Looking to beef up their holiday presence while simultaneously paying homage to some of the platforms taking part in the Russo-Ukrainian Conflict, Hobby Master, late last week, announced a wide array of new combat aircraft for the month of November. The list is quite impressive, adding a number of heavily requested items to what is already a daunting product portfolio. Here’s what you can expect to sit along side the turkey this coming Thanksgiving:
Looking to add more firepower across the entire spectrum of military conflicts, Hobby Master announced four more warbirds to its growing list of scale combat aircraft, all due out at varying intervals throughout 2022. By clicking on each line art image, you can then determine its price and estimated arrival date.
Let’s face it. Some of us like to purchase a pre-assembled replica straight out of the box while others prefer to make ’em. Personally, I gave up on modelling in my teens when I realized I didn’t have the expertise, tools or time to build what was clearly being advertised. Nearly fifty years later, poor eye sight, lack of patience and other demands on my time means I’d prefer to ogle the finished product by tearing open the shrink wrap rather than trying to cobble one together.
Fortunately, Waltersons, the new caretakers of the Forces of Valor brand, sees things from both sides of the ledger, offering their customers both finished products as well as build ups, all designed to cater to a wider audience than their predecessors ever envisaged. In fact, earlier today, the manufacturer finally posted images of their first ever 1:32 scale tank: an early production Sd. Kfz. 181 PzKpfw VI Tiger I Ausf. E heavy tank. The pictures clearly show how much metal content is included in the kit, as well as the detail that goes into each and every tank they make, be they finished vehicles or model kits. Presently, no price has been announced for their first kit nor has a definitive release date been provided.
Hobby Master is one of those companies that seems to enjoy soldiering on despite facing many of the same vexing issues that have plagued other model makers over the past year or so. Case in point. October 2022. While other manufacturers haven’t begun to look that far out yet, Hobby Master already has its ducks in a row with a bevy of new introductions ready to grace the harvest table. Of particular note are a pair of Dauntless dive-bombers commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Midway, as well as a 1:72 scale reproduction of an Avenger torpedo plane. Here now what you can expect to lay out along side the pumpkin pie and apple cider later this year:
In an effort to become more nimble in the face of stiffening competition, Corgi unveiled the first of three 2022 product roll outs on its parent web site, Hornby UK. In the past, the Company had shown off their entire annual catalog with one throw of the dice in January, roughly timed to coincide with the London Toy Fair, which oftentimes meant collectors would have to wait an entire year or more to actually lay claim to their prized possession. The new strategy means Corgi can now adjust their release schedule with relative ease, moving some items up and others back in the production pipeline should logistical issues, collector taste and other factors change over the course of a typical year.
Unfortunately, this strategy may have back fired some what as collectors, particularly those in the aviation ranks, were expecting a heavier dose of new introductions for the January-April time frame. Instead of twenty or more new aircraft they were accustomed to seeing, only three new warbirds were shown, none of which were new toolings many a collector had been longing for. As you might expect, this left “many a collector” in the proverbial lurch, feeling as if their requests continue to fall on deaf ears. On the other hand, motorcycle buffs will be happy to learn that Corgi is branching out into bikes with a 1:12 2020 Triumph Scrambler 1200 Bond Edition as seen in the feature film, “No Time to Die.”
Armor aficionados were greeted with a pair of new 1:50 scale tanks: another Tiger I heavy tank based upon a previous late 2021 release and its feared nemesis, a Churchill tank. Together with a robust price hike, we can only conclude that Corgi and its parent company, Hornby, are content to retrench for the beginning part of the year in an effort to deal with rising material costs, logjams in the supply chain, and the outlays associated with the recent acquisition of Oxford Diecast. Moreover, it would appear as if they are content to hold their key projects for later on when they can put their best foot forward with new toolings, important ranges, and other licensed properties that can better justify their new marketing strategy.
Even though they seem to have withdrawn from the military vehicle ranks, Hobby Master remains intent on solidifying its position as the preeminent aircraft model maker. Their September release schedule is chock full of new aircraft, further demonstrating they are in this for the long haul despite rising costs and logistical issues. Here’s whats in store for the aviation aficionado next September:
First there was the Armored Fighting Vehicles of World War II. Then came the Warbirds of World War II. Next, as you might imagine, are the Legendary Warships of World War II. Scaled at 1:1250, this all new diecast range examines some of the most iconic warships of the second world war, from the earliest aircraft carriers to the huge Iowa class battleships. Portrayed with their full draught and sitting atop a handsome decorative base, each battleship features rotating main gun turrets and a highly detailed superstructure. Meanwhile the aircraft carriers come with an equally detailed island as well as a complement of aircraft lining the flight deck. The first five warships are posted to our web site and we anticipate taking delivery in early 2022 with more surface ships to follow. Go Navy!
We’ve been impressed with the manner in which newcomer Panzerkampf has addressed the military diecast market, both listening to advice given and product unleashed. While other manufacturers seem to have fallen off the radar, Panzerkampf has, to date, released a wide array of ground vehicles, aircraft and helicopters that have both been well received and, just as importantly, sold very well.
We’re in possession of their 2022 catalog, which contains a number of new product introductions both on the ground and in the air, along with their first ever foray on the high seas. Unfortunately, at this time of year, we’re still inundated in orders that have to get out over the next few days in order to make the holiday deadline. And, with 2022 looming, other manufacturers are starting to spill the beans on what’s ahead as they look towards the 2022 toy fairs to hawk their latest wares.
Thus far, we’ve been able to list several of Panzerkampf’s newest introductions, including a Pantsir S-1 antiaircraft weapons system, US M1083 medium tactical vehicle and even a Sea King H6 medium lift helicopter. Over the coming days we hope to have the remaining list of new introductions up on our site and available for pre-order. Naturally, we’ll have actual product imagery up on our site in lieu of these line art drawings once they get posted by the manufacturer. So, don’t be alarmed by how few new items have been added just yet since there’s lots more in the pipeline from this prolific manufacturer.
With the holiday shopping season in full stride, Hobby Master seized the opportunity to announce their release schedule for August of 2022, which, as they like to do, covers just about every era and scale they offer up. Of particular note is their first ever Lockheed F-15EX, the latest in a long line of upgraded air dominance platforms in the longstanding and highly regarded series of Eagle twin-engine fighters. While stealth is still of paramount importance to the US Air Force as we head into the mid 2020s, its clear that we still need an effective aircraft capable of carrying a huge load of air-to-air missiles to the FEBA should the stealth aircraft run out of weaponry. The F-15EX, working in conjunction with more stealthy aircraft such as the F-22, F-35 and upcoming sixth generation fighter, fits that bill nicely demonstrating that older air frames still serve a useful purpose on the aerial battlefield. Here now the rest of the August line up:
Over the last few months, we’ve slowly been building out our JC Wings military diecast aircraft section aimed at reflecting some of their newest warbirds looking to take wing. Earlier today, we added a batch of new models that were first announced back in September but, for various reasons, we had to wait until December to list properly. Currently we do not have firm release dates for any of these models, so we are assuming they’ll reach us some time this spring, which of course, could change if the issues with the supply chain haven’t been remedied. Anyway, here now the latest models added to our catalog:
