A release schedule has surfaced on one of the forums purportedly showing the build dates for many of the upcoming Forces of Valor products. Presently, this schedule hasn’t been confirmed by the manufacturer nor has our North American supplier any knowledge of its authenticity. Still, it looks somewhat official, so we are tentatively going to use it to map out the anticipated arrival dates for their 1:32 scale military vehicles as well as their 1:700 scale warships. We will hold off on some of the aircraft and helicopters for now. We’ve added sixty days to the supposed “ready” dates shown on the schedule to arrive at our tentative release dates. In all likelihood, that’s a bit optimistic based upon previous experience, so please don’t hold us to these dates since they could very well change as the year unfolds. You can view the schedule here: FOV Release Schedule
Incidentally, no word as yet concerning any of the newly tooled 1:32 scale vehicles so we are assuming they have all been pushed back into 2020.
Note: I’ve been told that the link we provided will not work if you aren’t a member of the forum in question. So, rather than ask you to join the site, we’ve updated our web site to reflect the “anticipated” dates of release for each item in the FOV military vehicle, warship, helicopter and aircraft lines. There are still several items up-in-the-air, if you will, and as the schedule moves further out, expect these dates to require some revision.
As we continue to wait for the Forces of Valor 88mm FLak gun to arrive, there appears to be some progress in the 1:32 scale queue. Earlier today, the manufacturer provided details concerning their second release – a British M4A4 Sherman Firefly Mk. VC medium tank. Based on a vehicle that served with the 24th Lancers, 13th/18th Hussars, 8th Armoured Brigade, the repurposed vehicle now comes with a Chrysler A57 Multi-Bank Engine that fits inside a reworked hull, retooled tracks to make them easier to roll, and a better paint job, making it a fitting addition to the Forces of Valor pantheon of combat vehicles.
The Sherman Firefly was a World War II
British variant of the American Sherman tank, fitted with the powerful
British 17 pounder anti-tank gun as its main weapon. Originally
conceived as a stopgap until future British tank designs came into
service, the Sherman Firefly became the most common vehicle with the 17
pounder in World War II.
Though the British expected to have their own new tank models developed
soon, British Major George Brighty championed the already-rejected idea
of mounting the 17 pounder in the existing Sherman. With the help of
Lieutenant Colonel Witheridge and despite official disapproval, he
managed to get the concept accepted. This proved fortuitous, as both the
Challenger and Cromwell tank designs experienced difficulties and
delays.
After the problem of getting the gun to fit in the Sherman’s turret was solved, the Firefly was put into production in early 1944, in time to equip Field Marshal Montgomery’s forces for the Normandy landings. It soon became highly valued as the only British tank capable of defeating the Panther and Tiger tanks it faced in Normandy at standard combat ranges. In recognition of this, German tank and anti-tank gun crews were instructed to attack Fireflies first. Between 2100 and 2200 were manufactured before production wound down in 1945.
Waltersons, the new caretakers of the Forces of Valor brand, claims that the vehicle run should be completed by the end of April, meaning it will still take several weeks before it arrives here in North America. We have therefore tentatively fixed its arrival for June, appropriate for it marks the 75th Anniversary of the D-Day landings..
Eaglemoss’ Star Trek Federation Cardenas Class Starship – USS Buran NCC-1412 [With Collector Magazine]
Ask the average collector of diecast military models when the so-called “Golden era of diecast collecting” occurred and they readily point to the early 2000s, when collecting was relatively inexpensive and there were loads of products to choose from. While that may be true to a point, I consider the current era to be equal to or even surpassing that period, largely for a different reason. While pricing for most models has certainly risen over the years, so too has the quality of the finished products we now see coming to market, particularly when it comes to some of the artwork many manufacturers have managed to achieve.
If you disagree, and you are free to do so, consider the following three models as Exhibit A. The Star Trek models produced by Eaglemoss have certainly been a hit-or-miss affair, oftentimes featuring misaligned painting, tattered parts or even missing parts. But when they do hit a home run, it usually comes in the form of a grand slam. Take, for instance, their USS Buran (EMSTDISC07), a special edition Discovery-era starship that features a beautiful multi-hued exterior and a sleek angular design, a far cry from some of the more primitive shapes and schemes seen in some of the original televised episodes.
Corgi’s 1:48 scale German Fokker D VII Fighter – 4649/18 “Seven Swabians” Wilhelm Scheutzel, Jasta 65, September 1918
Then, of course, there’s Corgi’s WWI era 1:48 scale Fokker D VII fighter that sports the famous “Seven Swabians” caricatures adorning the aircraft’s fuselage (AA38906). While they may seem out-of-place for a deadly warplane, they nevertheless showcase some of the talent achieved by the aerodrome artists of the period as well as the craftsmen that have followed in their footsteps 100 years hence.
Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale Japanese Air Self-Defense Force Boeing F-15J Eagle Multi-Role Fighter – JASDF 50th Anniversary Scheme, “Mount Fuji”, 2004
And, if that wasn’t enough to get your heart racing, how about Hobby Master’s upcoming F-15 sporting a delicately created depiction of Mount Fuji ensconced in cherry blossoms (HA4514)? While most collectors seem to gravitate towards operational schemes, its hard to imagine this aircraft doesn’t catch their eye and gets added to even the most crowded shelf space.
Yes, prices have gone up over the years but so too has the work and craftsmanship that goes in to the average model. Golden era? We’ll let collectors decide, as after market prices decide which models are the most sought after and which gathers dust despite their affordable cost.
Minichamps’ 1:35 scale German Kampfpanzer Leopard 2A4 Main Battle Tank – Panzerbataillon 33, Luttmersen, Germany, 2007
2019 is shaping up to be an interesting year from a number of vantage points. While lots of new diecast models are waiting in the wings, three ranges are making an encore performance, if you will, retesting the waters at a time when they’re not sure who is responsible for filling up an empty pool.
Minichamps is reintroducing their 1:35 scale military vehicles, taking four of their most popular molds and trotting them out for a new road show. The problem is that none of them have been refurbished or repainted, so if you own them already then, apart from the new Leopard tank (which was cancelled before it hit the streets), then you may not be interested in these rehashes from the past. In terms of metal content, the Minichamps range can’t be beat, but, of course, a bulging waist line comes at a price. Each is now priced at $179.99, a far cry from their original asking price of $100 over a decade ago.
Corgi’s 1:50 scale Captured German Sd. Kfz. 171 PzKpfw V Panther Ausf. A Medium Tank – 4th Battalion Coldstream Guards “Cuckoo”, Netherlands, 1944-45
Next up is Corgi, who have finally decided to bring back their 1:50 scale collection of World War II era military vehicles. Although each has been repainted, thus giving them new life and new meaning, that’s about as much as we’re witnessing here, re-released largely to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings and Battle of the Bulge offensive. Priced at $64.99 each, again quite a bit higher than their original asking prices of around $40 some fifteen years ago, they’ll undoubtedly do well at retail, simply because Corgi is a master at paying homage to battles of long ago.
Forces of Valor 1:32 scale German 88mm Flak 36/37 Anti-Aircraft Gun with Trailer – Deutsches Afrika Korps, El Alamein, North Africa, 1942 [Comes with Seven Crewmen and Rommel]
And finally we have the 1:32 scale range from Waltersons, the new caretakers of the Forces of Valor brand. The first entrant in the repurposed range is their 88mm FLaK gun, this time around painted in a desert sand scheme and bundled with an assortment of crew-served troops. Priced at $79.99, the new AT/AA gun features a milled aluminum gun barrel and even comes with the Desert Fox himself, Erwin Rommel. Its not clear when some of the other retread vehicles will make it to market, since they’ve been shunted back-and-forth onto the front burners like steaks needing to be reheated. No doubt some of the new additions hinted at are even further down the road, as Waltersons looks to re-engineer those vehicles already in the hopper before moving on to tackle new subjects.
As you can see three separate manufacturers honing in on three different scales taking three different approaches to the hobby. Whose strategy will prevail is anyone’s guess as collectors are just eager to own many of these battle hardened vehicles before the snow flies this holiday season.
