Shout Outs

Warships of the Eaglemoss Navy

Presently, we are awaiting the next grouping of Eaglemoss warships that will be released in the month of February. Thus far, our distributor has been releasing them, on overage, at around 4-5 ships per month and will likely continue to do so until all 80 ships have been released into the marketplace. This means that it could take upwards of a year before the entire series has been completely released, with some older items no longer available for purchase. That said, we are reviewing back orders once each shipment comes in to determine which orders can best be fulfilled based upon shipping destinations, inventory levels and other mitigating factors, such as payment. Please be aware that there may be instances where we will ship out orders piece meal until we can fill an order in its entirety. If you do not accept this arrangement then your order may be subject to cancellation. We will not hold inventory for more than a few days after it has arrived so it is important that you understand that our fulfillment system is designed to serve both you as well as our own needs in the best possible fashion. Thank you for your understanding.

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Forces of Valor Hits the Ground Running at Toy Fair

For several weeks, Waltersons, the new owners of the Forces of Valor brand, has been hinting at what they plan to release in 2017. From radio controlled military vehicles to warships, battle tanks to dioramas, the proud new caretakers of the multi-faceted Forces of Valor range is approaching things from a bride’s perspective, offering something old, borrowed and blue to whet the appetite of collectors world over.

In terms of old, several legacy molds were shown to the public at the Nuremberg Toy Fair, including a reworked 1:32 scale Tiger I heavy tank that “borrows” from its Extreme Metal range in that a separate tank engine will be included as an added bonus. As for blue, their highly coveted warships range now comes in handsome new packaging that makes the ship look as if its cutting through the surf to join up with its brethren.

While some of the old favorites were on display, it appears as if the PLAN Liaoning aircraft carrier was also in the booth, meaning it is likely just a month or so away from an actual launch. We hope to have final pricing concerning all of the new warships coming to market and will likely receive an update in May concerning the Company’s new 1:16 scale Extreme Metal Tiger tank, 1:72 scale military vehicles and multi-scaled fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft.

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Calibre Wings Straddles the “Fence” and Provides a First Look at Their Upcoming Su-24 Attack Aircraft

Despite running into some manufacturing issues which has delayed the released of their first pair of F-14 Tomcats, Calibre Wings used the Nuremberg Toy Fair to show off their next tooling: a Sukhoi Su-24 Fencer all weather attack aircraft. Initially, two planes are being planned for an end-of-year release: one based upon a Ukranian Su-24MR and a second, and likely more popular, Su-24M variant flown by a Russian squadron.

Thus far, neither version is being shown in their markings and insignia, although the prototype was displayed with its ordnance and some of its characteristic features, among them variable geometry swing wings and opening cockpit.

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Forces of Valor Catches a Wave

Perhaps drawing inspiration from the Beach Boys classic, Waltersons showed off the new and improved packaging for their relaunched 1:700 sale warships series. Besides opening differently, making it far more easier to remove from its outer box, the new design features a wave-like blister in which the warship sits, which will differ markedly from ship-to-ship to signify the changes in wakes formed by each warship as it passes through the surf.

Look for the first squadron of warships to set sail later this winter. We are still awaiting pricing and dates of availability for some of the new toolings announced earlier this month.

In related news, the Company also posted several images of the new display stand being developed for each warship. Each ship will sit atop twin diecast metal pillars, that will be finished in chrome rather than gold, and attached to a wood-like display plinth, thereby making them much more attractive as potential conversation pieces on desks and credenzas.

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Hobby Master Proves Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder

It never ceases to amaze me how collectors can’t have enough of a particular warbird. I’m not talking F-4 Phantom IIs or even the venerable F-14 Tomcat, both of which have their own unique critics, fans, and well wishers. Friends, I’m talking the Fairchild A-10 Warthog ground attack aircraft, a much maligned aircraft that the Air Force has been trying to shed and re-embrace for several years. First introduced into the Hobby Master lineup back in 2007, and priced at just $39.99, the latest incarnation (HA1322) sold out in a matter of mere weeks this holiday season, even though it was offered at nearly three times the price of the inaugural tank buster.

The next version (HA1323) is currently poised to hit the streets in February and, in many respects, looks very similar to the most recent one that quickly sold out, meaning there’s still hope for those of you looking to pick up a “Warthog” even at current market prices. Goes to show beauty is indeed in the eye of the beholder.

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Solido Takes a Curtain Call

When I entered this hobby some twenty years ago, french modelmaker, Solido, was one of the dominant players in the diecast military space. Producing a wide range of 1:43-1:50 scale military vehicles, and a smattering of 1:18 scale jeeps, Solido was a perennial favorite, even if they used and reused several molds ad infinitum to come up with new variations on a popular theme. In time, however, they withdrew from the military scene for any number of reasons, although always loitering in the background, like a back up actor, as if to one day make a return engagement.

In 2017, it appears as if they are finally ready to take a curtain call, thanks in large part to a wide array of previously released War Master 1:72 scale vehicles and aircraft that have been re-purposed and re-packaged for the Solido.market There were rumors that the Company would also be offering an even larger range of 1:43 scale military vehicles previously produced by Eaglemoss, which looks to be the case as evinced by several images posted on their Facebook page. If so, then Solido looks to be well poised to re-enter the military market, offering a steady diet of multi-ranged vehicles and aircraft that should delight the average collector for years to come.

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The Show Must Go On

Veteran collectors know that after the holidays, many diecast manufacturers start to get their ducks in a row and prepare for the multitude of trade shows that occur around the world. Several open in January, but the grand daddy of all shows, the Spielwarenmesse, opens this year on February 1st in Nuremberg, Germany. Occasionally, we get a glimpse of what will be on display at some of the smaller shows, such as the Hong Kong Toys and Game Fair which begins on January 9th. Anyway, if you are curious about some of the upcoming trade shows, check out our Calendar of Events page, which shows when each one is scheduled to open and run.

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Waltersons Mutters, “Mugsy, Take the Scenic Route”

Lately, it seems as though most of the new product announcements we are posting have one thing or another to do with Waltersons’ resurgent look at the Forces of Valor brand. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, particularly if their intent is to resurrect some of the oldies but goodies in the Forces of Valor product portfolio. Earlier today, as part of the run-up to the Nuremberg Toy Fair, the Company floated the idea of bringing back the deluxe diorama sets that were a part of their initial product mix way back in 2003, when the line was first introduced. I fondly remember ogling the sets at the American International Toy Fair held here in New York City, remarking to the distributor and owner how lifelike they looked and the degree they were prepared to support the hobby across all market segments.

Fourteen years later, and it now appears as if the new owners feel the same way, showcasing one of the now sold out scenics with an accompanying Tamiya 1:35 scale Challenger II main battle tank. If they do indeed move forward with the re-release of the dioramas, they will likely make some minor tweaks and improvements along the way, which may or may not affect the retail price, weight, packaging, etc. For now, we’re just happy that they are looking to bring them back in full force, which will no doubt be supplemented with additional dioramas featuring several of the new vehicles they’ve already hinted at coming to market in 2017. Enjoy!

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Waltersons Declares, “One if by land, three if by sea”

Mum for some time regarding their soon-to-be-released range of static military models, it now appears as if Waltersons is releasing information to the public on a day-by-day basis. Yesterday the Company posted imagery of their upcoming 1:32 scale Tiger I tank. Earlier today, they revealed pictures for the warship series, which explains how the vessels will come packed when “shipped out.”

Rather than using a plastic blister to keep them in place, the Company developed a new locking nut mechanism that permits the buyer to easily take the ship in and out of its packaging. Moreover, the outer packaging features an open tabbed fifth panel, which is designed to make it far easier to remove, and, if necessary, replace the item in its box, thereby reducing the likelihood of damage.

As an Easter Egg of sorts, it appears as if the French Navy’s nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, Charles de Gaulle (R91), will be joining the growing Forces of Valor fleet in 2017, as well as some other unidentified warships. We’ve also re-categorized our Forces of Valor 1:700 scale subsections into a Battleship and Aircraft Carrier Series to correspond with the changes shown on the back of the aforementioned packaging.

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Waltersons Maintains, “There’s Still a Tiger in Your Tank!”

As a special holiday gift, Waltersons, the new owners of the Forces of Valor brand, has debuted images of their upcoming 1:32 scale Tiger I heavy tank. Posted to Facebook earlier today, the up-close photos demonstrate some of the principal differences between the Tiger I tank produced by the former owners, Unimax, then contrasts them with some of the enhancements made by Waltersons, all of which are intended to correct certain deficiencies and make each vehicle more realistic. In the case of the Tiger I tank, five new molds were produced, among them a new chassis, new road wheels, swing arms, torsion bars, new sprocket & new idler wheel, new engine details, and new caterpillar tracks. You can see all on the improvements and follow the progress of some of the other vehicles still under development on their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/fovhobbies/?hc_ref=NEWSFEED. A new web site is also reportedly under construction.

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