August 2018

Tales of Transparency: August Updates

So, as we close out the summer and head into the 2018 holiday season, we thought it a good time to discuss some of the recent changes we’ve made along the way. For starters, our fledgling Amazon store is now up-and-running and doing quite well. In fact, we were invited to become an Amazon Seller Fulfilled Prime operator last week and we dutifully agreed. This means you can now enjoy free standard shipping for domestic orders for those items we have listed in our Amazon store. Obviously inventory levels will vary over the course of the year as will our product selection, so we cannot guarantee that every item you see on our web site will be featured on Amazon.

Second, our Walmart store is scheduled to go live later this fall, although we are still working out some kinks as well as deploying the latest in inventory balancing software that will work in the background for all of our retail venues.

Next, we have decided to use ShipStation as our primary means of mailing, tracking and overseeing orders placed on our web site. ShipStation offers an elegant means of addressing all of our shipping needs and we recognize its value as we continue to grow. You will no doubt notice that shipping notifications will look somewhat differently going forward, but should contain all of the requisite information to track your deliveries.

Other improvements and upgrades are in the works but we aren’t as yet prepared to discuss them in detail. Rest assured we are working diligently to remain the preeminent supplier of diecast military products anywhere on the globe.

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Choppers Inbound

Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale US Army Boeing AH-64D Apache Longbow Attack Helicopter – 8th Battalion, 229th Aviation Regiment “Flying Tigers”

Looks as if we are closing out the month of August in particular and summer in general with a couple of eagerly anticipated helicopters – one from Air Force 1 and the other from Hobby Master. Shown here is Hobby Master’s first look at the AH-64 Apache helicopter (HH1201), an attack helo that has served the US Army well for over thirty years. Also inbound is a Sikorsky HH-60M MEDEVAC Black Hawk helicopter from Air Force 1, which provided crucial casualty recovery and transport to US forces operating in South Korea back in 2007.

Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale USAF General Dynamics F-111F “Aardvark” Strike Aircraft – 70-2403, 493rd Tactical Fighter Squadron “The Grim Reapers”, 48th Tactical Fighter Wing, RAF Lakenheath, England, 1991

A number of other aircraft should be arriving shortly from Hobby Master, geared towards both the 1:72 as well as the 1:48 scale markets. For instance, a pair of F-111 Aardvark fighter-bombers (HA3019 and HA3020) are earmarked for a late August fly-in, both of which are already sold out at the factory and distributor’s level.

Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale USMC Boeing Harrier II AV-8B+ Jump Jet – BuNo 165584, VMA-311 “Tomcats”, February 2012 [Low-Vis Scheme]

Also in shorty supply is this USMC Boeing Harrier II AV-8B jump jet (HA2622), which was operated by VMA-311 “Tomcats”. As the economy heats up and a potential blanket tariff could be imposed on all incoming products from mainland China, its very possible that these and other higly sought after diecast collectibles will become increasingly harder to come by should a trade war with China show no signs of abatement.

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Atlas Heralds the Fighter Aces of World War II

Atlas Editions is finally making available their esteemed 1:72 scale Fighters of World War II collection to the North American market. Similar in scope to Oxford’s budget-minded line of military aircraft, the Atlas range showcases fifteen different pilots who made a direct impact on the war effort on both sides of the ledger. Featuring diecast construction, retracted landing gear, spinning propellers, authentic markings and insignia, and a stenciled display stand, these aircraft are a perfect way to introduce new collectors into the diecast military space and a fitting tribute to the men and machines that fought valiantly in the skies over the battlefields of the Second World War.

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Product Spotlight: Operation Vittles

Corgi’s 1:72 scale USAF Douglas C-47A Skytrain Troop Transport – 315208 ‘Fassberg Flyer’, Berlin Airlift, 1948

Typically, war planners like to give military operations names that help to convey the spirit and intent of the exercise in question. Overlord for the Allies’ invasion of Nazi-occupied Europe in the summer of 1944, Barbarossa, for the German invasion of Russia in 1941, and Market-Garden, the supposed breakthrough to the Rhine and beyond by Allied forces struggling to bypass the morass of northwest Europe in the autumn of 1944, all come to mind.

In the summer  of 1948, three years after the conclusion of war in Europe, Soviet forces decided to close the major supply corridor into Berlin and bring it into the Soviet sphere. The Berlin Blockade, as it came to be known, (June 24th, 1948 – May 12th, 1949) was one of the first major international crises of the Cold War. During the multinational occupation of post-World War II Germany, the Soviet Union blocked the Western Allies’ railway, road, and canal access to the sectors of Berlin under Western control. The Soviets offered to drop the blockade if the Western Allies withdrew the newly introduced Deutsche mark from West Berlin.

The Western Allies, under the guise of Operation Vittles, organized the Berlin airlift (June 26th, 1948 – September 30th, 1949) to carry supplies to the people of West Berlin, a difficult feat given the size of the city’s population. Aircrews from the United States Air Force, the Royal Air Force, the French Air Force, the Royal Canadian Air Force, the Royal Australian Air Force, the Royal New Zealand Air Force, and the South African Air Force:338 flew over 200,000 flights in one year, providing to the West Berliners up to 8,893 tons of necessities each day, such as fuel and food. The Soviets did not disrupt the airlift for fear this might lead to open conflict.

By the spring of 1949, the airlift was clearly succeeding, and by April it was delivering more cargo than had previously been transported into the city by rail. On May 12th, 1949, the USSR lifted the blockade of West Berlin. The Berlin Blockade served to highlight the competing ideological and economic visions for postwar Europe.

Corgi’s 1:72 scale take on a C-47A Skytrain is special for several reasons. Firstly, its big and beefy, a far cry from a 1:144 scale version of the same aircraft released way back in 1998. Secondly, its the inaugural product in their all-new 20th Anniversary Aviation Archive series, which commemorates many of the aircraft models they first offered to the public some twenty years ago. Now in stock, the “Fassberg Flyer”, as it came to be known, is an important piece of civil and military history, and a worthy addition to anyone’s diecast aviation collection.

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Product Spotlight: The Star of France?

Hobby Master’s 1:48 scale German Messerschmitt Bf 109E-3 Fighter – Hans-Joachim Marseille, I.Jagd/Lehrgeschwader 2, Calais-Marck, France, September 1940

Before he became forever known as “the Star of Africa”, Luftwaffe ace, Hans-Joachim Marseille, took wing against Britain’s RAF during the Battle of Britain in September 1940. Curiously, his exploits were viewed as lackluster, largely a result of poor discipline by his superiors after it was discovered he enjoyed partying into the wee hours of the morning. Therefore, at the conclusion of the British campaign, he was immediately transferred to another unit, Jagdgeschwader 27, which relocated to North Africa in April 1941 in support of Rommel’s Deutsches Afrika Korps.

Under the guidance of his new commander, Marseille quickly developed his abilities as a fighter pilot. He reached the zenith of his career on September 1st, 1942, when, during the course of three combat sorties, he claimed 17 Allied aircraft. For this he received the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds. A month later, Marseille was killed in a flying accident after his aircraft suffered engine failure. Forced to abandon his fighter, Marseille struck its vertical stabilizer and was either killed instantly or incapacitated and unable to open his parachute.

Messerschmitt Bf 109E-4 W,Nr.3579 ‘White 14’ is thought to have been the aircraft in which Marseille scored his first aerial victory – an RAF Spitfire.Although he was able to shoot down the British fighter, ‘White 14’ sustained damage during the dogfight – Marseille was able to nurse the fighter back to Calais-Marck airfield, where he made a successful crash landing. Initially thought to be beyond repair, the Messerschmitt was later sent back to Germany for rebuild and upgrade, before going on to serve for a further two years with a number of Luftwaffe pilots on the Eastern Front. In August 1942, the aircraft was shot down by a pair of Soviet Air Force Hurricanes, crashing on marshland in the vast, unforgiving landscape of rural Russia.

Remarkably, the wreckage of the aircraft was discovered in the early 1990s and salvaged for a US Warbird collector. Following an extensive period of restoration in the UK, this genuine combat veteran Bf 109 made its first post restoration flight in California in September 1999, in the hands of experienced Warbird pilot Charlie Brown. Finished in the famous ‘White 14’ scheme worn by the aircraft as flown by Hans Joachim Marseille during the Battle of Britain, this historic fighter is one of only two genuine Daimler-Benz powered airworthy Bf 109Es in the world. After spending many years on the North American Airshow circuit, ‘White 14’ currently resides with the aircraft collection at the Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar – UK enthusiasts will definitely be hoping to see this rare and historic aircraft flying in 2017.

While we have no doubt that Hobby Master will eventually recreate the aircraft he piloted during the North African campaign, collectors will unquestionably take an interest in the aircraft he first cut his teeth on (HA8706). It is therefore with great pride that we announce Marseille’s first mount will take wing this coming January, and, according to our distributor, has already sold out at the factory level. With just 400 units being produced for a worldwide market, we believe this model will not only become the pride and joy of your early war WWII collection but will almost certainly rise in value as word of the aircraft’s availability spreads.

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Ruminations for the Month of August and Beyond

So, we’re mid way though the month of August and we thought we’d share some insights we’ve gleaned over the past few weeks even if some of the news may not be what you wanted to hear. Remember, don’t kill the messenger as he passes along the latest messages.

Eaglemoss

To begin with, we are expecting a shipment of new Eaglemoss products by the end of the month. Our distributor should have a list of what’s in store by the end of this week, barring any unforeseen issues. Its been several months since anything has arrived, so the list could be quite long and varied, but we will know more as soon as its passed along to us. Its not up to us to say why its taken so long for the latest cache to hit the high seas. Some things will forever remain under wraps despite the clamor for concrete information, so suffice it to say that we’re happy that the shipments are resuming and in full gear.

JC Wings

We’ve dropped the two JC Wings aircraft originally earmarked for availability this summer. We are not at liberty to discuss the reason for the decision other than to say that we have learned that they are no longer in the pipeline from our sole source provider. It is possible that we will carry the line at some point so we have left our options open for the moment.

Wings of the Great War

Wings of the Great War has been delayed again, this time until the end of September. Production issues at the factory are being cited, although that could cover anything from labor issues to leaky faucets. Again, we can only go by what we’re being told, so we ask for your further patience until the kinks are worked out and the product hits the supply channel.

Forces of Valor

I know a great many of you are wondering why its taking so long for Waltersons, the new owners of the Forces of Valor brand, to pump out all of the products they claimed were in the offing for a 2018 release. The short and long of it, as far as we can tell, is that they are sticklers for details, a carry over from their bathroom-related business which has helped to pay for the FOV acquisition, new warehouse, labor and tooling, Their intent is to bring the FOV line back to its glory days of 2003-2007, a time when the brand really took off and few could criticize the lengths towards which they were headed to make the very best in diecast military subjects. We all know that many of the former products were hit and miss, particularly in their aircraft line, so redeveloping the tooling to address all of the inaccuracies takes time, research, and most of all, money.

As with their warships line, they are redeveloping the 1:32 scale military vehicle range, adding more metal where necessary to give them more heft and modifying the tooling so each vehicle can boast a removable engine rather than including mundane accessories few cared about. Their goal is to make a top notch range of military themed product and, quite frankly, in an era filled with cheaply made partworks series, we feel they are moving in the right direction. Yes, its frustrating to tell people to hang on a bit longer until product finally makes it to market. Yes, we have loads of unfilled orders that have been languishing on the back burners for months on end. But, the finish line is now within sight, so I think I can speak confidently for the owners and myself that the proof will be in the pudding once you get to see the finished products.

Calibre Wings

As many of you may have guessed, Calibre Wings is being spurred on by a passion we’ve rarely witnessed over the course of our eighteen-year tenure. Noel Lee, its owner, has set about creating a line par excellence, which some times means they run into hiccups along the way, spanning everything from getting the right hue for their upcoming Su-24 Fencers, to making sure every rocket, missile and bomb is included and slung under the right hard point. As a result, they too have run into production issues, moving items backwards and forwards in their release schedule and spending the time to get everything right in spite of demands to hit their release dates like tossing a smart bomb through an office window. Give them some breathing room as they look to carve out their own place in the market and support them with orders because there’s lots more to crow about in 2019.

Modelcollect

Modelcollect continues to churn out an ever staggering array of finished diecast military subjects, spanning everything from “what if” World War II era vehicles to apocalyptic missile launchers. Generally, we receive new items every two months or so based upon our past track record with our supplier so a number of new products are starting to appear that are aimed for a holiday release. Their Fist of War category continues to gather momentum, even if it may not be everyone’s cup of tea. At the end of the day, you certainly have to give them credit for thinking outside the box and offering products no other manufacturer has dared to touch.

Hobby Master

There’s a bit of speculation going on right now regarding Hobby Master, the 800-pound gorilla in the room. As far as aircraft goes, the Company will continue to make 1:72 scale aircraft, but perhaps not in the numbers or subjects that some might feel will do the market justice. Truth is, their 1:72 scale jets far outsell their propeller-driven planes, a fact that has not escaped them, their distributors and, of course, their retailer network. It’s hard to justify making more prop-driven plans when the jets sell out so quickly and rather routinely. Occasionally we shoot the powers that be a message indicating they need to make more F-16s, F-35s, F-22s, etc. simply because we are out of them, while staring at some of the prop-driven shelf warmers for months on end. Frankly, if this was your business, you have to ask yourself where the priorities should lie given stellar sales in one category and lackluster movement in another. So, do expect to see more 1:48 scale prop-driven aircraft going forward, as these are priced right and moving at a clip that far outstrips their 1:72 scale cousins. In fact, the category is doing so well, we wouldn’t be a bit surprised if you start to see more 1:48 scale jet aircraft, picking up where the Armour Collection line once reigned supreme.

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Hobby Master Dons Its Snow Shoes as it Announces Their January Roster

Hobby Master’s 1:72 Scale USN Lockheed-Martin F-35C Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter – VFA-101 “Grim Reapers”, CAG Bird, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, 2013 [Low-Vis Scheme]
While much of the country will no doubt be digging out from heavy snow falls this coming January, Hobby Master has the perfect way to keep you warm and toasty once you make your way back into the house. Earlier this week, the manufacturer announced what’s on tap for the beginning of the new year and, as usual, they have lots to crow about in the diescast military space.

In the air, look forward to shaking hands with their first ever F-35C Joint Strike Fighter (HA6201), which is larger than both the A and B versions and boasts stronger landing gear to deal with violent catapult launches and high-speed captured landings. Also expected are the following:

1:48 Scale German Messerschmitt Bf 109E-3 Fighter – Hans-Joachim Marseille, I.Jagd/Lehrgeschwader 2, Calais-Marck, France, September 1940 (HA8706)

1:48 Scale USAAF North American P-51D Mustang Fighter – 3rd Fighter Squadron (Commando), 3rd Fighter Group, Philippines, 1945 (HA7740)

1:72 Scale USAF Lockheed-Martin F-22 Raptor Air Dominance Fighter – 95th Fighter Squadron “Boneheads”, 325th Fighter Wing, RAF Lakenheath, England, April 2016 [Low-Vis Scheme] (HA2819)

Hobby Master;s 1:72 Scale USAF Lockheed F-117A Stealth Fighter-Bomber – 53rd Test and Evaluation Group, Detachment 1, 53rd Wing, Holloman AFB, New Mexico, 2004

1:72 Scale) USAF Lockheed F-117A Stealth Fighter-Bomber – 53rd Test and Evaluation Group, Detachment 1, 53rd Wing, Holloman AFB, New Mexico, 2004 (HA5804)

1:72 Scale US Navy Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet Strike Fighter – 166957, VX-9 “Vampires”, Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, California, 2018 (HA5109)

Hobby Master’s 1:72 Scale German Sd. Kfz. 7 8-Ton Personnel Carrier / Prime Mover – Winter Camouflage

1:72 Scale) German Sd. Kfz. 7 8-Ton Personnel Carrier / Prime Mover – Summer Camouflage (HG5004)

1:72 Scale German Sd. Kfz. 7 8-Ton Personnel Carrier / Prime Mover – Winter Camouflage (HG5006)

 

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Product Spotlight: Die Luftwaffe Schlachtgruppen

Oxford’s 1:72 scale German Henschel Hs 123A-1 Dive-Bomber – Lt. Kurt Hamann, 3./Schlachtfliegergruppe 50, 1938

One of the most fascinating models ever to grace the Oxford Diecast aviation collection is this German Henschel Hs 123A-1 dive-bomber, which was piloted by Lt. Kurt Hamann, then attached to 3./Schlachtfliegergruppe 50 in 1938 (AC083), just a year prior to the outbreak of war in Europe.The Henschel Hs 123 was a single-seat biplane dive bomber and close-support attack aircraft flown by the German Luftwaffe during the Spanish Civil War and the early to midpoint of World War II. Although an obsolete design, it continued to see front-line service until 1944, and was only withdrawn due to a lack of serviceable airframes and spare parts.

At the start of Operation Barbarossa, the single Gruppe of the Luftwaffe that was dedicated to ground support was II.(Schl)/LG 2, operating 22 Hs 123s (along 38 Bf 109Es). In service use on the Eastern Front, the remaining aircraft had been field-modified with the main wheel spats removed, additional armor and extra equipment fitted as well as mounting extra machine guns and even cannons in under-wing housings.

Some volunteers of Escuadrilla Azul (15 Spanische Staffel/VIII. Fliegerkorps) of JG-27 detached in Luftflotte 2 managed Hs 123s in collaboration of II.(Schl.)/LG 2 units for ground strikes along Bf 109E-7/B fighter-bombers during 1941-42 period.

During the initial drive, the unit participated in action along the central and northern parts of the front, including a brief time in support of the fighting around Leningrad, and participating in the battles for Bryansk and Vyazma. The first weeks revealed problems associated with using the Bf 109E which was plagued by undercarriage and engine problems in the fighter-bomber role. Its liquid-cooled inline engine was also more vulnerable to small arms fire than the Hs 123’s radial.

The word “Vorsicht” or Caution, has been painted along the aircraft’s fuselage

The winter brought hardship to all German forces in Russia, and the pilots in the open cockpits of the Henschels suffered accordingly. Despite this, they took part in the Battle of Moscow. In January, the unit was re-designated as the first dedicated ground attack wing (in German Schlachtgeschwader 1, SchlG 1). The Hs 123 became a part of 7./SchlG 1.

This “new” unit participated in operations in Crimea in May 1942, after which it operated on the southern sector for some time, participating in the Second Battle of Kharkov and going on to take part in the Battle of Stalingrad. In the meantime, the small number of operational Hs 123 continued to slowly dwindle. Aircraft had been salvaged from training schools and even derelict dumps all over Germany to replace losses. The aircraft that had supposedly replaced the Hs 123, the Ju 87, also started to be assigned to ground support units, leaving tactical bombing to newer aircraft.

Look for this aircraft to pounce on enemy ground formations some time in September.

 

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Forces of Valor Revs Up its Engines

Now that we’re getting close to the roll out of Walterson’s revamped Forces of Valor brand, we thought we’d approach things a bit differently. As pictures and information surface, we’re going to be covering them as if they were subjects of their wartime national publications: Signal for the Germans, Pravda for the Russians, and of course, Stars and Stripes for the US arsenal. So, without further ado, here’s our opening installment for our Forces of Valor profile.

Forces of Valor’s 1:72 scale US Army Boeing-Vertol CH-47D Chinook Heavy Lift Helicopter – A Company, 7th Battalion, 101st Airborne Division, Afghanistan, 2003

‘The Chinook is an awesome aviation airframe. It is able to lift single heavy-duty pieces of equipment and light vehicles and is one of the most reliable airframes in service in the entire United States Military. It can lift up to 50,000 pounds and nearly 26,000 can be slung below the helicopter from the center hook. It has redundancy built in that many people did not realize, which makes it a very safe airframe. Each of the huge rotor blades on the Chinook CH-47 weighs 350 pounds, and the engines work together to turn the rotors. Each of the engines work about 50 percent capacity. If one engine fails the other simply goes into high gear, and functions at 100 percent allowing the helicopter to fly just as well as it does with two engines.”

– Military.com 

If you follow their Facebook page, Waltersons has indicated that they are investing heavily in retooling many of the former Unimax Forces of Valor products. Their ultimate goal is to bring each model up to today’s standards, by adding engines and engine compartments, improving the paint wash, and, in the case of the CH-47 Chinook, redoing the front of the helicopter to make it look a bit more realistic when compared with an actual Chinook. This is one of the principal reasons why it has taken the Company so long to bring product to market, as they look to cater to diehard FOV fans and build up a new fan base all of their own.

 

The correct color palette is used for the exterior paint scheme with weathering applied to give it a battle hardened appearance.

The Chinook, which will come in several variations, nationalities and versions, will feature a detailed crew compartment, lowering rear ramp, free spinning rotors and heavy diecast metal throughout.

Lowering rear ramp and a fully detailed interior crew compartment brings this chopper to life!

Likewise, the Company has updated the product packaging, all in an effort to appeal to the many different types of collectors eager to add a Chinook to their aviation collection. The first 1:72 scale Chinooks are expected to land in September, and, best of all, a larger 1:48 scale version, with even greater detail, is already in-the-works, and will hopefully touch down before the year is out.

New packaging discusses each feature and includes information for other products in the series.

 

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Solido Grapples with the Collective in the Helicopter Market

Solido’s 1:72 scale US Army Bell UH-1B Huey Helicopter – Vietnam, 1964

Long a player in the military aviation and armored fighting vehicle market, Solido announced that it was going to give the rotary wing market a go with its first ever model of a helicopter. Scheduled for a September lift off, their first foray portrays a Bell UH-1B Huey utility helicopter as it saw service in Vietnam in 1964 (SOL7200010). Also expected in September is a Lavochkin La-7 fighter, which was pressed into service by the Soviets during their WWII-era struggle with Germany (SOL7200008). Interestingly, no new vehicles were included in the showing, leading several to wonder if more combat vehicles are on the docket for the rest of 2018.

Solido’s 1:72 scale Soviet Lavochkin La-7 Fighter

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