January 2025

The Forces of Valor Update: Zzzzzzzz

We’re a few days away from the start of the Nuremberg Toy Fair, which most insiders agree is the venue where new product announcements are made. Thus far, Waltersons, the owners of the Forces of Valor brand, hasn’t privately discussed what’s in store from them for the 2025 calendar year, even though they’ve posted loads of new items to their multiple web sites. Why they have multiple web sites as opposed to one all-encompassing site is perhaps a topic for another time but suffice it to say that they seem reluctant to provide details on a wide range of yet-to-be-released items that they’ve hinted at for over two years running.

I know they purchased Greenlight Collectibles more than a year ago and that it has taken up much of their time. Its no easy task getting a new company to perform like clockwork. Heck, that’s a given. Greenlight gives them entree into an assortment of big box retailers from Walmart to Target whereas Forces of Valor has had to stick its nose and well-worn shoe in the door of these very same retailers to maintain any sort of presence. Let’s face it, war toys just doesn’t ring up at the cash register like they used to. But frankly that isn’t enough of a reason to leave their dedicated base of customers in the lurch for an extended period of time. Its been well over two years since they posted anything to their Facebook account and I’m not even certain if they are responding to collector inquiries, much less willing to draw back the curtains on what’s new.

That said, we’re hoping they are about to turn a corner and face their critics who have repeatedly asked if anything new is in the wings. If they don’t do so in 2025 I’m afraid they’re going to lose quite a few ardent supporters and witness the selling of more FOV collectibles by people who have moved on to other segments of the hobby. We’ve been a vocal supporter of the line too but are starting to wonder if that backing needs to be toned down in favor of other branches and manufacturers within the hobby. Its up to Waltersons to indicate if they plan on shedding light on what’s to come or are content to leave things the way they are. That would be a sad affair but ultimately their way of saying goodbye to their bread-and-butter range that to date has paid handsome dividends for both themselves and their retail network.

Update: Yesterday, we stumbled across this photograph from the Nuremberg Toy Fair that clearly shows both the Greenlight Collectibles booth playing host to the Waltersons Forces of Valor range. Only a handful of new products were being shown including their upcoming re-release of the USS Enterprise aircraft carrier, Ferdinand tank destroyer and a few other items we cannot accurately discern. Their soon-to-be-released line of 1:64 scale military vehicles are likely integrated within their Greenlight showcase, so there’s no point in discussing them any further. While its encouraging to see that Forces of Valor hasn’t dropped out-of-sight its a bit disappointing to see nothing new was being debuted in a public manner.

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Panzerkampf Says, “Its no Mirage”

When Panzerkampf shows off a new model, they tend to do it in a big way. Yesterday, we learned that they have not one but six different versions of their upcoming Dassault Mirage III interceptor in the hopper, all lovingly festooned in accurate markings and insignia. Currently we are awaiting pricing and release information to flesh them out so we’ll refrain from opening them up for pre-order on our web site. With Toy Fair right around the corner, it shouldn’t be too long before we obtain their background information and pricing so that we can begin accepting pre-orders.

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Oxford Continues to Fight World War II

Back when they were first announced in 2011, fourteen 1:72 scale aircraft were debuted with the promise that no new re-paints would ever be offered. Some fourteen years later, we’re now up to 128 releases, several of which have been pumped out over and over again to justify the cost of the initial tooling. Be that as it may, this British-based manufacturer recently added four new models to the line and will likely continue to produce more re-paints for the foreseeable future now that they are no longer under the Hornby umbrella.

Frankly, it will likely take Oxford some time before they can offer new tooling due to the fact that their owners paid a considerable price to take them private. On the plus side many of their introductions can still be had for around $30, while comparable models from other model makers are now two and oftentimes three times that price. So, if you don’t mind waiting or collect on a budget, then Oxford still offers excellent value for the price. Here now the four new models expected over the course of 2025.

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Calibre Wings Does the Hustle(r)

Its been a couple of years since we heard anything from Calibre Wings regarding their oft-promised Convair B-58 Hustler bomber. There’s all sorts of reasons for the delay but suffice it to say that the owner seems to finally be prepared to share news of their upcoming project now that its entering its final phase of prototype development..

The Convair B-58 Hustler, designed and produced by American aircraft manufacturer Convair, was the first operational bomber capable of Mach 2 flight. The B-58 was developed during the 1950s for the United States Air Force (USAF) Strategic Air Command (SAC). To achieve the high speeds desired, Convair chose a delta wing design used by contemporary interceptors such as the Convair F-102. The bomber was powered by four General Electric J79 engines in underwing pods. It had no bomb bay; it carried a single nuclear weapon plus fuel in a combination bomb/fuel pod underneath the fuselage. Later, four external hardpoints were added, enabling it to carry up to five weapons.

The B-58 entered service in March 1960, and flew for a decade with two SAC bomb wings: the 43rd Bombardment Wing and the 305th Bombardment. It was considered difficult to fly, imposing a high workload upon its three-man crews. Designed to replace the subsonic Boeing B-47 Stratojet strategic bomber, the B-58 became notorious for its sonic boom heard on the ground by the public as it passed overhead in supersonic flight.

We’ve contacted Calibre Wings to express our desire to stock their B-58 provided its well within our selling regime. Thus far, Calibre hasn’t discussed pricing, dates of availability, packaging, and shipping costs from China to the US, in part due to the Trump administration’s willingness to place hefty tariffs on incoming goods from much of Asia to the United States and, in particular, the PRC. So, while we would love to stock and sell this model, it may be impractical due to higher-than-normal costs and the increasingly hostile relationship currently occurring between the US and China. As I’ve mentioned in a previous Tales of Transparency blog post, some things are simply out-of-our-control and could actually impede your ability to acquire this model should you choose to purchase this model from a US-based retailer rather than direct from the manufacturer. In any event, we will stay in touch with Calibre once they have a better idea regarding the ultimate costs associated with bringing this model to the US.

A video compendium showing the development of the Calibre Wings B-58 Hustler through the years:

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Panzerkampf Takes it to a New and Better Protected Level

Its a fair bet that few people saw this one coming. While they’ve built a great reputation for modeling several of the world’s current crop of military vehicles, the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle is one of those subjects that was likely shunted to the back burner until Panzerkampf could tackle some other more pressing projects.

The Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV), known and marketed under Oshkosh development as the L-ATV (Light Combat Tactical All-Terrain Vehicle), is a light utility/combat multi-role vehicle. The Oshkosh-developed JLTV was selected for acquisition under the US military’s Army-led Joint Light Tactical Vehicle program. In the very early stages of the program it was suggested that JLTV would replace the AM General High Mobility Multi-purpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) on a one-for-one basis. It is now suggested that the JLTV will partially replace the HMMWV.

The L-ATV was designed to deliver a level of protection comparable to that of heavier and less maneuverable Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) class designs, these having more protection from blast than up-armored HMMWVs which they were delivered to replace on deployed operations.

Recently, Panzerkampf decided to show off imagery of their prototype JLTV, bereft of any markings or camouflage schemes. Better images showing more complete insignia will almost certainly come in the weeks to come. Its not clear when these vehicles will be turned out for sale of their purchase price. So, hang in there a bit more as we await word on further product information.

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Corgi Shows Off its Early 2025 Launches

Looking to kick things off for 2025, Corgi showed off a wide range of upcoming products that are due out in the first half of 2025. Rather than attempting to steal the spotlight and keep everyone at bay for hours on end, we thought you might like to watch their user-created video which covers everything in the hopper from this prolific manufacturer. Enjoy!

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The YF-20 Takes Shape

Even though its still several months away from lifting off for the diecast skies, Hobby Master showed off images of its upcoming Northrop YF-20 Air Dominance Fighter. Meant to portray the so-called “Gray Ghost”, their inaugural replica is based upon Prototype Air Vehicle 2 (PAV-2), which underwent rigorous analysis and fly-offs against the YF-22 by the 412th Test Wing, based out of Edwards Air Force Base in California during 1990. While the first set of images do not reflect the aircraft’s markings and insignia, it does give everyone a sense of the fit and finish that is lovingly going into the product.

The second YF-20, perhaps due out by year’s end, will almost certainly be based on the PAV-1 test aircraft, and its a good bet that the third model, likely due out in early 2026, will be based on a notional aircraft flown by the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force. Amazingly, the YF-20 is still being considered by the Japanese as a viable fifth-generation aircraft bereft of certain cutting edge avionics and other super-secretive developments to keep them out of the hands of certain adversaries and even a few allies.

Thus far, the YF-20 looks superb, with no unseemly joins, heavy-handed panel lines, or noticeable differences between the replica and the aircraft it portrays. The model looks true-to-form in virtually every aspect and even some of the most ardent rivet-counters are beginning to take notice and recognize its uncanny appearance to the real aircraft. Once the markings and insignia get applied, the YF-20 will likely become the de facto winner in the annual modelmaking awards.

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Tales of Transparency: Meta

At this year’s Consumer Electronic Show (CES) held in Las Vegas last week, Meta (a.k.a. Facebook) indicated that they had struck an agreement with eBay to host their listings on its Facebook Marketplace. Here’s a brief synopsis of the announcement.

“Shares of eBay closed up 9% on Wednesday as Meta said it will allow some listings to show up on Facebook Marketplace, its popular platform connecting consumers for local item pickups and more.

EBay stock reached its highest level since November 2021.

The rollout will begin with a test in Germany, France and the United States, where buyers will be able to view listings directly on Marketplace and complete the rest of their transactions on eBay, Meta said in a release.

The partnership could provide a boost to eBay’s marketplace business, which has struggled to compete with e-commerce rivals like Amazon, Walmart, Temu and even Facebook’s own marketplace platform that lets users buy and sell items.

EBay has recently embraced niche categories like collectibles and luxury goods to try and keep buyers and sellers returning to its site. CEO Jamie Iannone told CNBC in an October interview that shoppers were coming to the site, known for its used and refurbished goods, as they sought out discounts amid a rocky macroeconomic environment.

Meta’s move is an attempt to appease the European Commission, the executive body of the European Union, after the regulator fined the company 797 million euros ($821 million) in November for tying its Marketplace product to the main Facebook app.”

Curiously its not clear when this arrangement will take effect, whether or not eBay will share part of its commission with Meta and which listings will be shown on Meta’s far-reaching platform. Thus far, we are awaiting information from both companies concerning further details that will undoubtedly impact our business. According to the announcement, a test phase will be introduced that will enable buyers from the US, Germany and France to be able to view and purchase our products, although its not clear if special overseas shipping rates will be integrated into the system. We are assuming that parcels bound for international destinations will first be sent to eBay and then on to the customer. Its highly doubtful that anything will be sent to Meta. Moreover, arbitration and returns will likely be handled by eBay should a problem develop and messaging between the parties will almost certainly be handled through eBay rather than have Meta get involved.

With the announcement, rumors began circulating online that Meta was interested in purchasing eBay outright as a means of keeping up with certain dominant players in the e-commerce sector. If so, this would have a dramatic impact on the reach and selling capabilities Facebook has long sought to bring to its platform. It would also create a viable revenue stream that made use of both Instagram and What’s App in increasing their overall appeal, reach and marketing power.

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The Art of War: Bombs Away

Looking to maintain its place in today’s headlines, the Chinese PLAAF recently showed a video of its Xi’an H-20 stealth bomber. Resembling both the USAF’s B-2 Spirit and B-21 Raider stealth bomber, rumors concerning its development have persisted for several years, although it wasn’t until this past weekend that actual footage surfaced of the aircraft’s maiden flight.

According to The War Zone, “The U.S. military says it still does not expect China’s long-awaited H-20 bomber to make its “debut” – unclear if this means its entrance into operational service or just its emergence publicly – until sometime in the next decade. Earlier this year, the People’s Liberation Army Air Force’s (PLAAF) deputy commander was quoted as saying the unveiling of the aircraft, at least, would be coming “soon.” There have been reports for years now that the bomber, expected to be a stealthy flying wing design broadly reminiscent externally of the U.S. B-2 Spirit, could be about to break cover.

“A general assessment of the state of the H-20 bomber program is included in the U.S. military’s latest annual report to Congress on Chinese military developments. The Pentagon released an unclassified version of the report today, which also says that the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is still developing a stealthy medium-ranged bomber referred to in the past as the JH-XX.

“The PLAAF is seeking to extend its power projection capability with the development of a new H-20 stealth strategic bomber, with official PRC state media stating that this new stealth bomber will have a nuclear mission in addition to filling conventional roles,” the report states. “The PLAAF is developing new medium- and long-range stealth bombers to strike regional and global targets.”

“The PRC is developing a new generation of long-range bombers, likely named the H-20. The H-20, which may debut sometime in the next decade, will have a range of more than 10,000 km [nearly 6,214 miles], enabling the PLAAF to cover the Second Island Chain and into the western region of the Pacific,” another section of the report says. “The H-20 bomber’s range could be extended to cover the globe with aerial refueling. It is expected to employ conventional and nuclear weaponry and feature a stealthy design.”

The Second Island Chain mentioned here refers to an area of the Pacific to the west of a boundary stretching between Japan and eastern Indonesia and includes the U.S. territory of Guam. The remarks here about the H-20 are also largely identical to what the Pentagon included in its China report last year.”

Most analysts agree that the unveiling of both the H-20 bomber and several smaller sixth generation aircraft are designed to strike fear in the hearts of their adversaries even though it isn’t clear if any of these new aircraft measure up to their western counterparts. Still, it does demonstrate progress on multiple fronts should a cold war turn hot in the mid 2020s.

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Tales of Transparency: Tariffs

With President-Elect Trump set to take office later this month, its unclear how his assumption of power will affect certain segments of the business world that currently import products from China. As part of his electioneering and political campaign, Trump had repeatedly promised to place a tariff on certain countries that he believes take advantage of the United States. China is one such country Trump has targeted, claiming they are ripping off our intellectual properties and underselling US-based companies for years on end.

Many of the companies that we do business with are located in mainland China so it doesn’t take a genius to realize that said companies will undoubtedly be adversely affected by tariffs. Many companies could see as much as a 60% charge levied against them unless the Chinese government decides to play ball with the US. Other companies we do business with are located in Bangladesh and Mexico so its unclear if these companies will be affected by tariffs or by how much.

One of our distributors has already indicated that they will be passing along any additional charges they may incur to their clientele until the tariffs have either been scaled back or removed entirely. If this occurs, we will make an announcement indicating that the pre-order price for such-and-such line will be increased, then pass along these costs to our own clientele in line with the revised MAP. We’re sorry to have to make this announcement and/or increase the price for certain lines but hope you understand that we play no role in these potential cost increases which could take effect later this month.

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