As promised, Corgi unveiled the third and last installment in their 2022 product roll out earlier this month. Several new aircraft are being introduced that are largely tapping into existing ranges, be they WWI fighters or WWII fighters. That said, one new range was launched — WWII: War Under the Sun, which, as its name implies, looks at aircraft flown by both sides of the conflict in the expansive Mediterranean Theatre of Operations. Here now the aircraft you can look forward to treating yourself this holiday season.
Corgi’s 1:72 scale German Messerschmitt Bf 109G-2 (Trop) “Gustav” Fighter – “Red 1”, Hpt. Werner Schroer, 8./Jagdgeschwader 27 “Afrika”, Gazala, Libya, 1942Corgi’s 1:72 scale RAF Supermarine Spitfire Mk. IX Fighter – Wing Commander James Edgar “Johnnie” Johnson, No.127 (RCAF) Wing, 1944Corgi’s 1:72 scale RAF Hawker Hurricane Mk. I Fighter – Squadron Leader Ian Richard “Widge” Gleed, No.87 Squadron, Exeter, England, 1940Corgi’s 1:48 scale German Albatros D.V Fighter – 2263/17, Otto Kissemberth, Jasta 23, Puxieux, France, August 1917Corgi’s 1:48 scale German Fokker D VII Fighter – Ltn. Kurt Monnington, Jasta 18, Halluin, France, March 1918
We learned today that Panzerkampf’s upcoming Pantsir S-1 Mobile Self Defense System will carry a MAP of $114.99, a bit higher than where we thought it might be pegged when it was officially announced. Also, only one version will make it out the door in 2022. Six versions were originally displayed in their 2022 catalog but we’re guessing the manufacturer wants to see how the initial roll out goes before committing to the other schemes they touted.
It’s a bit difficult to forecast how the Pantsir will do at retail as compared with, say, their recently released M1070 heavy equipment transporter, a so-called “no-brainer” by some in the industry that will likely sell exceedingly well for the foreseeable future. For one its Russian as opposed to a US built piece of equipment, although that shouldn’t be considered a strike against it. Second, the inaugural vehicle sports the infamous “Z” plastered across it, which was used by Russian forces during the opening stages of their attack into Ukraine back in February 2022. Its a bit like hawking models of German Messerschmitts on September 2nd, 1939, with those big flamboyant swastikas adorning the aircraft’s tail fin. And lastly, there’s the price tag to consider, which is a bit more than we thought it would weigh in at prior to its main bout debut.
So, if you’re interested in this item, I would suggest pre-ordering soon because we will likely stock this item in very limited numbers for the holiday season. And, with our upcoming move to Florida, we cannot predict when we will have it available for restock should sales not live up to expectations.
Waltersons posted an image of their 1:72 Tiger I, 1:32 scale Tiger I, and their newly announced 1:16 King Tiger to demonstrate the size comparison between the three models. Anything larger, and we’d be forced to drive it off the dealer’s lot and to the customer’s home instead of mailing it.
When Waltersons resurrected the Forces of Valor brand some six years ago, we were under the impression that they would immediately bring back many of their fan favorites, including their beastly 1:16 scale Extreme Metal series. Previous releases in the series now command $3,000 or more in the marketplace, so consumer interest is, to say the least, quite voracious given its value as a collectible and importance as a piece of military history. For one reason or another, however, that was the last we heard of the sub brand — at least until today.
In a surprise Facebook posting, the manufacturer indicated they would be bringing back the 1:16 scale series beginning with their King Tiger heavy tank. According to Waltersons, the newest vehicle will be available some time in 2023 although little else is known about the model including its cost, what it will look like, which extras will be included, etc. In other words, we have little to go by other than to say that a new King Tiger is in the offing.
Rather than speculate further, we are providing the following link so you can put your sleuthing skills to the test and help us ascertain more information about the vehicle. Obviously, we will hold off accepting pre-orders until we have more concrete information to go by.
One last thing. Before you reach for your wallet or log in to your PayPal account, there are some important points to consider. Their last 1:16 Tiger I tank came out way back in 2006 and initially fetched $400; their last King Tiger was unleashed in 2005 and also carried a $400 sticker price. Both now command prices well in excess of these figures. However, their last 1:16 scale release, a Sherman medium tank, was unleashed in 2008 and also carried a $400 price tag. How did that do? We had to help Unimax sell off their remaining stock of Shermans for around $100 a pop, otherwise they would have sat in inventory til the cows came home. Its anyone’s guess where a King Tiger in today’s market will initially sell for — as a guess closer to $1,000 or possibly more plus shipping. So, if you’re looking to turn this around and make some quick cash I would suggest you evaluate the marketplace as best you can and decide if spending that kind of dough, possibly during a recession, will pay off handsomely in the short term, long term or if at all. Caveat emptor, my friends.
Forces of Valor’s 1:700 scale Royal Navy Invincible Class Light Aircraft Carrier – HMS Invincible (R05), Falkland Islands, 1982 [Full Hull Version]
It was forty years ago when the Royal Navy was forced to steam thousands of miles away into the South Atlantic in an effort to liberate the British territory known as the Falkands Islands — a relatively small chain of islands off the South American coast that was claimed and forcibly seized by Argentina. The Malvinas, as the Argentinians called them, were unexpectedly occupied in 1982 as a means of diverting political attention away from failed domestic policies at home and an attempt at galvanizing a nation beset by all manner of turmoil.
To celebrate their achievement, Forces of Valor plans on relaunching one of the key warships involved in the conflict — the HMS Invincible, a medium-sized aircraft carrier that proved instrumental in providing air support for the Royal Marines. Thus far, the manufacturer has released this lone picture of the warship, and haven’t as yet indicated its retail price or expected date of delivery. Nevertheless, we’ll keep an eye on this new release and update our site once information is passed along.
In other news, we’ve been told by our distributor that the September shipment of Forces of Valor product has been pushed back until October. As a guess, they are still awaiting some items to be completed so they can fill a container. We aren’t sure if this will the last container from FOV for the 2022 calendar year based upon performance to date. Moreover, we do not know if several items, such as their recently announced waterline version of the Yamato, will be repackaged for their English-speaking audience, or if it will be solely available in Japan. Lots of speculation at this point and little to go by.
Dragon Neo Armor’s upcoming 1:72 scale US M103A2 Heavy Tank with Reliability Improved Selected Equipment (RISE) IR/White Light Spotlight
Earlier today, Dragon announced two more new vehicles that will join their Neo Dragon Armor line. The newest of the new are both M103A2 heavy tanks, immensely powerful vehicles that served our country well if for a short period of time during the Cold War. While Dragon is indicating that these vehicles will be available in September we will more than likely stock them towards the end of this year.
Which brings me to the real purpose of this post. When Dragon Models USA closed their doors last year, it created a void in the marketplace whereby product was still being made by Dragon Models but not being stocked by any distributor here in North America. We had the opportunity to import the line ourselves but declined because we are unable to store that much new product to make it worth our while. A month or so ago, one distributor did decide to step up to the plate and will be importing the Neo Dragon Armor range into North America. Because they must purchase the product in larger lots so they can fill a container, we fully expect that it could be some time before they are able to fill each new container with the latest product. More likely, they will be bringing in merchandise once per quarter, based, in large part, upon what is ready in Asia at the time they are placing their order. Of course, should the manufacturer decide to delay the release of new product, then this will have a detrimental effect on when the latest new items will actually reach our shores. Hopefully this won’t occur too often but I thought you might want to take notice of this should there be extended delays from here on out.
Hobby Master’s 1:48 scale US Navy Chance-Vought F4U-4 Corsair Fighter – “White 205”, LTJG Thomas “Lou” Hudner, VF-32 “Fighting Swordsmen”, USS Leyte (CV-32), December 4th, 1950
No one can fault Hobby Master for remaining aggressive. As other model makers continue to grapple with issues arising from the post-pandemic world, Hobby Master has kept its pedal to the metal, so-to-speak, by continuing to add dozens of new military models to the diecast aviation market. Of note, two 1:48 scale F4U Corsairs are part of their latest aerial armada, both based upon aircraft portrayed in the upcoming feature film Devotion. It is hoped that with Top Gun: Maverick continuing to do exceptionally well at the box office, Devotion will piggyback off of its success and tell the true life story of two naval aviators – one black and one white – caught up in the desperate struggle to protect beleaguered US forces then attempting to withdraw from North Korea in late 1950.
Here now, the rest of the May 2023 lineup Hobby Master plans to unleash:
Hobby Master’s 1:48 scale US Navy Chance-Vought F4U-4 Corsair Fighter – “White 211”, Ensign Jesse L. Brown, VF-32 “Fighting Swordsmen”, USS Leyte (CV-32), December 4th, 1950Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale Vietnamese People’s Air Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21PMF “Fishbed” Fighter – 927th Fighter Regiment, Kep Air Base, Vietnam, 1979USMC Boeing Harrier II AV-8B Jump Jet – BuNo 165581, VMA-311 “Tomcats”, Afghanistan, 2013 {Low Vis Scheme]Hobby Master’s 1:48 scale RAF Supermarine Spitfire Mk. IXc Fighter – MK694, Flight Leftenant Jaroslav Dobrovolny, No.313 (Czech) Squadron, RAF North Weald, England, October 1944Hobby Master’s 1:48 scale RAF Supermarine Spitfire Mk. IXe Fighter – ML407, Flight Officer Johnnie Houlton, No.405 (New Zealand) Squadron, France, September 1944Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale RAAF Boeing F-18A Hornet Strike Fighter – A21-29, No.75 Squadron, RAAF Base Tindal, Australia, 1990Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale RAAF Boeing F-18A Hornet Strike Fighter – A21-27, No.3 Squadron, RAAF Williamtown, Australia, 2016 [Anniversary Scheme]Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale USAF Fairchild Republic A-10A Thunderbolt II Ground Attack Aircraft – 81-0964, 21st Fighter Squadron “Gamblers”, 507th ACW, Shaw AFB, South Carolina, December 1991Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale Iraqi Sukhoi Su-25K “Frogfoot” Ground Attack Aircraft – 25616, 114 Squadron, Tammuz Air Base, Iraq, 2001Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale USAF Convair F-106A Delta Dart Interceptor – 0-90062, 84th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, Castle Air Force Base, California, 1970sHobby Master’s 1:72 scale French Dassault Rafale B Multirole Aircraft – Operation Chammal, Escadron de Chasse 14 “Gascogne”, 4e Escadre de Chasse, France, 2018Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale Ukrainian Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25PD “Foxbat-E” Interceptor – “Red 87”, 933rd FAR, 1995Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale US Navy Boeing F/A-18E Super Hornet Strike Fighter – 07/165792, VFC-12 “Fighting Omars”, NAS Oceana, Virginia, June 2021 [Aggressor Scheme]Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale US Navy Boeing E/A-18G Growler Electronic Warfare Aircraft – 168386, VAQ-138 “Yellow Jackets”, Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington, 2018Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale Russian Sukhoi Su-57E “Felon” Stealth Fighter – “Red 52”, 2022Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale US Navy Grumman F-14A Tomcat Fleet Defense Fighter – 162689, VF-41 “Black Aces”, USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71), June 1991
In recent weeks the cavalcade of new vehicles rolling out of the Dragon model works has shown no signs of abating, with more new subjects appearing almost on a daily basis. The latest two vehicles to see the light of day are a pair of M65 Atomic cannons – one portraying the vehicle in travel mode and the other in a firing configuration. Known colloquially as the “Atomic Annie”, the gun was an artillery piece built by the United States and capable of firing a nuclear device. It was developed in the early 1950s, at the beginning of the Cold War; and fielded between April 1955 and December 1962, in West Germany, South Korea and on the Japanese island of Okinawa.
The cannon was transported by two specially designed tractors in the same manner as railroad Schnabel cars. Both tractors were capable of independent steering in the manner of some extra-long fire trucks. Each of the tractors was rated at 375 horsepower (280 kW), and the somewhat awkward combination could achieve speeds of 35 miles per hour (56 km/h) and negotiate right-angle turns on 28-foot (8.5 m) wide paved or packed roads. The artillery piece could be unlimbered in 12 minutes, then returned to traveling configuration in another 15 minutes. The gun was deployed by lowering it from the tractors onto levelled ground. The whole gun assembly was balanced on a ball and socket joint so that it could be swung around the footplate. The traverse was limited by a curved track placed under the rear of the gun.
Due to its size, the new M65s will obviously command a retail price well in excess of the $39.99-$44.99 range their current vehicles are commanding, and will more likely weigh in at around $89.99 apiece, and no doubt be nestled in much larger and heavier packaging. A Cyber Hobby limited edition version may also be in the works, although nothing yet has been discussed by the manufacturer. We hope that these new vehicles will be available for the holidays but with the current logjam still affecting our ports, its not clear if they will indeed be made available for the approaching holidays.
On a separate note, its truly refreshing to see this dynamic model maker both returning to its roots and producing subjects collectors have been hoping to see for years. Well done Dragon and keep them coming!
While we have temporarily discontinued stocking the Calibre Wings line of military aircraft, we thought it still made sense to cover them as if we did. Of late, the Company has come under fire from some of its most vocal critics, who delight in lambasting them on every conceivable issue, from quality control to licensing. While we are not going to agree or disagree with some of the online comments posted to their Facebook account, the point of this blog post isn’t to throw more fuel on the fire. Rather, it is designed to point out some of their positive achievements, which includes not only what they have brought to market thus far but what’s ahead from this rising star in the diecast community.
By now, most of you are no doubt aware that the Company has a MiG-31 “Foxhound” in the works, which can still be pre-ordered direct from the manufacturer and is currently listed as a 2023 release. What you may not know is that they are also working on their long-promised if oft delayed Convair B-58 Hustler, a supersonic bomber that saw yeoman service with the USAF during the Cold War. While the mold is still being finalized and pre-orders are not yet being taken by the manufacturer, they did take time out to cobble together this short video which discusses their labor-of-love. Enjoy and don’t forget to support your favorite manufacturers any way you can! BTW, Noel Lee, the owner of Calibre Wings, has hinted that the retail price of the B-58 could be as high as $300, although its likely he will offer it at a far lower price on Kickstarter, a crowdfunding site, for a limited time only. The Hustler is an iconic Cold War aircraft that helped to form the backbone of our so-called Triad nuclear response for several decades. As such while it may be expensive vis a vis other diecast aircraft, we feel confident that Calibre will do it justice and thus represent a worthwhile investment.
Next to the Apache and Cobra gunships, perhaps the most feared helicopter gunship ever to take wing is the Russian built Mi 24, NATO reporting name HIND. Designed as a combination heavy attack platform and low capacity troop transport, the HIND has been around since the late 1970s, a testament to their endurance and ability to take enemy fire at the forward edge of the battlefield area where fighting is oftentimes the most intense.
It therefore comes as no surprise then that Panzerkampf would choose the Mi-24 as one of their latest rotary wing models. Recently two versions were shown to the public on their Facebook account, although no other information was provided. So, while we’d love to begin taking pre-orders for either or both of their upcoming helicopter assault gunships, for now we will simply post images of both models and await further information. In our opinion, their success will likely eclipse that of the MH-53 Super Stallion that was released last year, and has already gone on to become one of their most successful subjects. And, if the HIND sells well, you can bet they will be looking at other Russian attack helicopters down-the-road, capitalizing on the success of these battlefield weapons and their own ability to model them at scale. Curiously, it appears as though the HIND will be marketed under their Legion sub brand, even though these are brand new toolings not based upon other previously released models as is the case with their newly-launched military vehicle line.
As many of you may know, Dragon pulled up stakes in the US about a year or so ago, although no reason was given for the sudden move,. To date, no one has stepped forward to import the line, that is, until now. Rumor has it that one of our distributors is looking to bring back some, most or even all of the many ranges Dragon produces, beginning with their flourishing Neo Armor line. This, of course, comes at a crucial yet opportune time since Dragon has begun rolling out a number of new Neo Armor products that now cover both WWII as well as modern era subjects. We hope to have more concrete information by the weekend so bear with us as we wait to hear back from our source as they continue to hammer out the details.
Update: Great news for all you Dragon tread heads. We learned today that our distributor struck a deal with Dragon Models to import the Neo Dragon Armor line into North America. The first batch of vehicles are expected as early as this September, with additional shipments expected each month thereafter. We will be listing all of the new vehicles over the weekend and should have everything completed by Sunday. Bear in mind that the range has grown somewhat from its earlier iterations a couple of years ago and continues to gain momentum and new additions on a weekly basis. Furthermore, there are several items that we do not plan to stock, such as their JGSDF and South Korean AAVPs, as well as their JGSDF Bushmaster. These models have limited appeal here in North America and frankly we think it will take us a month of Sundays to move the inventory when we can best stick with those items we know we can sell without difficulty. Of course, these can still be ordered direct from Dragon on their web site. Lastly, we are exploring the feasibility of obtaining many or potentially all of the Cyber Hobby versions of each vehicle type that they plan to offer. Vehicles such as the Bushmaster and Boxer already have Cyber Hobby variants in the works, so its a good bet many if not all of their most recent introductions will be available as Cyber Hobby exclusives too.
After several years of lying dormant, it now appears as if Dragon is once again betting big on their smallest line of vehicles to see them through the post-pandemic world. Five new Shermans were recently announced, all sporting “Tiger Faces” on the front of the vehicles. During the Korean Conflict, it was rumored that the Communist Chinese soldiers were deathly afraid of anything that resembled a tiger since 1951, the second year of the Korean Conflict, represented the “Year of the Tiger”. We’ll post all of them to our web site shortly…
We strongly suggest pre-ordering those items you may be interested in obtaining as quickly as possible because our pre-order with the distributor is due to be placed early next week. I know some of you like to create dioramas with multiple vehicles of the same type, so please bear this in mind if you hope to have your order filled as completely as possible.
Its noon Sunday. I’m bleary-eyed and over caffeinated but it appears as if we have successfully listed all of the newest Neo Dragon Armor items to our web site. We are still checking with the manufacturer to determine if any of the assortments come with limited edition “chase” vehicles. If so, we will offer them separately. We are still in the process of uploading ancillary images for each vehicle so the lone image uploaded for each vehicle will have to suffice for now. Again, please peruse these new listings at your earliest opportunity and submit your orders early so we can best determine the quantities we will need to order from our distributor. Since we are no longer ordering from Dragon Models USA, its very possible that we will only be able to order each new item once before it is sold out and no longer available for re-order.
