Product Announcements

On the Ground and In the Air with Wings of the Great War

Wings of the Great War’s French Saint Chamond Heavy Tank – “Chantecoq,” As31, Laffaux, France, 1917

While we were away on vacation last week, Wings of the Great War announced two new weapons of war for a January roll out. On the ground, the Company unveiled a French Saint Chamond heavy tank, a curious if failed attempt by the French Army to break the stalemate that had settle over the Western Front and prevented either side from winning the war (WW10207).

Wings of the Great War’s 1:72 scale US Air Service Breguet 14 A.2 Bomber – Capt. James A. Summersett Jr., “Photo,” 96th Aero Squadron, Nancy, France, 1918

In the air, a French-built Breguet 14 A.2 bomber is expected to lift off around the same time (WW12101). Attached to the US Air Service’s 96th Aero Squadron, the aircraft was piloted by Capt. James A. Summersett Jr., and deployed to Nancy, France, in 1918.

Share This:

PMA’s Latest Wares Gets a Fresh Coat of Paint

PMA’s 1:72 scale German V-2 Long-Range Guided Ballistic Missile with Meillerwagen Launch Trailer and Brennstand – Camouflage [Operational Scheme]
As we kind of expected while doing research on the German V-2 rocket, PMA has added a third scheme to its Vengeance locker. Slated for a year-end delivery, the third version is clad in a camouflage pattern (P0324), which goes well with two new vehicle schemes also announced (P0318 and P0319). So, if you want a V-2 set that is painted in nearly identical colors from prime mover to launcher, you’ve finally got your wish fulfilled.

While the prime movers are not included with the V-2, you can now display them in one uniform pattern
Share This:

Eaglemoss Claims People Can Indeed Hear You Scream in Space

Federation Vesta Class Starship – USS Aventine NCC-82602

Hot off of Comic-com here in New York City, Eaglemoss was kind enough to provide us with several updates concerning several of their continually expanding intergalactic lines. First off, their convention exclusive USS Aventine, which was the subject of a fan-based petition, has a ship date — we expect the ship to arrive in November. If you haven’t already pre-ordered the ship we strongly suggest you do so since its become one of the critical ships in the Star Trek line.

Alien U.S.C.S.S. Nostromo

Next up, the Nostromo, the center piece of the all-new Aliens and Predator ship line, also has a street date — look for it in December. Only 3,000 pieces are being made, each with a numbered certificate of authenticity.

Battlestar Galactica Colonial Viper Mark II Fighter

Lastly, Eaglemoss is kicking off the Battlestar Galactica range with an oldie but goodie — a Colonial Viper Mark II fighter from the first televised series. The Viper is slated for a February escort mission with additional ships expected each month thereafter. Frankly, with rumors circulating that the manufacturer is considering a similarly-conceived Star Gate line, we’re beginning to wonder where people are finding the money to pay for all of these cool toys. Maybe that’s the subject of a separate debate…

Share This:

Star Wars Gets Promoted to Elite Status

Now you can make the Kessel Run with this superb 1:18 scale replica of the Millennium Falcon

At long last, we have some concrete information concerning Mattel’s range of 1:18 scale Elite diecast ships drawn from the Star Wars universe. Six products are slated for a mid-2018 release, among them a TIE fighter, X-Wing fighter and the Millennium Falcon, along with a First Order TIE fighter, Resistance X-Wing fighter, and Pom Dameron’s personal X-Wing fighter, all inspired by the feature film, Star Wars The Force Awakens.

Recreate the exploits of Pom Dameron from the feature film, Star Wars The Force Awakens

We are currently taking pre-orders for all six vehicles but may have to curtail orders should they reach our order threshold already submitted to our distributor.

Share This:

Hobby Master Shows Off Several New Toolings for 2018

Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker-B Multirole Fighter – “Red 36”, 941st IAP, Barents Sea, 1987

While we are still awaiting pricing and some ancillary information, Hobby Master announced today three new toolings for 2018. In the air, the Company unveiled their first ever Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker-B multirole aircraft (HA6001), something we kind of suspected was in the wings after they announced a Su-35 earlier in the year.

Two versions of the M35 2-1.2-ton truck are expected: one in an olive green and a second in a sand scheme

On the ground, two versions of the US M35 2-1/2-ton truck were shown for the first time (HG5701 and HG5702), the successor to the ubiquitous 2-1/2-ton truck first seeing action in World War II. And finally, in a surprise move, the Company displayed their first-ever NASA Orbiter (Space Shuttle), which depicts the Atlantis in 1:200 scale (HL1401). Other new items were also made known, and we hope to have them all listed on our web site by Tuesday, October 17th, once we get the ordering information finalized.

Hobby Master launches itself into space with a 1:200 Orbiter, named after the space shuttle Atlantis
Share This:

Eaglemoss Grapples with the Cylons

Battlestar Galactica Colonial Viper Mark II Fighter [With Collector Magazine]
If you’re a fan of the Battlestar Galactica sci-fi series — and let’s face it, who isn’t — then you’ll be thrilled to learn that Eaglemoss Collections is launching a brand new sci-fi range that focuses on many of the ships depicted in the series. Debuted at this week’s Comic-Con convention here in New York City, the Eaglemoss replicas will likely be larger in size than some of the Star Trek standard-sized starships, and will therefore likely carry a price tag in the $50+ range. We will wait for the manufacturer to roll out their latest web-based showcase before posting SKUs and additional product information, although we are willing to be that each ship will come bundled with a collector magazine like their Star Trek brethren models. Look for the first ships to take on humanity some time in early 2018.

Eaglemoss’ Battlestar Galactica Cylon Raider Ship [With Collector Magazine]
Share This:

Dragon Armor: A Return to its Heyday?

A 1:72 scale M4A3(76) W VVSS Sherman Medium Tank is slated for a December roll out

Typically, Dragon Models announces the availability of new 1:72 scale model kits as a prelude to releasing new pre-assembled replicas a few months later. Earlier today, two intriguing kits were unveiled by the manufacturer: one portraying a WWII-era US M4A3(76) Sherman tank with a VVSS suspension and the other a German early production Tiger I command tank used by famed panzer ace, Michael Wittmann.

Anyone remember these guys? It was vehicles like this that helped set the hobby on fire over a dozen years ago and now it looks like they may be making a return engagement.

If you recall, these pre-assembled vehicles sold out eons ago, snapped up by collectors for their use in wargaming, dioramas and curio cabinets largely for their historical significance. With other vehicles already in the queue, and likely even more bringing up the rear, this comes as welcome news for the hobby, perhaps harkening back to the glory days of collecting Dragon Armor pieces.

Share This:

War Master’s Elves are Hammering Out the Latest Ware for Solido

Solido’s 1:72 scale German Sd. Kfz. 9 Famo Prime Mover and towed 88mm FLak Gun

Produced for french manufacturer Solido, War Master has been busy cobbling together a new sack of diecast goodness, many of which are ideal gifts for the holidays. Here’s what you can expect to nestle under the Christmas tree this December:

SOL7200506 – USMC LAV-25 Piranha Light Armored Vehicle (1:72 Scale)

SOL7200507 – German Flakpanzer IV Wirbelwind Anti-Aircraft Gun – Unidentified Unit, Belgium, 1945 (1:72 Scale)

SOL7200508 – British Cruiser Tank, A27M Cromwell Mk. IV Tank – 7th Armored Division “Desert Rats”, Netherlands, 1945 (1:72 Scale)

SOL7200202 – German Sd. Kfz. 9 Famo Prime Mover and 88mm FLak Gun (1:72 Scale)

SOL7200003 – RAF De Havilland Mosquito FB VI Fighter – Unidentified Unit, India, April 1945 (1:72 Scale)

SOL7200004 – RAF Grumman FM-1 Martlet V Fighter – Operation Torch, North Africa, November 1942 (1:72 Scale)

Aviation buffs will go bats over this RAF De Havilland Mosquito FB VI Fighter – Unidentified Unit, India, April 1945

 

 

 

Share This:

Wings of the Great War: Amiens or Bust

Wings of the Great War’s 1:72 scale British Mk. A “Whippet” Light Tank then attached to B Company, 3rd Tank Brigade, Amiens, France, August 17th, 1918

The Battle of Amiens, France, fought in August 1918 near the tail end of the Great War, has always held special significance for my family since a German regiment, taking its name from a distant relative, was virtually destroyed by advancing Allied armor, specifically two Mark V tanks. So, when Wings of the Great War announced plans to offer a British Whippet light tank that saw action at the same battle, we obviously sat up and took notice.

Whippet’s were first employed in 1917, designed to operate in conjunction with some of their heavier counterparts.

Expected some time in October, the British Mk. A “Whippet” light tank (WW10209) shown here, known as “Firefly”, was attached to the British Army’s B Company, 3rd Tank Brigade, and is now on display at  the Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and Military History in Brussels, Belgium, still showing the damage it took on August 17th, 2018. The Whippet actually saw service for the first time a year prior, when a light tank called the Mark A was ready to be used on the Western Front. Nicknamed the Whippet, it was faster than previous tanks, particularly the ponderous Mark IV, but was still unreliable and vulnerable to artillery fire. Weighing in at 18 tons, it could traverse ground at nearly double the speed of its heavier counterpart, clocking in at a blistering 6 mph.

For more information on the Battle of Amiens, feel free to click on the following link:

https://books.google.com/books?id=B_KBBAAAQBAJ&pg=PT786&lpg=PT786&dq=Composite+Regiment+Dultz&source=bl&ots=90U93uZz9A&sig=50uuBuK-C3q7ro7g6AdagJ80yKs&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwib5N-xkLvWAhVHQSYKHUH6BDQQ6AEITjAJ#v=onepage&q=Composite%20Regiment%20Dultz&f=false

Share This:

ModelCollect Fires Up the Weapons Carriers

ModelCollect’s 1:72 scale German E-100 Panzer Weapons Carrier with Rheintochter 1 Surface-to-Air Missile

While its not clear if there was any true classification for a weapons carrier within the German Army’s framework, that hasn’t stopped ModelCollect from stoking the fires of imagination and offering their own spin on the late war panzers. Earlier today, two new vehicles were introduced into the ModelCollect lineup: the first a E-100 Panzer Weapons Carrier with 128mm Gun (AS72078) and the second a E-100 Panzer Weapons Carrier with a Rheintochter 1 Surface-to-Air Missile (AS72079). 

ModelCollect’s 1:72 scale Soviet T-64AV Main Battle Tank with Explosive Reactive Armor

Furthermore, two more Russian battle tanks were added to their arsenal: the former a Soviet T-64AV Main Battle Tank with ERA (AS72081) while the latter being a T-80UD Main Battle Tank (AS72080). We anticipate delivery some time in November, making them great stocking stuffers for the holiday season.

Share This: