the TPM figures are copies of mine : it's clear they have just switched a couple of heads.
We are writing to TPM to point this matter out, but since their main line is vehicles, not figures,, I hope they will just now remove the figures , and not repeat the offence.

El Viejo Dragon figures are certainly not copying my figures : I can see no resemblance , but thanks for mentioning it.

On a lighter note, I hope my figures now cover the size range suitable for 1/72. You are right that my very first sets were somewhat smaller, made to go with 1/76 vehicles, since that was the popular scale twenty years ago. Most of those have now been withdrawn , and my more recent and now reissued sets are closer to 1/72nd.
All my new figures are now scaled carefully to be suitable for 1/72nd, remembering that the crew figures do have to fit into vehicles, and that WW2 soldiers were mostly smaller than people are nowadays .
Measuring many new 1/72nd plastic figure sets, the figures are often too large when set against an accurate scale.
A man 1.70 m tall, which was a good average in 1940, scales to 23.6 mm without a hat. My tank figures are between 22 and 26mm tall , which covers the natural variation .
And my infantry figures are at least as big , if not bigger.

[Panzer_Grenadire]

Thank you too Tony for your message and definitely finding an amiable solution with TPM is the best choice... As you also mentioned, in their kits, figs are an accessory, the value added to the whole work not being significant.... Likewise I really do not know how many of these kits they sold and I think I am the only crazy guy in the world who bought this kit mainly for the figs..... These are very poor, but I bought the kit mainly for reviewing purposes...

On the other hand, it is a pleasure finding out from you that your sets match the 1/72 vehicles... I am quite found of scale proportions and I remember many yeas ago, when I collected 1/76 figs how dissapointed I was when I bought for the first time Airfix's Africa Korps set, how giant they were and they did not match with their Mountain and Para sets, which were in the true 1/76 scale.... However, nowadays one of my favourite sets is the ancient Airfix's Africa Korps set while it is in the correct 1/72 scale...

You are abosolutely right as regards the proportions and furthermore, the size definitely vary quite much in this scale, depending on the producers... For instance, in terms of Panzer crews, Dragon issue in the tall side while Caesar is in the small side of the scale and the differences are pretty visible....

Maybe quite soon I shall order few AB sets in order to see how they match the other 1/72 figs, and if you can recommend me some sets featuring taller figs, compliant with 1/72 scale, it would be much appreciated....

Kind regards,

Cristian

[panzerman]

A friend and I were talking about copyright infringements that go on in the hobby trade. I told him I was amazed when I opened a ESCI 1/72 scale Brummbar kit and noticed the 2 tank crewmen in it. They were exact copies of 2 figures from a Monogram 1/32 scale tank kit. My friend being in the resin casting business told me copyright infringement does not apply...."If a significant change or alteration has been made from the original."
He said pantigraphing down in scales or even changing heads/arms was considered enough of a change to skirt the law.
I hope Mr. Barton gets a resolution to this problem.
Bill.

[Panzer_Grenadire]

Hi Bill,
Your friend was not quite right...
Briefly, according to law, to mody, change, alterate in commercial purpose a previous released work, you need the copyright owner agreeement...
As regards us, the simple modellers, we are allowed to do conversions, swapping etc as far as these are not done in commercial purpose and also because the products in reference are considered suitable to that purpose when were created... By swapping, converting etc modellers create derivative works, our artistic contribution to the original product being significant and permitted without requiring rightholder permission as far as it is done without commercial purpose. However, such infringemts are very often encountered in the hobby, but I do not know any famous case in the field brought in the Court.....
Such damages are not significant in comparison with other more serious copyright infringements that are met all over the world..... Anyway, at least the moral rights of the original creator may count in our field and the easiest and most suitable soution is amiable solving the issue...

[Panzer_Grenadire]

[panzerman]

Cristian, Thanks for the clarification. I'm just amazed by how much piracy goes on in the hobby trade. In ESCI 1/72 scale armor kits , I found Tamiya figures copied as well.
Thanks again,
Bill.

[Tony Barton]

Alas, it's all too common , but what always gets me upset is the sheer pettiness of it.
It's nearly always done by an individual, presumably with no talent and too much time, who thinks they can make a little money by stealing from others.
AB Figures have been pirated numerous times, and in most cases we have managed to stop it, because it has been done by such an individual , in Europe, where we can get the help of the local Trading Standards Agency , or their local equivalent..
At present we have a serious problem with a man in China who manufactures copies , and sells them painted. Despite numerous letters to Ebay , we cannot close down his operation , because he is in China, where there is , effectively , no copyright law.

But to take such a pirate to a Law Court is very expensive, and even if you win, it is unlikely that the pirate has enough money to pay damages.

[Panzer_Grenadire]

Cristian, Thanks for the clarification. I'm just amazed by how much piracy goes on in the hobby trade. In ESCI 1/72 scale armor kits , I found Tamiya figures copied as well.
Thanks again,
Bill.

Hi Bill,

You're absolutely right, there are lots of copyright infringements in 1/72scale, but much lower and without so much impact and prejudices as in other industries....

Alas, it's all too common , but what always gets me upset is the sheer pettiness of it.
It's nearly always done by an individual, presumably with no talent and too much time, who thinks they can make a little money by stealing from others.
AB Figures have been pirated numerous times, and in most cases we have managed to stop it, because it has been done by such an individual , in Europe, where we can get the help of the local Trading Standards Agency , or their local equivalent..
At present we have a serious problem with a man in China who manufactures copies , and sells them painted. Despite numerous letters to Ebay , we cannot close down his operation , because he is in China, where there is , effectively , no copyright law.

But to take such a pirate to a Law Court is very expensive, and even if you win, it is unlikely that the pirate has enough money to pay damages.

Hi Tony,

Indeed, China could be a problem, but it seems in a period things will improve in terms of respect and enforcement of copyright there, too... In 2014 WIPO also opened an External office there...

On the other hand, such a case in Court will be difficult and very expensive, there are lots of procedures required and the prejudice is not so much (at least in terms of money and comparing with other industries)... Although for me it would be fun to see in the European Court of Justice such a case...