September 2021

Trick or Treating for October

PMA 1:72 scale German Horten Ho 229 Fighter Bomber [Bonus Pair of Jumo 004 Turbojet Engines]

As September draws to a close, it made sense for us to pause and provide you with our usual monthly recap in order to keep you abreast of the latest developments affecting our release schedule. Late yesterday, we learned that a new shipment of PMA products are en route to us, which includes, among other things, a 1:72 scale Ho 229 bomber. What makes this model different from the already available Luft-X version is that it is made of diecast metal rather than resin and features a pair of Jumo engines embedded within the aircraft. Its a stunning model and serves as PMA’s first foray into the diecast aviation market. No doubt other schemes will eventually come out as is typical of PMA and we’re hoping other warbirds aren’t too far behind, thus expanding their scope and variety. Also in the shipment is their first 54cm Karl-Gerat Mortar, featuring a longer if slightly narrower barrel designed to shoot a projectile a bit further than the 60cm version. All of the PMA Karl-Gerat mortars have sold extremely well and we currently have the five-man crew in stock, a perfect accompaniment to any of their siege mortars.

Also expected to return to stock are several DeAgostini WWII era warbirds, which continue to sell well despite being created exclusively for the Japanese market. When back ordered merchandise start to trickle back in it oftentimes means that the distributor has also received another batch of new warbirds, although word as yet hasn’t surfaced regarding which new models will soon be available.

Hobby Master’s 1:48 scale Finnish Messerschmitt Bf 109G-6 “Gustav” Fighter – “White 0”, Ilmari Juutilainen, MT-451, 1/Lentolaivue 34, Fighter Regiment 3, June 1944

The August shipment of Hobby Master products is now expected in early October as is an Air Force 1 shipment, which hopefully contains a number of items that have been out-of-stock for several months running. Both shipments have been adversely affected by the port congestion issues still plaguing our supply chain even though they have been diverted away from the west coast ports and re-routed through Savannah, Georgia. It remains to be seen if the September Hobby Master shipment will likely be pushed back in light of all of the logistical problems arising ahead of the holiday season.

In other news, we still do not have firm release dates for either Forces of Valor or Panzerkampf, two key lines that have both seen their fare share of trouble in 2021. In the case of Forces of Valor, the manufacturer is once again working with a new distributor so any previous deadlines for the arrival of new products went out the window this past summer. Likewise, its difficult to say when Panzerkampf is expected, since the line is stocked by two different distributors neither of which have concrete information to pass along.

Corgi’s 1:72 scale USAAF Consolidated B-24H Liberator Heavy Bomber – 42-52534, “Witchcraft”, 790th Bombardment Squadron, 467th Bombardment Group, USAAF Station 145 Rackheath, Norfolk, England, January 1945

The next major Corgi shipment is slated for early October, barring any further delays caused by the port congestion. While several models have already seen the light of day in other parts of the world, it seems to be taking the US market around three to four weeks before they too can boast the availability of these models. Most of the other brands we stock seem to be deeply affected by both logistical issues as well as problems associated with COVID. It remains to be seen when these lines will resume operations to pre-pandemic levels, so its unwise to provide any updates until we feel confident the manufacturers in question can truly hit their marks.

As an aside, we are headed back out to Dallas towards the end of October to take the Dallas crew trick-or-treating, a rite of passage for our two daughters and now our five grandchildren. On a personal basis, I believe a holiday such as this enables both the parent and grandparent to truly bond with their kids, making it a more memorable event for both ends of the family unit. So, we will be closed from October 28th until November 1st, and plan to resume business on the second. We’ve also updated our shipping cutoff dates for the upcoming holiday season, which will no doubt be closely scrutinized in the wake of last year’s shipping issues. Anyway, that’s it for now and Happy Halloween!

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Oxford Adds Four New Warbirds to its Frontline Fighters Series

Oxford’s 1:72 scale RAF Boulton Paul Defiant Mk. I Fighter – No.264 (Madras Presidency) Squadron, RAF Hornchurch, England, 1940

A bit unexpected, Oxford announced its intent to bolster its Frontline Fighter series with four more fighters for early 2022. If you’re unfamiliar with the series, Frontline Fighters is a great way to get into collecting model warbirds if you’re on a shoestring budget. They’re also great gifts, particularly for budding warbirds collectors interested in getting in the the ground floor without busting the bank. While they do not come with either interchangeable landing gear or a pilot figure, they nevertheless go a long towards modeling some of the most iconic aircraft of World War II. Here now the four newest fighters destined to come out in early 2022.

Oxford’s 1:72 scale Italian Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana Fiat G.55 Centauro Fighter – Montefusco-Bonet Squadron, Italy, 1944
Oxford’s 1:72 scale German Messerschmitt Bf 109F-4/Trop Fighter – Eberhard von Boremski, 9./Jagdgeschwader 3 “Udet,” Russia, 1943
Oxford’s 1:72 scale USAAF Republic P-47D Thunderbolt Fighter – Capt Daniel Boone, 333rd Fighter Squadron, 318th Fighter Group

Finally, for those of you holding out hope that some of their earliest models would be re-introduced, we’ve learned that Oxford’s first Me-262 Sturmvogel jet fighter, OXFAC007, has made the cut and is expected to return to battle in early 2022.

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Hobby Master Adds More Sharp and Pointy Things to its May Schedule

Hobby Master 1:48 scale German Messerschmitt Bf 109E-7 “Emil” Fighter – “Yellow 1”, 6./Zerstorergeschwader 1 “Wespen”, Libya, 1942

Apart from a handful of 1:48 scale Messerschmitt Bf-109s and a pair of 1:32 scale Grumman F6F Hellcats, it would appear as if Hobby Master is content to keep releasing jets as part of its overall strategy to maintain equilibrium well into 2022. For May, for instance, even more jets are in the offing according to their latest announcement, with no sign of any inter war era prop-driven aircraft or 1:72 scale ground vehicles anywhere in sight. Even new toolings seem to have slowed down, in favor of adding more familiar aircraft collectors have been requesting over the last several months. This isn’t necessarily a knock against the Company – just an observation that they seem happy of late to maintain a conservative release schedule replete with jets that sell out month-after-month both here and around the globe. Be that as it may, here’s a list of what you can expect to see hit the tarmac this coming May:

Hobby Master 1:72 scale US Navy Northrop F-5N Tiger II Fighter – 761557, VFC-111 “Sundowners”, Naval Air Station Key West, Florida, November 2020 [Aggressor Scheme]
Hobby Master 1:72 scale US Navy Northrop F-5N Tiger II Fighter – 761554, VFC-111 “Sundowners”, Naval Air Station Key West, Florida, 2021 [Aggressor Scheme]
Hobby Master 1:72 scale US Navy McDonnell F-4H Phantom II Fighter-Bomber – 148423h, Test Pilot CDR John Watts Young, Project High Jump, April 1962
Hobby Master 1:72 scale US Navy McDonnell F-4H-1 Phantom II Fighter-Bomber – 148390f, VF-74 “Bedevilers”, USS Forrestal (CVA-59), 1962
Hobby Master 1:72 scale USAF General Dynamics F-16C Viper Fighter – 96-0080, 480th Fighter Squadron “Warhawks”, Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, 2020
Hobby Master 1:72 scale USAF Convair F-102A Delta Dagger Interceptor – 61363, 196th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, 163rd Fighter Interceptor Group, Van Nuys, California, 1970s
Hobby Master 1:72 scale USMC Boeing F-18A Hornet Strike Fighter – VMFA-314 “Black Knights”, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, 2019
Hobby Master 1:72 scale USMC Lockheed-Martin F-35C Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter – VMFA-314 “Black Knights”, June 2019 [Low-Vis Scheme]
Hobby Master 1:72 scale Japanese Air Self-Defense Force Mitsubishi F-15DJ Eagle Multi-Role Fighter – 92-8068, JASDF Aggressor, 2013 [Aggressor Scheme]
Hobby Master 1:72 scale Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force Grumman F-14A Tomcat Fleet Defense Fighter – 82nd Tactical Fighter Squadron, Esfahan/Shahid Beheshti International Airport, Iran, 1987
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Solido Makes a Curtain Call

Solido 1:48 scale US M2 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle – “Nasty Boyz”, Operation Desert Storm, 2001

If you missed out on some of Solido’s recently released 1:48 scale military vehicles, take heart. Apparently sales were brisk enough to warrant a second production run, this time around, each bearing the familiar unit insignia and national markings of the US armed forces. Seven items are expected by the end of the year, including an M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles as well as a 105mm M101A1 howitzer, which as served as the backbone of our artillery branch for the better part of five decades. We’ve opened the pre-order window for each of these new items.

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The Forces of Valor Update: “Lest We Forget”

Forces of Valor’s 1:48 scale USMC Bell AH-1W “Whiskey” Super Cobra Attack Helicopter – “Never Forget”, Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 267, Camp Pendleton, March 2012

While the timing of the announcement has come under scrutiny on Facebook, Waltersons decided to use the 9/11 backdrop as a means of showing off their latest endeavor: a 1:48 scale USMC AH-1W “Whiskey” Helicopter. Flown by Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 267, which was based at Camp Pendleton, California, during March 2012. The low-vis attack helicopter features artwork inspired by the events of 9/11 on the sides of the fuselage, which includes, among other things darkened images of the twin towers and its attendant New York skyline, along with what looks to be a viper coiled for striking, hence its sobriquet.

Forces of Valor 1:48 scale USMC Bell AH-1W “Whiskey” Super Cobra Attack Helicopter – “Final Flight of the Whiskey AH-1W”, Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 167 “Warriors”, Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, December 2012

According to the manufacturer, the USMC helicopter, along with a second chopper that was operated by Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 167 “Warriors”, are expected to be completed by the tail end of October, although with shipping delays still plaguing our ports, it could be another couple of months before they actually make it to market here in North America. Still, its nice to see the manufacturer is making a concerted effort to get product out the door and into the hands of collectors despite all of the issues facing the global supply chain.

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The Forces of Valor Update: Shermans March

Thirteen Sherman variants are scheduled to eventually come out, beginning with these four vehicles

Back in late 1864, General William T. Sherman famously marched his Union troops through Georgia in an attempt to cut the Confederate forces in two and, in so doing, sew terror in the South’s populace and devastate its’ logistical network. Waltersons, the new owners of the Forces of Valor brand, is looking to achieve much the same results in the military diecast community with their first group of 1:32 scale M4 Sherman tanks. You may remember that Unimax, the previous owner of the FOV brand, released several M4A3 Sherman tanks several years ago, re-using a single mold over and over again for a variety of replicas. While this strategy certainly reduced manufacturing costs and sped up the release schedule, it was far from perfect, since it meant that collectors were essentially getting a “one-size-fits-all” medium tank that was both historically inaccurate and worse boasted less metal content with each ensuing release.

An M4 Sherman “Jumbo” tank boasting an elongated turret and more powerful main gun intended to go toe-to-toe with the German Army’s heavier battle tanks

Waltersons, well aware of the problems facing the original set of Unimax Shermans, have been hard at work revamping the original tooling — by not only increasing the vehicle’s metal content — but by making each of the many Sherman variants truer to form with their historical counterparts. To that end, the Company has made a number of different turrets, guns, adaptives and even suspension systems, all designed to give collectors what they have been politely demanding for almost twenty years. As can be seen in the accompanying photo, each model has been faithfully produced, including, but not limited to, travel locks for the main gun, entrenching utensils, hull and bow machine guns and even opening hatches just like the real things. Its not clear how many Shermans will make it to market by the close of the year given the current congestion issues still plaguing many of our nation’s ports, but suffice it to say that eventually these and other variants are in the works, meaning there will be no shortage of Allied armor set to storm our shores for the foreseeable future.

In other news, the Company has decided to split its 1:700 scale warship line into two segments: one designed to continue its legacy of making full hull capital ships while a separate segment is aimed at the wargaming community who are looking to recreate different naval engagements using waterline ships. Right now, several warships are slated to set sail in early 2022, including reworked versions of the USS Enterprise, the USS Missouri, IJN Yamato and the RN Invincible, and its a good bet that other previously released warships in the FOV armada will be similarly sent to the naval yards for a complete refit.

Finally, although the manufacturer did share with us some images of their 1:32 scale early production Tiger I tanks, they did ask us not to divulge them for now since they are still being worked on for technical accuracy, changes to the road wheels and other important facets of the vehicle endemic to its version. Suffice it to say we will pass along factory approved photos for all the world to see once the Company is satisfied that they have met all of their design goals and feel confident they can deliver a stunning replica that is both heavy in the hand and meticulously researched.

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USPS Suspends Service to Australia

While we were away on vacation we learned that the USPS has temporarily but immediately suspended all package service to Australia. According to a USPS blog post, the suspension is due to COVID-19 transportation cancellations and restrictions. Any shipments currently en route to Australia are being turned around and returned to the sender. Its not clear when service will be resumed to Australia and whether or not this suspension will affect other nations going forward. Previously, the USPS suspended service to other nations, among them Malawi, Mayotte and Liberia, as well as Afghanistan although service suspension to and from Afghanistan is largely due to the pull out of US troops and other assets from the country.

You may remember that apart from Canada we temporarily suspended ALL international shipments earlier this summer for different reasons but are willing to explore the issue once again in early 2022 should we feel that the global pandemic has changed for the positive. We apologize for having to take these measures and hopr you understand that some things are beyond our control.

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