Product Announcements

DeAgostini Exclaims, “Never Say Never Again”

The USS Saratoga may have sunk beneath the waves over seventy years ago, but that doesn’t prevent it from serving in your navy today, provided you order it right away.

We often get asked if sold out items will ever return to stock. Typically we say no, since many items are made in single batches, although we have learned in recent years that some times treasure troves exist, if you turn over enough rocks. Earlier today, we were told that several sold out DeAgostini Warships of the Second World War will be returning to the high seas in November, among them the USS Saratoga, IJN Yamato, and HMS Vanguard, three of the quickest selling warships in the series. Quantities are limited, so if you are interested in procuring any of these favorites, we strongly recommend pre-ordering them now before they make port during the holiday season.

Share This:

Modelcollect Hypothesizes A Strange War-Mongering Future

Chinese modelmaker, Modelcollect, has never been one to shy away from a risky project, churning out a steady diet of unique subjects that other companies seem to sidestep. That said, their latest venture has us a bit baffled, since it seems to stray far from the beaten trail into no-man’s land.

Recently, the company unveiled CAD pix for a new line dubbed Fists of War, which seems to combine familiar WWII-era weapons systems with science fiction. As you can see from the accompanying pictures, one item features what appears to be a King Tiger Ausf. B. Henschel turret and chassis with a multi-legged means of getting around. We aren’t sure if Fists of War is a home grown sci-fi system or one licensed from another company, since we haven’t been able to locate any information on it on the web.

Frankly, we aren’t sure how many of our customers are interested in this new range and how it fits within our present product portfolio, more rooted in historical fact than fiction. As more information is disseminated, we will likely list these items on our site as special order merchandise, meaning we will bring in product only to fill any orders we receive.

Share This:

Eaglemoss Enters the Discovery Zone

Starting early in 2018, a new series of STAR TREK: DISCOVERY starships will launch, with a new ship out every month.

Its long been speculated that Eaglemoss, makers of the Star Trek Starship Series, would have a major role supporting CBS’s upcoming series Star Trek: Discovery. Earlier today it was revealed that Eaglemoss will be producing an entirely new range of starships based in the Discovery universe, all of which will be slightly larger than a standard-sized ship yet smaller than their Large Scale Series. For more information concerning the announcement, warp over to this link: http://herocollector.com/en-gb/Article/coming-soon-star-trek-discovery-starship-collection?utm_campaign=stss&utm_content=&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook

For more information on CBS’s Star Trek: Discovery, set to air on September 24th, stroll over to this site: http://www.cbs.com/shows/star-trek-discovery/

Share This:

Atlas Explains, “Why its Cheaper by the Dozen.” Well, Almost…

Eleven more 1:43 scale Atlas Editions vehicles are being added to our arsenal, all packaged handsomely with acrylic cases and stenciled terrain bases

Eleven more 1:43 scale military vehicles were added to the Atlas Editions juggernaut, all of whom are expected by mid August. While many vehicles have been seen before under different banners (EDG, Schuco, Eaglemoss, etc.), its nice to see they haven’t been permanently retired or left to languish in decaying green pastures. We’ve posted all of the newcomers to our Atlas Editions section and are now taking pre-orders ahead of their arrival next week.

While some vehicles have been offered previously, the Atlas alternatives include some nice gems, such as this Type 82 Kubelwagen in a desert scheme.
Share This:

Dragon Forms Up for the Inevitable Attack

Dragon’s 1:72 scale Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf.F1 “GD” Division, Eastern Front, 1942

Collectors of Dragon Armor know by now that when they see one piece of 1:72 scale armor, there’s eventually more falling in for review several steps behind. Late yesterday, Dragon announced two more pieces of their long out-of-stock PzKpfw IV Ausf. F1 medium tank, a vehicle first introduced into their lineup way back in 2009 and now making an encore appearance eight years later. The first new battle wagon represents a tank that fought with the Grossdeutschland Division on the eastern front (DRR60695), while the second portrays an armored fighting vehicle that was attached to the 1.SS Leibstandarte Regiment then placed in reserve in Germany (DRR60696).

Dragon’s 1:72 scale Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf.F1 LAH Division, Germany, 1942

Both vehicles are earmarked for a September release, 75 years after they were first unleashed on the battlefield back in 1942.

Share This:

PMA Blasts Off this Fall

 

Judging by all of the “paper panzers” Modelcollect was producing over the past few months, and notably their soon-to-be-available V-1 flying bomb, we had erroneously concluded that they would be the first to market with a 1:72 scale replica of the V-2 rocket. Lo and behold, PMA may have beat them to the firing button, announcing, in short order, their plans to offer two different versions of the Vergeltungswaffe 2 this fall. According to their marketing materials, the PMA designed V-2 will come in two flavors: one in the familiar black and white checkerboard-like pattern we’ve seen in countless documentaries (P0321) and a second in a dark green (dunkelgrun) monotone scheme (P0322).

Both versions will come bundled with a field grey Brennstand as well as a Meillerwagen trailer that can be converted into a mobile rocket launcher, and, naturally enough, a tow hook so it can be attached to any of the recent artillery tractors PMA offers. As can be seen from the accompanying imagery, the lower portion of the rocket can also be opened to reveal a segment of the inner mechanism. Pricing for all this is just $49.99 apiece, meaning you get awesome quality, loads of detail and, best-of-all, a subject for your collection rarely examined or offered in pre-assembled form.

In other news, camouflaged versions of their recently released German Sd.Kfz.8 Schwerer Zugkraftwagen 12-Ton Heavy Prime Mover as well as their German Sd.Kfz.8 DB10 Gepanzerte (Armored) 12-Ton Prime Mover are in the works and will likely make it to market later this summer.

Share This:

Air Force 1 Spends Another Night at the Museum

Four more aircraft were added to the Air Force1 Smithsonian series late last week, representing something for everyone no matter the war nor epoch. The quartet includes a 1:72 scale P-51D Mustang (AF10149), 1:200 scale B-17G Flying Fortress heavy bomber (AF10147), 1:144 scale A-10 Warthog (AF10144) and 1:144 F-4C Phantom II (AF10148). Priced at just $24.99 apiece, each are great ways to introduce younger collectors to the hobby and make great stocking stuffers for the upcoming holiday season. Look for them to fly-in during the August-October tome frame.

Share This:

Calibre Wings Hints at More Aircraft for 2018

A trio of new warbirds are slated to join the Calibre Wings air armada, including the vaunted Sukhoi Su-25 “Frogfoot” ground attack aircraft

Some times it doesn’t take much to cause a stir online. Early last night, Calibre Wings posted new pix on their Facebook account, suggesting, in rather subliminal form, that three more warbirds will be added to their foot locker in 2018. The three images include a French Dassault Rafale multirole fighter, Russian Sukhoi SU-25 “Frogfoot” ground attack aircraft and Russian MiG 35 multirole fighter. Earlier in the week, as part of the run-up to the upcoming San Diego Comic Con convention, the Company also indicated plans to offer Robotech merchandise, although this range will be offered to a new distributor that caters to a significantly different market. On the surface, it would appear as if this relatively new manufacturer plans on ramping up in a big way, competing with the likes of Hobby Master, Century Wings and Air Force 1 for their own stake in the modern military space.

Share This:

Modelcollect Calls Out the Cadence: “This is My Rifle, this is My Gun”

Modelcollect’s upcoming 1:72 scale German Flak40 128mm Zwillingsflak Anti-Aircraft Gun

As part of their burgeoning World War II era collection, Modelcollect has added a number of new 1:72 scale products in recent weeks, many of which have never been produced by any other publisher. Take, for instance, this handsome German Flak40 128mm Zwillingsflak Anti-Aircraft Gun (AS72071), routinely founded guarding sensitive areas in the Reich and atop several of the immense Flak Towers located in the heart of Germany and Austria. The Company is already offering a kit-based model of the FLak Tower still in existence in Hamburg, so its anyone’s guess if they will also produce it in pre-assembled form and potentially with crew-served figures.

Modelcollect’s German Jagdpanzer E-100 “Salamander” Heavy Tank Destroyer

Also up for review is this monstrous Jagdpanzer E-100 “Salamander” super heavy tank destroyer (AS72070), something of a conjectural “paper panzer” that never made it off the drawing board yet could have just as easily seen battle had the war dragged on into 1946. Part of the Entwicklung series of standardized panzers the German war planners were working on, the “Salamander” could have easily fended off some of the heavy tanks and destroyers the Allies were fielding at the start of 1945. Goes perfectly with some of the other “paper panzers” that have formed the backbone of their World War II era series.

Share This:

Robo-Wings or Calibre-Tech? You Decide…

 

Just when you thought you had things figured out comes word that one of our newest manufacturers seems to be headed down an unexpected road. Earlier today, Calibre Wings posted a titillating teaser on their Facebook page which indicated, in rather unabashed form, that they will soon be offering Robotech-related merchandise.

Robotech is a science fiction franchise that began with an 85-episode science fiction anime television series cartoon adaptation produced by Harmony Gold USA in association with Tatsunoko Production and first released in the United States in 1985. It was adapted from three original and unrelated – though visually similar – Japanese anime television series (Super Dimension Fortress Macross, Super Dimension Cavalry Southern Cross, and Genesis Climber Mospeada) to make a series suitable for syndication.

In the series, Robotechnology refers to the scientific advances discovered in an alien starship that crashed on a South Pacific island. With this technology, Earth developed robotic technologies, such as transformable mecha, to fight three successive extraterrestrial invasions. (courtesy Wikipedia)

Presently, we have no idea as to what they plan to offer, although the image does hint that more information is forthcoming at the soon-to-debut Comic Con Convention being held in San Diego from July 20th-23rd.

Unveiled at the San Diego Comic Con on July 21st, Calibre Wings’ first pair of Robotech F-14s are shown here.
Share This: