Looking to add more allied fighters to its growing aircraft inventory, Legion announced that they will soon be releasing no less than five different North American P-51B Mustang fighters. Expected later this summer, all five of the models are based upon celebrated aces, running the gamut from Don Gentile to James Howard.
Each model features optional position landing gear, a spinning propeller, historically accurate markings and insignia and a display stand. The quintet of new aircraft have been listed on our website and we are now accepting pre-orders.
Cyber Hobby German Mid Production Sd. Kfz. 161 PzKpfw IV Ausf. H Medium Tank with Schurzen Side Skirts – “Red 624” [Snowy Exterior]
Years ago, when Dragon Armor was at the height of its popularity, we imported a sister line of 1:72 scale armor dubbed Cyber Hobby. Said line featured upscale packaging, limited edition collector cards and oftentimes was based upon vehicles tied to famous tank commanders such as Michael Wittmann and Otto Carius.
Today we learned that some of the latest Cyber Hobby releases will soon be available in the North American market, although supplies will be extremely limited. So limited that we doubt we will be able to list them on several of the after market retail sites we typically use to help promote our product portfolio.
Four vehicles are supposedly going to be made available in this initial batch – two based upon the Panzer IV Ausf J medium tank and another pair based upon the Panzer Ausf. H. We’ve listed the quartet of vehicles under the Cyber Hobby sub section found within our Dragon Armor category. Again, these products will be sold on a first come, first served basis. We’re not certain if the newest Cyber Hobby products will be sold using the same marketing materials as in the past including the limited edition collector cards and metal tins we alluded to earlier. As a guess, they will probably be sold in the black cardboard packaging Dragon has been using for its Neo Dragon Armor line and the vehicles may require some minor assembly work to complete the build.
One final thought. We may have to allocate the Cyber Hobby products should pre-orders exceed our expectations, all in an effort to be fair to as many of our customers as possible. So please don’t get upset if we have to pare down your order once we get a handle as to how many we will need to complete our orders. Also, just because we will be getting these four vehicles does not necessarily mean we will be receiving and selling the entire series henceforth since availability is largely determined by both the manufacturer and our distributor.
Hinted at a few years ago, Forces of Valor has finally unveiled details concerning their upcoming 1:32 scale Ferdinand tank destroyer. Like their Sturmtiger rocket assault mortar, the Ferdinand will feature a removable superstructure so that collectors can peer inside the vehicle and even monkey around with the vehicle’s ammunition, its stowage racks and other pertinent details they ordinarily wouldn’t get to see had the superstructure remained in a fixed position. According to their literature, the Ferdinand will come with two crewmen although neither figure was shown in the preview pictures. It also appears as if the vehicle will not come with removable engines that we assumed would come inside the package and have become a hallmark of the series. As a guess, they were omitted to keep the final cost of the item down to below a manageable price point.
On the downside, it seems as though the Ferdinand will come with a hefty price tag – $189.99, well above either of their previously released Sturmtigers or any of their other 1:32 scale armored fighting vehicles. Interestingly, only a couple of hundred vehicles are being built for each major market and, if their information proves correct, is pegged for a late summer release, perhaps in conjunction with several other new products.
At the recently concluded China Hobby Show, the Company also showed off the next Tiger I heavy tank, which we believe will hit the diecast battlefield as early as this summer. We haven’t listed it for pre-sale just yet as we are awaiting details concerning which unit it severed with and if the retail price has gone through a similar uptick in cost. So, for now, we’ve opened the pre-order window for the Ferdinand and will unveil their newest Tiger I as soon as information is passed along to us.
On a completely separate topic, a collector posted an image of a 1:32 scale US M60A1 Patton tank in what we are calling older Unimax packaging that carries the Green Light Collectibles logo on its front exterior facing.
We are assuming that Green Light is bringing back some of the old Unimax favorites as a means of bolstering their line up and will, presumably, offer these vehicles at a lower cost than their traditional Forces of Valor series. We’ve asked the manufacturer for clarification and hope to get an answer back after we return from vacation towards the second week of May.
Earlier today, Corgi revealed their May through August 2024 new aircraft introductions, the bulk of which have something to do with the D-Day landings of June 1944. We’ve listed most of the latest models discussed in the accompanying video and have opened the pre-order window accordingly. Bear in mind product photos have yet to be provided by the manufacturer so we are guessing that they are still a few months out from hitting the streets. Enjoy!
Dragon’s 1:72 scale German Mid Production Sd. Kfz. 161 PzKpfw IV Ausf. H Medium Tank with Schurzen Side Skirts – “Red 624”, 3.Panzer Division, Ukraine, Summer 1943
No longer content to rest on their laurels, Dragon announced that they were expanding their line of Neo Dragon Armor subjects by adding several new armored fighting vehicles that haven’t been covered prior. Two vehicles were based upon the ubiquitous British M4 Sherman Firefly medium tank while a second pairing took up the late war German PzKpfw IV Ausf. H medium tanks. No firm release dates were listed on the Dragon web site, so we are presuming they’ll hit the streets in late spring or early summer.
Dragon’s 1:72 scale British Sherman Firefly Mk. VC Medium Tank – “Red 71”, 13th/18th Royal Hussars, 27th Armoured Brigade, Normandy, 1944
As is common with Dragon, there’s a good bet that additional vehicles in both ranges will eventually be unveiled, giving the modelmaker the opportunity to extend the viability of the molds so they can make them even more profitable.
Panzerkampf’s 1:72 scale Norwegian Kampfpanzer Leopard 2A4 Main Battle Tank with Detachable Snorkel – Winter Camouflage
Panzerkampf has witnessed great success in the 1:72 scale military vehicle market so it was just a matter of time before they took up an older yet somewhat potent armored fighting vehicle — the Leopard 2A4 main battle tank. The Leopard 2 is a third generation German main battle tank (MBT) that was developed by Krauss-Maffei in the 1970s. It entered service in 1979 and replaced the earlier Leopard 1 as the main battle tank of the West German Army. Various iterations of the Leopard 2 continue to be operated by the armed forces of Germany, as well as 13 other European countries, and several non-European countries, including Canada, Chile, Indonesia and Singapore. Some operating countries have licensed the Leopard 2 design for local production and domestic development.
Panzerkampf’s 1:72 scale Ukrainian Kampfpanzer Leopard 2A4 Main Battle Tank with Detachable Snorkel – Tri-Color Camouflage
The most widespread version of the Leopard 2 family, the 2A4 models included more substantial changes, including an automated fire and explosion suppression system, an all-digital fire control system able to handle new ammunition types, and an improved turret with flat titanium/tungsten armor. The Leopard 2s were manufactured in eight batches between 1985 and 1992. All the older models were upgraded to 2A4 standard. Until 1994, Germany operated a total of 2,125 2A4s (695 newly built and the rest modified older versions), while the Netherlands had an additional 445 tanks. The 2A4 was licensed and manufactured in Switzerland as the Panzer 87 “Leopard” or Pz 87. This version included Swiss-built 7.5 mm MG 87 machine guns and communications equipment and featured an improved NBC protection system. Switzerland operated 380 Pz 87 tanks.
Panzerkampf’s 1:72 scale German Kampfpanzer Leopard 2A4 Main Battle Tank with Detachable Snorkel – Winter Camouflage
After 2000, Germany and the Netherlands found themselves with large stocks of tanks that they had no need for after the Cold War. These tanks were sold to NATO or friendly armies around the world. Among these buyers of the surplus tanks were Turkey (purchasing 354 vehicles), Greece (183), Sweden (160), Chile (140), Finland (139), Poland (128), Austria (114), Spain (108), Canada (107), Indonesia (103), Singapore (96), Norway (52), Denmark (51), and Portugal (37).
Panzerkampf’s 1:72 scale German Kampfpanzer Leopard 2A4 Main Battle Tank with Detachable Snorkel – Tri-Color Camouflage
A successful design by any measure, the Leopard 2A4 has become the latest subject of Panzerkampf’s well-heeled diecast army. Not only will the latest replica faithfully replicate every feature of the 2A4, but it will also include a detachable snorkel, which was used to let the vehicle ford streams and some minor rivers.. Four versions will make the cut, including one based upon a vehicle handed over to the Ukrainian Army to defend its sovereign territory against the Federal Republic of Russia. Look for their latest combat vehicle to storm the battlefield later this Spring.
As is customary with Corgi, the Company discussed plans for the next few months with a slick video that was uploaded to YouTube. According to the Corgi brand manager, several new aircraft are in the wings, including a Junkers Ju-88C bomber. Towards the end of the presentation, the spokesperson indicated that a Messerschmitt Me 410 heavy fighter is currently in production. While no word was mentioned regarding its price and release date, the Me 410 is certainly one of those subjects that have been routinely requested by their clientele and, to the best of our knowledge, no other modelmaker has plans to produce for the foreseeable future.
In a related development, Paramount acknowledged that they are discussing the third installment in their highly-acclaimed Top Gun movie franchise. Considering the success of Corgi’s Showcase series of Top-Gun-themed merchandise, its a good bet that the modelmaker will once again look to court Paramount with licensing so that they can continue to produce an assortment of Top Gun-related merchandise.
We’ve been in touch with our supplier for the AFVs of WWII series and passed along our suggestions for the next set of tanks for the coming year. Many of the vehicles are based upon requests we’ve received over the years, so sales should be brisk once they get the nod of approval and hit the production line. We will keep everyone informed regarding their progress as information is passed along to us.
Oxford’s British BL 14-inch Railway Howitzer and Rod 2330 0-6-0 Locomotive with Coal Tender Set – “Boche Buster”
Over the weekend, we learned that Oxford Diecast is bringing back two favorites that have long been sold out. The first is a 1:76 scale British BL 14-inch Railway Howitzer that was dubbed “Boche Buster” while the second is a more upscale version that includes the rail gun, Rod 2330 0-6-0 Locomotive and coal tender. In the past, both sold well at retail and we had been agitating for their return to the fold over the years. Apparently someone is listening and we are now taking pre-orders for both sets. Presently, we do not have a release date for either set, so we are presuming they’ll be rolled out in the latter half of 2024.
Panzerkampf’s 1:72 scale Russian Mil Mi-24V Hind Attack Helicopter – “Yellow 05”, 262nd Separate Helicopter Squadron, Limited Contingent of Soviet Forces, Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, 1988
When they released a trio of CH-53 helicopters several years ago, rotary-wing collectors immediately sat up in their cockpits, wondering if Panzerkampf could go one step further by producing a Russian-built Mil Mi-24 Hind. Bristling with all manner of rockets, missiles and gun pods, the Hind is one of those iconic helicopters of the Cold War that came to symbolize the power the Red Army was attempting to project over their adversaries in the West, a sword of Damocles, if you will, that was never quite brought down upon their NATO foes. Looking back, the Hind was to the Soviet Union what the Apache was to the United States – a nap-of-the-earth tank killer that was capable of dealing out death and destruction at a moment’s notice, only to slip behind a tree or building to avoid being detected and destroyed itself. Heavier than the Apache and capable of ferrying troops to the forward edge of the battlefield, it was viewed by many as a flying tank, able to withstand all manner of ground fire while serving up a crescendo of firepower all its own.
Forty years after they first appeared in the Soviet’s inventory, only Easy Model has, to date, offered a Hind in fully assembled form. Nice to ogle, the Easy Model rendition was made of plastic and, as a result, never quite able to demonstrate the heft that came with a fully laden Hind. So getting a modelmaker — any modelmaker — to create one in diecast form became a clarion call from legions of rotor heads, who, as it turned out, waited patiently for a response from Panzkerkampf to see if they could answer the call to battle.
Panzerkampf’s 1:72 scale Czech Air Force Mil Mi-24V Hind Attack Helicopter – “White 0815”,221st Helicopter Squadron, 22nd Wing, Namest, Czech Republic [Tiger Meet Scheme]
Fortunately, Panzerkampf picked up the gauntlet a year or so ago and decided they could not only build the monstrosity but offer it in multiple liveries. In fact, two Hinds are expected this January — one, quite naturally clad in a Soviet scheme indicative of its deployment against the Mujahideen in Afghanistan in the late 1980s. The second portrays a Czech-operated Hind, a former ally of the Soviet Union that still had them in their inventory when the Cold War ended in the early 90s. The Czech version was an interesting choice for Panzerkampf and portrays a chopper that took part in NATO’s regularly held Tiger Meet competition that has been drawn from different NATO nations for the better part of several decades.
As it stands right now, both versions are slated for a January take off. The pre-order window is now open and we expect both versions to sell extremely well at retail now that Panzerkampf has confirmed their imminent release.
