October 2024

The Art of War: The Fujian Aircraft Carrier

Its no secret that China has sought to bring the island-nation of Taiwan to heel and eventually back into the fold of the Communist-led mainland. The crisis began way back in 1949 when then ruler Chang Kai-Shek and his Nationalist Army were forced to flee the mainland by the pursuing Chinese Communist Army once they realized that they could no longer defeat the Communist forces under the control of Mao Tse-Tung.

The situation remained in stasis for the past 75 years largely because the Communists weren’t strong enough to attempt a forcible invasion of Taiwan. Over the last few years, however, as the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has continued to gain strength through an unprecedented build up of both its sub-surface and surface assets, the Chinese have gone on record to indicate that it will take back the island, by force if necessary. With this goal in mind, they have gone so far as to acquire a former Soviet-built aircraft carrier from Ukraine in 2012, all in an effort to learn the basics of naval aviation. Since then, the PLAN has steadily developed its own nascent force of home-grown aircraft carriers, first by funding, building and launching the Shandong class of steam-driven carriers and now a more sophisticated class of carriers, capable of launching aircraft through a cutting edge Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS), and known simply as the Fujian.

Recently, two YouTube analysts took up the issue of the soon-to-be-deployed Fujian and how it both compares and contrasts with the more robust Gerald R. Ford class of aircraft carriers the US has been building and launching over the last few years. The results of their analysis are sobering, even for the most ardent critics, who have repeatedly warned the West of the growing influence the PLAN has been exerting in the Western Pacific. While both analyses are lengthy, we invite you to watch the accompanying videos to form your own impression of what we could be up against should a shooting war erupt in the not-too-distant future.

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Just Because You Can, Doesn’t Mean You Should

In our 25 years or so of doing business online, I’ve seen some strange things but I think this one takes the cake. Earlier today Panzerkampf announced that they were planning to bring back their highly successful MH-53 Sea Dragon medium lift helicopter. Priced at just $99.99 a copy, that’s a pretty good bargain considering its track record, size and overall quality. The catch? Well, for some odd reason they plan to offer a squadron’s worth of alternatives to choose from. In the case of their dark blue chopper from Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron 15 “Blackhawks”, five different versions will take to the diecast skies this January. Their light blue helo from Helicopter Combat Support Squadron 4 “Black Stallions” will see five versions as well and five birds will put in an appearance with Helicopter Combat Support Squadron Sixteen “Vanguard”. That’s fifteen helos in total, in case you weren’t counting, all expected at the same time.

Why the manufacturer feels the need to make so many different versions is anyone’s guess. Granted, only 100 pieces of each version are being made for an international audience, so they will likely go fast, at least at the wholesale level. At the retail level, that’s a completely different matter. These are big burly choppers that take up a lot of room even for a relatively larger diecast seller that can sell them across a fairly wide number of e-commerce platforms. Whether or not this will become a pattern for Panzerkampf remains to be seen. I, for one, don’t think its a great idea but what do I know. Enjoy!

We’re going to handle the sale of these helicopters a bit differently than in the past. As we run out of a particular model, we will automatically fill each order with a helicopter from the same squadron but with a different identification number. In the case of the “Blackhawks”, if we run out of “White 05”, for example, then we will fill the order with a helicopter from the same squadron but with a different identification number. We will NOT be re-ordering these models after we have exhausted our stock of a particular model. Frankly, they take up a lot of room and tie up a lot of inventory dollars plus we have no way of knowing if Panzerkampf will be applying this strategy to future releases. Please be mindful of this process if you have your heart set on a particular model and supplies at our end start to dwindle.

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The Art of War: “A Human in the Loop”

Military World has posted an intriguing yet informative video discussing BAE’s Atlas unmanned combat system. Atlas, which stands for Autonomous Tactical Light Armour System (ATLAS) Collaborative Combat Variant (CCV), could well become one of the first unmanned combat systems to be fielded by a major combatant, although no nation has yet to sign on to the program. Interestingly, it doesn’t appear as if Australia, where the Atlas is being developed, will serve with the Australian Army. This could change should the Atlas prove its worth against and alongside crewed combat systems.

While Atlas is being created to operate without a crew, nor is it intended to ferry troops into battle like a traditional infantry fighting vehicle, it is being designed from the ground up with a “man in the loop”, meaning a human operator must first identify enemy troops, drones and aircraft within range of the vehicle before firing, thereby reducing the likelihood of fratricide. Its not clear if Atlas will eventually see service with Ukrainian forces in their war against Russia, thereby giving the system a chance to prove its value alongside a myriad of crewed combat systems.

For more information on Atlas, visit the manufacturer’s web site at BAE Systems.

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Enter the Japanese (Literally and Figuratively)

Reports from the 62nd All Japan Model and Hobby Show are indicating that Dragon Models plans on expanding their 1:72 scale Neo Dragon Armor range with the addition of several Japanese armored fighting vehicles. From what we can make out in the accompanying image, it appears as if both the Chi-Ha medium tank and Ha-Go light tank will make the cut. Its a good bet Dragon Models will round out the assortment with the inclusion of the Ka-Mi amphibious tank.

We didn’t see any signs of the 1:35 scale tanks hinted at some time ago so its a fair bet that they are still a ways off or pulled from the showing for competitive reasons. With Panzerkampf’s recent announcement that they are getting into the 1:35 scale AFV market it could be a situation where Dragon wants to see Panzerkampf’s initial offerings, price points and overall quality before they themselves commit to making a formal announcement regarding their own 1:35 scale vehicles. Interestingly, Waltersons, the owners of the Forces of Valor line, was not in attendance so its difficult to say what they themselves have waiting in the wings in terms of 1:32 scale combat vehicles.

Unfortunately, its difficult to make out some of the other new products shown at the expo from this or some of the other photos Dragon uploaded to Facebook, so we will have to wait and see what our distributor has been told following the show’s conclusion. Keeping their cards close to the vest is nothing new for Dragon. With competition heating up from Forces of Valor, Panzerkampf and quite possibly Hobby Master if they decide to jump in, it makes sense to closely guard their product pipeline like a rooster standing sentry duty over the hen house.

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Tales of Transparency: eBay International Shipping

Ebay will soon be expanding their international shipping service to those countries we may not have serviced in the past. While we may not ship to certain countries around the globe, eBay feels that they have more clout when it comes to international shipping and is willing to protect both the seller and the buyer should problems arise, thereby reducing the so-called “friction” that can occur with an international sale.

Essentially, after the buyer has made a purchase, we are responsible for boxing up the item then shipping it to their international shipping hub in Chicago. Upon its arrival, the parcel may get inspected by eBay to ensure that it doesn’t contain hazardous material and that the item arrives intact and without any damage. Afterwards, it is then sent on to its final destination with tracking information provided to both the buyer and seller. Naturally, it may take a bit of time before it actually arrives at the buyer’s stated location. Please note that this service will begin on November 11th. The accompanying video, prepared by eBay, does a fine job of explaining the service in greater detail.

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Its Notional not National

Its no secret that Hobby Master has been dabbling in the notional or “what-if” market of late, producing aircraft schemes that aren’t exactly grounded in historical accuracy. An Egyptian Su-35 and digitally clad Ukrainian F-16 spring to mind, the latter doing extremely well at retail even if it isn’t based upon an actual aircraft. But when they decided to do a Japanese F-22 Raptor, I had to do a double-take, not sure what to make of the surprising offering. My understanding is that the F-22 is so super-secretive that the DoD has deemed that it will never be offered to any other nation, much less our closest of allies who have been chomping at the bit for a cutting edge fifth general fighter aircraft.

According to their latest sales literature, the Japanese F-22 is being billed as a “pseudo scheme”, whatever that may mean, and I think that even Hobby Master will acknowledge that it’ll never actually see the light of day with any Air Force other than the USAF. Moreover, even if it did see service with the JASDF, it almost certainly wouldn’t be painted in a so-called “sea camouflage” pattern as shown here, which defeats the whole purpose of being low observable and could quite possibly interfere with the aircraft’s radar absorbent coating.

Finally, there’s a reason why the F-22 made the cut as a fifth generation aircraft, and its a closely guarded secret that few will ever get to lay their mitts and eyes on. Still, speculation on the look and likelihood of the F-22 seeing service with the JASDF is just that, provided, of course, that the manufacturer feels as if there’s a large enough market that will accept something into their collection that will never come to fruition. Personally, I’m a big fan of the many incarnations of the F-22 produced to date so seeing an all-blue one with Japanese insignia may not be as hard to swallow as some of the other speculative schemes I’ve ogled over the last few years.

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Dragon Plows Ahead

One of the most successful offerings produced by Dragon under their Neo Dragon Armor sub brand has been their extensive line of M1 Abrams tanks. While the Abrams may be dated from a historical standpoint, eclipsed by other more recently developed AFVs as well as the US Army’s latest variant, the M1A2 E3 Abrams, the vehicle has, nevertheless, done very well at retail in all of its many forms and versions. It therefore comes as no surprise that Dragon would return to the diecast killing field yet again by planting an Abrams tank equipped with, what else, a mine plow.

Two versions will be made available — one replicating an M1A2 SEP painted in a desert sand motif with its plow configured in a travel mode while the other portrays an older M1A1 AIM in a tri-color camouflage pattern with its plow shown in a plowing mode. Its entirely possible that other vehicles will eventually be added to the mix, as is customary with this manufacturer, so if you have your heart set on other versions you may want to stay abreast for further developments.

The Plow, better known as a Mine Clearing Blade, is a supplementary piece of equipment necessary for the M1A1 Main Battle Tank to breech minefields during routine operations. It is electrically operated, and is capable of clearing surface or buried mines up to 6 feet in front of the tank’s path without the aid of supporting forces or additional equipment. The system’s track-width mine plows can clear 42 inches on each side of a path as well as magnetic-fused mines between them with the Improved Dogbone Assembly. In loose sand, the plows can operate at a rate of 30 km/h. The maximum safe operating speed for this system is at least 10 miles per hour.

Look for both vehicles to breach the diecast defensive belt in early 2025.

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