A Few Thoughts on the Challenger 2 TES

[6mmWargamer]

So I wasn't exactly sure where to bring up this topic but I feel that if I entered it under the New Release Schedule then most people, my self included, wouldn't even notice.

Pressing on, I've been doing a lot of digging around on the internet recently and whilst there is a fair proportion of "lies, damned lies and statistics" I have noticed that since Gulf War 2 there has been two distinct Challenger variations in terms of the add on armour packages used. There is the Gulf War 2 Variant which has little to no add on armour on the side of the turret (Apart from what i think are Friend or Foe ID panels):
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/c ... 142823.jpg

Then there is the much improved/modernized package that came from Israel's Rafael. Which includes all the IED Jamming capability. As well as a few tonnes of bar/slat armour and even some ERA on the side of the turret. I've even found out that the stuff that looks like some form of camo netting on turret is a type of matting designed to reduce the thermal signature and improve the temperature inside. Aswell as the addition of the remote weapons station infront of the loader. Even better then a picture, here's a little footage of "Megatron" at Tankfest:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JC1mtAR5uK0

I really am hoping that come Christmas time we end up with the ultra modern version. Maybe even with the C-IED platform on top of the turret and the "thermal matting". And yes, I'm bringing this to the attention of our community now rather then 30 seconds after GHQ put up the photo of the 'Chally' in order to avoid a repeat of the Puma and USS New York incidents. I also think this is where GHQ has the opportunity to set a new precedent by reaching out to the community, in order to meet our expectations or help to manage our expectations for the future. Please, don't get me wrong I love GHQ products and I hate potentially sounding like the smart arse telling you how to run your business. I'm merely offering our advice/opinions and collective knowledge as a community in order to get the products that we dream of using in skirmishes to come...... breath......... So bringing us back to my original point, there are two questions I feel that need answering. Firstly, I ask the community what Challenger 2 TES do you think would be best for our gaming/collecting needs? Secondly, (and about bloody time, finally) what Challenger 2 TES do you plan on giving us GHQ?

Sorry for that being a little "wordy" and a bit to modern Brit orientated,
Thanks for reading,
Will

PS. Anyone else think there should be a thread for all general winging and whining

[CBoy3]

I haven't posted in awhile, I'm generally content to sit back and watch. However, the tone of many posts lately has been along the lines of "I don't want to one of those people who complains, but..." I'm probably particularly sensitive to this kind of thing because I'm also trying to keep a business running in the USA in this economic climate, and hear a lot of comments from people who make a lot of assumptions about my business that really don't add-up when you understand the full situation.

I'm newer to GHQ than many of you, but at this point I've been around a few years. Here's how I view GHQ- they make some really nice models, some of them are not in my area of interest and some of them may not be my top choices, but I have the choice to buy the ones that I want, and I don't have to buy any that I don't want to buy. Let's be honest, I'm pretty sure that they are trying to make models that all of our are going to buy (I'd think that's their top goal). They have been doing this a long time, and I think that they generally are making the right choices- if they weren't, they wouldn't have been able to keep their doors open since the 1960's. Every choice that they make is not going to be right for 100% of their customers. There will always be someone who would rather see something else. They are the ones that have to live with the consequences of their decisions- whether you think that they are good or bad, not us. We don't have money tied up in research and development. We can always choose to not buy it if we don't want to.

Where is all of this going? Recently too often I have seen the tone of this forum turn into complaining about photos, second guessing model choices, pointing out flaws in the way that they do business, etc. When all of the new model lack of photo hub-bub was going on, one guy even said something like "if they haven't got all of the new pictures up, what else aren't they doing?" I don't know, I thought that I was just buying models from them. All of this is being done on the forum that they have provided for us to swap ideas, show things off, make announcements, etc.

Most of the time I think that the topics start out with nice intentions, but it doesn't take much for them to spin into something else. This topic here seems like one that has the potential for that trajectory.

I have tried running a business for myself once, and now for someone else. It's not easy. I'm just happy that they can keep making nice models, and do it in the USA (or even in the First World rather than farming them out to places that only pay .50/hr.). I like that I'll keep buying the models that I want, sometimes even if they don't have a photo.

[6mmWargamer]

Hey CBoy3,
I understand where your coming from, I find it refreshing to hear another point of view. But I cant help but feeling your having a go at me! I did make a few tongue and cheek remarks about coming off as a smart arse. But I guess in the black and white of writing some of it got lost in translation/ context. So without further ado, I respect GHQ and their process, lets face it this industry wouldn't be where it is today without them. I think in my original post I was trying just to see what GHQ had planned for us ie. what is the finished article going to look like or what are they planning for it to look like? Sorry if you think I went about it the wrong way but I just wanted to open it up to a little public debate. No need to make a martyr of yourself!

Plus I feel that you need to be reminded of the fact that you didn't have anything to say about the issue at hand or at least the issue I was trying to bring to light! I hate to be the one to quote myself but maybe we really should start a thread for general winging and whining. At least there you could winge about all my whining! (Yes that was intended as humour, hopefully there's such a thing as second times the charm!)