Product Announcements

PMA Aims for the Heavens with its First Aircraft

Precision Model Art’s 1:72 scale German Horten Ho 229 Fighter Bomber [Bonus Pair of Jumo 004 Turbojet Engines]

Having carved out a respectable niche in the diecast military vehicle space, it appears as if Precision Model Art (PMA) now has its sights set – quite literally – on the skies above. Earlier today, the manufacturer decided to dip its toe into the military aircraft space by announcing plans to build a 1:72 scale replica of the Horten Ho 229 fighter-bomber. Previously, Luft-X had offered the same model in its product portfolio but has since gone dormant over the last few years with no new product announcements. Sensing the time was right to step into the void, PMA’s offering will be made of diecast rather than the resin replica Luft-X created, and will feature a bevy of features commonly found in their military vehicles.

For openers, the PMA version will have removable engine covers so collectors can peer inside the aircraft thereby enabling them to ogle each of the intricately detailed Junkers Jumo 004 engines found within the model. Also shown is a removable canopy and detachable landing gear, so aviation enthusiasts can display the model in multiple configurations.

Precision Model Art’s 1:72 scale German Karl-Gerat Super Heavy Self-Propelled 54cm Mortar – “Fenrir” (Son of Loki), schwere Artillerie Abteilung 833, Hillersleben, Germany, 1945

Also shown for the first time is a new Karl Morser siege mortar, this time portraying the prototype 54cm gun which was capable of firing a huge projectile several miles at fixed enemy fortifications. The pre-order window for both items is now open and shipment is expected to take place some time this summer.

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Hobby Master Holidays on the Iberian Peninsula this Summer

Hobby Master’s 1:48 scale German Messerschmitt Bf 109E-3 “Emil” Fighter – Oblt. Hans Schmoller-Haldy, 3.Jagdgruppe 88 “The Condor Legion”, Spanish Civil War, March 1939

While the Company continues to shuffle around some of its previous introductions, and beef up many of its strongest categories, Hobby Master took time away from their busy schedule to announce their late summer lineup. Although no new toolings were debuted, there were a number of notable new offerings, including their first ever subject from the Spanish Civil War: a Messerschmitt Bf-109E3 attached to the Luftwaffe’s Condor Legion. Designed to test the mettle of Goring’s young air force, the Condor Legion would go on to play a key role in the war between the Republican and Communist forces dueling for control over Spain from 1936 to 1939.

Here’s the rest of what you can expect to see when the summer draws to a close and everyone climbs back into their cockpit, er, returns to work:

Hobby Master’s 1:48 scale German Messerschmitt Bf 109E-3 “Emil” Fighter – “Yellow 1”, Oberleutnant Josef Priller, Staffelkaptian 6/Jagdgeschwader 51, France, Autumn 1940 (1:48 Scale)
Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale Polish General Dynamics F-16C Fighting Falcon Fighter – 4047, 302nd Fighter Squadron, December 2019 [Anniversary Scheme]
Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force McDonnell F-4E Phantom II Fighter-Bomber – 3-6643, Bushehr International Airport, Iran, 2010
Hobby Master”s 1:72 scale German Navy Panavia GR. Mk. 1 Tornado IDS All-Weather Bomber – 46+20, Marineflieger Geschwader 2, 1990s
Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale Iraqi Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-29A ‘Fulcrum’ Fighter – 29060 “Tornado Killer”, Habbanyah Air Base, Iraq, 1990-91
Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale Slovak Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-29A ‘Fulcrum’ Fighter – 6829, “Slovak Tiger 2002”
Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale Russian Sukhoi Su-34 “Fullback” Strike Fighter – “Red 22”, Latakia, Syria, 2015
Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale Russian Sukhoi Su-34 “Fullback” Strike Fighter – “Red 24”, Latakia, Syria, 2015
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There’s A Reason Why They’re Called Panzerkampf

As we await the arrival of their eagerly anticipated trio of M1 Abrams tanks and their pair of two-piece M1070 tank transporter sets, Panzerkampf made the decision to release several 1:72 scale tanks replicas that had been languishing in the wings for several months running. Among the notable introductions is a British A39 Tortoise heavy tank painted in a snakelike, three-tone camouflage scheme as well as the ponderous WWI-era A7V clad in a multi-colored camouflage pattern. All five new introductions are currently on the road to us and should be in stock by the middle of March. Panzers vor!

Panzerkampf’s 1:72 scale German Sturmpanzerwagen A7V Infantry Support Tank – Camouflage
Panzerkampf’s 1:72 scale British A39 Tortoise Heavy Assault Tank – Camouflage
Panzerkampf’s 1:72 scale Russian T-15 Armata Heavy Infantry Fighting Vehicle – Camouflage
Panzerkampf’s 1:72 scale Chinese Peoples Liberation Army ZTZ99A Main Battle Tank – “235”, Desert Camouflage
Panzerkampf’s 1:72 scale Soviet Object 279 Heavy Tank – Striped
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Hobby Master Turns ‘n Burns this July

Hobby Master’s 1:48 scale Finnish Messerschmitt Bf 109G-6 “Gustav” Fighter – “White 0”, Ilmari Juutilainen, MT-451, 1/LeLv34, June 1944

Even as we begin packing up the February Hobby Master releases that showed up this week, we’re already looking ahead to the summer when the latest flock of warbirds materializes. That said, here’s a quick-and-dirty at what you can expect to set off for the wild blue yonder this coming July:

German Messerschmitt Bf 109G-6 “Gustav” Fighter – “Yellow 6”, Ofw. Alfred Surau, 9./Jagdgeschwader 3 “Udet”, Germany, September 1943 (1:48 Scale)
German McDonnell RF-4E Phantom II Reconnaissance Aircraft – “Norm 83A”, 35+67, Aufklarungsgeschwader 52, Leck, Germany, 1992 (1:72 Scale)

RAAF Boeing F/A-18A Hornet Strike Fighter – A21-26, “20 years F/A-18”, 2005 [Anniversary Scheme] (1:72 Scale)
Canadian Boeing CF-18A Hornet Strike Fighter – RCAF Demonstration Team, “Canada Special Marking 2012” [Anniversary Scheme] (1:72 Scale)
RAF Panavia GR. Mk. 1 Tornado IDS All-Weather Bomber – “MiG Eater,” No.15 Squadron, Operation Granby, 1991 (1:72 Scale)
Italian Panavia Tornado IDS All-Weather Bomber – 6 Stormo, 102 Gruppo, April 2001 (1:72 Scale)
USAF Boeing F-15E Strike Eagle Multi-Role Fighter – 494th Fighter Squadron “Panthers”, “75th D-Day Anniversary Scheme”, RAF Lakenheath, England, 2019 [Heritage Scheme] (1:72 Scale)
USAF Boeing F-15E Strike Eagle Multi-Role Fighter – 493rd Fighter Squadron “The Grim Reapers”, “75th D-Day Anniversary Scheme”, RAF Lakenheath, England, 2019 [Heritage Scheme] (1:72 Scale)
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Hobby Master Shuffles and Deals its June Lineup

Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale Israeli Defense Force General Dynamics F-16C Barak Fighter – 101 Squadron, Norvenich Airbase, Germany, Exercise Blue Wings, 2020

With Chinese New Year fast approaching, Hobby Master wasted no time re-jiggering its mid-year lineup and adding a bevy of new aircraft for a June delivery. While no new toolings were shown, several of their newest warbirds have been requested for several months, including an Israeli F-16C Barak fighter that took part in joint operations with the Luftwaffe over German skies as part of Exercise Blue Wing 2020. Here now some of the latest aircraft added to the Hobby Master aerial armada.

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Corgi Stokes the Fires of Our Winter of Discontent

Corgi’s 1:48 scale RAF Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 Multi-Role Fighter – ZK349 GN-A, Flt. Lt. Ben Westoby-Brooks, RAF No.29(R) Squadron, Battle of Britain, Typhoon Display Team, RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire, Summer 2015 [Anniversary Scheme]

For some inexplicable reason, Corgi seems to run into problems announcing their yearly introductions on an annual basis. Their 2021 range, which was initially supposed to be unveiled on the 5th, was delayed by two days until today presumably to get out the news in a sustainable format so that all the world could see. Frankly, this seems to be anything but the case as their web site continues to either crawl or crash, preventing many collectors from ogling what they have in mind for the calendar year.

Corgi’s 1:72 scale RAF Bristol Beaufort Mk.1 Torpedo Bomber – N1016 (OA-X), Pilot Flying Officer Kenneth Campbell, No.22 Squadron, RAF Cornwall, England, 1941

So, while we have some information stored away for safe keeping, largely obtained at the ungodly hour of 5am, it appears as if we will have to slowly roll out Corgi’s new announcements over the course of the next few days, as online traffic to their web site begins to wane and page views can be achieved with some degree of reliability. In the meantime, we’ve begun listing a handful of new items that we did manage to learn about, including this stunning 1:48 scale RAF Eurofighter Typhoon GR4 due out later this year. We’ve also posted a YouTube video created and narrated by Corgi that does a wonderful job of showcasing many of the models due out later this year.
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Hobby Master Fires Up the Production Line for May Day

Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale Russian Sukhoi Su-57 “Felon” Stealth Fighter – “Bort 053”, MAKS 2019 Aviasalon Air Show

Now that the holiday season has come and gone, we can at last get down to business and start hawking some of the latest additions to our product portfolio. In the case of Hobby Master, several new aircraft were debuted in late December, all of which are tentatively scheduled for a May release. While no new toolings were shown, several of their most popular models are being hauled out again for a re-purpose and re-dress, which should make aviation collectors giddy with glee when they roll off of the assembly line. Here now the newest introductions to our burgeoning Hobby Master inventory:

To learn more about these items, simply click on each image, which will take you directly to the product listing.

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Panzerkampf Takes the Hind for a Spin

If you thought Panzerkampf was “one-and-done” in the under-served helicopter space, you’d be wise to think again. Earlier today, the company revealed plans to offer up the Mil Mi-24 attack helicopter to its adoring public, likely loitering over the diecast battlefield sometime in mid 2021. Thus far, only a couple of CAD drawings were shown on their Facebook page, so its not clear which version will make the initial cut and/or in which liveries. Still, its a promising sign that their initial MH-53 Super Stallion met with great success and therefore opened the door for other oft-requested helicopters.

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Panzerkampf Hits the Surf

Panzerkampf’s 1:1000 scale US Navy Yorktown Class Aircraft Carrier – USS Enterprise (CV-6)

It was bound to happen. After first producing a wide array of scale military vehicles, aircraft and even helicopters, Panzerkampf has decided to flex its muscles once again by offering up their first ever warship replica. According to a recent posting on the manufacturer’s web site, the first ship they plan to model is the war-winning USS Enterprise (CV-6), a Yorktown class aircraft carrier that played a pivotal role at the Battle of Midway and in virtually every major battle of the war in the Pacific during WWII. Replicated in 1:1000 scale, its not clear if the warship will come with a complement of aircraft lining its deck, or if details such as a moveable aircraft elevator will be included. Pricing is still up in the air, as is its date of availability, which we presume will be some time in early 2021.

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Calibre Wings Fires Up the Tracker

Calibre Wings 1″72 scale US Navy Grumman S-2G Tracker Anti-Submarine Warfare Aircraft – Bu. No. 152806/NH-720, CAG “Tooter” Teague, VS-37 “Sawbucks”, USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63), 1974

The Grumman S-2 Tracker Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) aircraft is one of those oft-requested planes that never seemed to earn the respect it so dearly deserved from several of the leading model making houses. Its a pity really, since it enjoys a rich history all its own, and helped to put US Naval Aviation on a par with every other branch of the military during the Cold War.

The Tracker (S2F prior to 1962) was the first purpose-built, single airframe anti submarine warfare aircraft to enter service with the United States Navy. Designed and initially built by Grumman, the Tracker was of conventional design — propeller-driven with twin radial engines, a high wing that could be folded for storage on aircraft carriers, and tricycle undercarriage. The type was exported to a number of navies around the world. Introduced in 1952, the Tracker and its E-1 Tracer derivative saw service in the U.S. Navy until the mid-1970s, and its C-1 Trader derivative until the mid-1980s, with a few aircraft remaining in service with other air arms into the 21st century.

According to Calibre Wings, the model has already entered the prototyping stage with images of their achievement already proliferating around the web. If the rumors are true, the first production model is expected in early 2021 with other follow-on models expected throughout the rest of the year. There’s a good bet that Calibre is already eyeing the Tracer and Trader as likely candidates to succeed the Tracker once the obvious schemes and high profile squadrons have run their course.

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