July 2021

This and That for August

As July draws to a close and the back half of the summer slowly slips into view, we thought it best to discuss things as we see them for the balance of the summer and, quite possibly, the balance of the year. To begin with, COVID in the US seems to rearing its ugly head once again, largely due to a lot of people refusing to get vaccinated. I’m going to stay out of the politicizing of the virus, and how both sides of our political spectrum seems to be addressing the issue from rather different standpoints, but suffice it to say I think everyone should get vaccinated. The benefits far outweigh the risks associated with a vaccine developed in record time. Moreover, this country will never fully get back on its feet until and unless we have properly dealt with this pandemic once and for all.

That said, COVID continues to have a dramatic impact on the global supply chain, be it the manufacture of goods in east and southern Asia, port congestion due to the huge influx of consumer goods swamping our ports of entry, and the way in which we have learned to cope with the pandemic for a second year running. Some diecast manufacturers seem to be fairing rather well during this hiatus, continuing to bang out goods in the face of a growing list of unforeseen problems. For instance, Hobby Master seems to be back on track, now that their long delayed May shipment has been finally unloaded and sent out to its distribution network. Their July shipment is still expected the first week of August and, unless something happens to upset the apple cart, it appears as if the balance of their 2021 release schedule should arrive on time and hopefully intact.

Corgi is also doing well, cranking out its fair share of military vehicles and aircraft as originally planned. We haven’t heard of any further delays to their release schedule, although they did notify us recently that they plan to increase prices by 10% on August 1st. As a result, we will be forced to raise prices accordingly, so if you are looking to pre-order any of their second half releases, we strongly recommend you do so now before the price increase goes into effect.

And then there are the rest of the pack of manufacturers we sell, who have, for the most part, been adversely affected by the global pandemic far out of proportion to their size. Some, such as Modelcollect, seem to have abandoned making any more pre-assembled models at least for the foreseeable future, preferring instead to stick with the making of model kits. We’re not certain if they ever plan to return to making pre-assembled diecast products, perhaps getting a better idea as we head into 2022. Others, such as Panzerkampf, seem to be stuck in neutral, announcing a bevy of new products over the last year or so that never seem to make it to market. We still have high hopes that these products will make it to our shores sooner rather than later, but the fact remains that we are still unable to get any clear cut information as to when to expect them.

The balance of the lines we stock have also been affected by the slowdown in the logistical chain, forced, in many instances, to deal with higher material and labor costs, not to mention the huge increase in prices for trans-oceanic shipping. We hope that this problem will eventually subside once the upcoming holiday rush has run its course but its anyone’s guess as to when the issue will be put to bed for good. So, as always, we appreciate both your business and patience as we and everyone else in the business of providing quality diecast collectibles struggle to keep our ships afloat amidst the raging COVID storm. Remember, every little bit helps so do your part by keeping abreast of the latest information and supporting your favorite sources.

Share This:

The Forces of Valor Update: Thing’s are Looking Ship Shape for 2021

Hinted at for over two years, Waltersons, the new owners of the Forces of Valor brand, have finally revealed pre-production images for their upcoming Flight Deck Series. Unlike their 1:72 and 1:48 scale helicopter series or soon-to-street 1:72 scale WWII-era fighter aircraft series, the Flight Deck series is, as its name implies, aimed at portraying the entire flight deck of a Nimitz class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier in 1:200 scale.

Rather than offering the flight deck and its attendant aircraft models as one entire model, Waltersons developed the range so that collectors can acquire and build out the upper deck one section at a time, complete with different aircraft models. Even the carrier’s superstructure is attainable. All told, 12 sections or modules are being created, from the aft of the ship to its stern, which are then locked into place so that they do not come apart if being played upon. Thus far, we do not have a firm release date, so we’re keeping our fingers and arresting gear crossed that they make it under the tree for the upcoming holiday season.

In other news, we’ve learned that Forces of Valor’s first 1:72 scale warbird is expected to make landfall this August. As noted previously, each aircraft comes with a decorative base that resembles a section of an aircraft deck or forward air base. Each model comes with a highly detailed engine and seated pilot figure along with a posable display stand meant to give the illusion of flight.

Share This:

Product Spotlight: The Sukhoi Su-30 “Flanker-C” Multirole Fighter

Hobby Master 1:72 scale Russian Sukhoi Su-30SM “Flanker-C” Fighter – “Red 3”, 31st Guards Fighter Regiment, Zernograd, Russia, 2015

With so much hype surrounding the recently unveiled Sukhoi Su-75 Checkmate Light Stealth Fighter, Hobby Master seized upon the opportunity to show off their latest Sukhoi endeavor.

The Sukhoi Su-30 (NATO reporting name: Flanker-C/G/H) is a twin-engine, two-seat supermaneuverable fighter aircraft developed in the Soviet Union by Russia’s Sukhoi Aviation Corporation. It is a multirole fighter for all-weather, air-to-air and air-to-surface deep interdiction missions.

The Su-30 started out as an internal development project in the Sukhoi Su-27 family by Sukhoi. The design plan was revamped and the name was made official by the Russian Defense Ministry in 1996. Of the Flanker family, the Su-27, Su-30, Su-33, Su-34 and Su-35 have been ordered into limited or serial production by the Russian Defense Ministry. The Su-30 has two distinct version branches, manufactured by competing organisations: KnAAPO and the Irkut Corporation, both of which come under the Sukhoi group’s umbrella.

KnAAPO manufactures the Su-30MKK and the Su-30MK2, which were designed for and sold to China, and later Indonesia, Uganda, Venezuela, and Vietnam. Due to KnAAPO’s involvement from the early stages of developing the Su-35, these are basically a two-seat version of the mid-1990s Su-35. The Chinese chose an older but lighter radar so the canards could be omitted in return for increased payload. It is a fighter with both air supremacy and attack capabilities, generally similar to the U.S. F-15E Strike Eagle.

Irkut traditionally served the Soviet Air Defense and, in the early years of Flanker development, was given the responsibility of manufacturing the Su-27UB, the two-seat trainer version. When India showed interests in the Su-30, Irkut offered the multirole Su-30MKI, which originated as the Su-27UB modified with avionics appropriate for fighters. Along with its ground-attack capabilities, the series adds features for the air-superiority role, such as canards, thrust-vectoring, and a long-range phased-array radar. Its derivatives include the Su-30MKM, MKA, and SM for Malaysia, Algeria, and Russia respectively. The Russian Air Force operates several Su-30s and has ordered the Su-30SM variant as well.

Look for Hobby Master’s inaugural Su-30 to take wing before the end of this year.
Share This:

Anatomy of War: The Sukhoi Su-75 “Checkmate”

Both the Internet and international defense community are abuzz with news that Sukhoi is about to debut a new fifth generation fighter aircraft. Dubbed, supposedly, the Su-75, since its fuselage is emblazoned with the number “75”, the new single-engine aircraft is designed to be a lightweight, low-cost alternative to the twin-engine Su-57 “Felon” now entering low-rate production in Russia, much like the Lockheed F-35 has been developed in the US to work in conjunction with the much more expensive F-22 Raptor. Little is known about the so-called Su-75, which will purportedly be unveiled to the world at tomorrow’s MAKS airshow held at Zhukovsky International Airport in Russia. If the rumors are true, the Su-75 is likely being developed for both the Russian military as well as for certain export customers who are seeking a somewhat less expensive fighter that truly performs as advertised when it comes to exhibiting stealth characteristics. The SU-57, while billed as a stealth fighter, may not be quite as stealthy as Sukhoi claims, in large part due its large exposed engines that give off an excessive heat bloom while in trans-sonic flight.

Share This:

Hobby Master Clears More Aircraft to Buzz the Tower in Early 2022

Hobby Master 1:48 scale German Messerschmitt Bf 109G-6 “Gustav” Fighter – Erich “Bubi” Hartmann, 9./Jagdgeschwader 52, October 1943

As is customary, Hobby Master announced their latest spate of new model introductions right around the middle of the month. While no new toolings were debuted, there were a number of important releases based upon some of their older molds that have taken a back seat in recent months to some of the trendier “darlings of diecast” that seem to have won the hearts and minds of collectors world over. Here now the latest list aircraft expected some time in either February or March:

Hobby Master 1:72 scale JASDF Mitsubishi F-2A Multirole Fighter – 13-8557, 8th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 8th Air Wing, Tsuiki Air Base, Japan
Hobby Master 1:48 scale USAF McDonnell F-4D Phantom II Fighter-Bomber – 66-7733, 480th Tactical Fighter Squadron “The Warhawks”, Phu Cat Air Base, South Vietnam, 1969
Hobby Master 1:72 scale German Eurofighter EF2000 Typhoon Multi-Role Fighter – 30+29, Jagdgeschwader 74, Neurburg Air Base, Germany, 2013
Hobby Master 1:72 scale RAAF Lockheed-Martin F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter – A35-028, Exercise Arnhem Thunder, 2021 [Low-Vis Scheme]
Hobby Master 1:72 scale Israeli Boeing F-15I Ra’am Strike Eagle Multi-Role Fighter – 69 Hammers Squadron, Hatzerim, Israel, 2010s
Hobby Master 1:72 scale Soviet Air Defense Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25PD “Foxbat-E” Interceptor – “Blue 75”, 1979
Hobby Master 1:72 scale US Navy Boeing F/A-18E Super Hornet Strike Fighter – VFC-12 “Fighting Omars”, NAS Oceana, Virginia, June 2021
Hobby Master 1:72 scale US Navy Northrop Grumman E-2C Hawkeye AEW Aircraft – 166503, VAW-120 “Greyhawks”, Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, 2010
Hobby Master 1:72 scale Russian Sukhoi Su-57 “Felon” Stealth Fighter – “Blue 056”, Komsomolsk-on-Amur, Russia, 2016
Hobby Master 1:72 scale US Navy Grumman F-14B Tomcat Fleet Defense Fighter – 163217, VF-103 “Jolly Rogers”, NAS Oceana, Virginia, June 2005
Share This:

Forces of Valor Trots Out its Second Sturmtiger Assault Mortar

Its a bittersweet moment when Waltersons, the new owners of the Forces of Valor line, begins to show off imagery of their newest products. That’s because it oftentimes takes them many months before we can actually put the product into the hands of the collector, who must anxiously wait an eternity to lay claim to the latest 1:32 scale FOV vehicle. Nevertheless, we thought you might like to see the first pix of their next vehicle in the conga line: a late production Sturmtiger assault mortar. Unlike the first vehicle, the second vehicle is clad in a tri-color camouflage scheme indicative of seeing combat towards the latter half of 1944. It also comes with three crewmen who are seen here loading the over-sized ammunition onto the vehicle.

While the manufacturer’s web site claims it will come out in 2021, it could indeed be some time before it makes it to our shores since the distributors responsible for stocking the line must bring in container loads of FOV product to help mitigate the increased cost of trans-oceanic shipping. Still, we thought you might like to see the fruits of their labors and we can only hope that additional imagery of both this vehicle and other long talked about products begin to materialize and hopefully make it under the tree this holiday season.

Share This:

The Russians are Coming, The Russians are Coming

DeAgostini’s 1:43 scale Soviet ISU-152 Self-Propelled Gun – “Liberate Kirovograd”

Leveraging the title of a popular 1960s era feature film, we thought you might like to know that we are, at last, due to receive our first shipment of DeAgostini’s critically acclaimed 1:43 scale military vehicles. As far as we know, the first group of vehicles are based upon some of the more noteworthy Soviet-era battle tanks that were either field tested or produced in the 1940s and 50s. As the series expands, other Cold War era tanks will be incorporated into the line. Later on, this series will encompass vehicles from other nations too, although its not clear if all of the original introductions made available in Europe will make the cut here in the North American marketplace.

Each vehicle comes with a decorative display base with its name etched in Cyrillic markings. They also feature rotating turrets and elevating guns, just like the real McCoys. Priced at just $36.99 apiece, we feel that this series will sell rather well particularly since they are a lot larger than some of their comparable 1:72 scale counterparts that typically sell for around the same price point. The first group of seven vehicles are expected to arrive later in July.

Share This:

When Darkness Falls: An A-10 for the Ages

Earlier this year, one of Hobby Master’s F-16 Vipers, painted up in an ominous dark black scheme to make it resemble a venomous snake, sold out almost as quickly as they came in, an instant hit among collectors and Viper aficionados that have left them clamoring for more. While we await word to see if Hobby Master plans to introduce a second version of this critically acclaimed hit, we learned recently that a USAF A-10 Warthog ground attack aircraft was unveiled in a similarly conceived scheme, no doubt piggybacking off of the success of the “venomous” Viper.

Attached to the Indiana Air National Guard, the so-called “Blacksnake” was created to honor the 100th anniversary of the Indiana Air National Guard (1921-2021). Its certainly a beauty, and represents a marked departure from previous anniversary schemes that typically conjure up images from the past such as the invasion of Europe in 1944. Naturally, we’ve passed along this information to the powers that be and wouldn’t be surprised in the least if Hobby Master and possibly other modelmakers decided to recreate this aircraft as part of their 2022 product roll out. In the meantime, it might be wise to make space in your diecast hangar so that this model can be displayed in all its glory.

Share This: