As is customary, Hobby Master announced their latest spate of new model introductions right around the middle of the month. While no new toolings were debuted, there were a number of important releases based upon some of their older molds that have taken a back seat in recent months to some of the trendier “darlings of diecast” that seem to have won the hearts and minds of collectors world over. Here now the latest list aircraft expected some time in either February or March:
Leveraging the title of a popular 1960s era feature film, we thought you might like to know that we are, at last, due to receive our first shipment of DeAgostini’s critically acclaimed 1:43 scale military vehicles. As far as we know, the first group of vehicles are based upon some of the more noteworthy Soviet-era battle tanks that were either field tested or produced in the 1940s and 50s. As the series expands, other Cold War era tanks will be incorporated into the line. Later on, this series will encompass vehicles from other nations too, although its not clear if all of the original introductions made available in Europe will make the cut here in the North American marketplace.
Each vehicle comes with a decorative display base with its name etched in Cyrillic markings. They also feature rotating turrets and elevating guns, just like the real McCoys. Priced at just $36.99 apiece, we feel that this series will sell rather well particularly since they are a lot larger than some of their comparable 1:72 scale counterparts that typically sell for around the same price point. The first group of seven vehicles are expected to arrive later in July.
Like clockwork, Hobby Master announced its latest compendium of aircraft models, all scheduled to land in February 2022. Its a bit of an eclectic mix, with models catering to the needs of collectors dabbling in different military eras and scales. Interestingly, the newest US Navy Northrop Grumman EA-6B Prowler Electronic Warfare Aircraft isn’t really a newbie at all: its a second rendition of this icoinc bird sans the shark mouth at the front of the aircraft. Some collectors have said it doesn’t look all that appropriate for an aircraft of this nature. Hobby Master listened, and decided to offer this aircraft without “its teeth”, a wise move that demonstrates Hobby Master’s commitment to its fans. Here’s a quick-and-dirty look at what you could be adding to your aircraft collection in early 2022:
If you like jets, and who doesn’t, then you’ll be delighted by the news that Hobby Master checked its latest list of models twice for the upcoming holiday season. While no new toolings were announced, there was a wide range of models in the announcement covering virtually every conflict and user nation. Here now the latest list of aircraft you can expect to ogle this December:
We’ve made the decision to stock a new line of 1:72 scale diecast military aircraft: JC Wings. Frankly, we’ve had our eye on this particular range for a very long time but haven’t had the chance to add them to our burgeoning product portfolio nor the room to stock their models until very recently. We’ve placed our opening order with our distributor, who hasn’t, as yet, provided a firm release date for any of these new introductions, although we’re presuming they will likely come to market some time later this summer. I did want to make mention that none of the JC Wings military aircraft comes with display stands, although separate display stands can be obtained from other sources.
We learned that a new pair of armored vehicles have been added to the PMA arsenal; an updated 88mm FLaK gun in a Norman paint scheme, as well as a USMC M60 Patton tank outfitted with both Explosive Reactive Armor (ERA) and an amphibious snorkeling device. While neither subject is new to the PMA stable, they do, nonetheless, represent important additions since stocks of their previous incarnations are beginning to run down.
No dates of release were listed so we are assuming they’ll hit the streets later this summer.
Two years ago, a pair of highly successful lines we stocked suddenly went dormant, no longer available from our principal distributor or the manufacturer in Asia. The reason the lights went out may never fully be known in its entirety, seeing as how they were privately run companies that seemed to ebb and flow with the fickle fate of the marketplace.
Fast forward to 2021 and I’m proud to announce that both Luft-X and Wings of the Great War are returning to the fold, bigger and badder than ever. In fact, some models are expected to return as early as June, while a handful of previously announced but never released items are slated to finally make a soft landing this September. We’ve updated both sections and are now accepting pre-orders. Get ’em while you can.
Late last year, Panzerkampf posted images of several different M1 Abrams tanks replicas, all of which boasted the US Army’s latest TUSK survivability equipment. TUSK improves protection, firepower, and Situation Awareness of the tanks. The TUSK includes such components as add-on explosive reactive armor and a slat armor, which provides protection against RPG rounds, 32 dischargers for 66-mm defensive grenades, which loaded with a combination of smoke and anti-personnel grenades, a transparent shielding around vehicle commander’s 12.7-mm machine gun that allow vehicle commander to be protected from enemy fire.
Even though we are still awaiting the release of the first set of vehicles, the manufacturer, earlier today, posted three more additions to its growing fleet of M1 Abrams models, this time centering around the exploits of several US armored units deployed to Iraq in 2011. Its not clear if this latest set of vehicles will be released in conjunction with the first set of products or if these are slated to come to market later this year.
Keep in mind that it is entirely possible that the manufacturer has more Abrams tanks in the pipeline, as is common in the diecast military market.
Never one to disappoint, Hobby Master announced today their intent to model the Sukhoi Su-30SM fighter as its next modern era subject. The Su-30 comes as no surprise to the collecting community seeing as how the manufacturer has already modeled virtually all of the other modern era combat aircraft found within the Sukhoi family. Still, it represents an important addition to the Hobby Master stable of modern era platforms, and cements their place as the preeminent maker of pre-assembed diecast military aircraft.
Several other noteworthy aircraft were also shown for the first time, all of whom are tentatively slated for a November release. What follows are the balance of the May product announcements:
When they took over the Forces of Valor brand some five years ago, Waltersons had hinted that many of the sub brands FOV had become famous for would be brought up to today’s standards, even if it meant taking some time to consider how to fulfill this dream. While anyone could have simply re-released several of their older and obviously more tired molds, thereby recouping some of their investment within the first year of the acquisition, Waltersons correctly realized that something had to be done to help differentiate them from their peers, even if it meant taking their time to get it right.
At long last, it appears as if the fruits of their labors are now quite evident, thanks, in part, to the posting of a group of photos aimed at showing off some of the features now found in their first batch of WWII-era, piston-engine fighters. Three fighters are expected to swoop in this summer, among them two Japanese Mitsubishi fighters and a lone USMC F4U Corsair, with several more warbirds looking to bolster their aerial armada later this year. While none of the subjects are new to the FOV squadron, Waltersons decided this would be their starting point with new toolings pushed off for a future date.
The images clearly show the direction and philosophy Waltersons intends to take this category. For starters, each aircraft will come with a configurable display stand, which will enable collectors to pose the model in varying angles of attack. Should they decide to display their model in a landed position, each model will also come with a decorative display base designed to resemble a section of an aircraft carrier’s deck. And, while each model will come with a free-spinning propeller typical of a piston-powered fighter, the Company is also including a partially painted plastic spinner, which is designed to convey the illusion of motion, no easy feat given these are static display replicas. Other improvements include a removable engine cowling, which reveals a detailed power plant, seated pilot figure, and bombs/drop tanks, where applicable. Look for the first group of aircraft to arrive some time in July.
