Shout Outs

Hobby Master Hears Ya

HA4502

Perhaps its growing competition from Air Force 1 or possibly the steady decline in oil prices, but Hobby Master has taken the bold step of reducing the retail prices of several of their forthcoming aircraft. All of their F-15s, including the one we recently received (HA4501), now sell for $99.99, which drops them below the so-called price resistance barrier of $100.

HA4601

Likewise, all of the F-35s have been lowered to $82.99, down a few bucks that puts them on more equal footing with the Air Force 1 offerings. Hopefully, this may signal the willingness of several diecast manufacturers to begin lowering their prices which will spur sales and gain added collectors.

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Falcon Models – Tough Times Ahead?

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Our distributor has just informed us that the factory Falcon Models had been using has closed down and that they are currently searching for a new factory to build their models. At this time, no further information is available, so it could be some time before we begin to see their models in the production pipeline. We still have a number of their replicas in stock, although when word like this leaks out, its just a matter of time before they get snapped up by concerned collectors. With the holidays looming, we strongly recommend you check out what’s still available while you can still obtain them.

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DeAgostini Ponders, “Fancy Yourself a Ship Builder?”

Akagi

Every so often, when we receive word of an impending shipment, we troll the web in search of similar products our customers might be interested in. Yesterday, we learned that a new shipment of Eaglemoss warships were headed our way, which got us to thinking about some of their competitors in the warship space. In the case of DeAgostini, we discovered that they are offering a build-it-yourself, 1:250 scale version of the IJN aircraft carrier, Akagi. Measuring over a yard in length, and bearing incredible craftsmanship, this baby has got to be seen to be believed and will likely take several months to fully kit out.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0bQXwcW_dA&w=560&h=315]

For those of you looking to showcase their modelmaking capabilities, we invite you to view the accompanying video then pay a visit to the manufacturer’s web site at: http://www.model-space.com/gb/build-the-akagi.html

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Just How ‘Fury’-ous can Panzerstahl Get?

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Since Panzerstahl has based many of its most recent vehicles on top tier vehicles found in World of Tanks, it makes sense that they should consider the ‘Easy 8’ Sherman tank known as “Fury” as an upcoming model for 2015. Wargaming, the publisher behind the massively multiplayer online game, World of Tanks, has already confirmed that they will soon be offering a look alike vehicle of “Fury” for their US tank commanders, complete with strapped on logs, crew and other tidbits that ought to score a kill or two in online battles. You can find more information on the latest WOT caisson here:

http://ftr.wot-news.com/2014/10/08/fury-premium-shop-package/

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Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens

Star Wars Logo

With filming on the upcoming Star Wars movie now at an end, director J.J. Abrams tweeted out the name for the latest installment in the space opera: Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens. We anticipate additional details concerning the new film and its merchandising tie-ins in the days and weeks ahead. Stay tuned my young apprentices.

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Amercom Reaches the Front Lines

ACBG74

It’s been several months since we last received a shipment of Amercom merchandise so its with a measured degree of consternation that we announce the arrival of certain key introductions. Our latest cache includes a 1:72 scale replica of a British MCV 80 Warrior Infantry Fighting Vehicle, British Chieftain heavy tank, and US M60 Patton tank, to name but a few. We’ve also received a flock of helos and aircraft, many of which have been out-of-stock for several months running.

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The problem with making these announcements is that new product typically gets gobbled up in a heartbeat, and we then have to wait an inordinate amount of time before it gets replenished by our distributor. Be that as it may, get ’em now before they’re snatched up by the handfuls.

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The USPS Steps Up its Game

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHpY3Sc5I1k&w=560&h=315]

We’re happy to report that the US Postal Service (USPS) has really stepped up its game of late, since making the transition to a real-time scanning and tracking system, particularly to most international destinations. Moreover, they now offer free tracking (something we’ve been asking them to do for a long time) and include $50 worth of free insurance should anything happen to your parcel. Here’s a short primer produced by the USPS that might help allay any fears you may have using their service.

 

In related news, the USPS has announced that beginning November 17th, they will be delivering packages on Sundays straight through the holiday season. Its entirely possible that the USPS could extend this service well beyond the holiday season, as a means of getting a leg up on their competition.

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Eaglemoss Starships Warp in Fast and Furious

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Word from the neutral zone indicates that a new fleet of Eaglemoss Star Trek starships are expected to uncloak in November. According to our distributor, #20-#31 should be hitting shelves just prior to Thanksgiving, all accompanied with their full-color, multi-page magazine.

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Priced at just $22, these spectacular replicas have become instant hits in the Trekkie universe, with loads more to come well into 2015.

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Bandai Calls Upon the Force

Bandai Helmets

According to Rebelscum.com, Bandai has released an official image showcasing their upcoming first assortment of Star Wars helmet replica collection. These helmets will stand 2.75-inches tall and will retail for approximately $7.50 each. Included in the first wave will be Darth Vader, a Stormtrooper, Boba Fett, R2-D2, C-3PO or a TIE Fighter Pilot. Scheduled for release in February 2015.

Frankly, we’re not sure why the manufacturer chose to use C-3PO or R2-D2 as the basis for a helmet replica, other than their iconic places in Star Wars lore, but we’re happy to see information starting to appear regarding the upcoming film.

Star Wars Helmet

As an aside, we hear that the Empire’s Stormtroopers will be wearing an updated, if somewhat less sinister looking helmet for the new feature-length film, calling into question how much of the past films will be rehashed for the next set of Star Wars productions. With Disney sparing no expense to make the upcoming film a monster hit, we are of the opinion that virtually everything will be new this time around, with merchandising tie-ins no doubt playing a huge part in the decision making process.

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