Product Announcements

Yat Ming: Back In Business and Back in Stock Under a New Name

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Some product lines seem to have nine lives. In the case of Yat Ming, several times we’ve counted them down and out, only to watch them rise from the ashes like a newborn Phoenix. That said, two of their highly prized 1:24 scale Presidential limousines are being offered again, and we should have them in stock and ready for sale by the end of the first week in February.

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The pair includes this 1972 Lincoln limousine used to ferry President Ronald Reagan around Washington DC and other destinations, along with John F. Kennedy’s open-top 1963 Lincoln X-100 limousine, used, in rather sad fashion on the fateful day in Dallas on November 22nd, 1963.  Best of all, both vehicles still carry a retail price of just $69.99, no change from where they stood a year ago. Please note that these products are now being produced under the Lucky Die Cast banner.

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Air Force 1 Toasts the Memory of the Doolittle Raiders

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Air Force 1 Model Company intends to honor the memory of the April 1942 Doolittle Raid over Tokyo with a 1:72 scale replica of General Jimmy Doolittle’s North American B-25B bomber. What makes this announcement even more poignant is the fact that some will come with a nameplate signed by his co-pilot, Lt. Richard E. “Dick” Cole, one of the last surviving members of the low-level bombing raid designed to lift morale back at home. The replica is expected in May, which is almost 73 years to the day when they took off from the deck of the USS Hornet and flew into history. A commemorative such as this comes along very infrequently, so even if you have a passing interest in WWII aviation, you may want to consider putting this one on your wish list.

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Oxford Schools ‘Em on the Ground

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As promised, Oxford plans on introducing several new vehicles later this year. The posse includes a Bedford MWD Truck (MWD006), Bedford QLB Bofors Gun Tractor (QLB001), AEC “Dorchester” Armoured Command Vehicle (DOR001, and Austin Tilly Bomb Disposal Truck (TIL009). Enjoy!

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And Oxford Educates ’em in the Air

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As the British Toy Fair draws to a close, word from Oxford is that we can expect four new diecast military aircraft later this year. Up for your consideration is a Gloster Gladiator Mk.II Biplane (AC056), Focke-Wulf Fw 190D-9 fighter (AC057), Boulton Paul Defiant Mk.I night fighter (AC058), and Hawker Sea Hurricane Mk.I fighter (AC059). All are competitively priced, are feature-rich, and model subjects that have always been popular amongst the collecting community.

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Dragon Surges with the Panther D

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First announced over two years ago, the very first 1:72 scale Panther Ausf. D medium tank is finally en route to us and expected shortly. We expect them to sell out quickly since this is a key introduction many collectors have been waiting eons to drive into battle.

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No longer content to sit on their laurels, the manufacturer is also showing the fourth iteration of this popular warhorse on their site, which is pegged with a March release date. While its refreshing to see so many versions to choose from, we can’t help but wonder if this is a sound strategy since it floods the market with a wide array of choices in a short period of time. (Shown from left to right: #DRR60645, DRR60683 and DRR60684)

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Air Commander Resurrected

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It has been awhile since we saw any stirrings out of the Air Commander camp, but just as we were beginning to give up hope comes an all-new Phantom II for 2015. Based upon a warbird that flew with the 58th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 432nd Tactical Fighter Wing, this southeast Asian painted beauty is known as the “Supersonic Gun Kill“, so named because it was one of the fastest recorded shoot downs ever claimed, and piloted by Major Phil “Hands” Handley who was flying east of Hanoi in June 1972.

 

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Atlas Editions Orders a Crash Dive in 2015

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As the holidays rapidly approach, we were pleasantly surprised to see a new line of 1:350 scale warships taking to the sea in early 2015. Atlas Editions will be releasing the first five 1:350 scale submarines in January, with lots more expected to get underway as the year progresses. Priced at just $34.99, these warships look first-rate, serving as great complements to some of the other warship ranges already sailing on the diecast high seas.

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Dragon Strikes Back

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Just when we were again giving up hope that we would ever see their long-promised Panther D medium tank comes news that a second version is already in the hopper. While the first version replicated an early model Type D Panther (DRA60596), their latest announcement depicts a later version (DRR60683), complete with its letterbox hatch opening for the glacis machine gun, pistol ports on the turret sides and a drum cupola.

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Both are listed as February roll outs, and you can bet your bottom dollar that other schemes and liveries are no doubt in the works. Keep your fingers crossed they don’t run into any partisans, thereby delaying them any further.

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Corgi Hits the Surf in 2015

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Images are figuratively as well as literally surfacing concerning Corgi’s all-new 1:72 scale Short Sunderland flying boat. Expected some time in 2015, this beast of an aircraft looks to carry on the tradition left in the wake of their recently released 1:72 Avro Vulcan strategic bomber, perhaps taking on the role of signature centerpiece for the new year.

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Surprisingly, their inaugural Sunderland will not be based upon the flying boat recently raised from the ocean depths off the coast of England but will instead depict a craft attached to the RAAF’s No. 461 Squadron.

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Eaglemoss Boldly Goes into Orbit

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We’ve just learned that we will soon be receiving several new Star Trek spaceships just before the holidays, and, perhaps more importantly, the first special edition release in the series – the Deep Space 9 Space Station. Long coveted by Trekkies world over, we thought that we might not be able to obtain this item, since it seemed to be sold out from other sources and going for a premium at other retail sites.

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Other ships expected by year’s end are a Federation Runabout (ST0032), Cardassian Hideki Class Fighter (ST0033) and a Vulcan Surok Class starship (ST0034). Live long and prosper.

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