Back in the day, a cad was a man who behaved dishonorably towards a woman, forsaking her good name in an effort to, well, take advantage of her when chivalry was still the norm. Today, CAD has taken on quite a different meaning, spelled out in capital letters and now signifying computer aided design, a creative process by which most models are now developed with the help of sophisticated software packages.
Recently, Waltersons, the new caretakers of the Forces of Valor brand, posted a bevy of CAD images to their website for many of their upcoming projects. Five different Tiger Is are shown, along with eight Sherman tanks and the first vehicles in their “Inside Out” series: the Sturmtiger. We’ve posted all of the images here and have already begun to accept pre-orders for the group. At this time, we don have firm release dates for any of the vehicles, since the production pipeline was disrupted by the COVID-19 crisis and Waltersons hasn’t shown any of the paint masters so collectors can get a better idea of what the finished products will look like. Stay tuned and remember its going to be a very busy third and fourth quarter from the folks at Forces of Valor, as they get set to release these and other projects long hinted at and finally coming to fruition.
Note: Keep in mind that many of the Tiger I images look the same based upon these CAD images. Actual photos of each Tiger I tank are expected in the coming weeks.
Forces of Valor’s Inside Out Series: German Sturmtiger Assault Mortar
Forces of Valor’s 1:32 scale German Early Production RW61 Sturmtiger Rocket Assault Mortar with Loading Crane – Prototype Presentation to Fuhrer, Ehrenfriedhof Arys Proving Grounds, East Prussia, October 20th, 1943 [Bonus Maybach HL 210 TRM P45 V-12 Water-Cooled Engine]Forces of Valor’s 1:32 scale German Late Production RW61 Sturmtiger Rocket Assault Mortar with Loading Crane – Sturmmorser Kompanie 1002, Berlin, Germany, May 1945 [Bonus Maybach HL230P45 V-12 Water-Cooled Engine]Forces of Valor’s 1:32 scale German Mid Production RW61 Sturmtiger Rocket Assault Mortar with Loading Crane – Sturmmorser Kompanie 1002, Ebendorf, Germany, April 1945 [Bonus Maybach HL 210 TRM P45 V-12 Water-Cooled Engine]
Forces of Valor’s Engine Plus Series: German Tiger I Heavy Tank
Forces of Valor’s 1:32 scale German Early Production Sd. Kfz. 181 PzKpfw VI Tiger I Ausf. E Heavy Tank – “832”, 2.SS Panzer Regiment, 2.SS Panzer Division “Das Reich”, Eastern Front, February 1943 [Bonus Maybach HL 210 TRM P45 Engine]Forces of Valor’s 1:32 scale German Early Production Sd. Kfz. 181 PzKpfw VI Tiger I Ausf. E Heavy Tank – “123”, schwere Panzerabteilung 503, Kursk, Russia, August 1943 [Bonus Maybach HL 210 TRM P45 Engine]Forces of Valor’s 1:32 scale German Early Production Sd. Kfz. 181 PzKpfw VI Tiger I Ausf. E Heavy Tank – “100”, schwere Panzerabteilung 505, Kursk, Russia, July 1943 [Bonus Maybach HL 210 TRM P45 Engine]Forces of Valor’s 1:32 scale German Early Production Sd. Kfz. 181 PzKpfw VI Tiger I Ausf. E Heavy Tank – “321”, schwere Panzerabteilung 505, Kursk, Russia, July 1943 [Bonus Maybach HL 210 TRM P45 Engine]Forces of Valor’s 1:32 scale German Early Production Sd. Kfz. 181 PzKpfw VI Tiger I Ausf. E Heavy Tank – Michael Wittmann, “S04”, schwere SS Panzerabteilung 101, Eastern Front, Winter 1943 [Bonus Maybach HL 210 TRM P45 Engine]
Forces of Valor’s Engine Plus Series: US M4 Sherman Medium Tank
Forces of Valor’s 1:32 scale US M4A3(75) Sherman Medium Tank with VVSS Suspension – 35th Tank Battalion, 4th Armored Division, Bastogne, Belgium, December 1944 [Bonus Ford GAA V-8 Engine]Forces of Valor’s 1:32 scale US M4A3(105) Sherman Howitzer with HVSS Suspension – 8th Tank Battalion, 4th Armored Division, Avranches, Brittany, France, July-August 1944 [Bonus Ford GAA V-8 Engine]Forces of Valor’s 1:32 scale US M4A3E8 Sherman Medium Tank with HVSS Suspension – “A Paper Doll”, A Company, 68th Tank Battalion, 6th Armored Division, Germany 1945 [Bonus Ford GAA V-8 Engine]Forces of Valor’s 1:32 scale US M4(75) Sherman Medium Tank with VVSS Suspension – 47th Tank Battalion, 14th Armored Division, France, 1944 [Bonus Ford GAA V-8 Engine]Forces of Valor’s 1:32 scale US M4A3E8 Sherman Medium Tank with HVSS Suspension – Creighton Abrams’ “Thunderbolt VII”, 37th Tank Battalion, 4th Armored Division, NW Europe, 1945 [Bonus Ford GAA V-8 Engine]Forces of Valor’s 1:32 scale US M4(105) Sherman Medium Tank with VVSS Suspension and Wading Equipment – 713th Tank Battalion, 11th Armored Division, Okinawa, April-June 1945 [Bonus Continental (Wright) R-975, Radial 9 Engine]Forces of Valor’s 1:32 scale US M4A3(76)W Sherman Medium Tank with VVSS Suspension – C Company, 771st Tank Battalion, 12th Armored Division, Linnich, Germany, February 1945 [Bonus Ford GAA V-8 Engine]Forces of Valor’s 1:32 scale US M4A3E2 Sherman Jumbo Assault Tank with VVSS Suspension – “Cobra King”, C Company, 37th Tank Battalion, 4th Armored Division, Bastogne, Belgium, December 26th, 1944 [Bonus Ford GAA V-8 Engine]
In an effort to build out its brand and try out new untapped markets, the makers of the massively multiplayer online game, World of Tanks, entered into a collaborative agreement with model maker, Hachette, to produce a range of 1:72 scale military vehicles. Five pairings were released under the Salvat brand and now these sets will soon be made available here in North America. Attractively priced at just $34.99 per set and made available for a limited time, the five sets include:
Hobby Master’s 1:48 scale German Messerschmitt Bf 109G-6 Fighter – Erich “Bubi” Hartmann, 4./Jagdgeschwader 52, Hungary, 1944 (1:48 Scale)
Looking to maintain their lead as the most prolific maker of diecast military vehicles and aircraft, Hobby Master recently announced the latest group of products scheduled for an August showing. Of particular note is this Messerschmitt Bf-109G, the second variant produced by Hobby Master, and its pilot, top scoring ace Erich “Bubi” Hartmann. Here’s some of the other items on tap for the Dog Days of Summer:
As if to say “we’re back and in a big way”, Dragon recently posted an intriguing image to their Facebook account showing the latest crop of pre-assembled products that have been enlisted for their Neo Dragon Armor line. While we aren’t sure if a new Snow Leopard vehicle is in the offing, it would appear as if two additional vehicles are in the works: a US-built M1 Abrams main battle tank and an Australian Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicle. Its not clear if chase vehicles will be included in each batch, thereby making them even more sought after by collectors in the know. In the past, this strategy has proven to be very successful among the collecting community, and helps to create additional buzz from a marketing perspective that spurs even greater interest.
The teaser image doesn’t indicate when these new vehicles are scheduled to appear, particularly in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic, which has shuttered many Chinese factories for several weeks. Apparently, a Turkish Leopard 2A4 main battle tank is also in the offing, although it was not included in the image and could be released ahead of the Abrams and Bushmaster. For now, we’ll keep an eye out for these and other new entrants expected in the series and congratulate the manufacturer for reigniting interest in a once dominant if somewhat dormant category.
No stranger to the diecast market thanks to their longstanding Hot Wheels and Matchbox sub brands, Mattel unveiled the first look at their upcoming line of Top Gun merchandise at the American International Toy Fair. Based upon the upcoming film Top Gun: Maverick, CNN’s article showcases some of the product destined to come out under the Matchbox moniker, which includes, among other things, an aircraft carrier playset and a handful of aircraft. Presently, we do not believe that the expose represents the entire Top Gun lineup, since none of the higher end aircraft models alluded to previously were on display. As a result, we hope to have more information in the days and weeks ahead. In the meantime, stop on by the CNN web site to see what has been discussed.
Its beginning to look as if Eaglemoss wants to sew up the entire sci-fi category. At the American International Toy Fair held this week in New York City, Eaglemoss announced their intent to model many of the ships portrayed in the original sci-fi series, Space: 1999. Space: 1999 is a British and Italian science fiction television program that ran for two seasons from 1975 to 1977. Space: 1999 was the last production by the partnership of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson and was the most expensive series produced for British television up to that time.
In February 2012, a new series, to be called Space: 2099, was announced as a reboot of the original series, Space: 1999, and was planned to be made by ITV Studio America in conjunction with HD Films. On August 15th, 2018, Brian Johnson, special effects director for the original series, announced that the reboot was on track for production in the UK, pending “confirmation of the deal.” We’re willing to bet that at some point the new series will be rolled into the line, thus expanding its depth and breadth and possibly bringing in new blood to the series and hobby.
We hope to have product information shortly for the Space: 1999 line as well as program information for the series reboot.
Even as other manufacturers struggle with the repercussions caused by the Coronavirus, Hobby Master remains undeterred seemingly intent upon sticking to their production schedule come hell or high water. Interestingly, Hobby Master intends to offer a 1:72 scale rendition of the Panaxia Tornado IDS fighter-bomber, another aircraft Corgi has already produced for several years running and has three examples coming out in 2020. Here’s what’s on tap when the fireworks go off:
Looking to wrap up their standard-sized Star Strek starships line in the next few months, Eaglemoss announced plans to launch a new line of replicas based upon some of the starships found in the massively multiplayer game, Star Trek Online.
Due out some time this Spring, the first two ships were debuted to the public yesterday as part of a larger starship reveal. Kicking off the range is a Gagarin-Class Miracle Worker Battlecruiser (#EMSTO01) while the second entrant is based upon a Federation Chimera-Class Heavy Destroyer (#EMSTO02)Both ships have been listed to our web site and we have begun to accept pre-orders for them.
Eaglemoss’ Star Trek Online Federation Chimera-Class Heavy Destroyer [With Collector Magazine]
Air Commander’s 1:72 scale USAF McDonnell F-4C Phantom II Fighter-Bomber – Robin Olds, “Scat XXVII”, 433rd Fighter Interceptor Squadron “Satan’s Angels”, 8th Tactical Fighter Wing, Ubon Royal Thai Air Base, 1967
Few pilots have become more synonymous with the Vietnam War than Robin Olds. A veteran of WWII, Olds took command of the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing on September 30th, 1966, which was based at Ubon Royal Thais Air Force Base, Thailand, a hub of activity for bombing North Vietnam and interdicting supplies running down the Ho Chi Minh trail. A lack of aggressiveness and sense of purpose in the wing had led to the change in command (Olds’ predecessor had flown only 12 missions during the 10 months the wing had been in combat). The 44-year-old colonel also set the tone for his command stint by immediately placing himself on the flight schedule as a rookie pilot under officers junior to himself, then challenging them to train him properly because he would soon be leading them.
Olds’ vice commander was Col. Vermont Garrison, an ace in both World War II and Korea, and in December Olds brought in Daniel James Jr. to replace an ineffective deputy commander for operations, creating arguably the strongest and most effective tactical command triumvirate of the Vietnam War. The Olds-James combination became popularly nicknamed “Blackman and Robin”. Olds took to the air war over North Vietnam in an F-4C Phantom he nicknamed “Scat XXVII”, in keeping with his previous combat aircraft that all carried the “Scat” name.
Air Commander, no stranger to collectors for modeling a wide array of Phantom fighter-bombers, has now selected “Scat XXVII” as the subject for its next F-4. Expected in June, “Scat XXVII” will undoubtedly become the centerpiece in Air Commander’s range of F-4 Phantoms and will almost certainly take center stage for many Vietnam War aviation enthusiasts not only due to who flew the plane but because of their painstaking attention to detail and craftsmanship.
Air Force 1’s 1:72 scale USAF Lockheed-Martin F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter – 61st Fighter Squadron, 56th Fighter Wing, Luke Air Force Base [Low-Vis Scheme]
We have great news for all you Joint Strike Fighter fans. A squadron of F-35A Lightning IIs just landed at our distributor without so much as an early alert from the control tower. Our order is now en route to us and should be in stock some time next week. Typically, the AF1 F-35s sell very well at retail and we’ve been out-of-stock of the A version for several months running.
Of the three JSF variants, the A version is flown by the US Air Force. As such, the F-35A is the conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) variant intended for the USAF and other air forces. It is the smallest, lightest F-35 version and is the only variant equipped with an internal cannon, the GAU-22/A. This 25mm cannon is a development of the GAU-12 carried by the USMC’s AV-8B Harrier II. It is designed for increased effectiveness against ground targets compared to the 20mm M61 Vulcan cannon carried by other USAF fighters. On August 2nd, 2016, the USAF declared the F-35A basic combat ready. The F-35A was scheduled to be fully combat-ready in 2017 with its 3F software upgrade.
A restock shipment isn’t expected until March, meaning this shipment will likely sell out quickly once word spreads of its availability.
