Earlier today, we woke up to check out the various manufacturer web sites we do business with to see if anything new had been posted. Lo and behold, Dragon added six more 1:72 scale Sturmgeschutz III assault guns to its growing lineup of Neo Dragon Armor vehicles. If you’re counting, that makes a total of 16 vehicles now on their ready-for-battle assembly line, including two Cyber Hobby releases that come complete with artificial branches. Any way you look at it, that’s a lot of StuG firepower ready to be unleashed, some looking awfully similar to one another. Keep in mind that there are other StuG III variants likely taking shape on the Dragon drawing board before we even get to the StuG IV assault guns they are sure to produce.
So, we’ll start up our engine and add these six new introductions to our web site later today, holding our breath that Dragon doesn’t have any more planned in the pipeline. Admittedly, we may not stock all of these different versions, since it represents a lot of money having to be tied up in inventory that could be better deployed elsewhere. In any event, its refreshing to see so many versions coming out, we just wish they weren’t all on the starting line at the same time and were released in a more staggered fashion.
We’re happy to report that we received a rather large re-stock shipment of Forces of Valor products earlier this week, which is ahead of our upcoming vacation over the Labor Day weekend. Besides the usual convoy of Tiger I and Sherman tanks, is this M24 Chaffee light tank, a vehicle that was out-of-stock for several months running and one that ably does the Chaffee justice. We’ve filled all of our back orders for this item and have a handful left available, just in case you’re looking to snag the WWII version before we head off to parts unknown.
Another vehicle long unavailable is their Sherman tank with deep wading gear, this one used in the Pacific Theatre of Operations towards the end of WWII. Its a stand out vehicle and one that ably replicates its real-life cousin from top-to-bottom. “White 6”, as its known, was attached to the 713th Tank Battalion, then forcibly invading the island of Okinawa in April 1945.
Both versions of the 1:700 scale HMS Invincible sailed into our home waters as did their MH-47G Chinook, a favorite amongst chopper gearheads and a model that had been unavailable for several years. Its a fine specimen and most will agree its perhaps their best take on the unbiquitous Chinook. Again, we believe this one won’t remain in stock for very long despite us ordering what we think is a healthy supply.
Also, now in stock is their eagerly awaited 1:72 scale take on a USMC Bell AH-1Z Viper attack helicopter. Their inaugural “Viper” was attached to Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 469 “Vengeance” (HMLA-469), which is deployed to Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton, California. The chopper comes complete with a full ordnance load out, a pair of pilot figures, opening engine nacelles and everything else you’ve come to expect from this prolific model maker.
With the holidays fast approaching and demand for FOV products continuing to remain strong, all of these models make perfect gifts for that special someone in your life and ideal center pieces for any military-themed vignette. So, whether it be on land, sea or air, both we and Forces of Valor have got you covered and ready to fuel your passion for combat collectibles.
Looking to complete its pairings of full draught and waterline models, Forces of Valor debuted a single picture of its upcoming waterline version of the US Navy Aircraft Carrier, USS Enterprise (CVN-65), to one of their web sites. While additional images are likely forthcoming, it isn’t clear when the warship will actually sail out of Walterson’s home port and into the diecast sea. So, while we will begin accepting pre-orders for it and the full draught version, don’t expect to see either of the two models until 2025. Please understand that we play no role as to when these items will either be produced or made available through their dealer network, so if you have your heart set on either of these releases, make sure you have lots of blood pressure medication on hand until this model joins their diecast fleet.
In other news, our August shipment of mixed Forces of Valor products showed up this morning, unannounced and without any advance notification. Great way to start off the week. Frankly, it is since we have been out-of-stock of many of these items for months on end. So, we’re in the process of going through the shipment, re-listing items as being back in stock on both our web site and our marketplace sites. We expect to begin shipping out these items on Tuesday.
With costs continuing to escalate for the now suspended US Air Force’s proposed Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) project, I sometimes wonder if it was premature to abruptly end the F-22 production line in favor of committing the bulk of the manufacturer’s resources to the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program. Historians, pundits and aviation aficionados all agree that the F-22 Raptor is an aircraft par excellence, with no equivalent ready to challenge it in the near term despite what some may say. So spending untold wealth on an aircraft still in development that could be outclassed within a decade’s time gives me as well as others pause to consider other viable options still within reach.
Recently, NBC news anchor Lester Holt lent his voice to a new deep-dive video that discusses the improved F-22, dubbed the “Super Raptor“, now taking wing with several USAF squadrons and how it differs from its forerunner. Although outwardly resembling the original F-22, the Super Raptor is packed with all sorts of improvements and enhancements that include advanced avionics, a retrofitted weapons bay capable of handling some of the latest missiles now coming online, and soon external conformal fuel tanks that will extend its range well beyond its intended operating regime, making it a powerful weapons platform capable of conducting a wide array of combat operations, the most notable being air supremacy.
With that, I invite you to watch the accompanying video and take note of the fact that it is not only intended for domestic consumption but for our adversaries too, several of whom may be contemplating turning a cold war hot in the not-too-distant future.
As we await the fate of Forces of Valor latest 1:700 scale warship, HMS Invincible, we stumbled upon this manufacturer-created video that was found on YouTube and designed to show off some of the warships’ unique features. Produced and uploaded three months ago, this is the first video Waltersons, the owners of the Forces of Valor line, has posted to the site in almost three years, one we hope will be followed up by other “docu-advertisements”, which are designed to compare and contrast the warship, aircraft or vehicle in question with its smaller namesake. Waltersons has always done a fine job of showing off its models over the years – we just wish they had informed us they had produced and rolled out a new video so that it can be marketed day and date with the release of the product.
Like their other recently released warships, the HMS Invincible comes in two flavors – one a full draught model, the other a waterline replica that can, if necessary, be used for wargaming purposes. The full draught version sits atop a wood-like display plinth, complete with an etched identification label, while the waterline model comes packaged in a vaccu-formed piece of plastic that resembles an ocean in motion. Both versions of the warship are shown in the accompanying video and, as of August 20th, both models are now in stock and ready for immediate shipment.
Strike Fighter Squadron 103 (VFA-103), nicknamed the Jolly Rogers, is an aviation unit of the United States Navy established in 1952. VFA-103 flies the F/A-18F Super Hornet and is based at Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia (US). The squadron’s radio callsign is Victory and it is assigned to Carrier Air Wing Seven.
In January 1983, VF-103 was among the last fighter squadrons to transition to the F-14A Tomcat. The squadron conducted the first East Coast fighter squadron’s low altitude AIM-54 Phoenix missile shoot a month later. In October 1985, VF-103 and VF-74 participated in the interception of the Egyptian Boeing 737 carrying the Achille Lauro hijackers. During a long range night intercept by VF-74 and VF-103, the 737 was forced to land at Naval Air Station Sigonella, Sicily. The terrorists were taken into Italian custody, tried and sentenced.
VF-103 and the rest of the airwing participated in Operation Attain Document and Operation El Dorado Canyon in the spring of 1986. In 1989, VF-103 transitioned to the F-14A+ (later re-designated F-14B).
In August 1990 when Kuwait was invaded by Iraq, USS Saratoga was in the Mediterranean and soon joined USS Dwight D. Eisenhower in the Red Sea. VF-84 was part of the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) Battle Group during Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm. VF-103 and VF-74 worked together to develop the fighter tactics which were used during the Gulf War. When the war started in January 1991, VF-103 conducted fighter escort for the air wing’s strike packages, reconnaissance and bomb damage assessment and combat air patrols. On the fourth day of the war, while on an escort mission, a VF-103 F-14A+ was shot down by what is believed to be an SA-2 “Guideline” surface=to-air missile. After ejecting from his aircraft, the Radar Intercept Officer, Lieutenant Larry Slade, was captured by Iraqi troops and held in Baghdad as a POW until the end of the war. The pilot, Lieutenant Devon Jones, was able to evade capture and, after eight hours deep in enemy territory, was rescued by USAF Special Operations Forces.
On October 1st, 1995, VF-84 was disestablished bringing an end to the Jolly Rogers. Not wanting the Jolly Rogers insignia to fade away from U.S. NAval Aviation, VF-103 requested to do away with their “Slugger” moniker and adopt the Jolly Rogers name and insignia that had been previously used by VF-84.
Also in 1995, VF-103 conducted the fleet feasibility testing of the US Air Force’s LANTIRN targeting pod in a rapid prototyping initiative that led to adoption of the LANTIRN for the Tomcat community. When they deployed with USS Enterprise in the summer of 1996, VF-103 became the first Tomcat squadron to introduce the LANTIRN targeting pod to operational service. The LANTIRN radically improved the F-14’s strike capabilities by providing an autonomous precision strike capability.
In 1997 VF-103 transferred from USS Enterprise to USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, and set sail to former Yugoslavia in June 1998 in support of NATO operations in Kosovo. In November, the carrier moved to the Persian Gulf in response to aggressive Iraqi posturing.
In June 2002, VF-103 and its carrier USS George Washington deployed to the North Arabian Sea and the Persian Gulf and participated in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Southern Watch. VF-103 supported Coalition forces in Afghanistan flying Close Air Support, Forward Air Controller and TARPS missions. VF-103 was already on their way home by the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom in early 2003.
VF-103 returned to the Persian Gulf for its final Tomcat cruise with USS John Kennedy on July 10th, 2004, and ten days later the squadron bombed an insurgent position. The unit participated in Operation Phantom Fury in October 2004 to provide aerial support over Fallujah for the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force and Iraqi Army soldiers. During one mission an F-14 from VF-103 provided laser designation for an AH-1W Super Cobra helicopter’s AGM-114 Hellfire missile to destroy a building where insurgents had taken cover. This operation had never previously been attempted with a Hellfire, but the missile successfully hit the building, neutralizing the enemy fire that the US troops were receiving. The F-14 crew was ordered to two drop additional GBU-12 laser-guided bombs on the building, leveling the structure. During another mission, air support was requested for Marines fighting on the ground. An F-14 from VF-103 provided close air support and suffered a ruptured hydraulic line. The F-14 declared an in flight emergency and landed without incident at Al Asad Air Base. Repairs took a few days on the base as the starboard engine had to be removed and later the crew flew the F-14 back to the John F. Kennedy.
After a last deployment USS John F. Kennedy with CVW-17 and returning to NAS Oceana in December 2004, VF-103 retired their F-14B Tomcats and began transition to the F/A-18F Super Hornet and transfer to Carrier Air Wing Seven (CVW-7). Following their transition to the F/A-18F, the squadron was officially re-designated as VFA-103 in February 2005.
Recently, we received a double shipment of JC Wings’ latest F-14 Tomcat, which, coincidentally, bears the Jolly Rogers insignia and the reason for this Product Spotlight. While the Skull and Crossbones markings are usually more than enough to help sell an item of this caliber, we decided to lower the price so that we could get back to our normal stock levels. So, for a limited time only, you can purchase this aircraft for only $129.99, and, if you’re crafty, apply any sales discounts we may be currently running. Bear in mind that this is a limited time only sale that could end once we’ve successfully sold off enough of these stellar models.
If you’ve been following the news lately, you’ll know that last week Ukraine invaded Russia near the historically significant town of Kursk, scene of the largest tank battle in history that pitted the forces of Nazi Germany against those of the Red Army. This comes at a time when Russia’s land forces are continuing to apply pressure further south, in a bid to expand their foothold along the eastern flank of Ukraine.
Perhaps because of this, Panzerkampf seized upon this headline and announced the addition of two new Mi-24V Hind attack helicopters to their growing stable of mid-sized rotor craft. Both of the new Hinds bear Russian insignia although its not clear if either of these new choppers were meant to replicate Hinds used to turn back the Ukrainian attacks.
No definite time frame was announced for either of these new helicopters, so we are going to presume they will out be out for the holidays.
We’re issuing an all points bulletin for Hobby Master’s recently released HA9801 as well as their HG0116. In case you’re wondering, the former is a 1:72 scale Israeli Defense Force Dassault-Breuget Mirage IIICJ “Shahak” Fighter – Yoram Agmon, 101 Squadron, Hatzor Air Base, Israel, July 1966, while the latter is a 1:56 scale German Early Production Sd. Kfz. 181 PzKpfw VI Tiger I Heavy Tank – “Red 131”, schwere Panzerabteilung 504, Panzerarmee Afrika, Medjed el Bab, Tunisia, North Africa, April 1943. Apparently, in the hand off from one distributor to the other earlier this year, neither received these models, thereby making them extremely rare on this side of the pond. Its not clear why they never made it over to our shores, and its doubtful they ever will, unless the manufacturer decides to find or make some more. So, if you’re hard up for either model, we suggest you nab them while you can because it doesn’t appear as if any of the US dealers will get them any time soon. Just saying…
Every so often, we get emails asking about lines from the past — lines that seem to come and go in a heartbeat never to be heard from again. Today, we received just such a message, this time around from one of our distributors indicating that a cache of Panzerstahl 1:72 scale military vehicles were uncovered and will soon be winging its way to the US. Bear in mind that only a handful of SKUs were unearthed – most having to do with WWII-era German armored cars, Hetzers and 88mm FLaK guns. Nevertheless, the vehicles are in perfect shape, still in their original packaging and have been long sought after for at least a decade. Keep in mind too that many of these items are no longer available from any other manufacturer, making them all the more special to military diecast collectors.
Its going to take us at least a couple of days to relist all of the SKUs back on our web site, so please bear with us as we put out the construction cones, break out the jack hammers, and breathe new life into this once dormant section. Amazingly, the manufacturer’s web site is still in the ether, making it much easier for us to obtain photos and other pertinent information. Oh, and best of all, the price points haven’t changed all that much since the line disappeared, meaning they’ll likely get gobbled up the moment they hit the streets — for the second time.
We understand how frustrating it can be to place an order only to have to wait months on end for its arrival. That said, we play no part in the manufacture nor the distribution of any of the items we sell. While we may offer advice to several of the major players in the hobby regarding what to produce based upon our prior selling experience, we are simply a retailer based in Florida. We do not visit the manufacturers, many of whom are either located in Hong Kong or Bangladesh. We have no affiliation with any of the manufacturers or distributors we work with despite what some may tell you.
From time to time, we ask the manufacturers and distributors when we can expect to receive an item. If they tell us February, then its February, and we post it to our web site. If it slips to April, only to slip again for several months running, then we update our site accordingly and go from there. Again, we have no control over their inability to properly forecast when an item will return to stock. Sometimes customs can slow down the arrival of a shipment. Sometimes cargo ships get re-routed for whatever reason. Occasionally, a distributor may hold up a shipment so that they can consolidate merchandise with other merchandise that may have just been completed, thereby reducing their shipping costs.
Bear in mind too that this is a relatively small industry as compared to say the toy or video game industry. These are collectibles made in relatively small batches for worldwide consumption and as such are handled by a relatively few distributors faced with their own set of challenges. These aren’t GI Joe figures made in the hundreds of thousands or video games that can be uploaded to Steam then downloaded around the world in the blink of an eye. In many ways, the distribution of said products are handled in the same manner as they were decades ago, shipped to retailers such as ourselves via UPS or FedEx who face their own set of daily challenges that can include inclement weather, work stoppages and traffic issues.
Remember, you are always free to contact the manufacturer and/or the distributor yourself if you feel you are getting the run-around from a dealer. Its 2024, and most of the companies have web sites that include a Contact Us link, where you can message them directly. While some are located in Asia and occasionally their English may need tweaking, these companies make it their business to respond professionally with whatever information is at hand. They want to make you happy but oftentimes they themselves may be working with old or outdated data. Be mindful of the fact that they are 12-hours behind us — or 12-hours ahead of us, depending upon your outlook.
So, as we start to head into the back half of the calendar year, please be mindful of the fact that patience is a virtue and everyone in the supply chain is doing their utmost to get product into your hands in the most expeditious manner possible. Yes, it can be frustrating, but its oftentimes just as frustrating for us as we do our best to provide you with accurate and timely information. Thank you.
