We’ve been in business for nearly twenty years and I cannot recall a time when there were so few new product introductions being made mid way through the month. While Hobby Master has yet to announce their roll call for the month of May, and Eaglemoss has been mum of late regarding new product announcements, several manufacturers have seemingly gone dormant of late or showed their hand and intentions months ago at the last round of Toy Fairs held at the beginning of the year.
My guess is that a lot of companies have decided to take a cautious stand in recent months largely due to the trade war we are now facing with mainland China. While some spokespeople — including our own president — remain hopeful, continuing to present a rosy picture even in the face of stalled negotiations and Chinese reciprocity, its becoming increasingly clear that the business world has begun to take a dim view of the proposed tariffs, which will now affect our industry as early as June.
Its difficult to say how or even when this situation will play itself out since there are many factors to consider and several points of view that coalesce to form the overall picture. Its also a question of saving face at this point as neither side wants to be seen as giving in to the other, even if their case and cause seems justified despite the collateral damage created in its wake. So, we’ll keep our fingers crossed that this issue gets resolved to everyone’s satisfaction, and the flow of goods and new product announcements resumes unabated all aimed at keeping this hobby alive and vibrant for years to come. Lets hope this current trade war ends up as a scuffle and not a full-blown conflict with no resolution in sight and the business world doing its best to stay apace.
According to Tabletop Wire, our industry could soon be affected by the proposed increase in tariffs with mainland China announced on Friday. After a series of failed trade negotiation meetings with the Chinese government, President Trump approved an increase in tariff fees to 25%. Moreover, he decided to place these fees on products already affected by the tariffs as well as a number of new product categories that our country imports from China. Under section 9503.00.00 of the proposed new tariff rules, diecast collectibles, which falls under the heading of toys, subheading reduced scale models, will be affected by the hike although hearings must first be held on June 17th to determine any issues with these proposed hikes. If passed, the tariff could go into effect as early as June 24th.
As an aside, some of the manufacturers we deal with are still located in China so these tariffs will obviously have an impact on the selling price of their goods going forward. Many will likely alter their production schedule should order reductions and/or cancellations ensue. Other manufacturers, in the wake of higher labor costs in recent years, have already moved their operations elsewhere, most notably to Bangladesh, Vietnam and other countries along the Pacific Rim, and will therefore not be affected by these proposed changes. We will keep everyone abreast should we have to increase the price of certain items/lines once these tariffs go into effect.
Keep in mind that the US and China are still negotiating a trade deal according to both United States Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin, although the Chinese may decide to delay action until after the 2020 presidential election. Should a deal be concluded, however, then these hikes will likely be removed almost immediately. Bear in mind too that although our president continually claims that the Chinese are paying for these tariffs, the added costs are, in fact, born by US importers, who must then pass along these added hikes to everyone within the supply chain and ultimately to the consumer.
Forces of Valor’s 1:24 scale radio controlled US Pershing heavy tank and US M1A2 Abrams main battle tank
According to recent reports, it would appear as if Waltersons is resuming its radio controlled business in a big way for 2019. First off, it looks as though they will be bringing back several of their sold out 1:24 scale models (Tiger I, Sherman and Panzer IV) and hopefully have them ready for the all-important fourth quarter. To bolster their lineup, they also plan to re-introduce their long sold out M26 Pershing heavy tank and ressurect their Abrams mold, this time around making it an updated M1A2 variant and painting it in a tri-color camouflage scheme. At some point, it would be nice if they offered a T-72 or T-80 main battle tank, thereby giving it something to fight against in a head-to-head competition.
Their long-awaited 1:16 scale T-72A tank is finally in the works, with no fewer than three versions headed our way. The first introduction in their newly-acquired line of VS Tanks
And speaking of T-72s, Waltersons is finally showing off its long-discussed 1:16 scale main battle tank, which will reportedly come in three versions, each aimed at three different market segments. Pricing and actual dates of release should be revealed shortly, so keep an eye out for further announcements as they, well, roll in. Sorry…
Even though it appears as if their ground offensive has stalled by several months, that hasn’t prevented Corgi from initiating their 2019 aerial attack on the world at-large. Four new aircraft are currently winging their way to us and should be ready for shipment to our clientele by the third week of May. In no particular order, here’s what you can look forward to adding to your aviation arsenal in just a couple of weeks:
Corgi’s 1:72 scale German Heinkel He-111H-16 Medium Bomber with Fi 103 (Doodlebug) – A1+HK, 2./Kampfgeschwader 53 ‘Legion Condor’, Air Launch V-1 Flying Bomb Unit, Late 1944
When World War I ended, the German Air Force was disbanded under the Treaty of Versailles, which required the German government to abandon all military aviation by October 1st, 1919. However, by 1922, it was legal for Germany to design and manufacture commercial aircraft, and one of the first modern medium bombers to emerge from this process was the Heinkel He 111, the first prototype of which an enlarged, twin-engine version of the single-engine mail-liaison He 70, which set 8 world speed records in 1933 flew in February of 1935. The second prototype, the He 111 V2, had shorter wings and was the first civil transport prototype, capable of carrying 10 passengers and mail. The third prototype, He 111 V3 also had shorter wings and was the first true bomber prototype. Six He 111 C series airliners were derived from the fourth prototype, the He 111 V4, and went into service with Lufthansa in 1936, powered by a variety of engines, including BMW 132 radials. The first production models had the classic stepped windshield and an elliptical wing, which the designers, Siegfried and Walter Gunter, favored. That said, AA33716 is a German Heinkel He-111H-16 Medium Bomber ferrying a Fi 103 (Doodlebug) under its fuselage. It was attached to 2./Kampfgeschwader 53 ‘Legion Condor’, an Air Launch V-1 Flying Bomb Unit operating during the latter half of 1944.
Corgi’s 1:72 scale German Messerschmitt Bf 109G-6/U2 Fighter – “White 16”, 1./Jagdgeschwader 301, July 1944 [75th Anniversary of the D-Day Invasion]
Numerically the most abundant fighter produced by either side during WWII, the Messerschmitt Bf 109 formed the backbone of the Jagdwaffe on both the eastern and western fronts, as well as in the Mediterranean and North Africa. Of the eight distinct sub-types within the huge Bf 109 family, the most populous was the G-model, of which over 30,000 were built between 1941-45. Despite its production run, only a handful of genuine German Bf 109s have survived into the 1990s, and with the serious damaging of the RAFs G-2 at Duxford in October 1997, only the German-based MBB G-6 and Hans Ditte’s G-10 (both composites) are currently airworthy. AA27108 replicates a German Messerschmitt Bf 109G-6/U2 Fighter known as “White 16”, that was attached to 1./Jagdgeschwader 301 during July 1944. Note that it is part of Corgi’s 75th Anniversary of the D-Day Invasion collection.
Corgi’s 1:72 scale RAF Hawker Typhoon Mk. Ib Ground Attack Aircraft – MN625/MR-B, No. 245 (Northern Rhodesian) Squadron, Homesley South Airfield, Hampshire, June 1944 [75th Anniversary of the D-Day Invasion]
The Typhoon was a British single-seat strike fighter, produced by Hawker Aviation starting in 1941. Intended as a replacement for the Hawker Hurricane in the interceptor role, it suffered from performance problems, but eventually evolved into one of World War II’s most successful ground attack aircraft. AA36512 depicts a RAF Hawker Typhoon Mk. Ib Ground Attack Aircraft that was attached to No. 245 (Northern Rhodesian) Squadron, then deployed to Homesley South Airfield, Hampshire, England during June 1944. Note that it is part of Corgi’s 75th Anniversary of the D-Day Invasion collection.
The Handley Page Halifax was one of the British front-line, four-engine heavy bombers of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. A contemporary of the famous Avro Lancaster, the Halifax remained in service until the end of the war, performing a variety of duties in addition to bombing. The Halifax was also operated by squadrons of the Royal Australian Air Force, Royal Canadian Air Force, Royal New Zealand Air Force and Polish Air Force. AA37209 represents a RAF Handley Page Halifax B.III Heavy Bomber known as “Expensive Babe”, that was attached to No.51 Squadron, then deployed to Snaith, England, during March 1945.
