According to a note found in a bottle that recently washed up on our shores, Unimax will be releasing their 1:700 scale replica of USS Enterprise (CVN-65) in late November (#UNI86012). The Enterprise is the latest capitol ship in their Combat Vessel series, and should make a wonderful gift this holiday season for collectors, veterans and historians alike.
UK-based Eaglemoss Collections will soon be launching a “partwork” line of diecast military vehicles aimed at the European market. A “partwork” is a written publication released as a series of planned magazine-like issues over a period of time. If the line does well, it may be offered here in North America, although its not clear, at present, if we’re talking a 1:43 or 1:72 scale range, whether or not the line will be based solely on World War II, and if the vehicles will come bundled with each issue or sold separately much like the Altaya/ IXO Models collection.
Anyway, they’ve asked us to post a link to their survey page, which essentially asks our clientele about their collecting criteria. According to the literature, respondents will be entered into a drawing whereby they can win a complete range as they are released. The survey can be found here:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NQ6NRP3.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_lNx-Xec5s&w=560&h=315]
We’ve been pleasantly surprised with some of the new introductions coming out of the Blitz 72 camp, including three of their latest offerings. Word from our distributor is that they will soon be shipping a trio of deluxe vignettes, which combine a vehicle with some sort of structure or figures.
All three sets have been posted to our Blitz 72 combat vehicles section and are scheduled for a September arrival.
We’ve all seen those amazing concept cars at the annual auto shows, reflecting space age design and cutting edge form that never seem to make the transition from the drawing board to the road. German model maker, Minichamps, is apparently an admirer of “form over functionality” and plans to honor these vehicles with a line of 1:18 scale concept cars. Several of the most iconic cars of years past encompass the range, including the 1954 Lincoln Futura seen here, which was used as the basis for the futuristic-looking Batmobile that took center stage in the hit 1966 TV series. Look for several of these incredible replicas to show up before year’s end.
Radio-controlled manufacturer, Torro, intends to offer a line of 1:16 scale military figures that can be used with any 1:16 scale military vehicle. Besides working with Taigen’s range of 1:16 scale radio-controlled tanks, the pre-posed and pre-painted figures will work with Unimax’ Extreme Metal static tanks, or any similar line of 1:16 scale vehicles. Strangely, the figures look eerily similar to Unimax’ out-of-production Extreme Metal figures that were released several years ago. We’re guessing that Unimax licensed or sold the molds to Torro as a means of kicking off the series. Look for the first five figures this October.
Radio-controlled manufacturer, Torro, intends to offer a line of 1:16 scale military figures that can be used with any 1:16 scale military vehicle. Besides working with Taigen’s range of 1:16 scale radio-controlled tanks, the pre-posed and pre-painted figures will work with Unimax’ Extreme Metal static tanks, or any similar line of 1:16 scale vehicles. Strangely, the figures look eerily similar to Unimax’ out-of-production Extreme Metal figures that were released several years ago. We’re guessing that Unimax licensed or sold the molds to Torro as a means of kicking off the series. Look for the first five figures this October.
First announced over five years ago, it appears as if Minichamps’ long-promised 1955 Vincent Black Lightning may soon be hitting the road (#MIN122134600). The manufacturer’s web site is currently showing an October release date, although no photo of the 1:12 scale replica has been posted as yet and no one at the Company will confirm or deny if this is a hard-and-fast roll out date.
So here’s where we stand with this hotly anticipated bike if it should show up. For anyone that has already pre-ordered the bike, be it five years ago or yesterday, we will be selling the ride for $144.99 less a 15% sales discount. Our dealer cost has gone up substantially since this bike was first announced half a decade ago, so this is going to be the best we can do in terms of pricing. We will not be offering free UPS ground shipping, since the revised price falls below our free shipping threshold of $140. You can, of course, add other merchandise to your order to clear the threshold, thereby getting free shipping to boot (so long as the ship to address is within the lower 48 States). Now, since many of the pre-orders have aged substantially, we will need anyone truly interested in taking delivery of this item to immediately contact us by phone with their current billing information.
Bear in mind that Minichamps still has not posted any updated release information for their 1948 Vincent Black Lightning with Rollie Free figure, so please do not ask us to hold the 1955 bike until the 1948 bike arrives. Frankly, we’re keeping our fingers crossed that the 1955 bike isn’t a mirage given the hot summer we’ve had. So, that’s it in a nutshell and let’s hope it was all worth the wait.
With a scant year to go before we commemorate the 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War, it appears as if one manufacturer had the foresight to capitalize on the occasion. According to our distributor, an AmerCom has crafted a new line of 1:72 scale diecast aircraft that are based upon some of the most iconic planes of the Great War. Two German aircraft comprise the first wave – a Fokker Dr. 1 that was flown by the “Red Baron”, Manfred von Richthofen, and an Albatross D.V that was piloted by WWI ace, Paul Baumer.
Priced at just $20, these sharp-looking birds feature wire rigging, a display stand and a pilot figure, something you’d come to expect from a more expensive range of military replicas. Look for the first warbirds to touch down in early September.
What do you say when you see 1:72 scale Century Wings F-14s commanding $500 or more on ebay and people more than willing to pay the price? Even the recently released VX-9 Vampires, ‘Vandy 1’ (#CW001601), is already going for well in excess of its MSRP, just a week after its debut. When you consider the fact that the global economy is still recovering, that’s saying a lot for a company that seems willing to pump out more of the same year after year.
Anyway, we hope more of the F-14s, SR-71s and other aircraft CW has been known to pump out are in the pipeline, since it says a lot for the manufacturer, its products, and impeccable standing within the diecast community.
The Dragon Armor steam roller seems to have slowed down a tad in recent months, so when we get news that a new armor piece is shipping shortly, we start to get giddy. Rolling out this week is a German Sd. Kfz. 141 PzKpfw III Ausf. N Medium Tank that was attached to schwere Panzer Abteilung 501 of the Deutsches Afrika Korps (#DRA60601), their first Type N Panzer III tank, which bears all the hallmark detail everyone has come to expect from a 1:72 scale Dragon caisson. We are already quite surprised by the number of pre-orders we’ve received for this vehicle, so if you want to jump on board and see if you can claim North Africa from the British 8th Army, then now is the time to fuel up the panzers.
