Shout Outs

Arrivederci Armor!

Announcing closings seems to be a recurring theme of late, with several longstanding entities throwing in the towel for one reason or another. We learned late last week that the Zephyrhills Museum of Military History in Zephyrhills, Florida, which also goes by the name WWII Armor, plans on closing up shop later this year, although no reason was provided in their online post. For those of you unfamiliar with the Museum they are just a stone’s throw away from us and regularly host events including reenactments on their premises and around the country. We’re sorry to see them call it a day and decided that it made sense to post their final words here rather than try to encapsulate their thoughts, feeling and emotion.

“Now hear this!

It is with a mix of sadness and pride that we announce the closing of WW2 Armor.

Our final two events will be the Morgan County Fair in Jacksonville, IL on 08 JUL, and the Westgate Veterans and Gold Star Families event on 05 DEC. We will cease operations this coming December, 2026.

Following a strategic review by Rabbi Rob and his wife, it was determined that the mission of the organization has reached its apex. A necessary priority shift to focus on the needs of family means that Rabbi Rob and his wife can no longer dedicate the considerable time required to maintain WW2 Armor. By initiating a considered, thoughtful, strategic draw-down now, we can ensure the long-term preservation of the pieces in the collection.

WW2 Armor has much about which to be proud. Over the last 10 years, we restored numerous vehicles and weapons platforms, and conducted wide-ranging research. We published what we learned, and showcased our mistakes so that all could benefit from the wisdom thus begotten. We have attended events both large and small in several states, running and gunning wherever we went. Since we began tracking our activities in 2019, we have conducted 42 training events and 31 public events, and our staff and volunteers have contributed well over 26,000 event man hours, and more then 13,000 training man hours towards the success of our mission. While we never measured it accurately, we do believe we created at least that many smiles on the faces of those who saw our salute firing and mock battles.

To all of our amazing staff members, thank you for your dedication and tenacity. You took on projects that seemed impossible, and overcame all of the many challenges, pulling off miracles that would make any WWII mechanic proud. You did so with positivity, laughter, and skill. Your continued devotion is a testament to your character.

To all of our volunteers, thank you for the years of fun and focus. You gave the most precious gift, the gift of your time. You attended training and public events in all types of weather and in locations throughout the U.S. You were always professional, safe, and respectful. With our full-time staff you are truly elite, and a band of brothers in the truest sense. What we have done is unique in the world and our efforts have touched the lives of countless individuals everywhere.

To all of our fellow reenactors and vehicle owners, thank you for rolling with us. You attended our training events to ensure safe and authentic operations, and brought your teams and talents to take every public event from good to great. You partnered with us brilliantly, adding a critical dimension of humanity to our battlefields, proving the value of teamwork, and forging great friendships as well.

To our many event partners; vehicle clubs, museums, vendors and contractors, thank you for the opportunity to work with you in our mutual mission to educate the public. It has been a journey of learning for us all, made easier by learning together. You have consistently delivered on short-notice, and gone above and beyond. It isn’t easy to source parts for a 80+ year-old tank, all vehicles are breaking or broken, and it isn’t easy to provide a venue for the education of the masses, yet you’ve managed to help us do just that more times than can be counted. Well done.

To all of our community members, you have seen us grow, misstep, learn, improve, and achieve. You have supported us in all of those cases, and enriched us by sharing your stories and those of your family members. Through you we have met the riveter and the tanker, the singer and the sailor, and so many more. You’ve spread the research we published and thus ensured those stories would be more widely known and less likely to be lost. Your warm support energized us during those late nights and difficult projects. You were an inspiration, and we hope we’ve enriched your lives as much as you have lifted ours.

The planning for the disposition of the collection of weapons and vehicles is underway. The priority is to ensure that the collection, and especially the vehicles in the collection, go to equally well-capitalized owners who can appreciate the history, respect the legacy, and maintain the vehicles to the standard they richly deserve. Details about the disposition will be published in due course.

We will maintain our social media and website presence in perpetuity, and we who have served in WW2 Armor will remain linked by a special, indissoluble bond. We hope to keep up with many of you online.

Life consists of seasons of shifting priorities. Our final bit of advice to you is that you take the time to appreciate the blessings in your life, and spend as much time with family as you can. That time, no matter how long, will never be enough. We can’t necessarily make those moments longer or more frequent, but we can make every moment truly special.

Thank you, and may G-d richly bless you and yours!Please direct any and all inquiries to info@ww2armor.org. Questions posted here may not be seen quickly or at all, so email is the best way of reaching us.”

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So Long Cyber Hobby!

Several weeks ago we posted that Dragon Models was changing its business model to keep up with the times. Largely, the Company no longer felt as if they would be a manufacturer of model kits and instead would sell their IP to other companies that would carry the load for them.

Today, we learned that their sister company, Cyber-Hobby, was following suit, although their plans call for their complete closure rather than soldiering on through IP sales. According to their post on Facebook, the division intends to shutter on June 26th, meaning if you have any pre-orders and/or returns with them, you’d better follow up soon before you have no one to contact. Its sad to see another company close its doors, which in part was a victim of technological advancements and the on-again, off-again Trump tariffs.

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Corgi Pays it Forward

For years, collectors have been lamenting the fact that they feel as if their voices aren’t being heard when it comes to new aircraft. Frequent the forums and you’ll see there are loads of Aviation Archive enthusiasts who feel let down every time Corgi announces their upcoming releases.

So, to be fair to their critics, Corgi recently indicated that they wanted to hear directly from their fans, and were even taking a poll as to which aircraft should be produced next. What follows is the email Corgi sent out on Monday morning, along with a link to where collectors can provide details behind their decision. Oddly, no polling questions were provided in the link, so we’re assuming that this is still a work in progress.

Our Next Aircraft Subject is Up to You

CORGI collectors, we are asking your thoughts again.We are considering new tooling subjects for Aviation Archive and we want to know what you think.We’ve put together a questionnaire for some of our most important questions. But ultimately, we want to know if our next big idea is something you actually want.The questionnaire will take no longer than 10 minutes to fill out, and to thank you for your time, we’ll send you a 10% discount code upon completion. Be a part of CORGI’s future. Click the link below to get started!

Take the Survey

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The Forces of Valor Update: Restocks Aplenty for Memorial Day & Beyond

Forces of Valor’s 1:32 scale US M4A3(76)W Sherman Medium Tank with VVSS Suspension – Sgt. Daniel “Buttons” Cardell, “Julia”, 761st Tank Battalion “Black Panthers”, Task Force Rhine, Germany, 1945 [Bonus Ford GAA V-8 Engine]

Even though we are still awaiting information concerning products shown at the recently concluded Beijing Hobby how, we were lucky enough to snag a number of products that had been languishing on the back burner for a lengthy period of time. While they haven’t been added to our New Arrivals section, we decided to include them here, so you can better see what’s back in stock without having to scroll through numerous sections. Bear in mind that Father’s Day is fast approaching, so any Forces of Valor product – on the ground, at sea or in the air – makes an ideal way of putting a smile on dear old dad’s face once he eraps his arms around them.

Forces of Valor’s 1:32 scale US M4(75) Sherman Medium Tank with VVSS Suspension – 753rd Tank Battalion, Gustav Line, Italy, 1944 [Bonus Ford GAA V-8 Engine]

Forces of Valor’s 1:32 scale US M4A3(75) Sherman Medium Tank with VVSS Suspension – Training Vehicle, C Company, 10th Tank Battalion, 5th Armored Division, New York, 1943 [Bonus Ford GAA V-8 Engine]

Forces of Valor’s 1:32 scale German Late Production RW61 Sturmtiger Rocket Assault Mortar with Loading Crane and Zimmerit – Panzersturmmorser Kompanie 1002, Berlin, Germany, May 1945 [Bonus Maybach HL230P45 V-12 Water-Cooled Engine]

Forces of Valor’s 1:38 scale USMC Bell AH-1W “Whiskey” Super Cobra Attack Helicopter – “Never Forget”, Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 267 “Stingers”, Camp Pendleton, California, March 2012

Forces of Valor’s 1:799 scale US Navy Enterprise Class Nuclear-Powered Aircraft Carrier – USS Enterprise (CVN-65), Mediterranean Sea, 2001 [Full Hull Version]

Update: Please note that Waltersons has changed the display stand for this item. The aircraft carrier now comes on a wooden base atop metal pillars as shown above.

Forces of Valor’s 1:700 scale US Navy Pennsylvania Class Battleship – USS Arizona (BB-39), Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, 1941 [Full Hull Version]

Update: Please note that Waltersons has changed the display stand for this item. The battleship now comes on a wooden base atop metal pillars as shown above.

Forces of Valor’s 1:700 scale Imperial Japanese Navy Yamato Class Super Battleship – Yamato, Operation Kikusui Ichi-Go, Okinawa, 1945, Okinawa, 1945 [Full Hull Version]

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The Forces of Valor Update: Your Guess is as Good as Ours

As some companies shutter or slow down production due to an uncertain future, one seems content to keep us guessing as to what’s going on. Recently, at the Beijing Hobby Show, several 1:32 scale subjects were shown for the “first” time — well, lets just say they haven’t been heard from in a very long time. Among them were a King Tiger, Panzer IV Ausf. F1 and Pershing, to say nothing of the illustrious Kubelwagen. When we asked when they were expected and their cost, we got a cold, starry eyed response — if that’s even possible from several thousand miles away and over the Internet.

On the positive side, we did finally receive a price list for their complete collection sans these new entrants. Apparently, some old favorites will be marking their return including “Julia” a heavily requested Sherman tank, along with a handful of previously sold out earlier Shermans. Also expected is a 1:700 scale reproduction of the USS Arizona along with a pair of USS Missouri battleships. The wholesale price for many of their products seems to have also decreased, so we are finally able to reduce the price on much of the Forces of Valor range to reflect these adjustments. Anyway, we’ve placed a re-order with them and hop to have the whole shebang back in stock by the end of May, just in time for Father’s Day.

In the meantime, we will keep pestering Waltersons to determine when the “new old” products, or should that read “old new” products are ready to make their triumphant return. Wish us luck.

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Another One Bites the Dust

On the surface, it would appear as if Dragon Models has decided to call it quits in the face of the on-again, off-again Trump tariffs, escalating labor costs and higher oil prices. According to a blog post on Facebook made earlier today, it seems as though they will be shuttering their production facilities and instead offer its intellectual properties as digital downloads that can then be 3-D printed by the end-user. We’re not certain what they plan to charge for this service and whether or not this shift in philosophy and business strategy will be successful.

It was, perhaps, a matter of time before home-based 3-D technology was good enough and cost effective from the consumer’s standpoint before companies such as Dragon pulled up stakes and called it a day. Could other model makers follow suit? Almost certainly, if they feel as if there are enough inexpensive 3-D printers being adopted and whether or not end users feel comfortable printing out a model kit instead of buying one off the shelf. Needless to say, customers who prefer pre-assembled models are in for a rude awakening in the coming years unless there are firms willing to print out, decorate and sell IP-based properties for a decent profit to make it worth their while to shoulder the burden of this type of service. In any event, we’ll keep an eye on this developing story and its impact upon other model makers that we deal with.

Update: On May 18th, the following announcement was posted by Dragon Models:

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Hobby Master Remastered, No Joke!

When President Trump announced his plans to increase tariffs on dozens of countries way back on April 2nd of last year, it basically threw the market into a tizzy. The diecast model making business, which is essentially located in both China and Bangladesh, was deeply affected by the move, forcing several to shut down for an indefinite period of time, and others to adjust their shipping schedule to accommodate the changes. One Company that has attempted to soldier on despite the tariffs is Hobby Master, who, up until “Liberation Day”, was pumping out at least a dozen or so new products each month. It too, was eventually forced to alter its battle plan, delaying the release of many products by several months and shunting others to the back burner until the “all-clear” signal was issued.

This April, fully one year after the Trump tariffs took effect, our distributor reports that a large number of Hobby Master products are slated for an April arrival, many of which had been expected months ago. In fact, 24 military aircraft models are destined to reach our shores this month, and that ain’t no April Fools joke. We are currently awaiting confirmation from our distributor regarding which models are in the works and when we can expect them. We will update this blog post once we have firm confirmation regarding their release.

Note: The following products are confirmed to arrive in April:
HA33007, HA3383, HA38069, HA9805, HA19081, HA19082, HA38070, HA4447, HA1341, HA38068, HA4625, HA3593, HA6214, HA5143,HA9558, HA5654, HA9707,HA0218

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Tales of Transparency: Time for a Breather

This month, we managed to get out a bunch of orders that had been languishing for some time because we were waiting for the products’ arrival from our distributors. This included Calibre Wings, Corgi, Hobby Master and Panzerkampf. A second batch of Hobby Master products are expected by the middle of February, so we’ve decided to take a step back and catch our breath for now until this new flock arrives. This next shipment includes a re-stock of their first issue YF-23 Air Dominance Fighter along with their eagerly awaited second issue, which is decked out in a charcoal-like skin color. A number of other important aircraft are expected, which are currently listed in our In Transit section. Interestingly, our distributor indicated that Hobby Master was contemplating more of the first issue YF-23. Great news if you were still holding out hope for a YF-23 — not so wonderful if you thought the first batch might increase in value for the foreseeable future. Still, if demand warrants the production of additional models, who am I to turn up my nose accumulating more models?

Anyway, this should do it for now since Chinese New Year is right around the corner. Typically the lengthy holiday slows down production of new models for several consecutive weeks despite Hobby Master having moved its manufacturing to Bangladesh several years ago. Corgi, Panzerkampf, Legion and a handful of others are still working out of China, so expect to see slowed production from them as well. As a result, March is forecast to be somewhat dry for new arrivals at least until everyone returns to work and companies can establish their next moves. New models are still being announced, as evinced by our February 2026 New Additions section, but don’t expect to see them for some time. Take a peek when you have a chance and make sure to get n your pre-orders at your first opportunity.

Takeaway: Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain. After examining our March 2026 schedule, it appears as if we are expecting an incredibly heavy lineup of merchandise to hit our docket this March. Hobby Master, for example, has a doubled-up roster of new items slated to arrive, both at the beginning of the month and again towards its end. A number of new items are also expected from other suppliers, meaning we get to do a lot of shipping throughout the entire month. So much for a break!

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Calibre’s “In-and-Out” Belly Bombers

Well, we received our allotment of Calibre Wings B-58 Hustler bombers and out the door they went. We had several people waiting for what seemed like an eternity so we wanted to process their orders as quickly as possible and get them into the USPS slipstream tout-de-suite.

While I would’ve loved to have opened one up to see what they look like in the “diecast flesh”, we thought better of it and decided to get them ready for shipment first thing Friday morning. So, if you were lucky enough to have ordered one from us, keep one eye on your tracking information and the other on the USPS truck cause they’re headed out for the final leg of their journey.

Takeaway: Despite its price relative to other models of its size and standing, Calibre’s inaugural B-58 Hustler sold like hotcakes. We could’ve easily sold more models had we been permitted to obtain them, and had to turn away orders far in excess of what we actually sold. We anticipate Calibre will be announcing a second B-58, perhaps in a Southeast Asian camouflage scheme, very soon. While it likely won’t be as popular as the first release (second issues never are), we should continue to see brisk sales once its announced, built and inspected for imperfections. Will it carry the same price tag and come in the same presentation box? At this point its anyone’s guess and we can only hope Calibre will continue to offer subjects collectors have been requesting for several years on end.

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Hobby Master Acquires the Century Wings Molds

Recognizing that the Century Wings line of military aircraft still has legs, Hobby Master has purportedly acquired the molds to many of the Century Wings aircraft models. The list reportedly includes the SR-71 Blackbird reconnaissance aircraft, A-6 Intruder attack aircraft, A-7 Corsair II light attack aircraft and F-8 Crusader air superiority aircraft. Additionally, the purchase includes their entire range of 1:144 scale military aircraft, which includes their A-6, A-7 and F-14 replicas. Word on the street says that the purchase does not include CW’s 1:72 scale F-14 Fleet Defense Fighter largely because Hobby Master already makes a model of the Tomcat.

Hobby Master will reportedly thoroughly inspect each mold and make improvements where needed to keep them up-to-date and ensure they are capable of being used multiple times over the course of their reinvigorated lifespan. While no mention was made regarding which models will come out first, the announcement does claim that some models will start to show up towards the latter half of 2026. We are assuming that Hobby Master packaging will be used throughout so there is no confusion with previously released black-box Century Wings models. With its exacting attention to detail, its possible that the CW F-14 mold could end up with yet another manufacturer, although nothing firm has been indicated and several manufacturers, among them Calibre Wings and JC Wings, already possess their own F-14 molds.

The acquisitions solidifies Hobby Master’s position as the leading maker of diecast military aircraft models and rounds out their range of Cold War era subjects. Naturally, it would be nice to see models based upon some of the warbirds currently being developed and tested world over by a number of nations, among them several sixth generation fighters and other equally important aerial platforms. Likewise, it would be sweet to see them delve deeper into other sophisticated combat systems, most notably drones, collaborative combat aircraft, ground vehicles and even surface and sub-surface systems that comprise many of today’s military arsenals.

Takeaway: This is a great development for fans of both Hobby Master and Century Wings. While Hobby Master has slowed down its production of new aircraft types, the Century Wings acquisitions serves a dual purpose by completing Hobby Master’s pantheon of Cold War military aircraft and resurrecting the Century Wings molds many had thought were doomed after the manufacturer announced its closure this past December.

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