Long serving as the manufacturing arm for Blitz 72, PMA has stepped out of the shadows and is now producing its own line of 1:72 scale military hardware. Expected in September is this Sd. Kfz. 8 DB9 prime mover which mounts a FlaK 18 88mm anti-aircraft gun on the rear bed. Painted in a whitewashed camouflage scheme and bearing loads of incredible detail, this main stay of the Wehrmacht fills a niche long neglected by the other model makers.
Product Announcements
Fight’s On: Hobby Master Puts On its Boxing Gloves
With 15 years in this business, we ordinarily take any news we come across with a grain of salt, particularly when new products are announced, since they sometimes end up as no more than pipe dreams or chest-beating rants by boastful manufacturers. However, when Hobby Master announced their intent to offer a 1:72 scale replica of the Grumman F-14 Fleet Defense Fighter, we sat up and took notice. Hobby Master has been one of the most reliable model makers in business today, while one of their rivals, Century Wings, is equally well-respected, largely confining its efforts towards producing a narrow gaggle of aircraft. The F-14 has always been one of Century Wings most passionate projects, with something on the order of 35 different aircraft released to date. Some command a small fortune in the after market, prized for their accuracy and limited runs.
Hobby Master’s first effort will be based upon a bird that was used by the commanding officer of VF-211 “Fighting Checkmates”, which was embarked upon the USS Enterprise (CVN-65) during 2004 (#HA5201). Moreover, the model will feature variable-geometry wings, thereby permitting them to be displayed in launch or in-flight configuration. Barring any licensing issues, a good subject for replication might be the F-14s depicted in the feature film, Top Gun, seeing as how the movie’s sequel is about to enter production.
Anyway, we thought it a bid odd that Hobby Master would devote precious resources towards producing a model that has become the bastion for another model maker, when loads of other untouched subjects could have made better choices. We wish them well in their endeavors and hope there’s enough market to go around for both companies to remain satisfied.
SkyMax Models Returns From the Dead
Long thought to have been laid to rest, it looks as if SkyMax Models has risen from the dead and is giving us an encore performance. According to HobbyMaster Collector, the Company plans to reintroduce us to the Douglas Devastator this fall, by offering us a plane that was attached VS-42, then embarked upon the USS Ranger (CV-4), just prior to the start of hostilities in the Pacific during May 1941 (#SM8006). While its refreshing to see them make a come back, it would be nice to hear it from the manufacturer by providing its collectors and merchants a web site they can visit. Welcome back SkyMax!
Air Force 1 “Raises Hell” with its First B-29
Even though replicas of the legendary “Enola Gay” and “Bockscar” B-29 Superfortresses aren’t due out until November, Air Force 1 has managed to scramble at least one bomber amongst the trio to mark the 70th anniversary of the dropping of the atomic bomb over Japan. “Raz’n Hell” (#AF10112A) is set to take off this August, and pays homage to a Superfortress that saw action at the tail end of WWII as well as the outset of the Korean Conflict. Offered up in 1:144 scale and heavy in the hand, this beauty comes with accurate nose art, not to mention its customary highly polished metal exterior, we’ve come to expect from this war winner.
Unlike their “Enola Gay” and “Bockscar” replicas, “Raz’n Hell” will not come bundled with a scaled down representation of the atomic bomb, hence the somewhat lower selling price as compared with its contemporaries.
Wings of the Great War Dives into the Trenches of World War I
With a name like Wings of the Great War, you’d think the manufacturer would be content to stick to replicating aircraft of the Great War. In a turn about of sorts, the manufacturer announced today plans to offer a complete line of 1:72 scale combat vehicles that saw action in the War to End All Wars. Their first pair of tanks, which are expected in October, bring to life two of the most iconic vehicles ever to see action during the conflict – the British Mark IV Male tank (#WW10003) and the German equivalent, the Sturmpanzerwagen A7V Infantry Support tank (#WW10002).
Composed of resin and bundled with a decorative display base, their new armored vehicle series takes aim at a sorely overlooked segment of the pre-assembled market place. All we need now are the infantry, trenches, a “no man’s land” – festooned with barbed wire, craters and scorched earth – and we may just yet have a fully comprehensive look at the first war of the twentieth century.
Halo 5: Guardians – Combat Continues to Evolve
Ever since Robert Heinlein’s Starship Troopers captured my imagination several decades ago, I’ve been fascinated with the sub genre of military science fiction. With the imminent release of Microsoft’s video game, Halo 5: Guardians, it made perfect sense to start checking out some of the new products being developed that will appear in the game and likely make an important impact on the industry at-large.
Besides all of the scale figures and vehicles currently on the docket, Dark Horse Comics, makers of the Halo comics series, has been tapped to create a squadron of warships that also form an integral part of the back story. Three ships are expected ahead of the game’s release, including the USNC Infinity, USNC Pelican drop ship and a Halo Covenant Truth and Reconciliation Cruiser.
Each comes fully painted and attached to a handsome display stand, and measure, on average, eight to nine inches in length. You can find all three ships within our redesigned Halo Universe section.
Dragon Tip Toes into the Cold War
World War II has long been a bastion for Dragon, serving as a breeding ground for literally dozens of fighting vehicles from around the world and from virtually every theatre imaginable. Happily, the Company may have finally moved beyond its roots to other epochs, by offering a 1:72 scale model of the US M103A1 heavy tank (#DRR60691). Based upon a tank that served with the 24th Infantry Division in Germany during 1959, its refreshing to see that they are willing to step out of their comfort zone every so often. Since the M103 shares the same chassis used on both the M48 and M60 series of medium tanks, its a fair bet collectors will likely see these subjects in the not-too-distant future.
Wings of the Great War Adds 3 More Fliers to its Roster
Relative newcomer Wings of the Great War announced three more single-engine fighters to their WWI lineup, which now includes a 1:72 scale take on the famous Sopwith Camel. Their first Camel, naturally enough, is based upon the craft that brought down the Red Baron, with Canadian Roy Brown credited for the kill (#WW18001). Other war winners include a Fokker Dr.I Triplane Fighter that was piloted by Oberleutnant Lothar von Richthofen, younger brother of Baron Manfred von Richthofen (#WW12002), and a reddened Pfalz D.IIIa Biplane Fighter flown by Hanns Muller (#WW11003). Look for all three aircraft to take to the skies over the Western Front some time in September.
Eaglemoss Hits the Ground Running in July
With nineteen 1:43 scale military vehicles scheduled to begin shipping next week, Eaglemoss has a further ten vehicles comprising the second wave in July. The list of vehicles is varied, ranging in scope from a German Steyr RSO 0/1 raupenschlepper to a Chevrolet CBA transport in British markings. The entire range now sells for $21.99 apiece, again a real bargain considering their size, breadth of subjects, durability and collectability. Incidentally, the M3A1 scout car in New Zealand livery has been moved up to a June ship.
Land Ho! Another Model Maker Christens its Fleet
Great news for all you nautical buffs. We’ve learned that DeAgostini’s line of warships will be leaving port and making its way to our shipyard this September. Scaled at 1:1250 (which is slightly smaller than the Eaglemoss range), the DeAgostini collection examines some of the most iconic warships of the Second World War, with a little less emphasis on the Imperial Japanese Navy and more insight into some of the other ships and navies that sailed the high seas. Priced at just $21.99, these are going to make excellent stocking stuffers this holiday season!
The warships include US Navy Iowa Class Battleship – USS Missouri (BB-63) (#DGWS003), Imperial Japanese Navy Yamato Class Super Battleship – Yamato (#DGSW002), Royal Navy Ark Royal Class Aircraft Carrier – HMS Ark Royal (91) (#DGSW006), US Navy Pennsylvania Class Battleship – USS Arizona (BB-39) (#DGSW008), German Kriegsmarine Deutschland Class Heavy Cruiser – SMS Admiral Graf Spee (#DGSW007), German Kriegsmarine Scharnhorst Class Battleship – SMS Scharnhorst (#DGSW001), US Navy Yorktown Class Aircraft Carrier – USS Hornet (CV-8) (#DGSW004), Royal Navy Renown Class Battlecruiser – HMS Repulse (#DGSW005), German Kriegsmarine Admiral Hipper Class Heavy Cruiser – SMS Prinz Eugen (#DGSW010), and US Navy Lexington Class Aircraft Carrier – USS Lexington (CV-2) (@DGSW009).
Best of all, each replica comes with a full-color, multi-page magazine (written in English, no less!), with the proposed series covering some sixty subjects in total.
