January 2017

Hobby Master Proves Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder

It never ceases to amaze me how collectors can’t have enough of a particular warbird. I’m not talking F-4 Phantom IIs or even the venerable F-14 Tomcat, both of which have their own unique critics, fans, and well wishers. Friends, I’m talking the Fairchild A-10 Warthog ground attack aircraft, a much maligned aircraft that the Air Force has been trying to shed and re-embrace for several years. First introduced into the Hobby Master lineup back in 2007, and priced at just $39.99, the latest incarnation (HA1322) sold out in a matter of mere weeks this holiday season, even though it was offered at nearly three times the price of the inaugural tank buster.

The next version (HA1323) is currently poised to hit the streets in February and, in many respects, looks very similar to the most recent one that quickly sold out, meaning there’s still hope for those of you looking to pick up a “Warthog” even at current market prices. Goes to show beauty is indeed in the eye of the beholder.

 

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Solido Takes a Curtain Call

When I entered this hobby some twenty years ago, french modelmaker, Solido, was one of the dominant players in the diecast military space. Producing a wide range of 1:43-1:50 scale military vehicles, and a smattering of 1:18 scale jeeps, Solido was a perennial favorite, even if they used and reused several molds ad infinitum to come up with new variations on a popular theme. In time, however, they withdrew from the military scene for any number of reasons, although always loitering in the background, like a back up actor, as if to one day make a return engagement.

In 2017, it appears as if they are finally ready to take a curtain call, thanks in large part to a wide array of previously released War Master 1:72 scale vehicles and aircraft that have been re-purposed and re-packaged for the Solido.market  There were rumors that the Company would also be offering an even larger range of 1:43 scale military vehicles previously produced by Eaglemoss, which looks to be the case as evinced by several images posted on their Facebook page. If so, then Solido looks to be well poised to re-enter the military market, offering a steady diet of multi-ranged vehicles and aircraft that should delight the average collector for years to come.

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Waltersons Calls Out Their 2017 Cadence

We’re just a few days into 2017 and several weeks away from the opening of the all-important Nuremberg Toy Fair, yet already several companies are looking to get the ball rolling early and announce their 2017 line ups ahead of their competition. Earlier today, Waltersons posted a Forces of Valor brochure to their Facebook page which showcases their first and second quarter 1:32 scale diecast military vehicles as well as their 1:700 warships series. Currently, we are in the midst of adding all of the new introductions to our product portfolio, and will address pricing for several of the new warships once they are made official. For now though, you can ogle some of their soon-to-be-released products, and place pre-orders, where appropriate for items that show a retail price. We hope to add any new imagery, where applicable, once they are unveiled by the manufacturer.

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Modelcollect Takes Up the Defense of Germany with Their E-100 Series

 

While the German E-100 series has been modelled before in 1:72 scale (think the now defunct Panzerstahl), Modecollect is putting its own spin on the range by offering three takes on the “paper panzers”. To usher in the New Year, the Company posted three different images of the forthcoming vehicles, one showing an E-100 with 128mm main gun, a second depicting a “Krokodil” heavy tank destroyer and the third showcasing a FLaK gun.

No information has been disseminated concerning their price, although due to their size, they are likely going to be much more expensive than their previous efforts. Likewise, no delivery dates were posted, meaning they could still be several months off.

In other news, the manufacturer posted a picture of a second E-50 tank slated for 2017 and, more importantly, indicated they plan on tackling a Landkreuzer P. 1000 Ratte Super Heavy Tank, certainly one of the most ambitious projects facing both the German war planners as well as the modelmaker. Its possible a prototype could be ready in time for the upcoming Toy Fairs.

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Another Quartet of Vessels Joins the Eaglemoss Fleet

Four more 1:1100 scale warships have set sail from our distributor and are expected to make port the second week of January. The four new ships include:

EMGC55 – Imperial Japanese Navy Yubari Class Light Cruiser – Yubari [With Collector Magazine] (1:1100 Scale)

EMGC56 – French Marine Nationale Bearn Class Aircraft Carrier – Bearn [With Collector Magazine] (1:1100 Scale)

EMGC57 – Imperial Japanese Navy Tone Class Heavy Cruiser – Chikuma [With Collector Magazine] (1:1100 Scale)

EMGC65 – Imperial Japanese Navy Kagero Class Destroyer – Isokaze [With Collector Magazine] (1:1100 Scale)

A battleship would have made this grouping a royal flush, but that’s the way it works in the scale warship business.

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Atlas Hoists Up the Wehrmacht on its Brawny Shoulders

In the, “their loss is your gain” department, Atlas Editions is closing out a very handsome range of 1:32 scale German soldiers from WWII that covers everything from the Deutches Afrika Korps to the Luftwaffe. Molded in metal, each pairing of German soldiers comes pre-painted and pre-posed with a decorative base, and even comes with a numbered certificate of authenticity and cushioned packaging. Best of all, each of the fifteen sets retails for only $12.99, making them an absolute bargain. no matter how you look at it. All of the sets are expected in March, and the distributor importing the line is claiming that they will be available in limited quantities, so its entirely possible we may not have them available for general sale once they do arrive. Enjoy!

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Corgi Takes a Bold Step for 2017

 

These days, it isn’t often when Corgi decides to take a gamble and invest in new tooling, particularly when they seem more comfortable taking a safer route with their older molds. However, with the debut of the 2017 catalog, it would appear as if they are doing just that by upscaling their English Electric Lightning jet fighter that’s been a hit with collectors for several years running. According to their web site, a 1:48 scale F.6 Lightning fighter is currently under development, although details concerning its feature list are still rather sketchy (AA28401). Since no image was posted on their web site or in their catalog, we are led to believe its still a ways off, likely expected towards the end of 2017. In any event, this could be a watershed moment in Corgi’s history, as they look to explore the feasibility of offering larger versions of previously released warbirds.

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The Show Must Go On

Veteran collectors know that after the holidays, many diecast manufacturers start to get their ducks in a row and prepare for the multitude of trade shows that occur around the world. Several open in January, but the grand daddy of all shows, the Spielwarenmesse, opens this year on February 1st in Nuremberg, Germany. Occasionally, we get a glimpse of what will be on display at some of the smaller shows, such as the Hong Kong Toys and Game Fair which begins on January 9th. Anyway, if you are curious about some of the upcoming trade shows, check out our Calendar of Events page, which shows when each one is scheduled to open and run.

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