Shout Outs

Panzerstahl: Tanks for the Memories

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Maybe I’m dating myself, but the very first fully assembled replica caisson I remember purchasing some fifty or so years ago was a Roco Tank depicting the British Conqueror heavy tank. It was plastic, needed to be painted and could easily be trampled by the family pet, but still there was something about it that captured my heart and imagination. Needless to say, the keepsake has since gone the way of my baseball cards, Matchbox cars and comic books, but it nevertheless made an indelible mark on my childhood memories that I won’t soon forget.

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It is therefore with some trepidation and a fair bit of anxiety that I await the arrival of Panzerstahl’s rendition of a  1:72 scale Conqueror. Constructed out of sturdy resin and bearing all of the hallmark details that have come to be associated with their highly successful World of Tanks line, the Conqueror, along with the Russian Object 704 heavy tank destroyer and restock of the US T-28 super heavy tank form an especially strong lineup for our October releases, and will no doubt be sought after this holiday season by collectors worldwide.

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Hobby Master: Ever Vigilant(e)?

Vigilante

According to one popular diecast collector forum, Hobby Master intends to produce 1:72 scale replicas of the North American A-5 Vigilante Nuclear Strike Bomber. Deployed aboard several aircraft carriers during the 1960s, the Vigilante saw extensive service during the Vietnam War in the tactical strike reconnaissance role. If the rumor can be substantiated, it appears as if the Vigilante is scheduled to release in early 2015, with other new carrier-based aviation assets not too far behind.

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Eaglemoss Continues to Boldly Go

Magazine

We’ve got wonderful news for all of you Trekkies out there. Beginning with the next wave of Eaglemoss Star Trek releases scheduled for October, each will come will their accompanying magazine, which discusses in detail the ship being profiled. Each multi-page issue contains loads of diagrams, photographs, annotations and information about the ship in question, so collectors can further appreciate each purchase. Best of all, the magazine comes free-of-charge with the purchase of each replica, our way of saying thank you for your patronage. Enjoy!

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War Master Revisits Some Fan Favorites

WMAPF004

If you missed out on some of War Master’s high-flying warbirds, then you can probably take comfort in knowing that the Company plans to bring back some of them as part of their 2015 lineup. Expected in the first quarter of the New Year, the proposed reintroductions include the Lockheed P-38 Lightning, Curtiss P-40 Warhawk, Heinkel He 162 People’s Fighter, Mitsubishi A6M2 Rufe floatplane, and Kawasaki Ki 61 Tony fighter. The price for these hot sellers remains at $24.99, making them ideal candidates to start off any diecast aviation collection.

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Enterprise Meets Einstein

UNI86017

Forces of Valor has acknowledged that their second take on the USS Enterprise is about to make port in mid-September (#UNI86017). This particular version comes with a set of sailors that spell out “E=MC2 x 40”, which, in Einsteinian terms, signifies the 40th anniversary of the ship’s sailing under nuclear power.

UNI86017 Compilation

Collectors can stow the sailors in a safe place if they prefer not to display the phrase on the deck of their prized carrier.

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Space, The Final Frontier

Star Trek Logo 3

We’ve had great success with the Eaglemoss range of military vehicles and warships so when word reached us that a new line of collectibles was now available we jumped at the opportunity. Later this month, we will be receiving the first squadron of Star Trek-related merchandise, which replicates many of the most iconic ships seen in the TV series and feature films. While there is no set scale for these items, we believe that their intricate detail, affordable price and collectible nature will more than make up for any size deficiencies. We should have the entire range listed on our web site by August 6th and can be found within our Military Science Fiction section. Live long and prosper!

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Top Gun 2: Cruise vs. Drones

Top Gun

In an April report on The Verge that was gleaned from a HuffPost interview, Jerry Bruckheimer is apparently spilling some of the beans concerning the upcoming feature film, Top Gun 2. Lead actor, Tom Cruise, will once again reprise his role as Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, the dapper F-14 ace who rose to the occasion despite his misgivings to rescue his fellow airmen and serve his country in magnificent fashion. This time around, however, Cruise will reportedly square off against a bevy of unmanned combat aerial vehicles, although the reason for the high-speed dogfight and locale are still a mystery. Since the movie has yet to go into production, we are probably looking at a Christmas 2016 airing at the earliest, with replicas likely following.

More information concerning the upcoming film can be found here: http://www.theverge.com/2014/4/1/5570710/top-gun-2-will-feature-tom-cruise-versus-drones-says-jerry-bruckheimer

 

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The Hornet Gets Ready to Leave its Dry Dock

UNI86015

Imagery is finally starting to appear for Unimax upcoming rendition of the aircraft carrier USS Hornet (#UNI86015). Slated to join the Forces of Valor fleet some time in September, the Hornet will feature Jimmy Doolittle’s squadron of B-25 bombers on its deck, just as it was configured prior to the Tokyo Raid of April 1942. The ship shown here is still devoid of its markings and insignia, as are the planes and display plinth.

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Skynet’s Self-Awareness

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With drones playing an ever greater role in our nation’s military defense strategy, we thought it made sense to create a brand new section which focuses on the myriad unmanned combat systems fielded by the world’s armies. Thus far, we’ve included the three Italeri unmanned aerial vehicles in this all-new section, but fully anticipate an ever growing array of aerial, submersible and land-based systems to be included in this section.

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Air Force 1 Cleared for Landing

AF100010

Our principal distributor has informed us that they have signed an agreement with newcomer Air Forces 1 Model Company to become the sole distributor of their line of multi-scale aircraft for the North American market. While the manufacturer is still working on their own web site, early indications are that the first release will be a 1:72 scale replica of the V-22 Osprey Tiltrotor aircraft. The AF1 version will feature the ability to rotate the wings 90 degrees so that it can be stowed aboard a US Aircraft carrier.

AF100010 Compilation

According to reports, AF1 will be relaunching several of the older Armour Collection 1:48 scale aircraft as part of their line, although its not clear if any retooling will be done to bring them up to spec. Moreover, the new line will include aircraft in differing scales and could be as broad and deep as the original Armour Collection range. We hope to have more details concerning this important announcement in the days and weeks ahead.

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