June 2018

Air Force 1’s Upcoming Army-Navy (Helicopter) Game

Air Force 1’s 1:72 scale US Navy Sikorsky MH-60 Knighthawk Helicopter – HSC-2 “Fleet Angels”, NAS Norfolk, VA, 2008

With Hobby Master testing the helicopter market and established players such as Forces of Valor and Corgi continuing to provide vertical envelopment, Air Force 1 has quietly staked its own claim the to the rotary wing arena. This summer, two renditions of the ubiquitous Sikorsky Black Hawk helicopter are slated to drop in, each looking to provide a different take on the workhorse of US combat forces.

Firs up is this US Navy Sikorsky MH-60 Knighthawk Helicopter, which was attached to HSC-2 “Fleet Angels”, then deployed to NAS Norfolk, VA during 2008 (AF10090A). The multimission Sikorsky MH-60S Knighthawk helicopter entered service in February 2002. The US Navy is expected to acquire a total of 237 of the MH-60S helicopters, to carry out missions such as vertical replenishment, combat search and rescue, special warfare support and airborne mine countermeasures.

The helicopter began full-rate production in August 2002. As of January 2011 52 MH-60R and 154 MH-60S helicopters were in the service with the US Navy. First deployment of the new helicopter took place on board USS Essex, Wasp Class amphibious assault ship, in January 2003 and a number of MH-60S helicopters were deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The helicopter was originally designated CH-60S, as a replacement for the US Navy’s Boeing CH-46D Sea Knight heavy-lift helicopters in the vertical replenishment role. The helicopter was redesignated MH-60S as a result of an expansion in mission requirements to include a range of additional combat support capabilities. Retirement of the US Navy Sea Knights concluded in September 2004.

Air Force 1’s 1:72 scale US Army Sikorsky HH-60M MEDEVAC Black Hawk Helicopter – 377th Medical Company (Air Ambulance), South Korea, April 2007

Later this summer, expect to lay claim to this US Sikorsky HH-60M (MEDEVAC) Black Hawk Helicopter, which was attached to the 377th Medical Company (Air Ambulance), then deployed to South Korea during April 2007. The HH-60M Black Hawk helicopter is a medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) version of the UH-60M Black Hawk multi-mission helicopter. Built by Sikorsky Aircraf for the US Army, the helicopter is designed to evacuate wounded troops from the battlefield.

The HH-60M helicopter is integrated with medical evacuation mission equipment package (MEP) kit. It provides aerial medical support and ambulatory patient transport services. The helicopter can be reconfigured to carry out missions including personnel transport, search and rescue, resupply, aerial reconnaissance, cargo transport, and wild fire suppression.

Both helicopters are ruggedly constructed out of diecast metal and feature free-spinning rotors, sliding side access doors, accurate markings and insignia and a sturdy display stand.

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Corgi Pays Tribute to the Legend of WWI

Corgi’s 1:48 scale German Fokker Dr.1 Triplane Fighter – 425/17, Rittmeister Manfred von Richthofen, Jasta 11, Jagdgeschwader 1, Cappy Aerodrome, France, April 21st, 1918

Manfred von Richthofen, a.k.a. “The Red Baron”, is perhaps the most famous flier in military history, and certainly the most celebrated pilot of WWI. He is considered, as Wikipedia points out, the ace-of-aces of the war, being officially credited with 80 air combat victories.

Originally a cavalryman, Richthofen transferred to the Air Service in 1915, becoming one of the first members of fighter squadron Jagdstaffel 2 in 1916. He quickly distinguished himself as a fighter pilot, and during 1917 became leader of Jasta 11 and then the larger fighter wing unit Jagdgeschwader 1, better known as “The Flying Circus” or “Richthofen’s Circus” because of the bright colours of its aircraft, and perhaps also because of the way the unit was transferred from one area of allied air activity to another – moving like a travelling circus, and frequently setting up in tents on improvised airfields. By 1918, Richthofen was regarded as a national hero in Germany, and respected by his enemies.

Richthofen was shot down and killed near Vaux-sur-Somme on April 21st, 1918. There has been considerable discussion and debate regarding aspects of his career, especially the circumstances of his death.

To commemorate the death of the “ace-of-aces”, Corgi has commissioned this special edition 1:48 scale tribute to the man and his machine (AA38308). Due in early July, Corgi’s rendition of the Dridecker bears all the hallmark detail you’ve come to expect from this legendary model maker, including wire rigging, free-spinning propeller, sturdy display stand and even the “Red Baron” himself, seated behind the controls of his fighter, ready to take on his next opponent.

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Modelcollect Sets Off on the Great Scud Hunt

Modelcollect has certainly proven it has the wherewithal to produce models of subject matter no one else has dared to touch

When the US-led Coalition forces sought to free Kuwait from Iraqi occupation in 1991, they were initially unprepared for Saddam Hussein’s Scud missile barrage, and the mobile missile launchers that were carrying them. Based upon the Nazi’s V-2 rocket technology from WWII, the Scuds were certainly old technology, but nevertheless a potent thorn in the Allies’ side, launched at fixed sites deep within the Allies’ rear areas where they could do the most damage. What made them so effective wasn’t necessarily the missiles themselves, but the mobile missile launchers that schlepped them around Iraq, which would pop out of a hidden enclave, fire off a salvo, then hide again, making them particularly difficult to target and annihilate by strike aircraft. 

Last week, Modelcollect, as part of their deluxe vehicle series, announced plans to replicate the Scud and its mobile missile launcher, thereby, in an ignominious fashion, paying tribute to the death and destruction they once wrought. Thus far, only a model kit has been shown, but its just a matter of time before the Company makes available a pre-assembled set, further demonstrating its prowess as a model maker par excellence.

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Corgi Draws Inspiration from Hollywood

Corgi’s 1:72 scale replica of a USAAF Consolidated B-24H Liberator Heavy Bomber – Colonel Jimmy Stewart’s “Male Call”, 453rd Bombardment Group, RAF Old Buckenham, England, 1944

Looking to leverage the legendary star power of Hollywood, Corgi announced plans to build a 1:72 scale replica of a Consolidated B-24 Liberator heavy bomber that was piloted by none other than screen actor, Jimmy Stewart. While several legends of the silver screen enlisted in the military when their nation called upon them, Jimmy Stewart could be one of the most famous, leading an entire bomb group  to reek vengeance over Germany and Nazi-occupied Europe during the latter stages of World War II. While he reportedly flew several bombers, “Male Call”, the lead ship of the 453rd Bombardment Group (AA34018) may be his most noteworthy, surviving the war having completed an impressive 95 bombing missions. In fact, she is thought to have been the only survivor of the original 61 aircraft assigned to the 453rd Bombardment Group, which arrived at RAF Old Buckenham airfield on January 21st, 1944. Look for “Male Call” to be called to action in October.

If you’re interested in learning more about Jimmy Stewart and his wartime experience, we strongly recommend Mission: Jimmy Stewart and the Fight for Europe, which is available on Amazon.

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Product Spotlight: In Defense of Ukraine

 

Calibre Wings’ 1:72 scale Ukrainian Sukhoi Su-24MR “Fencer” Attack Aircraft – “Yellow 15”

“He maketh wars to cease in all the world. He breaketh the bow and snappeth the spear in sunder and burneth the chariots in the fire.”

– Matthew 16:21-28

In 2014, Russian ground forces invaded and quickly occupied wide swaths of Ukrainian territory which included, among other things, the entire Crimean peninsula. The Ukrainians, looking to resist Russian aggression, called upon its meager forces, both on the ground and in the air, to turn back the invaders, or at least give them a bloody nose and perhaps a moment’s pause. As attempts were made to seek help from the West and mediation by the UN Security Council, two aircraft in the Ukrainian inventory would answer the call in the name of freedom: both were produced by Suhkoi.

The Sukhoi Su-24 (NATO reporting name: Fencer) is a supersonic, all-weather attack aircraft developed in the Soviet Union. This variable-sweep wing, twin-engined side-by-side two-seater carried the USSR’s first integrated digital navigation/attack system. It remains in service with former Soviet air forces and various air forces to which it was exported.

The aircraft was officially sanctioned on August 24th, 1965, under the internal codename T-6. The first prototype, T-6-1 was completed in May 1967 and flew on July 2nd with V.S. Ilyushin at the controls. The initial flights were performed without the four lift engines, which were installed in October 1967. At the same time, R-27s were replaced with Lyulka AL-21Fs. STOL tests confirmed the data from S-58VD that short-field performance was achieved at the cost of significant loss of flight distance as the lift engines occupied space normally reserved for fuel, loss of under-fuselage hardpoints, and instability during transition from STOL to conventional flight. So the six-engine approach was abandoned.

Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale Ukrainian Air Force Sukhoi Su-25M1 “Frogfoot” Ground Attack Aircraft – 299th Tactical Aviation Brigade, Nikolaev, Ukraine, 2014

The Sukhoi Su-25 (NATO reporting name: “Frogfoot”) is a single-seat, twin-engine jet aircraft developed in the Soviet Union by the Sukhoi Design Bureau. It was designed to provide close air support for the Soviet Ground Forces. The first prototype made its maiden flight on 22 February 1975. After testing, the aircraft went into series production in 1978 at Tbilisi in the Soviet Republic of Georgia. Russian air and ground forces nicknamed it “Grach” (“Rook”).

Early variants included the Su-25UB two-seat trainer, the Su-25BM for target-towing, and the Su-25K for export customers. Some aircraft are being upgraded to version Su-25SM as of 2012. The Su-25T and the Su-25TM (also known as Su-39) were further developments, not produced in numbers. The Su-25, along with the Su-34, were the only armored fixed-wing aircraft in production in 2007. Su-25 is in service with Russia, other CIS states, and export customers.

Look for both defenders of the sovereign state of Ukraine (CA722402 and HA6103) to fly again in the name of freedom this September.

 

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The US Supreme Court Rules in Favor of an Online Sales Tax

Earlier today, the US Supreme Court narrowly ruled in favor of allowing states to collect taxes from online sellers, even if the seller may not be physically located within their jurisdiction. Up til now, a seller was required to collect taxes only from customers purchasing product that were located within the same state as their business. Essentially, it is now up to Congress to determine how the ruling will be handled, since there are more than 12,000 local tax jurisdictions, making the task of collecting taxes onerous at best. Moreover, many smaller online resellers may not have the resources to handle the new tax impositions, which could require loads of paperwork to complete and an inordinate amount of time to fully address. A simple solution would be to impose a flat tax across the entire union, perhaps somewhere in the neighborhood of 4%, which might be low enough to dissuade customers from shopping elsewhere. For more information on the ruling and what it could mean visit USA Today.

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Tales of Transparency – Pay No Attention to the Man Behind the Curtain

Out of curiosity, we sometimes get asked why we do not have a new item physically in stock even though it may be marked as such on our web site. The simple answer is time or perhaps more to the point, time management. We run a tight ship here at The Motor Pool. When a noteworthy item comes in that has been pre-ordered up the gazoo, we begin the arduous task of searching our ordering system for the item in question then wedding it with other items that may already be held for the customer or other newly received items expected around the same time frame, thereby reducing shipping costs for everyone concerned. For instance, when the 1:32 scale Forces of Valor vehicles start appearing on the horizon, we may need several days head start to address each new item, contacting the customer if we do not have their proper billing information, editing orders to prevent redundancy, adjusting inventory counts, and such. If we waited until the merchandise actually arrived, then we’d get swamped with new orders as well as old, potentially undermining the process of getting product out in the most expeditious manner possible. As we get larger, and make our products available on additional venues, this issue can easily get exacerbated, so we make every effort to keep everything correct, up-to-date and ship-shape, particularly during the hectic holiday shopping season.

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Hobby Master’s Den of Thieves for June

Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale Soviet Sukhoi Su-25 “Frogfoot” Ground Attack Aircraft – “Red 59”, 378. OShAP, VVS, 40th Army, Bagram AB, Afghanistan, 1986

Every so often we call attention to the monthly roster of Hobby Master products rolling in through our doors. June seems to be a particularly noteworthy month, since it contains a wealth of important subjects spread out across a number of scales, categories, and eras. Perhaps the most significant release is their first ever Suhkoi Su-25 “Frogfoot” ground attack aircraft (HA6103), the Soviet’s equivalent to our A-10 Thunderbolt II. Their first foray in the world of the Frogfoot is certainly memorable, bearing the Soviet’s trademark red star on its tail and representing a warbird that served in Afghanistan throughout the 1980s.

Hobby Master’s 1:48 scale Imperial Japanese Navy Mitsubishi A6M2 “Zero” Fighter – Tetsunzo Iwamoto, 201st Naval Flying Group, Rabaul, November 1943

Also in the hopper is Japanese ace Tetsunzo Iwamoto‘s Mitsubishi Zero, a 1:48 scale IJN fighter that was based at the Japanese fortress of Rabaul (HA8803). Other notable aircraft include a 1:48 scale Corsair from VMF-214 “Black Sheep” (HA8218), a huge 1:32 scale Dauntless dive-bomber (HA0209) and a pair of Soviet ISU-152 self-propelled guns (HG7053 and HG7054). Indeed, the June shipment should be of interest to a wide swath of collectors, cutting across the entire spectrum of diecast military products. Enjoy!

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The June Swoon: What’s Still on Tap for the Rest of the Month

Air Commander’s latest F-4 Phantom is still slated for a June arrival.

So, we received an update from our distributors regarding which items/ lines are still expected by the end of June, hopefully before we close for vacation from July 2nd to the 10th. Here is what is still on tap:

Hobby Master – en route to us and should be in stock by the third week of June

Air Commander – late June

Forces of Valor – late June

War Master/Solido – late June

Air Force 1 – late June

The Forces of Valor shipment includes several back ordered warships that we have been out of for awhile. Nothing new is expected, unless there’s a surprise in store that we aren’t aware of. We’ve pushed back Wings of the Great War, Modelcollect and Eaglemoss into July, and are on the fence regarding several Corgi releases. Keep in mind that the shipments may have to be delayed by several days if it appears as if they might arrive while we are away. We have instructed our distributors to hold our shipments until our return.

It’s been awhile since we received a handsome piece of WWII-era self-propelled artillery, particularly a US M12 GMC 155mm self-propelled gun clad in a flocked winter camouflage scheme.
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Marketplace Update: Amazon

Part of becoming a successful retailer in today’s fast-paced global market is establishing a presence on each of the major marketplace sites. We’ve had a thriving satellite store on eBay for 19 years and thought it was finally high time we created a similar store on Amazon. Earlier today, we began listing a portion of our product portfolio on Amazon and will continue to do so over the course of the next few weeks, thereby building out our global footprint and servicing even more people than before. Later this summer, we will be creating like-minded stores on Walmart’s marketplace as well as Jet.com, reaching even more customers both here and abroad. Our ultimate aim is to offer the widest possible array of diecast military products as possible to the broadest possible audience, all the while continuing to pay careful attention to our core web site, themotorpool.net. We hope you appreciate our efforts and look forward to even greater things in the not-too-distant future. To visit our Amazon store, simply click on the image above.

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