Product Announcements – Page 48 – The Motor Pool

Century Wings Latest (Tom)cat on a Hot Tin Roof

For the last few years, Century Wings seems content to rely upon a pair of replica aircraft to see them through the global recession, reaping the rewards of two toolings produced well over a decade ago. While the strategy has worked, other competitors have crept into their wheelhouse, offering similar, if slightly cheaper versions of their bread-and-butter mainstays to woo away some of their audience. Be that as it may, the Company has announced yet another F-14 Fleet Defense Fighter aimed at a holiday take off, this time based upon a “D” variant which flew with its final cruise with VF-104 “Blacklions”, then embarked upon the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) back in 2006 (CW001617). Thus far, only a line art drawing has been provided to the trade, so we anticipate a completed mock up in the weeks ahead.

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Atlas Turns a Mess into its Message

We recognize that a great many of our customers were unable to obtain the recently released Eaglemoss 1:43 scale US GMC Wrecker Truck because, we, and other retailers, were short-shipped this item. Fortunately, Atlas Editions, the original makers of the replica, has put together its own “Lend-Lease Program” of sorts, by making available this truck once again in its original form and in its original packaging (ATL269002). Expected in November, the GMC Wrecker is one of those vehicles that formed an integral part of the US Army during WWII, oftentimes tasked with rescuing and recovering broken down equipment in the field and bringing them back to the field workshops for overhaul.

We aren’t expecting all that many pieces to show up with the holiday fixings, so we strongly recommend pre-ordering this vehicle as soon as possible to avoid being shut out of this sale a second time around.

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Mirror, Mirror, on the Eaglemoss Wall

Eaglemoss has announced plans to offer a new subsidiary line of starships based upon some of the “mirror universe” episodes connected to the Star Trek shows. The inaugural product will be the ISS Enterprise (NCC-1701), although no date has been set for its release.

In other matters, the Company has put together its first multi-pack gift set, just in time for the brisk holiday shopping season, and featuring three of its most recent releases (ST0046, ST0048 and ST0050). Instead of three saddle-stitch collector magazines, the set will come bundled with a thicker perfect bound edition, pooling together information found in all three individual Enterprise infotainment tales. Other similarly conceived gift sets are no doubt in the making.

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Prinz Eugen Sorties with the Eaglemoss Fleet

Pronounced “Oygen”, the German heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen is the latest ship to join the vast Eaglemoss Warships of the World armada. The third member of the five ship Admiral Hipper-calss heavy cruisers, she was also the largest German warship to survive the war despite seeing extensive service through out the conflict. Named after Prince Eugene of Savoy, an 18th-century Austrian general, the Prinz Eugen was involved in Operation Rheinubung with the Bismarck, Operation Cerberus and the Norwegian operations, as well as several Baltic exercises. Look for the Prinz Eugen to set sail with the Eaglemoss fleet later this year.

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Atlas Puts its Wolf Pack Tactics to Work

In WWII, German Grand Admiral Karl Doenitz developed what he called “Rudeltaktik” (Wolf Pack Naval Tactics) as a means of gathering up his scant undersea assets to hunt down and sink the Allied convoys bound for Great Britain. Atlas Editions is using much the same strategy for its growing fleet of submarine replicas, pulling together seven submarines for a September slugfest.

The list of submarines is quite varied, ranging from a French cruising submarine to a gigantic Imperial Japanese Navy I-401 aircraft carrying boat. The I-401 even has two stowed and one fully deployed float plane on its deck. Several German U-Boats, British subs and the first US Balao-class hunter killer are also coming into range, all designed to silently prey upon the military-themed, diecast collecting community. Dive, dive!

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Century Wings Fleet of SR-71s Continues to Grow

Yes, Virginia, from time-to-time we do publish blog posts related to actual replicas. In the case of Century Wings, the Company has revealed photos of its upcoming Lockheed SR-71A Blackbird (CW001616). This version represents SSN #1-7958 “Ichi Ban”, which was attached to the 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, then deployed out of Beale AFB, CA, during 1990.

Originally slated for an October touchdown, we’ve heard that it has now been delayed until November, and will feature slightly revised packaging than in the past. These aircraft typically sell out as soon as they arrive, particularly when they are expected during the height of the holiday season.

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Merit Opts to Drive Into Harm’s Way

It’s been an especially long time since we were able to announce a new super-sized, pre-assembled vehicle to our collecting community but happily one seems to have surfaced. Merit International informs us that they plan to release a 1:16 scale Oshkosh M-ATV Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) this fall, fully built, fully painted and fully ready to take on any Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) their customers might have ready for them (MIL68605). The MRAP is one of those vehicles that came out of the Army’s need for a vehicle that could withstand the blast from a roadside explosive device after a number of Humvees and other lighter, less protected vehicles were destroyed during Operation Enduring Freedom. Its also a vehicle many collectors have been after for some time, in any scale, so its especially welcome news that Merit plans on doing it right and in a big way. Priced at just $159.99, this beefy vehicle is expected some time this fall. Due to its size, it does not qualify for our free shipping discount. We will post actual photos of the replica once they are provided to us.

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Hobby Master has a Remedy for the Winter Doldrums

Earlier this week, Hobby Master disclosed what they have in store for January 2016. Several intriguing new liveries are being worked on, including this commemorative 75th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain scheme adorning a Canadian Cf-18 Hornet (HA3526).

Other notable entrants include two Israeli warplanes – one based upon a F-15 Baz flown by the “Knights of the Twin Tail” squadron (HA4505) and an E-2C Hawkeye flown by a reconnaissance squadron (HA4805). All of the new replicas have been listed on our web site and are now available for pre-sale.

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Eaglemoss Orders General Quarters for the HMS Hermes

At the outset of the War in the Pacific in 1941, the Allies were woefully unprepared to take on the Imperial Japanese Navy operating in the Indian Ocean and western Pacific waters. One of the victims of the Japanese centrifugal offensive was the British aircraft carrier, HMS Hermes (95), which was sunk by Japanese dive-bombers on April 9th, 1942, after setting sail without its complement of aircraft on board.

Happily, Eaglemoss rendition of this venerable warship will feature some of its warplanes deployed on its flight deck, with the ship resplendent in a tropical tri-color camouflage pattern. Look for their newest entry in the Warships of the World Collection some time later this year.

On a related nautical note, four warships are expected to drop anchor at our port in early August. The list includes IJN battleship Musashi (EMGC04), IJN heavy cruiser Furutaka (EMGC27), IJN destroyer Fubuki (EMGC39), and the Marine Nationale battleship Dunkerque (EMGC43), the first French warship in the series.

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Corgi Gets Swept Away by a Typhoon

Long asked for but never truly addressed, Corgi finally has a pair of Eurofighter Typhoons scheduled to attack the diecast community.

Two versions of the multirole fighter are expected later this year – one paying tribute to a warbird that participated in “Operation Ellamy” to bring down the Lybian regime in 2011 (AA36406) and the other paying homage to the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain (AA36407). Both look quite handsome and make great additions to anyone’s aviation collection.

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