Hobby Master’s 1:48 scale US Navy Chance-Vought F4U-4 Corsair Fighter – “White 205”, LTJG Thomas “Lou” Hudner, VF-32 “Fighting Swordsmen”, USS Leyte (CV-32), December 4th, 1950
No one can fault Hobby Master for remaining aggressive. As other model makers continue to grapple with issues arising from the post-pandemic world, Hobby Master has kept its pedal to the metal, so-to-speak, by continuing to add dozens of new military models to the diecast aviation market. Of note, two 1:48 scale F4U Corsairs are part of their latest aerial armada, both based upon aircraft portrayed in the upcoming feature film Devotion. It is hoped that with Top Gun: Maverick continuing to do exceptionally well at the box office, Devotion will piggyback off of its success and tell the true life story of two naval aviators – one black and one white – caught up in the desperate struggle to protect beleaguered US forces then attempting to withdraw from North Korea in late 1950.
Here now, the rest of the May 2023 lineup Hobby Master plans to unleash:
Hobby Master’s 1:48 scale US Navy Chance-Vought F4U-4 Corsair Fighter – “White 211”, Ensign Jesse L. Brown, VF-32 “Fighting Swordsmen”, USS Leyte (CV-32), December 4th, 1950Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale Vietnamese People’s Air Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21PMF “Fishbed” Fighter – 927th Fighter Regiment, Kep Air Base, Vietnam, 1979USMC Boeing Harrier II AV-8B Jump Jet – BuNo 165581, VMA-311 “Tomcats”, Afghanistan, 2013 {Low Vis Scheme]Hobby Master’s 1:48 scale RAF Supermarine Spitfire Mk. IXc Fighter – MK694, Flight Leftenant Jaroslav Dobrovolny, No.313 (Czech) Squadron, RAF North Weald, England, October 1944Hobby Master’s 1:48 scale RAF Supermarine Spitfire Mk. IXe Fighter – ML407, Flight Officer Johnnie Houlton, No.405 (New Zealand) Squadron, France, September 1944Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale RAAF Boeing F-18A Hornet Strike Fighter – A21-29, No.75 Squadron, RAAF Base Tindal, Australia, 1990Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale RAAF Boeing F-18A Hornet Strike Fighter – A21-27, No.3 Squadron, RAAF Williamtown, Australia, 2016 [Anniversary Scheme]Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale USAF Fairchild Republic A-10A Thunderbolt II Ground Attack Aircraft – 81-0964, 21st Fighter Squadron “Gamblers”, 507th ACW, Shaw AFB, South Carolina, December 1991Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale Iraqi Sukhoi Su-25K “Frogfoot” Ground Attack Aircraft – 25616, 114 Squadron, Tammuz Air Base, Iraq, 2001Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale USAF Convair F-106A Delta Dart Interceptor – 0-90062, 84th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, Castle Air Force Base, California, 1970sHobby Master’s 1:72 scale French Dassault Rafale B Multirole Aircraft – Operation Chammal, Escadron de Chasse 14 “Gascogne”, 4e Escadre de Chasse, France, 2018Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale Ukrainian Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25PD “Foxbat-E” Interceptor – “Red 87”, 933rd FAR, 1995Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale US Navy Boeing F/A-18E Super Hornet Strike Fighter – 07/165792, VFC-12 “Fighting Omars”, NAS Oceana, Virginia, June 2021 [Aggressor Scheme]Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale US Navy Boeing E/A-18G Growler Electronic Warfare Aircraft – 168386, VAQ-138 “Yellow Jackets”, Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington, 2018Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale Russian Sukhoi Su-57E “Felon” Stealth Fighter – “Red 52”, 2022Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale US Navy Grumman F-14A Tomcat Fleet Defense Fighter – 162689, VF-41 “Black Aces”, USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71), June 1991
In recent weeks the cavalcade of new vehicles rolling out of the Dragon model works has shown no signs of abating, with more new subjects appearing almost on a daily basis. The latest two vehicles to see the light of day are a pair of M65 Atomic cannons – one portraying the vehicle in travel mode and the other in a firing configuration. Known colloquially as the “Atomic Annie”, the gun was an artillery piece built by the United States and capable of firing a nuclear device. It was developed in the early 1950s, at the beginning of the Cold War; and fielded between April 1955 and December 1962, in West Germany, South Korea and on the Japanese island of Okinawa.
The cannon was transported by two specially designed tractors in the same manner as railroad Schnabel cars. Both tractors were capable of independent steering in the manner of some extra-long fire trucks. Each of the tractors was rated at 375 horsepower (280 kW), and the somewhat awkward combination could achieve speeds of 35 miles per hour (56 km/h) and negotiate right-angle turns on 28-foot (8.5 m) wide paved or packed roads. The artillery piece could be unlimbered in 12 minutes, then returned to traveling configuration in another 15 minutes. The gun was deployed by lowering it from the tractors onto levelled ground. The whole gun assembly was balanced on a ball and socket joint so that it could be swung around the footplate. The traverse was limited by a curved track placed under the rear of the gun.
Due to its size, the new M65s will obviously command a retail price well in excess of the $39.99-$44.99 range their current vehicles are commanding, and will more likely weigh in at around $89.99 apiece, and no doubt be nestled in much larger and heavier packaging. A Cyber Hobby limited edition version may also be in the works, although nothing yet has been discussed by the manufacturer. We hope that these new vehicles will be available for the holidays but with the current logjam still affecting our ports, its not clear if they will indeed be made available for the approaching holidays.
On a separate note, its truly refreshing to see this dynamic model maker both returning to its roots and producing subjects collectors have been hoping to see for years. Well done Dragon and keep them coming!
While we have temporarily discontinued stocking the Calibre Wings line of military aircraft, we thought it still made sense to cover them as if we did. Of late, the Company has come under fire from some of its most vocal critics, who delight in lambasting them on every conceivable issue, from quality control to licensing. While we are not going to agree or disagree with some of the online comments posted to their Facebook account, the point of this blog post isn’t to throw more fuel on the fire. Rather, it is designed to point out some of their positive achievements, which includes not only what they have brought to market thus far but what’s ahead from this rising star in the diecast community.
By now, most of you are no doubt aware that the Company has a MiG-31 “Foxhound” in the works, which can still be pre-ordered direct from the manufacturer and is currently listed as a 2023 release. What you may not know is that they are also working on their long-promised if oft delayed Convair B-58 Hustler, a supersonic bomber that saw yeoman service with the USAF during the Cold War. While the mold is still being finalized and pre-orders are not yet being taken by the manufacturer, they did take time out to cobble together this short video which discusses their labor-of-love. Enjoy and don’t forget to support your favorite manufacturers any way you can! BTW, Noel Lee, the owner of Calibre Wings, has hinted that the retail price of the B-58 could be as high as $300, although its likely he will offer it at a far lower price on Kickstarter, a crowdfunding site, for a limited time only. The Hustler is an iconic Cold War aircraft that helped to form the backbone of our so-called Triad nuclear response for several decades. As such while it may be expensive vis a vis other diecast aircraft, we feel confident that Calibre will do it justice and thus represent a worthwhile investment.
Next to the Apache and Cobra gunships, perhaps the most feared helicopter gunship ever to take wing is the Russian built Mi 24, NATO reporting name HIND. Designed as a combination heavy attack platform and low capacity troop transport, the HIND has been around since the late 1970s, a testament to their endurance and ability to take enemy fire at the forward edge of the battlefield area where fighting is oftentimes the most intense.
It therefore comes as no surprise then that Panzerkampf would choose the Mi-24 as one of their latest rotary wing models. Recently two versions were shown to the public on their Facebook account, although no other information was provided. So, while we’d love to begin taking pre-orders for either or both of their upcoming helicopter assault gunships, for now we will simply post images of both models and await further information. In our opinion, their success will likely eclipse that of the MH-53 Super Stallion that was released last year, and has already gone on to become one of their most successful subjects. And, if the HIND sells well, you can bet they will be looking at other Russian attack helicopters down-the-road, capitalizing on the success of these battlefield weapons and their own ability to model them at scale. Curiously, it appears as though the HIND will be marketed under their Legion sub brand, even though these are brand new toolings not based upon other previously released models as is the case with their newly-launched military vehicle line.
As many of you may know, Dragon pulled up stakes in the US about a year or so ago, although no reason was given for the sudden move,. To date, no one has stepped forward to import the line, that is, until now. Rumor has it that one of our distributors is looking to bring back some, most or even all of the many ranges Dragon produces, beginning with their flourishing Neo Armor line. This, of course, comes at a crucial yet opportune time since Dragon has begun rolling out a number of new Neo Armor products that now cover both WWII as well as modern era subjects. We hope to have more concrete information by the weekend so bear with us as we wait to hear back from our source as they continue to hammer out the details.
Update: Great news for all you Dragon tread heads. We learned today that our distributor struck a deal with Dragon Models to import the Neo Dragon Armor line into North America. The first batch of vehicles are expected as early as this September, with additional shipments expected each month thereafter. We will be listing all of the new vehicles over the weekend and should have everything completed by Sunday. Bear in mind that the range has grown somewhat from its earlier iterations a couple of years ago and continues to gain momentum and new additions on a weekly basis. Furthermore, there are several items that we do not plan to stock, such as their JGSDF and South Korean AAVPs, as well as their JGSDF Bushmaster. These models have limited appeal here in North America and frankly we think it will take us a month of Sundays to move the inventory when we can best stick with those items we know we can sell without difficulty. Of course, these can still be ordered direct from Dragon on their web site. Lastly, we are exploring the feasibility of obtaining many or potentially all of the Cyber Hobby versions of each vehicle type that they plan to offer. Vehicles such as the Bushmaster and Boxer already have Cyber Hobby variants in the works, so its a good bet many if not all of their most recent introductions will be available as Cyber Hobby exclusives too.
After several years of lying dormant, it now appears as if Dragon is once again betting big on their smallest line of vehicles to see them through the post-pandemic world. Five new Shermans were recently announced, all sporting “Tiger Faces” on the front of the vehicles. During the Korean Conflict, it was rumored that the Communist Chinese soldiers were deathly afraid of anything that resembled a tiger since 1951, the second year of the Korean Conflict, represented the “Year of the Tiger”. We’ll post all of them to our web site shortly…
We strongly suggest pre-ordering those items you may be interested in obtaining as quickly as possible because our pre-order with the distributor is due to be placed early next week. I know some of you like to create dioramas with multiple vehicles of the same type, so please bear this in mind if you hope to have your order filled as completely as possible.
Its noon Sunday. I’m bleary-eyed and over caffeinated but it appears as if we have successfully listed all of the newest Neo Dragon Armor items to our web site. We are still checking with the manufacturer to determine if any of the assortments come with limited edition “chase” vehicles. If so, we will offer them separately. We are still in the process of uploading ancillary images for each vehicle so the lone image uploaded for each vehicle will have to suffice for now. Again, please peruse these new listings at your earliest opportunity and submit your orders early so we can best determine the quantities we will need to order from our distributor. Since we are no longer ordering from Dragon Models USA, its very possible that we will only be able to order each new item once before it is sold out and no longer available for re-order.
Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale USAF General Dynamics F-16D Viper Fighter – 90-0778, 310th Fighter Squadron “Top Hats”, Luke AFB, Arizona, June 2022
Even though they’ve fallen behind in both deliveries to their distribution network and artwork for many of their upcoming aircraft models, Hobby Master took time out from the 4th of July festivities to announce yet another flock of warbirds. The latest batch of aircraft aren’t due out until April 2023, but, nevertheless, crisscross virtually every major conflict of the last century, from WWII to the modern day. So, in effect, there’s something for everyone, if you don’t mind waiting what could be a year before they show up in the marketplace.
Here now the rest of what you can lay claim to next year:
Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale USAF General Dynamics F-16C Viper Fighter – 87-0332, 100th Fighter Squadron “Red Tails”, 187th Fighter Wing, Alabama Air National Guard, Dannelly Field, Alabama, 2021Hobby Master’s 1:48 scale German Messerschmitt Bf 109G-6 “Gustav” Fighter – “Christl”, Gerhard Barkhorn, II./Jagdgeschwader 52, Ukraine, September 1943
Hobby Master’s 1:48 scale Croatian Messerschmitt Bf 109G-6 “Gustav” Fighter – Mato Dukovic, Jagdgeschwader 52, Crimea, April 1944Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale Russian Sukhoi Su-27SM “Flanker-B” Multirole Fighter – “Red 06”, 2013Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale North Vietnamese Air Force Shenyang J-5 (MiG 17F) “Fresco C” Fighter – Nguyen van Bay, 923 IAP “Yen The”, 1972Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale US Navy Grumman F-14A Tomcat Fleet Defense Fighter – 162705, Commander Dale “Snort” Snodgrass, VF-33 “Starfighters”, USS America (CV-66), 1990Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale RAF Lockheed-Martin F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter – ZM158, 207 Squadron, RAF Marham, England, January 2022 [Low-Vis Scheme]Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale RAF Lockheed-Martin F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter – “Beast Mode”, ZM158, 207 Squadron, RAF Marham, England, January 2022 [Low-Vis Scheme]Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale USAF Boeing F-15C “Mod Eagle” Multi-Role Fighter – 84-0025, 53rd Fighter Squadron “Tigers”, 52nd Fighter Wing, Spangdahlem AFB, Germany, 1980s [Low-Vis Scheme]
JC Wings 1:72 scale US Navy Boeing F/A-18C Hornet Strike Fighter – VFA-42 “Marauders,” 2004
A couple of weeks back, rumors began swirling that JC Wings was planning on making a F/A-18 based upon the latest Top Gun: Maverick film. Images were even circulated although nothing firm was announced by the manufacturer nor was anything said through their social media accounts. Thus far, we aren’t sure if the rumors are true so we’ll just assume they are that for the moment. What we do know is that late yesterday the manufacturer did show off their latest additions to their aerial arsenal, all of which are expected to take wing in the fall. Here now what you can lay claim to in a few months time:
JC Wings 1:72 scale US Navy Grumman F-14A Tomcat Fleet Defense Fighter – VF-41 “Black Aces”, 1978 [Low-Vis Scheme]JC Wings 1:72 scale German Messerschmitt Bf 109G-6 “Gustav” Fighter – Erich “Bubi” Hartmann, 9./Jagdgeschwader 52, October 1943JC Wings 1:72 scale US Navy Northrop Grumman EA-6B Prowler Electronic Warfare Aircraft – Electronic Attack Squadron 2 (VAQ-141) “Shadowhawks”, 2007JC Wings 1:72 scale Russian Sukhoi Su-34 “Fullback” Strike Fighter – Russo-Ukrainian War, 2022 (1:72 Scale)JC Wings 1:72 scale USAAF Lockheed P-38J Lightning Interceptor – Major Thomas McGuire, 431st Fighter Squadron, 475th Fighter Group, 1944JC Wings 1:72 scale USAF Boeing F-15C Eagle Multi-Role Fighter – 173rd Fighter Wing, 2020 [Commemorative Scheme]
With Top Gun: Maverick continuing to break box office records, it was perhaps a matter of time before one model maker ponied up the big bucks to secure the coveted Top Gun license. Earlier today, we learned that Hobby Master plans on producing a 50th Anniversary F/A-18F Hornet strike fighter. Its likely other Top Gun inspired aircraft will eventually be offered, from F-14 Tomcats to so-called fifth generation fighters (a.k.a. Su-57 Felon fighters), although we could be jumping the “Top Gun” by putting out such rumors. Sorry, couldn’t resist.
Its not clear if the pilot figure will resemble Tom Cruise since he seems to be reluctant to agree to having his face adorn any kind of figure but the simple work-around is to put a seated pilot figure in the cockpit with his visor lowered over his face and the “Maverick” call sign splashed across the top of his helmet.
Anyway, we have listed this item on our web site and have begun accepting pre-orders. Keep in mind Hobby Master will likely be producing a thousand copies or more of this particular model to recoup their tidy investment. Still, this model will likely become a centerpiece for many a collector who, like Hobby Master, continue to “feel the need for speed.” 😛
Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale USAF Lockheed-Martin F-22A Raptor Air Dominance Fighter – 04-4065, 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron, 53d Test and Evaluation Group, Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, November 2021 [Anti Reflective Coating]
No one can fault Hobby Master for being the most prolific maker of military diecast aircraft. Like clockwork, the modelmaker announced yet another flock of aircraft models looming on the horizon, this time around expected in March 2023. As usual, there’s something for everyone, from new 1:48 scale Messerschmitts Bf-109s to high flying 1:72 scale jet aircraft that cover every era imaginable. Perhaps the most ambitious announcement is their newest take on the F-22 Raptor stealth fighter, which will purportedly be clad in an anti-reflective coating instead of its usual sky-blending grey finish. Aviation analysts are still unsure what this new “mirrored” coasting means for both the latest generation of military aircraft still on the drawing board and for stealth technology, although some claim that with the advent of compact energy-based weaponry, it could represent an effort to absorb light like the recently engineered Vantablack coating or possibly thwart these weapons by either bouncing a laser beam away from the aircraft or back to its host platform. Be that as it may, it will be interesting to see if Hobby Master can present this newest F-22 in the same startling finish that adorns a pair of actual F-22s currently undergoing experimental testing in the Mojave desert.
Here now the rest of what you can expect next spring:
Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale USAF Lockheed F-117A Nighthawk Stealth Attack Aircraft – 84-0828, 9th Attack Squadron “Flying Knights”, “40 Years of Owning the Night”, Savannah Air National Guard Base, Georgia, May 2022Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale Israeli Defense Force General Dynamics F-16I Sufa Fighter – “470”, 253 “Negev” Squadron, Ramon Airbase, Israel, 2022Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale USAF McDonnell F-4E Phantom II Fighter-Bomber – 58th Tactical Fighter Squadron “Gorillas”, 432nd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, June 1972Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale Russian Sukhoi Su-30MK “Flanker-C” Fighter – “Blue 02”, MAKS-2009 Airshow, Zhukovsky, Russia, August 2009Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale USMC McDonnell Douglas A-4F Skyhawk Attack Aircraft – 155208, VMA-142 “Flying Gators”, Naval Air Station Cecil Field, Florida, 1984 [Low Vis Scheme]Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale German Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21SPS “Fishbed” Fighter – 22+02, Jagdfliegergeschwader 1, Drewitz Air Base, Germany, 1990sHobby Master’s 1:72 scale US Navy Northrop Grumman EA-6B Prowler Electronic Warfare Aircraft – 163527, “Eve of Destruction”, VAQ-141 “Shadowhawks”, USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71), 1991 [Low Vis Scheme]Hobby Master’s 1:48 scale USAAF North American P-51D Mustang Fighter – “Marie”, Captain Freddie Ohr, 2nd Fighter Squadron “American Beagles”, 52nd Fighter Group, ETO, 1944Hobby Master’s 1:48 scale German Messerschmitt Bf 109E-7B “Emil” Fighter – “Black S9”, III./ Schnellkampfgeschwader 210, Russia, 1941
AFVs 1:43 scale US M26 Pershing Heavy Tank – 2nd Armored Division, Cologne, Germany, April 1945
Finally some good news in regard to the Armored Fighting Vehicles of World War II line. Word has reached us that the next six vehicles are due to hit our distributor’s warehouse by Friday so we should be receiving our order by the close of next week. Moreover, the next nine vehicles in the range are well on their way towards being completed and should be available by the end of the summer. As we have noted previously, we will be relocating our business around the same time as the vehicles arrive in the US, so we’ve listed them as September arrivals. All nine vehicles have been listed in the AFV section and are available for pre-order. Lastly, it would appear as if the manufacturer is finally back on track getting this series up to speed, so we are hoping that another six vehicles will arrive by Thanksgiving, possibly earlier if things go smoothly in the supply chain.
