Ordinarily, we don’t comment on all of the military-themed flicks destined for both the small and large screen unless they are of particular significance to the average enthusiast. In the case of actor, Tom Hanks, he’s agreed to both host and narrate a lengthy 20-part mini series covering the entire scope of the Second World War. Hanks is no stranger to WWII, having produced and starred in a number of pet projects from Greyhound to Saving Private Ryan. He also helped to dedicate the National World War II Museum and played an integral role in the making of the 4-D film Beyond all Boundaries, which has been updated and currently plays in the Solomon Victory Theater in New Orleans, Louisiana.
WWII with Tom Hanks was ordered by The HISTORY® Channel back in 2024 in conjunction with theA+E Factual StudiosTM group and Nutopia. With the 250th anniversary of the formation of the US set for 2026, the series is scheduled to begin airing on Monday, Memorial Day, at 8PM EST. Subsequent episodes are slated to run each Monday thereafter, finishing up some time in October. For more information on the series, you can visit this link.
Update: You can watch the first three episodes of “World War II with Tom Hanks” for free before you need to start paying. Here’s how…
“World War II with Tom Hanks” will be broadcast on the History Channel in the U.S. beginning at 8pm EST. You will need a cable package that includes that channel, but you could sign up for a free trial of YouTube TV and enjoy the show while you can.
Given the first three episodes all drop on Monday, May 25th, you can watch those episodes to get a taste for the docu-series before continuing your viewing via cable.
Several months back, Corgi indicated they had formed a partnership with the Commemorative Air Force to begin producing models based on some of the aircraft found in the museum’s inventory. Well, today we learned about two models coming out later this year — one a direct replica of a warplane currently on display at the Commemorative Museum.
Expected later this year is “Spooky 086”, an AC-47 Spooky gunship that sported all sorts of close-in fire support weapons that were designed to stop advancing enemy troops in one fell swoop. A second AC-47 will also be produced, although it is based upon an actual “Spooky” gunship flown by the USAF over the battlefields of South Vietnam.
Both versions will sport three side-firing 7.62mm General Electric GAU-2/A miniguns, which were used with great effect to silence enemy troops on the move.Its not clear if wither aircraft will come with cremen manning the miniguns, which would help to bring the model to life.
In the latest installment od their Diecast Diaries, the Company also indicated that they have modified the original C-47 tooling so they could make other versions of the workhorse aircraft. For instance, the portside access door has been expanded, so that they could portray a C-47 with a paratrooper standing in the doorway ready to make his jump. Other modifications will likely portray the C-47 as both a reconnaissance aircraft and anti-submarine warfare platform, giving the tolling new life amidst the clutter of other aircraft models currently on the market.
US M1A2 SEP V3 Main Battle Tank – 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division (1:72 Scale)
Apparently, Panzerkampf isn’t done replicating the venerable M1 Abrams tank in 1:72 scale. According to online literature, they plan to release four different iterations of the M1A2 SEP V3 version of the inimitable main battle tank, all of which are likely to roll out this autumn. We’re still knee deep in some of their older versions so, to make room for the newest incarnation of the Abrams, we’ve decided to reduce the retail price point on some of their original releases. You can now purchase these items on either our web site or through eBay for a limited time, that is until we exhaust our stocks, which we presume will be a rather quick affair. When you get right down to it, the Abrams is a very popular subject in scale — the problem we face is that we can only stock so many versions of the tank before crying uncle.
On a separate matter, we will be including either the newest version of the Abrams tank (M1A2 SEP V2) with the M1070 tank transporter in place of the older Abrams or potentially the SEP V3 should our distributor follow suit in order to clear out some of their existing stocks of Abrams tanks. Please bear this in mind should you wish to purchase the set going forward.
We’re still hoping that Panzerkampf will consider the M1A2 E3 Abrams tank as their next 1:72 scale subject. Currently, a prototype of the E3 is undergoing field test with units of the US Army, and will likely enter full-scale production in 2027 once certain bugs are worked out and the DoD is happy with its current hardware and software load out. With drones taking an ever greater role on today’s battlefield, its a strong bet that the DoD will give the nod to full scale production once defensive measures are put in place to defeat the latest drones being produced by certain adversary nations.
A prototype of the US Army’s M1A2 E3 Abrams main battle tank currently undergoing rigorous testing in California
While the Army has not made public the M-1E3’s design requirements, reportedly, a 2019 Army Science Board study on a future tank influenced senior Army leadership to establish the M-1E3 program. The Army Science Board study reportedly recommended a $2.9 billion, seven-year program to develop a “fifth generation combat vehicle” with proposed capabilities including the following:
masking capabilities to reduce the vehicle’s thermal and electromagnetic signatures.
a hybrid electric drive;
an autoloader and new main gun;
advanced munitions, such as maneuvering hypersonic and gun-launched anti-tank guided missiles;
integrated armor protection;
improved command, control, and networking capabilities;
artificial intelligence (AI) applications;
ability to pair with robotic vehicles; and
The Army has said little publicly about the M1-E3’s desired capabilities and features. Some reports suggest that prototypes are to feature a hybrid-electric engine and be “lighter, more fuel-efficient, AI-enabled, built for manned-unmanned teaming, and armed with a new generation of weapons.” Other reports suggest the M1-E3 is to feature “an autoloader, enabling a 3-person crew (possibly with an unmanned turret),” advanced armor, an active protection system (APS) to counter enemy anti-tank systems, and integrated counter-uncrewed aerial systems (C-UAS) capabilities.
Forces of Valor’s 1:32 scale German Sd. Kfz. 161/1 PzKpfw IV Ausf. F1 Medium Tank – “Red 402”, 4.Kompanie, Panzer Regiment 5, 21.Panzer Division, Deutsches Afrika Korps, Libya, 1942
Looks as if Forces of Valor is already setting its sights on 2027 to help reinvigorate their 1:32 scale classic military vehicle series. According to our point person, the Company plans on coming out with a Panzer IV Ausf. F1 medium tank painted in the desert sand colors of the Deutsches Afrika Korps. Even though they’ve been around for over two decades, I believe this is their first ever “Africanized” vehicle, sporting the insignia of the 15.Panzer Division. We’ve listed the vehicle on our site and expect additional items to be announced soon that will likely roll out in mid 2027. More pix are on the way, which will be posted to our site the moment they hit the presses.
In other news, the four 1:32 scale re-treads that were expected in July were pushed back a month and are now expected this August. I know its a bit of a disappointment to some that had hoped to add these vehicles to their collection in the early part of the summer instead of the latter half.
Modern Marvels WWII is a three-part limited series on The History Channel that explores the defining machines, massive engineering projects, and groundbreaking innovations of the war. Originally part of the network’s longest-running franchise, the series highlights how wartime urgency accelerated scientific breakthroughs that permanently reshaped modern warfare and everyday life.
Modern Marvels explores World War II as the ultimate global arms race—where victory depends on who can invent, build, and scale the most incredible engineering marvels. Across three electrifying episodes, the series moves from terrifying Superweapons and massive Mega Builds to fascinating Gear and Gadgets that change the course of history. It’s WWII as an all-out battle of innovation—where the world’s greatest scientists and engineers decide the fate of nations and influence the technology of today, revealing how urgency, ambition, and imagination accelerate breakthroughs that permanently reshape warfare, industry, and everyday life.
The three-part series focuses on:
Mega Builds: Examining immense engineering projects including the Pentagon and the Maginot Line.
Super Weapons: Featuring innovations like the Bouncing Bomb, B-29 Superfortress, and the massive German Gustav Gun.
Gears and Gadgets: Highlighting devices from the bazooka and cavity magnetron to the Enigma machine and early night-vision.
After speaking with the powers that be, there’s an excellent chance that Hobby Master plans on celebrating the 250th anniversary of the birth of our nation with several commemorative aircraft schemes. Rumor has it that both of the models shown here will be replicated, along with other modern era aircraft painted in the good old red, white and blue.
The F-16 Viper will likely get a similar skin and possibly some of the other aircraft still in the USAF/USN inventory, such as the A-10 Warthog and even the AH-64 Apache. Its not clear, however, if either the F-22 or F-35 will get the same “stars and stripes” treatment since repainted stealth aircraft are adversely affected by a fresh coat of paint. Better to keep them in their original schemes should they be suddenly needed in the Middle East or the Sino-Pacific regions. We’re assuming that which ever aircraft they re-skin will also come with special packaging to help differentiate them from the standard models.
Panzerkampf’s 1:72 scale German RCH 155 (Remote Controlled Howitzer 155 mm) – NATO Camouflage
Panzerkampf seems to have a love affair with the Boxer multirole combat vehicle. While they don’t plan on a taking a ride into the Tunnel of Love, they do have two more variants of the Boxer vehicle planned for a second half roll out. The first vehicle for your consideration is the GTK Boxer Combat Reconnaissance Vehicle, which is is a highly modular, 8×8 wheeled multirole armored fighting vehicle developed by a consortium of European nations (Germany, Netherlands, and the UK). The Combat Reconnaissance Vehicle (CRV) variant is configured with a heavy turret for scout and strike operations, providing an advanced blend of mobility,
The second variant is the RCH 155 (Remote Controlled Howitzer 155 mm),a wheeled self-propelled howitzer developed by Krauss-Maffei Wegmann.
Panzerkampf’s 1:72 scale German GTK Boxer Combat Reconnaissance Vehicle – NATO Camouflage
The RCH 155 Module takes the firepower and the range of the PzH2000 by using its gun (155mm L/52), and combines it with an automated and remotely controlled gun module. Essentially, the vehicle can perform true “shoot and scoot” missions, capable of firing at a target, while on the move, instead of having to park and quite possibly be subjected to counter battery fire.
You can’t fault a manufacturer from returning to the well when they have a hit on their hands. In the case of Panzerkampf, the Company recently indicated that six more CH-53 Sea Stallion heavy lift helicopters were on the horizon, all bound for a September fly-in. Four of the choppers look remarkably similar to one another, decked out in a baby blue camouflage scheme typically used by embarked squadrons, so its going to be difficult for us to predict which will end up a best seller and which could end up as a shelf warmer. In any event, we’ve placed our order with our distributor and will keep our fingers crossed that we ordered in the correct quantities.
Curiously, four are based upon different naval squadrons while the remaining pair are connected to HMX-1 “Marine One”, which is used to transport the President and various figures locally around Washington D.C. and Camp David.
According to Sandboxx, an online site devoted to covering all things military, two experimental collaborative combat aircraft (CCA), have exited their experimental testing stage and are now entering low-rate production to be fielded with several US Navy and US Air Force squadrons. Formerly known as the YFQ-42A and YFQ-44A drones, they will each drop their “Y” prefix and “A” suffix and become the FQ-42 and FQ-44 respectively. Its not clear which combat squadrons they will be assigned to or the control aircraft they will fly alongside, so lots of speculation will certainly circulate as to their ultimate deployment and exact mission once they reach full operational status.
Both aircraft will likely be painted in a low-observable grey pattern and there’s a good chance each will carry the squadron insignia of their control aircraft as a means of differentiating them from one another. Its not clear how many CCAs will fly alongside each control aircraft, likely dependent upon the type of mission they are being charged with completing and risk associated with their use.
Its entirely possible that a squadron of CCAs could be painted in multiple schemes dependent upon each aircraft’s mission. For instance, a CCA tasked with a long-endurance flight designed to strike at night might be painted in a matte black pattern so it could blend in with the night sky. On the other hand, a low-flying drone assigned a SEAD (Suppression of Enemy Air Defense) mission could be shrouded in a multi-color camouflage pattern, particularly if it is maintaining a nap-of-the-earth profile in which it is flying to its target at a tree-top level. We will have to see what the Defense Department has to say about CCAs in both the near- and long-term, and whether they will be made available for export purposes, likely in lieu of control aircraft such as the F-35 Lightning II.
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI): Developed early flying prototypes and the production-representative FQ-42 (formerly YFQ-42) “Dark Merlin”
Anduril Industries (Anduril): Selected to build the FQ-44 “Fury” drone alongside the development of its mission autonomy stack
Announcing closings seems to be a recurring theme of late, with several longstanding entities throwing in the towel for one reason or another. We learned late last week that the Zephyrhills Museum of Military History in Zephyrhills, Florida, which also goes by the name WWII Armor, plans on closing up shop later this year, although no reason was provided in their online post. For those of you unfamiliar with the Museum they are just a stone’s throw away from us and regularly host events including reenactments on their premises and around the country. We’re sorry to see them call it a day and decided that it made sense to post their final words here rather than try to encapsulate their thoughts, feeling and emotion.
“Now hear this!
It is with a mix of sadness and pride that we announce the closing of WW2 Armor.
Our final two events will be the Morgan County Fair in Jacksonville, IL on 08 JUL, and the Westgate Veterans and Gold Star Families event on 05 DEC. We will cease operations this coming December, 2026.
Following a strategic review by Rabbi Rob and his wife, it was determined that the mission of the organization has reached its apex. A necessary priority shift to focus on the needs of family means that Rabbi Rob and his wife can no longer dedicate the considerable time required to maintain WW2 Armor. By initiating a considered, thoughtful, strategic draw-down now, we can ensure the long-term preservation of the pieces in the collection.
WW2 Armor has much about which to be proud. Over the last 10 years, we restored numerous vehicles and weapons platforms, and conducted wide-ranging research. We published what we learned, and showcased our mistakes so that all could benefit from the wisdom thus begotten. We have attended events both large and small in several states, running and gunning wherever we went. Since we began tracking our activities in 2019, we have conducted 42 training events and 31 public events, and our staff and volunteers have contributed well over 26,000 event man hours, and more then 13,000 training man hours towards the success of our mission. While we never measured it accurately, we do believe we created at least that many smiles on the faces of those who saw our salute firing and mock battles.
To all of our amazing staff members, thank you for your dedication and tenacity. You took on projects that seemed impossible, and overcame all of the many challenges, pulling off miracles that would make any WWII mechanic proud. You did so with positivity, laughter, and skill. Your continued devotion is a testament to your character.
To all of our volunteers, thank you for the years of fun and focus. You gave the most precious gift, the gift of your time. You attended training and public events in all types of weather and in locations throughout the U.S. You were always professional, safe, and respectful. With our full-time staff you are truly elite, and a band of brothers in the truest sense. What we have done is unique in the world and our efforts have touched the lives of countless individuals everywhere.
To all of our fellow reenactors and vehicle owners, thank you for rolling with us. You attended our training events to ensure safe and authentic operations, and brought your teams and talents to take every public event from good to great. You partnered with us brilliantly, adding a critical dimension of humanity to our battlefields, proving the value of teamwork, and forging great friendships as well.
To our many event partners; vehicle clubs, museums, vendors and contractors, thank you for the opportunity to work with you in our mutual mission to educate the public. It has been a journey of learning for us all, made easier by learning together. You have consistently delivered on short-notice, and gone above and beyond. It isn’t easy to source parts for a 80+ year-old tank, all vehicles are breaking or broken, and it isn’t easy to provide a venue for the education of the masses, yet you’ve managed to help us do just that more times than can be counted. Well done.
To all of our community members, you have seen us grow, misstep, learn, improve, and achieve. You have supported us in all of those cases, and enriched us by sharing your stories and those of your family members. Through you we have met the riveter and the tanker, the singer and the sailor, and so many more. You’ve spread the research we published and thus ensured those stories would be more widely known and less likely to be lost. Your warm support energized us during those late nights and difficult projects. You were an inspiration, and we hope we’ve enriched your lives as much as you have lifted ours.
The planning for the disposition of the collection of weapons and vehicles is underway. The priority is to ensure that the collection, and especially the vehicles in the collection, go to equally well-capitalized owners who can appreciate the history, respect the legacy, and maintain the vehicles to the standard they richly deserve. Details about the disposition will be published in due course.
We will maintain our social media and website presence in perpetuity, and we who have served in WW2 Armor will remain linked by a special, indissoluble bond. We hope to keep up with many of you online.
Life consists of seasons of shifting priorities. Our final bit of advice to you is that you take the time to appreciate the blessings in your life, and spend as much time with family as you can. That time, no matter how long, will never be enough. We can’t necessarily make those moments longer or more frequent, but we can make every moment truly special.
Thank you, and may G-d richly bless you and yours!Please direct any and all inquiries to info@ww2armor.org. Questions posted here may not be seen quickly or at all, so email is the best way of reaching us.”
Several weeks ago we posted that Dragon Models was changing its business model to keep up with the times. Largely, the Company no longer felt as if they would be a manufacturer of model kits and instead would sell their IP to other companies that would carry the load for them.
Today, we learned that their sister company, Cyber-Hobby, was following suit, although their plans call for their complete closure rather than soldiering on through IP sales. According to their post on Facebook, the division intends to shutter on June 26th, meaning if you have any pre-orders and/or returns with them, you’d better follow up soon before you have no one to contact. Its sad to see another company close its doors, which in part was a victim of technological advancements and the on-again, off-again Trump tariffs.
