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:
Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale NASA Lockheed F-104N Starfighter Chase Plane – NASA Dryden Flight Test Center, Edwards AFB, CA, 1979Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale NASA Lockheed F-104N Starfighter Chase Plane – NASA Dryden Flight Test Center, Edwards AFB, CA, 1987Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale RAAF Boeing F-18A Hornet Strike Fighter – No.77 Squadron, “Hornet 33 Years”, December 2020Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale RCAF Boeing F-18A Hornet Strike Fighter – 425 Squadron, QIAS 2016Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale Russian Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-29SMT ‘Fulcrum-C’ Fighter – Kubinka AB (UUMB), 2019Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale German Navy Panavia GR. Mk. 1 Tornado IDS All-Weather Bomber – Marinefliegergeschwader 1, 1980sHobby Master’s 1:72 scale USMC Lockheed-Martin F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter – VMFA-211 “Wake Island Avengers”, HMS Queen Elizabeth, “Operation Fortis,” 2021 [Low-Vis Scheme]Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale RAF Lockheed-Martin F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter – No.617 Squadron, HMS Queen Elizabeth, “Operation Fortis,” 2021 [Low-Vis Scheme] Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale US Navy Boeing F/A-18E Super Hornet Strike Fighter – VFA-25 “Fist of the Fleet”, USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72)Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale US Navy Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet Strike Fighter – VFA-103, USS Truman (CVN-75), “Operation Inherent Resolve” 2016 [Low-Vis Scheme]Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale US Navy Grumman F-14D Tomcat Fleet Defense Fighter – VF-213 “Blacklions,” Final Cruise, 2006Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force Grumman F-14A Tomcat Fleet Defense Fighter – 82nd TFS, Khatami AB, Iran, 1987
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.
PMA’s 1:72 scale USMC M60A1 Patton Medium Tank with Explosive Reactive Armor (ERA) and Amphibious Gear
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.
Luft-X 1:72 scale German Horten Ho 229 Fighter Bomber
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.
Wings of the Great War’s 1:72 scale German Pfalz D.IIIa Biplane Fighter – Carl Degelow, Jasta 7, March 1918
Panzerkampf’s 1:72 scale US M1A2 Abrams Main Battle Tank with TUSK I Survivability Kit – Commander’s Vehicle, E Troop, 2nd Squadron, 3rd Armored, Cavalry Regiment, Iraq, 2011
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.
Panzerkampf’s 1:72 scale US M1A2 Abrams Main Battle Tank with TUSK I Survivability Kit – 3rd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, FOB Hammer, Iraq, 2011
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.
Panzerkampf’s 1:72 scale US M1A2 Abrams Main Battle Tank with TUSK I Survivability Kit – 68th Armored Regiment, 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, Iraq, 2011
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:
Hobby Master’s 1:48 scale RAF Supermarine Spitfire Mk. Vb Fighter – RF-D/EP594, Lieutenant Jan Zumbach, No.303 (Polish) Squadron, RAF Northolt, England, August 1942Hobby Master’s 1:48 scale RAF Supermarine Spitfire Mk. Vb Fighter – BM592, Wing Commander Alois Vasatko, No.312 (Czech) Squadron, Exeter Wing, RAF Duxford, England, June 1942Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale Israeli Boeing F-15A Baz Multi-Role Fighter – “672”, No.133 Squadron, Tel Nof Airbase, Israel, February 13th, 1981Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale USAF Boeing F-15C Eagle Multi-Role Fighter – 86-0169, Lt. Colonel Cesar “Rico” Rodriguez, 493rd Fighter Squadron, 48th Fighter Wing, March 24th, 1981 [Low-Vis Scheme]Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale NASA Lockheed ER-2 High Altitude Research Aircraft – “809”, Dryden Flight Research Center, California, 1999Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale Spanish Boeing Harrier II Plus EAV-8B Jump Jet – VA.1B-24, Naval Air Station Rota, Andalusia, Spain, 2019Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale Spanish Navy Boeing Harrier II Plus AV-8B Jump Jet – 1-19, Marina Militare, North Arabian Sea, Operation Enduring Freedom, 2002 [Low-Vis Scheme]
Forces of Valor’s 1:72 scale USMC Chance-Vought F4U-1D Corsair Fighter – Lt. Ira Kepford, VF-17 “Jolly Rogers”, 1944
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.
Forces of Valor’s 1:72 scale Imperial Japanese Navy Mitsubishi A6M2 “Zero” Fighter – Lieutenant Commander Sigeru Itaya, 2nd Squadron, 1st Section, IJN Carrier Akagi, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, December 1941
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.
Forces of Valor’s 1:72 scale Imperial Japanese Navy Mitsubishi A6M2 “Zero” Fighter – Lt. Sumio Nouno, 11th Section, 4th Hikotai, IJN Carrier Hiryu, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, December 1941
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.
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]
Per the course, Waltersons seems to be falling behind schedule with their inaugural Tiger I tank, a model originally forecast for an April release that has now been pushed back until mid May. Nevertheless. the manufacturer did post a bevy of imagery for the vehicle, which “we” believe will hit the streets some time in July, given requisite load times, the ability to fill a shipping container and current congestion clogging virtually all of the west coast ports. Still, we’re looking at things from a “glass half full” viewpoint, pointing out many of the improvements the manufacturer has made to the existing mold and assurances that slowdowns in production times are finally being addressed with some measure of satisfaction.
Solido’s 1:48 scale US M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tank – Desert Camouflage
Back when we started out in 2000, Solido was one of the dominant makers of military vehicles, producing an ever-expanding range of 1:43-1:50 scale tanks, artillery and soft-skinned vehicles. Over the years, they seem to have ebbed and flowed, producing a handful of vehicles one year then lying dormant for several years running. Hopefully, that may have changed as we ourselves learned recently, with nine new 1:48 scale diecast military vehicles slated for a summer release. Nine is a bit of a stretch, since four of the vehicles will be offered in both a woodland camouflage scheme as well as a desert motif. Still, this can only be seen as welcome news as we basically gave up on seeing anything new from them for the foreseeable future.
We’ve listed all nine vehicles in our revamped Solido military vehicle section and are accepting pre-orders as we speak.
