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.
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 moverThe effects of weathering and detailed workmanship can be seen in this close-up of the Gepanzerte
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.
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
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.
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
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.
Every so often, we receive press releases regarding new product announcements that give us pause for consideration but nevertheless take a pass on for any number of reasons. Yesterday we learned that our friends over at Aiken’s Airplanes had entered into a partnership agreement with Merit International to release a 1:18 scale Avenger torpedo plane that was flown by former President George H. W. Bush during the closing stages of WWII. According to the press release, “this model features a moving canopy with cockpit detail, movable flaps, movable landing gears, positional torpedo bay doors folding wings, and includes the pilot, top gunner and belly gunner.”
At long last, Dragon resurfaces with a new piece of armor: a 1:72 scale Pz. Kpfw. IV Ausf D. medium tank – – 3.Kompainie, Panzer-Regiment 3, 2.Panzer Division, Western Front, 1940 (DRR60693)
“The objective of offensive Yellow is to deny Holland and Belgium to the English by swiftly occupying them; to defeat, by an attack through Belgium and Luxembourg territory, the largest possible forces of the Anglo-French army, and thereby to pave the way for the destruction of the military strength of the enemy. The main weight of the attack across Belgium and Luxembourg will be south of the line Liege-Charleroi. Forces engaged north of this line will break through the Belgian frontier forces. Continuing the attack westwards they will parry any immediate threats to the Ruhr Basin from northeastern Belgium, and will divert to themselves the strongest possible Angle-french forces. Forces operation south of the line Liege-Charleroi will force a passage of the Meuse River between Dinant and Sedan (both inclusive) and will advance through the French frontier defenses towards the Somme estuary.”
– Fuhrer Directive No. 10, February 1940
We were beginning to wonder if Dragon was backing out of the preassembled military vehicle space, much as they have done in other categories over the past few years. Then, this morning, we noticed that they posted a brand new piece of Dragon Armor diecast to their website, one based upon a Pz. Kpfw. IV Ausf. D medium tank (DRR60693). According to their web site, this new piece of long awaited military memorabilia is slated for a May appearance, perhaps in conjunction with the 77th anniversary of the Wehrmacht’s invasion of France and the Low Countries in 1940. Guess we will have to wait and see. Interestingly, the wholesale price for a typical Dragon Armor piece has dropped appreciably, which had been creeping up in cost for a couple of years. This could, perhaps, point to good things for Dragon Armor aficionados, who were forced to shell out more and more as the sheet cost inched skywards. Taking a page from their playbook, we expect Dragon will be announcing a bunch of other Pz. Kpfw IV Ausf. D medium tanks, so stay tuned for further announcements in the days and weeks ahead.
German Sd. Kfz. 161 PzKpfw IV Ausf. D Medium Tank – 4.Kompanie, Panzer-Regiment 7, 10.Panzer Division, France, 1940 (DRR60694)
Solido’s all-new FAMO prime mover and towed 88mm FLaK gun, likely reaching the diecast battlefield this summer
There seems to be some confusion of late whether to call the new 1:72 scale military range produced by War Master for french manufacturer Solido, War Master products or Solido, since both marques appear on the packaging. Be that as it may, we’ve caught wind of some of their newest models likely scheduled for a summer release, which continue to introduce a wide array of combatants and their weapons of war to the 1:72 scale regime. Among them are this German FAMO prime mover hauling a 88mm FLaK gun. Also expected is a German Wirbelwind Anti-Aircraft gun, a British Cromwell tank, a USMC LAV-25 Piranha light armored vehicle and French LeClerc T5 Main battle tank. In the air, look for a British De Havilland Mosquito and Grumman Martlet fighter.
