Effective immediately, we are phasing out our entire range of The Collectors Showcase merchandise. Any remaining stock qualifies for a 25% discount off of the advertised price. Be advised that we will not be ordering any additional stock, so anything listed as Special Order does not qualify for this discount. Likewise, this is a first come first served sale, so it is entirely possibly that we could run out of select items quickly. To place an order for this line and qualify for this discount, please call us at (718) 465-3292 during normal business hours and we will review our in-stock position with you. Again, please do not ask us to order something that we no longer have available since this is a liquidation sale.
Shout Outs
USPS International Tracking to Become a Reality
We’ve been in business for 14 years and it was always a daunting proposition to ship packages outside the US. Happily, all that may soon change. Our friends at the Post Office today informed us that they will soon be offering true tracking capabilities for 180 countries, much like they do for domestic shipments. So, both we and our customers will be able to follow the progress of a package from hand-off at the Post Office to the customer’s doorstep. We’ll post further information regarding this important update as soon as we learn more.
Corgi Weighs In this April
According to the folks at Corgi, their latest 1:32 scale de Havilland Mosquito is scheduled to buzz our airfield in early April. Based on a Royal Australian Air Force Mk. VI fighter-bomber, #AA34606 was attached to 464 Squadron, which took part in support of the D-Day landings in June 1944. Wearing black-and-white Invasion Stripes, their latest behemoth measures 15-1/2 inches in length by 20-1/4 inches in width, and bears all of the hallmark detail and authenticity we’ve all come to expect from this longstanding model maker.
Pre-orders are still being accepted although we should hear soon if this item will be allocated like some of their previous heavies.
In With the New, Out With the Old
With so many new lines emerging, several of which are very deep and broad, we’ve decided to phase out a few lines that have been under performing or seem to be no longer supported by the manufacturer. MRC’s Easy Model line will be drawn down, since a number of new items that have been listed in their catalogs for several years running show no sign of ever making it to market. Product replenishment has also been a recurring issue, with several key items never made available from any of our suppliers.
It also appears as if Dragon has taken an indefinite hiatus, sidestepping the production of many items that were announced years ago. While we would prefer not to phase out their lines of pre-assembled vehicles, figures and aircraft, it simply doesn’t make sense to continually hype something that never comes to fruition, particularly when other companies are clamoring for more shelf space. If anything changes for the positive in the near future we will certainly make note of it, but for now it doesn’t appear as if the wheels of progress are being greased.
Hobby Master Studies War Some More
No longer delayed due to a recurring customs issue, the February shipment of Hobby Master products is finally en route to us and scheduled to arrive the second week of March. Several notable releases are included in the shipment, including the first ever 1:72 scale diecast model of the F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (#HA4401).
Vehicles and aircraft abound in this cache, particularly this sweet-looking 1:72 scale rendition of a German Sd. Kfz. 234/3 8-Wheeled Armored Car that was attached to the 1.SS Panzer Division LSSAH (#HG4306). Enjoy!
Has Russia Invaded Ukraine?
According to several sources, Russian military forces have occupied several installations in lower Ukraine, principally around the Crimean region. The new Ukrainian government says it has been invaded by Russia and has appealed for the United States and United Kingdom to protect it, as guaranteed under a 1994 agreement. The move came after a series of armed takeovers and provocations in the Crimea region that began on Thursday with the seizure of the regional parliament building and continued on Friday. Soldiers without national insignia have been seen blocking off and guarding the region’s airports and other military assets, including helicopters, trucks and naval vessels have been reported in and around the area.
The so-called Budapest Memorandum, signed as part of a deal that saw Ukraine give up its nuclear weapons in 1994, is now being examined closely to see what the repercussions would be for the global community. According to the agreement, the US, UK and Russia all agreed to protect the sovereignty and “territorial agreement” of Ukraine, meaning any Russian support for an attempt to declare Crimean independence would be in violation of their international obligations.
The three powers committed to “respect the independence and sovereignty and the existing borders of Ukraine” and “refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of Ukraine”. Significantly, the wording suggests Russia’s insistence that Ukraine forgo an EU trade deal may have already breached the terms of the agreement. The signatories agreed to “refrain from economic coercion designed to subordinate to their own interest the exercise by Ukraine of the rights inherent in its sovereignty and thus to secure advantages of any kind”.
Unimax Goes Down to the Sea in Ships
At this year’s Toy Fair held in New York City, Unimax, the makers of the wildly popular Forces of Valor line of military replicas, confirmed that several new vessels can be expected over the course of 2014. Two new aircraft carriers are currently getting their keels laid for late year release, including the USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) and USS Hornet (CV-8). Also, scheduled to sortie with their growing fleet is the battleship USS Arizona (BB-39), which should make port in June.
In the air, several new warplanes are in the FOV defense budget, including a 1:72 scale rendition of a Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion heavy lift helicopter, a Lockheed F-117A Nighthawk stealth fighter, US Navy F-35B Joint Strike Fighter, and, of course, the previously announced MV-22 Osprey, which will indeed feature tilting rotors and a drop down rear ramp.
The Company plans on taking a breather with their military vehicle range, although a handful of repaints are still on the docket.
The Toy Industry Gathers in Nuremberg
We are just a scant two days away from the opening of the Annual International Toy Fair held in Nuremberg, Germany. This year the show opens on Wednesday, January 29th, and we expect some important product announcements from a number of key manufacturers. Rest assured, we’ll post all of the latest developments to our web site as soon as they’re passed along to us.
Falcon Shows Us Their Talons
Curiosity seekers will be thrilled to learn that Falcon Models has released images of their first ever T=38 Talon. Depicting a bird that was attached to the USAF’s 445th Flight Test Squadron, 412th Test Wing, then deployed to Edwards AFB, during 2009 (#FA721101), their inaugural trainer looks especially looks good, and is expected to touch down some time in February. Expect other renditions, including a NASA chase plane, in the months to come.
The Collectors Showcase Gets Smaller and More Informed
With the myriad of 2014 Toy Fairs just around the corner, The Collectors Showcase is one of the first companies to start providing details concerning their 2014 roster. Besides the usual litany of first-rate, 1:30 scale collectibles from different epochs, the Austin, Texas-based company now plans on dabbling in the wargaming market by offering a new range of 1:28 scale military miniatures called Collectors Battlefield Wargaming System.
Their first rule set, D-Day: Battle of Carentan, is already being shown on their web site, and should be available as early as February. Several vehicles and figure packs are included in the mix, as are separate rules sets and other accessories. We will begin listing each of the sets and hope to take pre-orders shortly.