Dissecting Diecast

Dissecting Diecast: The Return of the Golden Age of Diecast


Eaglemoss’ Star Trek Federation Cardenas Class Starship – USS Buran NCC-1412 [With Collector Magazine]

Ask the average collector of diecast military models when the so-called “Golden era of diecast collecting” occurred and they readily point to the early 2000s, when collecting was relatively inexpensive and there were loads of products to choose from. While that may be true to a point, I consider the current era to be equal to or even surpassing that period, largely for a different reason. While pricing for most models has certainly risen over the years, so too has the quality of the finished products we now see coming to market, particularly when it comes to some of the artwork many manufacturers have managed to achieve.

If you disagree, and you are free to do so, consider the following three models as Exhibit A. The Star Trek models produced by Eaglemoss have certainly been a hit-or-miss affair, oftentimes featuring misaligned painting, tattered parts or even missing parts. But when they do hit a home run, it usually comes in the form of a grand slam. Take, for instance, their USS Buran (EMSTDISC07), a special edition Discovery-era starship that features a beautiful multi-hued exterior and a sleek angular design, a far cry from some of the more primitive shapes and schemes seen in some of the original televised episodes.


Corgi’s 1:48 scale German Fokker D VII Fighter – 4649/18 “Seven Swabians” Wilhelm Scheutzel, Jasta 65, September 1918

Then, of course, there’s Corgi’s WWI era 1:48 scale Fokker D VII fighter that sports the famous “Seven Swabians” caricatures adorning the aircraft’s fuselage (AA38906). While they may seem out-of-place for a deadly warplane, they nevertheless showcase some of the talent achieved by the aerodrome artists of the period as well as the craftsmen that have followed in their footsteps 100 years hence.


Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale Japanese Air Self-Defense Force Boeing F-15J Eagle Multi-Role Fighter – JASDF 50th Anniversary Scheme, “Mount Fuji”, 2004

And, if that wasn’t enough to get your heart racing, how about Hobby Master’s upcoming F-15 sporting a delicately created depiction of Mount Fuji ensconced in cherry blossoms (HA4514)? While most collectors seem to gravitate towards operational schemes, its hard to imagine this aircraft doesn’t catch their eye and gets added to even the most crowded shelf space.

Yes, prices have gone up over the years but so too has the work and craftsmanship that goes in to the average model. Golden era? We’ll let collectors decide, as after market prices decide which models are the most sought after and which gathers dust despite their affordable cost.

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Dissecting Diecast: Three Companies Take a Curtain Call for the Holidays


Minichamps’ 1:35 scale German Kampfpanzer Leopard 2A4 Main Battle Tank – Panzerbataillon 33, Luttmersen, Germany, 2007

2019 is shaping up to be an interesting year from a number of vantage points. While lots of new diecast models are waiting in the wings, three ranges are making an encore performance, if you will, retesting the waters at a time when they’re not sure who is responsible for filling up an empty pool.

Minichamps is reintroducing their 1:35 scale military vehicles, taking four of their most popular molds and trotting them out for a new road show. The problem is that none of them have been refurbished or repainted, so if you own them already then, apart from the new Leopard tank (which was cancelled before it hit the streets), then you may not be interested in these rehashes from the past. In terms of metal content, the Minichamps range can’t be beat, but, of course, a bulging waist line comes at a price. Each is now priced at $179.99, a far cry from their original asking price of $100 over a decade ago.

Corgi’s 1:50 scale Captured German Sd. Kfz. 171 PzKpfw V Panther Ausf. A Medium Tank – 4th Battalion Coldstream Guards “Cuckoo”, Netherlands, 1944-45

Next up is Corgi, who have finally decided to bring back their 1:50 scale collection of World War II era military vehicles. Although each has been repainted, thus giving them new life and new meaning, that’s about as much as we’re witnessing here, re-released largely to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings and Battle of the Bulge offensive. Priced at $64.99 each, again quite a bit higher than their original asking prices of around $40 some fifteen years ago, they’ll undoubtedly do well at retail, simply because Corgi is a master at paying homage to battles of long ago.


Forces of Valor 1:32 scale German 88mm Flak 36/37 Anti-Aircraft Gun with Trailer – Deutsches Afrika Korps, El Alamein, North Africa, 1942 [Comes with Seven Crewmen and Rommel]

And finally we have the 1:32 scale range from Waltersons, the new caretakers of the Forces of Valor brand. The first entrant in the repurposed range is their 88mm FLaK gun, this time around painted in a desert sand scheme and bundled with an assortment of crew-served troops. Priced at $79.99, the new AT/AA gun features a milled aluminum gun barrel and even comes with the Desert Fox himself, Erwin Rommel. Its not clear when some of the other retread vehicles will make it to market, since they’ve been shunted back-and-forth onto the front burners like steaks needing to be reheated. No doubt some of the new additions hinted at are even further down the road, as Waltersons looks to re-engineer those vehicles already in the hopper before moving on to tackle new subjects.

As you can see three separate manufacturers honing in on three different scales taking three different approaches to the hobby. Whose strategy will prevail is anyone’s guess as collectors are just eager to own many of these battle hardened vehicles before the snow flies this holiday season.

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Dissecting Diecast: Industry Standards

Occasionally, I feel as if I’m the self-appointed elder statesman of our little hobby. I’ve been in the business for more years than I care to remember, getting my start in the early 80s as a store manager for a local toy chain. I’ve since worn the hat of buyer, salesman, merchandise manager, and, yes, owner, and have witnessed all sorts of comings and goings in the business, some good and some, well, not so good.

Lately there seems to be a disturbing trend of manufacturers not supplying distributors and retailers with the proper information to help sell their merchandise. Now I fully recognize that in many instances there are all sorts of reasons for this issue to occur, from differences in time zones between the US and Asian shores to language barriers. However, its 2019 folks. This isn’t the early 80s where US-based companies went over to China to open a new factory only to discover a litany of hurdles they first had to overcome before they could hit the ground running.

Let’s look at some of the latest irritations I currently see. For some strange reason, one manufacturer likes to show their latest wares on a day-glow green background instead of the traditional white, transparent background. Not only is this the preferred means of showing a new item but companies such as Amazon now frown on any images uploaded that do not meet this criteria. Taking a photo is a relatively simple endeavor. Facebook typically runs a number of ads for inexpensive light boxes, complete with turn tables and tear down instructions. Couple that with a smart phone and voila, you become a photographic tyro overnight. Then, of course, there are the companies that refuse to provide photographs at all, even when the product is finished, all boxed up and ready for transport for all the world to see. That, I simply do not understand. It literally takes just a few minutes to take a handful of winning photographs, which, after spending months developing and producing an item, should be a snap to pull off.

Second, there is the issue of the International Article Number, which are supposed to be included below the vertical bar code to help identify the product. For the uninformed, the International Article Number is a standard describing a barcode symbology and numbering system used in global trade to identify a specific retail product type, in a specific packaging configuration, from a specific manufacturer.

You do not place an SKU here, toss in some baby photos or post a recipe for cream puffs — it is meant for the 12-digit International Article Number, which is designed to identify both the manufacturer and the product code on standardized global terms, so that it can then be properly added to the product portfolio of several leading marketplace venues.

Folks. Chinese New Year is over and I certainly hope this little soapbox rant doesn’t fall on deaf ears now that everyone is back to work and busy working on their 2019 line up. Work with your supply chain to provide the best possible product you can, not only in terms of physical appearance but in terms of background information too. It will help everyone concerned and you may find that it will even lead to greatly increased sales

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Dissecting Diecast: Surviving The Information Game

Having worn several hats in my illustrious career, I can tell you first hand that operating and maintaining a web site devoted to the sale of diecast collectibles is both rewarding and frustrating in the extreme. Its particularly gratifying when we can promote and deliver goods to our customers on even a semi-routine basis, all aimed at putting a smile on your face until the next piece of memorabilia rumbles into view.

On the downside, some people seem to regularly hold our feet to the fire when an item doesn’t get released on time. “I’ve followed your web site daily and you claimed such-and-such was coming out in February!”, said one recent online missive, when the customer learned the item in question that he ordered a year ago was again being delayed. Folks, we rely upon the manufacturers and distributors for information which we then pass along to our customers as quickly as possible. The problem is that this is still a relatively small industry not governed by any set of guidelines or hard-and-fast rules that seem to make any sense, so information that may be accurate on Monday could very well be inaccurate by Friday. Companies routinely provide us with an estimated date of release for a product not knowing that they may run into all sorts of production issues at their end that they didn’t see coming. And, once the product does get finished, amazing as that might seem, Companies seek to ship out their product in the most expeditions manner possible to reduce their operating expenses as best they could. That oftentimes means they hold items until other items are ready to go out at the same time in order to fill a container that is then bound for the US or parts unknown.

Of course once the ship does hit the high seas, there are still a myriad of obstacles it must overcome, covering everything from unexpected customs inspections to weather-related delays, all just to get the product to market in a somewhat timely fashion.

So, once again we are asking for your patience and, dare I say, forgiveness whenever a product doesn’t make it to market as originally advertised. There are all sorts of reasons why an item doesn’t see the light-of-day as originally forecast, so holding our feet to the fire and demanding immediate answers from everyone in the supply chain doesn’t help or provide any respite in times of turmoil. Its a wonderful hobby but one still racked by issues no one has been able to address with any regularity.

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Dissecting Diecast: Which is Better? An Evolution or Revolution?

Hobby Master burst onto the scene way back in 2006, which, for all intents and purposes, might as well be an eon ago in the hobby industry’s time line. Since that time, we’ve kept a careful eye on their progress, marking all of their revolutionary advances with both applause and criticism, taking them to task when an item doesn’t live up to its hype and clapping them on the back when they have exceeded our expectations. However, there are times when they make evolutionary changes, that, quite literally, push the hobby forward and demonstrate their prowess as model makers even if other collectors, critics and model makers might not notice.

Earlier this morning, images were posted for two of their upcoming aircraft: a McDonnell Douglas F-15C Eagle – “75th Anniversary of Oregon ANG” (HA4559) and a Grumman F-14A Tomcat, VF-14 “Tophatters”, 80th Anniversary, 1999 (HA5214). As you can see by the accompanying photos, Hobby Master has demonstrated their ability to tackle some of the more complex camouflage schemes and adornments that other model makers might side step, a clear indication that more intricate artwork isn’t a thing solely left to aftermarket specialists.

In the case of the F-15 (top), look at how they have managed to not only recreate the screaming eagle, but align the tampo printing so that it covers multiple panels below the cockpit. As for the F-14 (bottom), marvel at all of the smaller cautionary signage that appear along the fuselage as well as some of the finer detail and stenciling that went into the wing tips, ventral fin and tail. In a word, bravo!

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Dissecting Diecast: Be Careful What You Wish For

Hobby Master’s 1:700 scale US Navy Ticonderoga Class Guided Missile Cruiser – USS Ticonderoga (CG-47) (1:700 Scale)

We’ve been after certain modelmakers to expand their offerings for a number of years. Some times our calls fall on deaf ears; other times we strike a vein and score the mother lode. Last month, we were tickled pink when we learned that Hobby Master was going to dip their toes in the warship market, giving such stalwarts as Eaglemoss, Forces of Valor, and several others a run for the money, crossing the “T” when they least expected it.

We have since learned that, at least in the case of their first offering, the USS Ticonderoga, the ship can only be displayed in a full draught configuration, meaning no provisions are being made for it to be shown as a waterline model, making it ideal for wargaming. I’m not sure why this decision was made when other modelmakers seemingly have no trouble offering their ships in either configuration. The model carries a $84.99 MAP, meaning, from a pricing perspective, it falls right where it should in the diecast task force. However, from a features stand point, it still lacks a critical punch that could have sunk some foes. Its possible they may elect to amend their decision, considering its not due out until June. They have been known to change their mind on occasion, so here’s one instance we wish they did and give the maritime collector everything they deserve.

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Dissecting Diecast: What we Have, and What we Still Need

Its refreshing to see so many new products coming to market over the past year, many of which I never thought we would see on the diecast battlefield. From Soviet warbirds to German vengeance weapons, “paper panzers” to WWI zeppelins, I don’t think there has been a time when we have seen so many new types of weaponry being modeled for the collecting community. Having said that, there’s still loads of armament to explore in scale and lots of different ways model makers can entice collectors into making space for these new ranges. Here’s a few suggestions for 2018:

  • Modern warships – perhaps offered in the same manner as Eaglemoss Star Trek starships series, I think that a range of modern era 1:1100 scale submarines and surface ships would do exceptionally well at retail, particularly if they were coupled with a full-color magazine that discussed the ship in detail along with behind-the-scenes information presently only available from select sources.
  • Drones – There is no question that drones are taking their place on today’s battlefield and will one day play an even greater role in combat as we progress into the mid 21st century. On the ground, in the air and at sea, drones provide real-time assessments of the enemy’s capabilities, and can take action against threats when other assets may not be available.
  • Experimental Aircraft – Luft-X has already done a remarkable job of bringing into focus some of the Luftwaffe’s secret projects that could very well have turned the war around for the Axis forces in the waning days of WWII. That said, there are still a myriad of aircraft that were on the drawing board from a number of nations that could just as easily become hot-selling items. The question is can Luft-X tackle this subject matter faster than they have to date, or will other manufacturers step in to steal their thunder?
  • The Littorals – We’ve all seen documentaries about the Vietnam War, and the effect the US Brown Water Navy had on the prosecution of the campaign around the Mekong Delta. How many times have you wanted to see some of these low draft ships offered up at scale or, if we dare to dream bigger, some of the E-Boats, PT-boats and other river craft that played a vital role in taking the war to the enemy in the Second World War.
  • Missiles – I’ve often thought that it would be interesting to compare and contrast air-to-air and air-to-ground ordnance from a number of nations around the world. Perhaps offered in a larger scale so everyone can appreciate some of the detail that goes into their construction, I think that a range of post-WWII era guided and unguided bombs, rockets and missiles would sell well. In so doing, a similar range of ICBMs would open the door in a number of respects, particularly as it applies to today’s world of threat and counter threats being deployed almost on a daily basis

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Dissecting Diecast: Weapons of Mass Destruction

 

Germany’s Aggregat series of guided missiles

“To this day, I am convinced that substantial deployment of Wasserfall from the spring of 1944 onward, together with an uncompromising use of the jet fighters as air defense interceptors, would have essentially stalled the Allied strategic bombing offensive against our industry. We would have well been able to do that – after all, we managed to manufacture 900 V-2 rockets per month at a later time when resources were already much more limited.”

– Albert Speer, Reichsminister fur Bewaffnung und Munition (Reich’s Minister for Armamants and Munitions), from his memoir “Inside the Third Reich”

With the advent of PMA’s V-2 long-range guided missile, and the imminent arrival of Modelcollect’s V-1 “Flying Bomb”, we naturally presume that there are additional scale reproductions of weapons of mass destruction waiting in the wings. Towards the end of the War in Europe, the Germans, in particular, were testing a number of advanced weaponry, among them the Wasserfall (“Waterfall”), which was a guided missile based upon the V-2, the Backebo Rocket, a V-2 rocket using Wasserfall radio guidance, piloted V-2s, and, of course, the rest of the Aggregat series of ballistic missiles, all of which were in varying stages of development.

So, the question we had, in light of this recent trend, is what place do these types of advanced weaponry have in a typical diecast collection? Should they garner the same respect and admiration from collectors as a tank or aircraft would cast from the crucible of battle, or, should they be held in a different regard since they are, at best, impersonal means of destruction, that were, in large part, aimed at civilian population centers, designed to bring about the moral collapse of the enemy when other means were no longer deemed possible? What say you?

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Dissecting Diecast: One Giant Leap for Diecast and Mankind

Boeing’s XS-1 (Experimental Spaceplane), which the company dubs “Phantom Express,” got a green light in May by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or Darpa.

With the proposed US Space Corps taking an important step forward this past week by being included in DoD defense spending and potentially formed as a seventh branch of the military, we were wondering how many of you would be interested in collecting scale hypersonic aircraft/space planes currently under development?

Lockheed’s SR-72, a purposed-built replacement for the retired SR-71 Blackbird, has been rumored to be in development for some time, perhaps already taking flight over the Mojave Desert

Several companies and countries are already tinkering with hypersonic flight, many seeing them as weapons delivery platforms that can arrive at their given target within hours of takeoff. If a separate line of scale, diecast hypersonic aircraft were to be produced, perhaps accompanied by a magazine detailing each product much like an Eaglemoss Star Trek starship, would you be willing to create a new area in your diecast collection dedicated to their founding? 

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Dissecting Diecast: The Amazon Effect

There’s no question that Amazon has had a profound impact on the retail landscape in the main and the way in which merchandise is sold across the globe in recent years. Take into account that Amazon now offers same day delivery in some cities, and you can see why many users of the service swear by the etailer, even if they have to pay handsomely for these benefits through their Prime membership.

The problem with instant gratification, if we can call it that, is that people expect to be able to purchase a newly announced item the day and date it hits the wires. In the case of the diecast modeling industry, many items don’t fit the Amazon mold, to borrow a pun, announced simply to gauge consumer interest as a barometer of sorts to see if it pays to morph an idea from concept to production line. Other manufacturers are notorious for taking their time to release an item, oftentimes taking upwards of a year or more before their wondrous creation actually makes it to market. By that time, the average collector may have lost interest in the item, as they are constantly bombarded by competing items or other diversions competing for their discretionary dollar.

For this very reason, some services cast a dim eye towards offering online pre-orders, since it creates a bit of a stir in the market that may not be quelled for months on end. As we move forward towards becoming an omni-channel retailer, able to offer our wares on multiple venues with differing rules and regulations, we just wanted to point out that not all of our products or services will be available on every platform, and that the best source for obtaining product updates and the latest information will continue to be found on our web site.

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