Hobby Master’s 1:700 scale US Navy Ticonderoga Class Guided Missile Cruiser – USS Ticonderoga (CG-47)
Hobby Master’s July cache of new products may be one of the most significant in months, containing a number of eagerly awaited items that depict everything from warships to helicopters. The Company’s first-ever warship is slated to come ashore, a 1:700 scale replica of the USS Ticonderoga (HSP1001).
Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale US Army Boeing AH-64D Apache Longbow Attack Helicopter – 8th Battalion, 229th Aviation Regiment “Flying Tigers”
At treetop level, expect to see their inaugural look at the venerable AH-64 Apache attack helicopter, a piece of hardware that has stood the Army well for the past several decades (HH1201).
Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale US M35 2-1/2-Ton Cargo Truck with M60 Machine Gun (1:72 Scale)
On the ground, new versions of the M35 cargo truck are expected. And lest we forget their aerial contingent, which includes a new look at the F-117 stealth fighter (HA5803), several multi-national F-15 Eagles, and a flock of other notable warbirds.
We recognize that information coming out of the Forces of Valor camp has been a little sparse of late, so we’d like to share some news with you concerning the Company’s progress to date. Presently, they are putting the final touches on six different versions of the 1:72 scale CH-47 Chinook helicopter and have almost completed work on the packaging phase (front shown here). All six are expected to finish production by August with the SD version of the helicopter slated to be completed by September.
According to our contact, several 1:32 scale vehicles should be leaving Asia by September and will likely arrive in North America by October, barring any trade-related issues. These include the 88mm FLaK gun, the Sherman Firefly Vc medium tank, the Jagdpanther tank destroyer, Jagdtiger tank destroyer and finally the Elefant tank destroyer. Waltersons has indicated that they have developed a new method of weathering that gives each vehicle a more realistic appearance in line with many of the enthusiast edition vehicles released between 2003-2009. The balance of 2018 will see work continue on a number of other previously announced 1:32 scale projects as well as a bevy of 1:72 scale aircraft. Its not clear which items will be shown at the Nuremberg Toy Fair in February since the Company has already gone on record as having a wide array of products in the pipeline.
Earlier today, the US Supreme Court narrowly ruled in favor of allowing states to collect taxes from online sellers, even if the seller may not be physically located within their jurisdiction. Up til now, a seller was required to collect taxes only from customers purchasing product that were located within the same state as their business. Essentially, it is now up to Congress to determine how the ruling will be handled, since there are more than 12,000 local tax jurisdictions, making the task of collecting taxes onerous at best. Moreover, many smaller online resellers may not have the resources to handle the new tax impositions, which could require loads of paperwork to complete and an inordinate amount of time to fully address. A simple solution would be to impose a flat tax across the entire union, perhaps somewhere in the neighborhood of 4%, which might be low enough to dissuade customers from shopping elsewhere. For more information on the ruling and what it could mean visit USA Today.
Many of the repurposed 1:32 scale military vehicles now come with a removable engine instead of redundant and much maligned accessories.
Admittedly, its been a little difficult trying to locate images of the Forces of Valor booth at the recently concluded Shizuoka Hobby Show in Japan. We’ve scoured YouTube, Facebook and the Internet, looking for anything that could help whet everyone’s appetite. That said, we did finally manage to unearth some photos, thanks to the good folks at Amiami.
As you can see, most of the product on display are still works in progress, bereft of any painting and background data. Moreover, it appears as if the bulk of the items on display have to do with their 1:72 scale military vehicle line, with a smattering of aircraft thrown in for good measure. Still, its nice to see that progress is being made across several different categories, and that the upcoming holiday season will feature a good deal more Forces of Valor products than in year’s past.
Forces of Valor looks to add the Russian Navy Kuznetsov Class Aircraft Carrier, Admiral Kuznetsov, to its growing fleet of naval replicas
At long last, Waltersons, the new owners of the Forces of Valor brand, has shed light on its production schedule for the balance of 2018. You can see firsthand which items are in the pipeline as well as their anticipated release dates by visiting their Facebook page. Frankly, we are going to add sixty days to the dates listed, thereby giving them a fair bit of leeway as they look to get each item into the marketplace given the sheer number of items they are looking to undertake, as well as the logistical issues they will likely face in the summer and autumn months.
Of note, the Company has announced plans to reproduce the Russian aircraft carrier, Admiral Kuznetnov, and their 1:16 scale Tiger I tank is still slated for a late 2018 release. Beginning with their 1:32 scale Sturmtiger, they also plan to offer model kits for much of their 1:32 scale line, so modellers can build, mod and paint them up any way they see fit. Several of their modern era 1:72 scale aircraft have been postponed, according to Waltersons, in order to add more metal content where needed and make other refinements to bring them up to current standards. In their place, the Company has resurrected several 1:72 scale twin-engine bombers, a number of 1:48 scale helicopters and even a few of their long out-of-stock 1:32 scale WWII era fighters, hopefully making some changes to each mold to address some of the shortcomings collectors have pointed out over the years. It would appear as if the Company plans to delve ever deeper into the model making business, by relaunching their 1:72 scale model kit line and, as pointed out earlier, creating a parallel business model whereby their 1:32 scale vehicles will be offered as pre-assembled replicas and un-built and unpainted models.
Over the next few days, we plan to digest and review the information just announced and make the necessary changes to our web site where applicable. The Japanese Shizuoka Hobby Show is just a week or so away, so we’re confident Waltersons will be making further product announcements and uploading imagery for many of their upcoming projects. Note: We are also updating our semi-regular newsletter to reflect those items expected in 2018, including any new additions gleaned from their recent update. Please do not get overly concerned if you do not see some items listed. They were likely pushed back into 2019 and therefore may wrongfully give our customers the impression that they are due out shortly.
Among the many new items filling our warehouse shelves this April is this 1:48 scale Imperial Japanese Navy Mitsubishi A6M2B “Zero” Fighter that was piloted by Lieutenant Commander Shigeru Itaya, then deployed aboard the IJN Akagi during December 1941
Its been a busy week as far as Hobby Master is concerned, first announcing a spate of new items for a September release, then posting imagery for a number of new items and finally shipping nearly twenty vehicles and aircraft to their dealer network. Slated to arrive later this week are a pair of 1:72 scale M35 trucks, their first ever space shuttle, and their inaugural 1:48 scale Mitusbishi Zero fighter. Lots of other sharp looking aircraft are swooping in, all of which can be currently viewed in our Products in Transit section.
Mattel’s 1:18 scale Star Wars VI Return of the Jedi – Millennium Falcon
Just in time for the premiere of Solo: A Star Wars Story comes word that we are to expect the first pairing of 1:18 scale Star Wars ships from Mattel’s Star Wars Elite series. Slated to arrive before the weekend is the Millennium Falcon (HWCMC93), the ship of lore that made the Kessel Run in twelve parsecs, and piloted by none other than Han Solo and his hairy, oversized side kick, Chewbacca.
Mattel’s 1:18 scale Star Wars V The Empire Strikes Back – TIE Fighter
Also up for your consideration is an insidious TIE Fighter as seen in the series’ second feature film, Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (HWCMC92). Both are packed in handsome black boxes reminiscent of some of the older Kenner packaging used to promote the toys seen in several of the earlier Star Wars films.
Eaglemoss’ 1:1100 scale US Navy New Orleans Class Heavy Cruiser – USS Minneapolis (CA-36) [With Collector Magazine]Our distributor informs us that many of the remaining out-of-stock Eaglemoss warships will only be available in the clam shell packaging, bereft of any cardboard packaging and without the accompanying full-color magazine. Frankly, without these items — which tends to make the entire product more palatable to the consumer as well as the vendor — we are of the opinion that the range has reached the end of the line, capping off a four-year run that has proven to be one of our most successful categories ever. So, we strongly recommend that if you are still interested in any of the warships noted as being in stock on our web site that you consider placing your order as soon as possible, before we remove them from inventory and bid them a fond farewell.
Three new 1:72 scale aircraft are inbound from Oxford Diecast as part of their ever-expanding budget line. The trio include a US Navy Grumman F6F Hellcat that was piloted by Lt. Ray Hawkins, who was attached to VF-31, then embarked upon the USS Cabot (CVL-28) during 1944, a German Messerschmitt Me 163B-0 Komet that was attached to Jagdgeschwader 400, then deployed to Niemcy, Germany, during early 1945, and a German Junkers Ju-87B Stuka dive-bomber that was operated by Sturzkampfgeschwader 2 “Immelmann”, then deployed to Libya during 1941.
Oxford’s 1:72 US Navy Grumman F6F Hellcat Fighter – Lt. Ray Hawkins, VF-31, USS Cabot (CVL-28), 1944
We expect them to arrive the first week of April, honest, no joke!
Oxford’s 1:72 German Messerschmitt Me 163B-0 Komet Rocket-Powered Fighter – White 54-14, Jagdgeschwader 400, Niemcy, Germany, 1945
We know its a tad early, but because of some family committments at our end, that will force us to close for a week in late April, we thought it made sense to start advertising the approach of graduation day. That said, we have some fabulous gift-giving ideas sprinkled throughout our Gift Giving section, all guaranteed to bring a smile to that special someone keenly interested in military history. And, need we remind every one that Father’s Day falls on June 17th, a special day that honors dear old dad and his many fatherly deeds done over the years. So, whether its celebrating a grad or honoring a dad, we’ve got you covered and then some in 2018.
