August 1, 2022

Tales of Transparency: No Let Up at the Ports

As August unfolds, we thought we’d ask each of our distributors if things are improving as far as imports go. Apparently, not very well. We already reported how one distributor is expecting no less than three monthly Hobby Master shipments all around the same time, meaning lots to go through once the shipments finally do go out the door. Conversely, another distributor has said that one container they have been awaiting has been sitting in the Port of Long Beach for six weeks, mired in red tape and waiting to be placed aboard a freight train before it can reach their warehouse several hundred miles away. The list of imperiled goods goes on and on and right now things are looking much the same as they did in mid-2021, where containers expected for months on end are still languishing at the ports waiting to either be shipped via truck or freight train to their ultimate destinations. So, while the media has reported that consumers have been shifting their discretionary spending away from tangible items and over to experiential activities such as vacations and travel, the slowdown in the logistical network is once again beginning to affect the supply chain both here and abroad. It remains to be seen if both the ports and transport network will be able to get back on track in time for the coming holiday season. We hope so and will continue to monitor this slowdown each and every month from here on out so that we have a clearer understanding of which items will be available for Christmas shopping.

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Calibre Wings Does the Hustle(r)

While we have temporarily discontinued stocking the Calibre Wings line of military aircraft, we thought it still made sense to cover them as if we did. Of late, the Company has come under fire from some of its most vocal critics, who delight in lambasting them on every conceivable issue, from quality control to licensing. While we are not going to agree or disagree with some of the online comments posted to their Facebook account, the point of this blog post isn’t to throw more fuel on the fire. Rather, it is designed to point out some of their positive achievements, which includes not only what they have brought to market thus far but what’s ahead from this rising star in the diecast community.

By now, most of you are no doubt aware that the Company has a MiG-31 “Foxhound” in the works, which can still be pre-ordered direct from the manufacturer and is currently listed as a 2023 release. What you may not know is that they are also working on their long-promised if oft delayed Convair B-58 Hustler, a supersonic bomber that saw yeoman service with the USAF during the Cold War. While the mold is still being finalized and pre-orders are not yet being taken by the manufacturer, they did take time out to cobble together this short video which discusses their labor-of-love. Enjoy and don’t forget to support your favorite manufacturers any way you can! BTW, Noel Lee, the owner of Calibre Wings, has hinted that the retail price of the B-58 could be as high as $300, although its likely he will offer it at a far lower price on Kickstarter, a crowdfunding site, for a limited time only. The Hustler is an iconic Cold War aircraft that helped to form the backbone of our so-called Triad nuclear response for several decades. As such while it may be expensive vis a vis other diecast aircraft, we feel confident that Calibre will do it justice and thus represent a worthwhile investment.

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