April 9, 2019

Forces of Valor Plots its Next Moves

A release schedule has surfaced on one of the forums purportedly showing the build dates for many of the upcoming Forces of Valor products. Presently, this schedule hasn’t been confirmed by the manufacturer nor has our North American supplier any knowledge of its authenticity. Still, it looks somewhat official, so we are tentatively going to use it to map out the anticipated arrival dates for their 1:32 scale military vehicles as well as their 1:700 scale warships. We will hold off on some of the aircraft and helicopters for now. We’ve added sixty days to the supposed “ready” dates shown on the schedule to arrive at our tentative release dates. In all likelihood, that’s a bit optimistic based upon previous experience, so please don’t hold us to these dates since they could very well change as the year unfolds. You can view the schedule here: FOV Release Schedule

Incidentally, no word as yet concerning any of the newly tooled 1:32 scale vehicles so we are assuming they have all been pushed back into 2020.

Note: I’ve been told that the link we provided will not work if you aren’t a member of the forum in question. So, rather than ask you to join the site, we’ve updated our web site to reflect the “anticipated” dates of release for each item in the FOV military vehicle, warship, helicopter and aircraft lines. There are still several items up-in-the-air, if you will, and as the schedule moves further out, expect these dates to require some revision.

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Product Spotlight: The Fireflies of Summer

As we continue to wait for the Forces of Valor 88mm FLak gun to arrive, there appears to be some progress in the 1:32 scale queue. Earlier today, the manufacturer provided details concerning their second release – a British M4A4 Sherman Firefly Mk. VC medium tank. Based on a vehicle that served with the 24th Lancers, 13th/18th Hussars, 8th Armoured Brigade, the repurposed vehicle now comes with a Chrysler A57 Multi-Bank Engine that fits inside a reworked hull, retooled tracks to make them easier to roll, and a better paint job, making it a fitting addition to the Forces of Valor pantheon of combat vehicles.

The Sherman Firefly was a World War II British variant of the American Sherman tank, fitted with the powerful British 17 pounder anti-tank gun as its main weapon. Originally conceived as a stopgap until future British tank designs came into service, the Sherman Firefly became the most common vehicle with the 17 pounder in World War II.

Though the British expected to have their own new tank models developed soon, British Major George Brighty championed the already-rejected idea of mounting the 17 pounder in the existing Sherman. With the help of Lieutenant Colonel Witheridge and despite official disapproval, he managed to get the concept accepted. This proved fortuitous, as both the Challenger and Cromwell tank designs experienced difficulties and delays.

After the problem of getting the gun to fit in the Sherman’s turret was solved, the Firefly was put into production in early 1944, in time to equip Field Marshal Montgomery’s forces for the Normandy landings. It soon became highly valued as the only British tank capable of defeating the Panther and Tiger tanks it faced in Normandy at standard combat ranges. In recognition of this, German tank and anti-tank gun crews were instructed to attack Fireflies first. Between 2100 and 2200 were manufactured before production wound down in 1945.

Waltersons, the new caretakers of the Forces of Valor brand, claims that the vehicle run should be completed by the end of April, meaning it will still take several weeks before it arrives here in North America. We have therefore tentatively fixed its arrival for June, appropriate for it marks the 75th Anniversary of the D-Day landings..

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