Well, the first pix are in for Hobby Master’s forthcoming E-2C Hawkeye Advanced Early Warning Aircraft. Frankly, we think even the critics will be overcome with emotion, based upon the colorful motif and painstaking detail that has obviously gone into the making of this model.
Their first take on the Hawkeye is based upon a plane that flew with VAW-123 “Screwtops”, then embarked upon the USS Enterprise (CVN-65), as it conducted a tour of duty through the Atlantic Ocean, during October 2005 (#HA4801).
Cleared for takeoff in July, it looks like Air Force 1 will have its hands full trying to top this “screwtop”.
Presently, we are still on track to launch our site-wide Grand Re-Opening this Wednesday, June 10th. To mark the occasion, we will be kicking things off with a multi-day, 25% Off Grand Re-Opening Sale, which will only be good for items listed as being in stock. This sale will not include existing orders, pre-orders, back orders or special order merchandise, so it is important that your order meets this criteria to qualify for the discount. Non-qualifying items will either be deleted from the order or the order will be cancelled outright. This will be a first come, first served sale, so it is entirely possible that we could run out of merchandise in quick fashion and will not replenish the item(s) to meet the discount. In other words, no rain checks. The sale, as it now stands, will begin on Wednesday June 10th and end promptly on Sunday, June 21st, at 12AM PST. Enter code “NewStore” in the coupon box at checkout to redeem this sales discount. Should the store not be ready in time for the sale, we will alter the start and finish dates for the sale accordingly.
Ever since the dawning of the nuclear age, pundits have long claimed that the aircraft carrier has seen its due, a product of a bygone era that is no longer capable of defending itself against a litany of threats. If that were indeed true, then perhaps someone should discuss these conclusions with the Peoples Republic of China, Japan, India and Thailand, all of whom now posses an aircraft carrier of one sort or another.
While China is utilizing its first carrier, more-or-less, as a training platform and testbed for future aircraft designs such as the Shenyang J-31, they are currently building a more straightforward design, which includes the use of a catapult system and angled flight decks, and slated to get underway before 2020.
Other countries in the Pacific Rim and southern Asia are also seeking to expand their own capabilities despite the cost of building and operating a carrier. Like China, India has purchased an older Soviet Union-era aircraft carrier to serve as their operational fleet air arm, while quietly developing their own indigenous fleet of aircraft-carrying warships. Likewise, Japan, still prevented in part by its constitution to project power overseas, can transition its pair of carriers from carrying helicopters to US-made F-35B joint strike fighters.
Thailand still remains a bit of a mystery in the aircraft carrier equation, possessing a smaller and less capable warship bereft of any aircraft, due, in large part, to funding shortfalls. And, with Russia continuing to flex its muscles and threaten its neighbors around the world, it is perhaps only a matter of time before they get back into the aircraft carrier game with an entirely new design.
Ordinarily, Memorial Day weekend signals the start of Fleet Week, whereby several US Navy warships, Coast Guard cutters and patrol craft arrive at the port of New York City for a well-deserved respite from sea duty. To commemorate the event, we have loads of Eaglemoss Collection’s 1:1100 scale warships now in stock, ranging from stalwarts such as the IJN’s super-battleship Yamato to the recently arrived and oddly-designed HMS Nelson. Make sure to check out our entire collection of Eaglemoss warships, which typically sell out faster than we can replenish ’em.
Incidentally, World of Warships, a free, massively multiplayer online game has now entered alpha testing and should become available to everyone later this fall. Check it out at http://worldofwarships.com/
Apparently, Disney has deemed that September 4th is when a great many licensees of its Star Wars brand will be able to reveal their merchandising plans to the public at-large. In the meantime, we’ve learned a couple of interesting tidbits that should get the party started a wee bit early. First off, our distributor has confirmed that the large majority of the legacy-based DeAgostini Star Wars vehicles and ships come with their coveted magazine, which offers loads of information and full color illustrations concerning each replica portrayed.
At the other end of the spectrum, Mattel has posted pix of three of their upcoming 1:18 scale ships that have appeared prominently in previous Star Wars films. Heavy in the hand, and bearing all of the detail you’ve come to expect from this long time toy maker, these limited edition replicas will certainly help to get the ball rolling ahead of the debut of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, which is scheduled to hit theatres on December 18th. May the force be with them.
Our distributor reports that their shipment of DeAgostini Star Wars products are about to arrive at their warehouse, which means we should have them next week. Keep in mind that these are legacy-based vehicles and ships, tied to the first six movies in the series. Moreover, there is no set scale to these highly detailed products, but if you’re a Star Wars fanatic like us, then you’ll still relish collecting these movie favorites.
The first pix are up for Hobby Master’s soon-to-be-released US Navy North American RA-5C Vigilante Strike Bomber (HA4701) and boy do they like sweet. Representing a bird that flew with Reconnaissance Attack Squadron Six (Heavy) “Fleurs”, then embarked upon the USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63), during 1971, the “Vigi” will come with a full weapons load out and looks every bit as realistic as the platform it models. Its flight deck landing is slated for August, barring any unforeseen wave offs.
Never mind the musical comedy – Dragon has indicated that their first ever German Late Production Sd. Kfz. 161 PzKpfw IV Ausf. H Medium Tank (DRR60651) has arrived at their port and are now inbound to our facility. We should have them in our grubby little hands this Friday, and will do our utmost to get out all of our orders for this item before we close up shop for the week.
In related news, their second take on the PzKpfw IV Ausf. H is due around May 8th, a few days after our return. Good new for all you armor aficionados planning on a Spring Offensive this May.
Seems as if we’re on a roll of late, at least as far as Eaglemoss goes. Over the weekend, images were posted for their fourth special edition deluxe vessel as well as two more standard issue Star Trek star ships. STSP04 represents a Klingon D4 Class Patrol Ship, built a bit larger than the standard issue ships and boasts a full color magazine with loads of information concerning its usage.
Also being shown are ST0048 (on the right), a Star Trek Federation Intrepid Class Starship with Ablative Hull Armor – USS Enterprise NCC-1701-C, along with ST0049 (on the left), a Star Trek Earth Cargo Service Y Class Freighter – ECS Fortunate.
We did a wee bit of surfing on the Internet and managed to unearth a couple of photos of Hobby Master’s upcoming Hawker Hurricanes. Produced in 1:48 scale, their first pair of Mk. I Hurris include one flown by Sgt. J. Frantisek of 303 (Polish) Squadron, which was deployed at RAF Northolt, England, during September 1940 (HA8601). The second mount was piloted by Flying Officer W. L. McKnight, who was attached to 242 (Canadian) Squadron, then deployed to RAF Coltishall, England, during December 1940 (HA8602). Look for both warbirds some time in June.
