January 4, 2018

Atlas Editions Fills the Skies in 2018

Atlas Editions’ German Messerschmitt Me 262 Fighter – 221-Victory Ace Oblt. Heinz Baer, III./EJG 2, 1945 and RAF Hawker Tempest Mk.V Fighter – 12.5-Victory Ace Flt. Lt. D.C. Fairbanks, 274 Squadron, 1944

Late today, we learned of a new range of 1:72 scale WWII era diecast military aircraft offered by Atlas Editions. The line contains a good number of different combat aircraft as well as a separate group of twin-pack planes that make ideal gifts for the holidays. We are still in the process of listing all of the many new products in our Atlas Editions section, which should be up-and-running some time tomorrow just as soon as all of the information is posted. In the mean time, we’ve posted a sample of one of the twin-packs, which depicts a German Me 262 jet bomber alongside a RAF Hawker Tempest Mk. V fighter.

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Anatomy of War: When Life Imitates Art

Right before the New Year, we received Hobby Master’s second version of its 1:72 scale Su-35S Super Flanker multirole fighter – a dual form release that models Russian warbirds sent to Libya to aid the Assad government in Syria. Turns out, the actual aircraft may have been either damaged or completely destroyed earlier this week, hit by mortars fired by anti-government forces that had deployed along the outskirts of the Khmeimim Air Base near Latakia. In total, seven aircraft succumbed to enemy fire, costing the Russians, operating the parked aircraft, several hundred million dollars and a bit of prestige to boot. For more information on the strike, visit this web site: Unian Information Agency           

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USPS Rate Hikes Go Into Effect Soon

As part of their annual rate assessment, the United States Postal Service (USPS) announced increases to shipping costs effective January 21st, 2018. On average, First Class Mail and Priority Mail rates are expected to rise by approximately 24%, as the Service continues to grapple with huge financial losses and the crippling effects of lower letter volume.

As a result, we may have to increase our flat rate shipping rate later this month once we get a better sense of how these rate hikes will affect our own costs, particularly for larger parcels that need to be shipped to the Midwest, Northwest, Southwest and West Coast regions. As you know, many of the soon-to-be-released Forces of Valor 1:32 scale military vehicles will be heavier than their counterparts from years ago, due to the fact that they will incorporate more metal as well as contain a bonus engine and stronger packaging. This means that we may need to change their shipping costs, particularly if an order calls for multiple vehicles. We are sorry to have to implement these changes and hope that you understand that increased shipping costs have a serious effect on our business model.

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Possible Service Interruption in the New York Metropolitan Region

There is a “bomb cyclone” bearing down on the east coast that may or may not affect pickup and delivery of packages in the New York metropolitan region. Frankly, I’ve heard of Nor Easters, blizzards and snow storms before, but I’ve never heard of this ominous-sounding meteorological term which apparently arises when a storm moving north along the east coast from the Bahamas crashes into a cold front moving south out of Canada. Current forecasts call for an accumulation of up to 9 inches of snow where we are located and perhaps more in the outlying areas, with sustained wind gusts in excess of 45 mph and temperatures in the single digits. So, if the USPS does not attempt to pick up from us around noon today, expect to add at least a 24-48 hour delay to any packages that were earmarked for shipment over the past day or so. 

Update: At 1pm, no attempt was made by the USPS to pick up our packages and, based on the conditions we are witnessing outside, we do not believe they will attempt to resume service until Saturday. That said, we are suspending outbound shipments for both Thursday and Friday, and hope to resume shipments on Saturday. Please take this into account when placing orders or anticipating the receipt of orders already in our queue.

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