Product Announcements

Amercom’s Ships of War Collection

Amercom’s Ships of War 1:1000 scale rendition of the battleship, USS Massachusetts

There was a time, not too long ago, when model makers seemed to steer clear of pre-assembled warships in favor of pumping out military vehicles, aircraft and helicopters. Now, it appears as if everyone is jumping on the maritime bandwagon, recognizing the success of some series, importance of replicating warships from a historical stand point, and perhaps taking a page from today’s headlines, as more and more nations are rearming, particularly on the high seas.

A partworks series, we’re keeping our fingers crossed that the collection will eventually be picked up by a North American distributor and thus make these fabulous models available to North American collectors

Amercom is the latest player in the diecast military warship space, offering a partworks series of World War II-themed ships from amongst all the world’s navies. Unlike the Eaglemoss series, which essentially offers 1:1250 scale Japanese-centric ships that are paired with full-color magazines written in Japanese, the all-new Polish-based Amercom series features a more proportional range of warships from around the world rendered in a slightly larger 1:1000 scale, and are accompanied with beautifully illustrated magazines written for the English-speaking market. Thus far, the series is available from news agents in both Australia/New Zealand and the United Kingdom, but it shouldn’t be too long before the collection makes its way over to the much larger North American market.

Note: As of this writing (May 1st, 2017), seventeen warships have been announced and we anticipate the series could grow to as many as 60 ships or more, depending upon the success of the series.

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A New Squadron Sets Sail from Eaglemoss

 

The Imperial Russian Navy takes up arms in support of the Eaglemoss Warships of the World series with the Borodino

Four more warships have left their home port and are currently underway to us, expected early next week. The latest quartet of warships include:

  • EMGC61 – Imperial Russian Navy Borodino Class Battleship – Borodino [With Collector Magazine] (1:1100 Scale)
  • EMGC66 – Imperial Japanese Navy Mogami Class Heavy Cruiser – Suzuya [With Collector Magazine] (1:1100 Scale)
  • EMGC68 – Imperial Japanese Navy Kuma Class Light Cruiser – Kuma [With Collector Magazine] (1:1100 Scale)
  • EMGC74 – Imperial Japanese Navy Chitose Class Light Aircraft Carrier – Chitose [With Collector Magazine] (1:1100 Scale)
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The Hobby Master Armored Corps Receives Some Sorely Needed Reinforcements

Hobby Master’s first ISU-122 self propelled gun is based on the “S” variant

It was beginning to look as if Hobby Master had gotten out of the military vehicle game for good. Happily, that may have changed this week, with the announcement of a new 1:72 scale armored vehicle: a Soviet ISU-122S self propelled gun (HG7020). Drawn from the ISU-122 family of assault guns, the ISU-122S variant features the faster-firing D-25 gun. Interestingly, D-25S gun production was prioritized to be fitted to IS-2s, but as more became available in late 1944, they were fitted to the ISU hull. This variant passed trials in late 1944 and was referred to as the Object 249 or ISU-122-2. Its rate of fire was now 2-3 shots per minute, and even 4 shots per minute with experienced loaders.

The easiest way to spot this variant is by the double baffle muzzle brake or by the ball-shaped gun mantlet. The D-25S’ muzzle brake reduced the recoil force from firing the gun and made working conditions better for the crew, as well as allowing a smaller, lighter gun mantlet being mounted, but with the same effective armor protection due to its round shape. 675 ISU tanks were fitted with the D-25 gun, but because of the huge stocks of the A-19, both the ISU-122 and ISU-122S were produced until the end of 1945.

Look for the inaugural ISU-122 assault gun to reach the battlefield some time in October.

 

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Brickmania Snaps Together Gotterdammerung Month

Brickmania’s Gotterdamerung month showcases many of the most iconic weapons of WWII, all in brick form

The more I look at these images, videos and sets, the more I get blown away. Earlier today, Lego posted a brand new video entitled Brickmania Gotterdammerung April 2017, in which several new sets were shown for the first time, all in animated form. Frankly, I’m not clear if I’m more amazed by the user-created videos or the sets themselves, a far cry from what I remember Lego sets to be from the 60s and 70s. I guess I’m dating myself, but these sets are super cool, and what’s been done to breathe new life into this genre is simply fantastic.

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PMA Decides to Do Some Heavy Lifting This Summer

German Sd.Kfz. 8 12-ton heavy prime mover in feldgrau (field grey)

As a natural extension to their previously released Sd.Kfz.8 series of prime movers affixed with FLaK guns, Precision Model Art announced their intent to produce two more similarly conceived vehicles. The first (P0315) represents a heavy prime mover (Schwerer Zugkraftwagen) with bench seating for the gun crew and painted in an early war field grey. The alternative vehicle is a Gepanzerte or armored prime mover (P0316), better protected against small arms fire on the battlefield and even equipped with a pair of MG-34 machine guns fore and aft.

The heavy prime mover requires some minor assembly and is designed to showcase some of its fantastic interior detail

Both vehicles are expected in June and, as we’ve come to expect from PMA based upon past experience, will likely be followed up shortly with other liveries.

German Sd.Kfz. 8 12-ton heavy prime mover
The effects of weathering and detailed workmanship can be seen in this close-up of the Gepanzerte
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Forces of Valor Takes Aim at Two Theatres of War

Waltersons upcoming 88mm FLaK gun will come in two flavors, including an all-new DAK scheme

On their Facebook page, Waltersons acknowledged plans to release two different versions of their German 88mm Flak gun: one will likely be patterned off of an existing livery, likely an early war field grey or whitewashed version, while the second replica will be based on a gun used in North Africa by the Deutsches Afrika Korps. Interestingly, the second version will come with a complement of eight figures instead of the usual five, one being the Desert Fox himself, Erwin Rommel. The other additional figures are ammunition proximity fuse operators. Its also not clear if the DAK version will be priced the same as the early war version, seeing as it boasts three additional painted figures. So, for now, we’ve listed the DAK version on our site at the same price as the grey one, until we hear otherwise. We’re guessing that Waltersons will also produce two versions of the Sd Kfz. 7 prime mover, which was used to tow the guns, both in the same schemes as the 88mm FLaK guns. Time will tell if we are correct.

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Dragon Gets Back on the Armored Band Wagon

Look for Dragon’s first-ever Sturmgeschutz Ausf. F assault gun some time in June

After laying low for nearly two years, it would appear as if Dragon is back in the 1:72 scale armor game, releasing a bevy of new vehicles over the course of the last two weeks. Another pair of vehicles were announced last night, one based upon a previously released mold and the other a brand new caisson. The first is a Panzer IV Ausf. G medium tank, whitewashed and bereft of any side armor signifying it was attached to the 3.SS Panzer Division, then deployed to the Eastern Front during early spring 1943 (DRR60699).

The latter vehicle is an inaugural Sturmgeschutz Ausf. F assault gun, used by Sturmgeschutz Abteilung 201 during the opening stages of the War in the East (DRR60511). According to Dragon’s web site, both vehicles are scheduled for a June release.


Dragon resurrects their Panzer IV Ausf. G mold this summer with this handsome whitewashed tank
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Eaglemoss Reboots Star Trek Beyond with the Swarm Ship

An over-sized Swarm ship from the movie Star Trek Beyond

While most Trekkies no doubt expected a rendition of the USS Franklin as part of the Eaglemoss Star Trek Universe, it was a bit of a surprised when the Company announced plans to offer an over-sized replica of one of the Swarm Ships. Measuring 8 inches in length and capable of carrying two crewmen, the Swarm ship were employed in large numbers on Altamid by the planet’s original inhabitants sometime prior to the 2160s. In the year 2263, Krall used his swarm to attack the Federation starship USS Enterprise under the command of Captain James T. Kirk. Approaching the Enterprise in orbit of Altamid, these ships initially appeared to be one large vessel, emitting an unidentifiable signal, but quickly separated and attacked in a coordinated effort to disable the Constitution-class ship. Surrounding and ramming it repeatedly, these ships inflicted serious damage on the Enterprise, first severing its warp nacelles before finally separating its primary hull from its secondary hull.

Look for the Swarm ship to make an encore appearance some time in September.

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Calibre Wings Looks to Take the Tomcat to the Next Level

The first trio of F-14s collectors can expect to add to their Tomcat pantheon

Perhaps looking to catch up with Century Wings in one fell swoop, newcomer Calibre Wings posted an intriguing graphic to their Facebook page indicating they plan to offer six more F-14 schemes within the “forseeable future.” They also also indicated that their first pairing of F-14s — announced in early 2016 — have been delayed until May of this year, no doubt running into some unexpected production snags along the way, and that their second element has been pushed back to August. Apparently, they are very confident that their F-14 mold and its attendant accessories will unseat Century Wings as the reigning king of Tomcat producers, so we will have to see if the proof is indeed in the pudding some time next month.

The second trio of F-14s collectors can expect to add to their Tomcat pantheon
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Wings of the Great War Dons a Scarf, Gloves and Medals

A trio of new WWI fighters from Wings of the Great War

Wings of the Great War has steadily produced a diet of fantastic WWI fliers, so it came as no surprise earlier today that they would get around to creating aircraft based upon some of the famous fliers of World War I. Three iconic aircraft have been added to the collection – a Fokker F1 flown by Lt. Werner Voss of Jasta 10 (WW12004), a Nieuport 28C.1 piloted by 2nd Lt. Ralph A. O’Neill attached to 147th Aero Squadron (WW13003), and finally a new tooling based upon a S.E.5a operated by Capt. Albert Ball of No. 56 Squadron. All three new aircraft have been posted to our site, with anticipated ship dates ranging from July to September.

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