Long a player in the fixed wing aviation market, Altaya recently announced that 36 1:72 scale helicopters were in the hopper and headed to the North American market, just in time for the holiday season. The list of choppers is quite impressive, covering everything from attack helos to utility transports. All of the models have now been posted to our web site and we anticipate taking delivery by the end of September.
Atlas Editions is finally making available their esteemed 1:72 scale Fighters of World War II collection to the North American market. Similar in scope to Oxford’s budget-minded line of military aircraft, the Atlas range showcases fifteen different pilots who made a direct impact on the war effort on both sides of the ledger. Featuring diecast construction, retracted landing gear, spinning propellers, authentic markings and insignia, and a stenciled display stand, these aircraft are a perfect way to introduce new collectors into the diecast military space and a fitting tribute to the men and machines that fought valiantly in the skies over the battlefields of the Second World War.
In the air, look forward to shaking hands with their first ever F-35C Joint Strike Fighter (HA6201), which is larger than both the A and B versions and boasts stronger landing gear to deal with violent catapult launches and high-speed captured landings. Also expected are the following:
1:48 Scale German Messerschmitt Bf 109E-3 Fighter – Hans-Joachim Marseille, I.Jagd/Lehrgeschwader 2, Calais-Marck, France, September 1940 (HA8706)
1:48 Scale USAAF North American P-51D Mustang Fighter – 3rd Fighter Squadron (Commando), 3rd Fighter Group, Philippines, 1945 (HA7740)
1:72 Scale USAF Lockheed-Martin F-22 Raptor Air Dominance Fighter – 95th Fighter Squadron “Boneheads”, 325th Fighter Wing, RAF Lakenheath, England, April 2016 [Low-Vis Scheme] (HA2819)
1:72 Scale) USAF Lockheed F-117A Stealth Fighter-Bomber – 53rd Test and Evaluation Group, Detachment 1, 53rd Wing, Holloman AFB, New Mexico, 2004 (HA5804)
1:72 Scale US Navy Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet Strike Fighter – 166957, VX-9 “Vampires”, Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, California, 2018 (HA5109)
1:72 Scale) German Sd. Kfz. 7 8-Ton Personnel Carrier / Prime Mover – Summer Camouflage (HG5004)
1:72 Scale German Sd. Kfz. 7 8-Ton Personnel Carrier / Prime Mover – Winter Camouflage (HG5006)
Long a player in the military aviation and armored fighting vehicle market, Solido announced that it was going to give the rotary wing market a go with its first ever model of a helicopter. Scheduled for a September lift off, their first foray portrays a Bell UH-1B Huey utility helicopter as it saw service in Vietnam in 1964 (SOL7200010). Also expected in September is a Lavochkin La-7 fighter, which was pressed into service by the Soviets during their WWII-era struggle with Germany (SOL7200008). Interestingly, no new vehicles were included in the showing, leading several to wonder if more combat vehicles are on the docket for the rest of 2018.
While they’ve never actually provided a back story to their proprietary Fist of War universe, Modelcollect did acknowledge today that the pseudo sci-fi series is being pushed out by another year into 1947. The Fist of War: Battle of the Bulge December 1946-January 1947 presupposes that a second war in the Ardennes Forest occurs between the radicalized Nazi forces and the beefed up Allied war machine. Lots more qudrapeds take to the fields of battle as do the more traditional tanks, now sporting heavier armor, larger armament and the newest in technological advances. No new vehicles were announced as part of this line extension, although we’re willing to bet that several are already on the drawing board.
In other news, the manufacturer indicated late last week that they were getting into the flying saucer game, with plans on building a Haunebu Nazi flying machine in the days ahead. The blueprint, shown here, looks significantly different to the one already created by Luft-X, meaning other Wunderwaffe projects are likely in the offing, thereby giving Luft-X a run for the money in the “What-If” category.
Precision Model Art (PMA) has been rather quiet of late and with good reason. It looks as though the Company has elected to hit the ground running on the hot desert sands of North Africa with their first ever take on the Long Range Desert Group patrol vehicle. Offered up in two paint schemes (P0325 and P0326), the LRDG vehicles come with removable bonnets and entrenching tools, making them ideal for dioramas or wargaming battles. Best of all, both vehicles are scheduled for a third quarter release, and will likely be joined with crew figures to give them an even more realistic look.
Keep in mind that these bonus starships, which are not part of the standard starship range, sell very quickly and oftentimes command prices far in excess of their original asking price.
Looking to build out a number of categories, add significant line extensions and provide imagery for many of its upcoming projects, Hobby Master showed off a wide array of new items due out later this year. Of note is their first ever F-35C variant of the Joint Strike Fighter (HA6201), which is a bit larger than either the A or B models and features reinforced landing gear aimed at withstanding the rigors of catapult launches and short-landing recoveries. On the ground, several new 1:72 scale military vehicles are being added to the roster, including a pair of late model Centurion tanks and a British Achilles tank destroyer wearing a flocked winter camouflage scheme (HG3422).
Many of the new products are earmarked for an October release, as well as several additions slated for a January fly-in.
With Hobby Master testing the helicopter market and established players such as Forces of Valor and Corgi continuing to provide vertical envelopment, Air Force 1 has quietly staked its own claim the to the rotary wing arena. This summer, two renditions of the ubiquitous Sikorsky Black Hawk helicopter are slated to drop in, each looking to provide a different take on the workhorse of US combat forces.
Firs up is this US Navy Sikorsky MH-60 Knighthawk Helicopter, which was attached to HSC-2 “Fleet Angels”, then deployed to NAS Norfolk, VA during 2008 (AF10090A). The multimission Sikorsky MH-60S Knighthawk helicopter entered service in February 2002. The US Navy is expected to acquire a total of 237 of the MH-60S helicopters, to carry out missions such as vertical replenishment, combat search and rescue, special warfare support and airborne mine countermeasures.
The helicopter began full-rate production in August 2002. As of January 2011 52 MH-60R and 154 MH-60S helicopters were in the service with the US Navy. First deployment of the new helicopter took place on board USS Essex, Wasp Class amphibious assault ship, in January 2003 and a number of MH-60S helicopters were deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
The helicopter was originally designated CH-60S, as a replacement for the US Navy’s Boeing CH-46D Sea Knight heavy-lift helicopters in the vertical replenishment role. The helicopter was redesignated MH-60S as a result of an expansion in mission requirements to include a range of additional combat support capabilities. Retirement of the US Navy Sea Knights concluded in September 2004.
Later this summer, expect to lay claim to this US Sikorsky HH-60M (MEDEVAC) Black Hawk Helicopter, which was attached to the 377th Medical Company (Air Ambulance), then deployed to South Korea during April 2007. The HH-60M Black Hawk helicopter is a medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) version of the UH-60M Black Hawk multi-mission helicopter. Built by Sikorsky Aircraf for the US Army, the helicopter is designed to evacuate wounded troops from the battlefield.
The HH-60M helicopter is integrated with medical evacuation mission equipment package (MEP) kit. It provides aerial medical support and ambulatory patient transport services. The helicopter can be reconfigured to carry out missions including personnel transport, search and rescue, resupply, aerial reconnaissance, cargo transport, and wild fire suppression.
Both helicopters are ruggedly constructed out of diecast metal and feature free-spinning rotors, sliding side access doors, accurate markings and insignia and a sturdy display stand.
Manfred von Richthofen, a.k.a. “The Red Baron”, is perhaps the most famous flier in military history, and certainly the most celebrated pilot of WWI. He is considered, as Wikipedia points out, the ace-of-aces of the war, being officially credited with 80 air combat victories.
Originally a cavalryman, Richthofen transferred to the Air Service in 1915, becoming one of the first members of fighter squadron Jagdstaffel 2 in 1916. He quickly distinguished himself as a fighter pilot, and during 1917 became leader of Jasta 11 and then the larger fighter wing unit Jagdgeschwader 1, better known as “The Flying Circus” or “Richthofen’s Circus” because of the bright colours of its aircraft, and perhaps also because of the way the unit was transferred from one area of allied air activity to another – moving like a travelling circus, and frequently setting up in tents on improvised airfields. By 1918, Richthofen was regarded as a national hero in Germany, and respected by his enemies.
Richthofen was shot down and killed near Vaux-sur-Somme on April 21st, 1918. There has been considerable discussion and debate regarding aspects of his career, especially the circumstances of his death.
To commemorate the death of the “ace-of-aces”, Corgi has commissioned this special edition 1:48 scale tribute to the man and his machine (AA38308). Due in early July, Corgi’s rendition of the Dridecker bears all the hallmark detail you’ve come to expect from this legendary model maker, including wire rigging, free-spinning propeller, sturdy display stand and even the “Red Baron” himself, seated behind the controls of his fighter, ready to take on his next opponent.
