June 2025

The Forces of Valor Update: Waltersons Creates a New Strike Package

Its been a while since we had any news to report from the Waltersons camp, particularly when it came to new aircraft. While we do have some news to report it isn’t based on new aircraft — rather rehashes of previously released models formerly under the Unimax marque.

According to their updated web site, the Company plans on reintroducing several 1:72 scale jets that have been long out-of-production, this time around coupled with a section of flight deck/ runway to give them a more robust look so they can better compete with models made by other manufacturers. Based upon what we can see, collectors can look forward to a pair of F-15E Strike Eagles and a lone F-14 tomcat. The new aircraft carry a selling price of $99.99, making them excellent alternatives to models fetching $150 or more in the marketplace. Its not clear if any further enhancements or improvements will be made to the toolings and whether or not these models will make it to market in time for the holiday rush.

Also alluded to on their blog page is a new Sherman Firefly medium tank as well as a couple of “Easy Eight” Shermans that are, in effect, new models that haven’t been produced to-date. Before you get your hopes up we do want to warn you that these new models could potentially carry a much higher price tags than some of their recently produced tanks, perhaps upwards of $200 if you believe the scuttlebutt going back-and-forth on a Facebook fan page. We’re not sure why the manufacturer has been continually raising the price on their military vehicle series other than to take into account the tariffs being applied to China should ongoing negotiations with our current administration and trade representatives for the PRC fail completely.

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“Sister. You have a Sister”

Anyone steeped in Star Wars lore knows the meaning of this casually said yet iconic line, first uttered by Darth Vader mid way through his confrontation with son, Luke Skywalker, in the feature film The Empire Strikes Back. Interestingly, it also has some bearing on today’s military diecast market now that Hobby Master has officially announced the second Northrop YF-23 fifth-generation fighter, the so-called “Black Widow II”.

Formally designated as the YF-23A, the first aircraft (serial number 87-0800), Prototype Air Vehicle 1 (PAV-1), was rolled out on June 22nd, 1990. PAV-1 took its 50-minute maiden flight on August 27th with chief test pilot Alfred “Paul” Metz at the controls. The second YF-23 (serial number 87-0801, PAV-2) made its first flight on October 26th, piloted by Jim Sandberg. The first YF-23 was painted charcoal gray and was nicknamed “Spider”. The second prototype was painted in two shades of gray and nicknamed “Gray Ghost”. PAV-1 briefly had a red hourglass painted on its ram air scoop to prevent injury to ground crew. The red hourglass resembled the marking on the underside of the black widow spider, further reinforcing the unofficial nickname “Black Widow II” given to the YF-23 because of its 8-lobe radar cross section plot shape that resembled a spider and as homage to the Northrop P-61 Black Widow of World War II. When Northrop management found out about the marking, they had it removed.

According to their latest literature, Hobby Master claims that we can expect the “Black Widow II” towards the end of the year, largely dependent upon the tariff situation with Bangladesh, where Hobby Master products are made. Word from our distributor is that the first YF-23 is pre-selling exceptionally well, so we anticipate sales of the second version to be as strong if not stronger largely due to its sinister appearance. As a guess, both models were on the assembly line simultaneously to take advantage of any cost savings associated with producing two models at the same time rather than in piece-meal fashion. If that is the case, we expect images of the second model to be forthcoming, perhaps over the summer.

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Legion Pays Tribute to the Flying Tigers

Earlier today we learned that Legion will be offering their take on the P-40 Warhawk fighter. Built by Curtiss, the P-40 was employed in China during the early stages of the country’s war with Japan, taking on the cream of the Japanese Air Forces with slower, less nimble and some would say outdated aircraft. Operated by US pilots looking to both help out China and earn some cash in the process, the American Volunteer Group, as it came be known, performed well in combat despite flying against more capable Japanese aircraft that were flown by skilled Japanese pilots. Later, when the US became embroiled in World War II, many of these very same pilots were called upon by the Department of War to leave the Flying Tigers, head home and serve with the fledgling United States Army Air Corps who badly needed veteran pilots of their own.

Modeled in 1:72 scale, four aircraft will make the cut, all bearing the distinctive shark mouth nose insignia that became the hallmark of the Flying Tigers. Currently, the P-40s are slated to roll out this September, however, with the tariff war still looming, its entirely possible they could be delayed.

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