With several Amercom items returning to stock, we learned today that the range is finally being bundled together with their accompanying magazines. The magazines may be a bit dated and originate in Poland, but they are written in English and designed to shed some background information on the item in question, much like the Eaglemoss partworks line of Star Trek starships. Please note that not every item we currently stock comes with the magazine, so as we run out of an item each follow-on replacement will purportedly come with the full-color booklet, although this too could change should our distributor indicate they are no longer available or not included with each shipment. We’ve uploaded the cover for one particular magazine and its accompanying model, so you can get a better idea as to what to expect going forward. We’re keeping our fingers crossed that more partworks lines will come in this fashion, much as they are issued across the pond in Europe. Best of all, the additional magazine will have no impact on the item’s pricing. Henceforth, we will amend the header for each item indicating whether or not it comes with the magazine.
As Waltersons, the new owner of the Forces of Valor brand, continues to build out its web site, product images are beginning to appear for some of their upcoming products. By clicking on their Exhibition link, located within the footer of their web site, then clicking on some of the recent Asian Hobby Shows, you can make out some of the tanks and aircraft slated for a 2017 release.
While some of the images are rather small, they do go along way towards proving that the manufacturer is hard at work bringing product to market and what you can expect from some of the re-purposed items carried over from the original range. http://forcesofvalor.com/new_website/event_toyfair.php
Walterson’s new portrayal of the Jagftiger heavy tank destroyer boasts lots more metal than their Unimax counterparts.
Its been awhile since we last saw product photos from Waltersons concerning their range of 1:32 Forces of Valor military vehicles. We’re still hoping for updated photos shortly, since these items are scheduled to go into production soon in order to meet the holiday deadline.
In the interim, we decided to post a couple of pre-production photos Waltersons uploaded to Facebook for two of their upcoming tank destroyers. As you can see from the images, the manufacturer is going to great lengths to return the line to its former glory when they were first introduced way back in 2002. The photos clearly demonstrate the amount of metal being used to flesh out the chassis, gun and other key areas, meaning they will be much heavier in the hand when they are completed. While its important to note that the engine compartments for the new range will come fully modeled and boast a removable engine, we thought it equally important to point out that even the accompanying crew figures are being reworked, thereby showing the Company’s commitment to quality as well as value.
Reworked crew figures will accompany each vehicle, in keeping with the Company’s belief that everything will be overhauled.
We’re still hoping for actual production photos before Labor Day, along with realistic release dates for the first group of vehicles on the docket. We will keep everyone apprised just as soon as we hear back from the manufacturer.
Four new 1:72 scale Dragon Armor vehicles are now in stock and available for your immediate purchasing pleasure
If you’ve been experiencing shakes and even cold sweats over the last few months not getting your Dragon Armor fix, then you’ll be happy to learn that we’ve got the latest AFV candy in ample supply. In addition to the recently released PzKpfw IV Ausf D medium tank we received earlier this month (DRR60693), we now have four more vehicles available for immediate delivery. The quartet includes:
DRR60694 – German Sd. Kfz. 161 PzKpfw IV Ausf. D Medium Tank – 4.Kompanie, Panzer-Regiment 7, 10.Panzer Division, France, 1940 (1:72 Scale)
DRR60511 – German Sd. Kfz. 142 Sturmgeschutz III Ausf. F Assault Gun – Sturmgeschutz Abteilung 201, Eastern Front, 1942 (1:72 Scale)
DRR60512 – German Sd. Kfz. 142 Sturmgeschutz III Ausf. F Assault Gun – Sturmgeschutz Abteilung 210, Eastern Front, 1942 (1:72 Scale)
DRR60700 – German Sd. Kfz. 161 PzKpfw IV Ausf. G Medium Tank – 7.Panzer Regiment “Totenkopf”, 3.SS Panzer Grenadier Division “Totenkopf”, Kharkov, Russia, 1943 (1:72 Scale)
Each is priced at a paltry $29.99, a far cry from the $40 plus price tag for some of their 2016 introductions, meaning there’s loads more vehicles in the offing at more attractive pricing.
Hermes, the sole British aircraft carrier in the Eaglemoss Warships of the World navy, finally pays us a port of call visit
Four more Eaglemoss 1:1100 warships arrived at our port of call in recent days, all hot sellers and long overdue favorites for would-be captains. The newest task force includes:
EMGC67 – Royal Navy Hermes Class Aircraft Carrier – HMS Hermes (95) [With Collector Magazine] (1:1100 Scale)
EMGC69 – Imperial Japanese Navy Asahi Class Battleship – Asahi [With Collector Magazine] (1:1100 Scale)
EMGC70 – German Kriegsmarine Admiral Hipper Class Heavy Cruiser – DKM Prinz Eugen [With Collector Magazine] (1:1100 Scale)
EMGC72 – Imperial Japanese Navy Takao Class Heavy Cruiser – Maya [With Collector Magazine] (1:1100 Scale)
As a side note, I can see why the first three warships are doing well at retail, but the surprise here has been the heavy cruiser, Maya, outselling our initial forecast and already scheduled to be re-ordered by our naval procurement department. Enjoy!
Fancy a 1:48 scale replica of a USAAF Lockheed P-38J Lightning Interceptor – Major Thomas McGuire, “Pudgy IV”, 431st Fighter Squadron “Red Devils”, 475th Fighter Group, August 1943?
Perhaps Shakespeare had foreknowledge five hundred years ago as to how much new product we would receive in early August. The following items are now available for shipment or en route to us, making August 2017 one of the most impressive new arrival months to date:
Dragon
DRR60693 – German Sd. Kfz. 161 PzKpfw IV Ausf. D Medium Tank – 3.Kompainie, Panzer-Regiment 3, 2.Panzer Division, Western Front, 1940 (1:72 Scale)
DRR60694 – German Sd. Kfz. 161 PzKpfw IV Ausf. D Medium Tank – 4.Kompanie, Panzer-Regiment 7, 10.Panzer Division, France, 1940 (1:72 Scale)
DRR60511 – German Sd. Kfz. 142 Sturmgeschutz III Ausf. F Assault Gun – Sturmgeschutz Abteilung 201, Eastern Front, 1942 (1:72 Scale)
DRR60512 – German Sd. Kfz. 142 Sturmgeschutz III Ausf. F Assault Gun – Sturmgeschutz Abteilung 210, Eastern Front, 1942 (1:72 Scale)
DRR60700 – German Sd. Kfz. 161 PzKpfw IV Ausf. G Medium Tank – 7.Panzer Regiment “Totenkopf”, Panzer Grenadier Division “Totenkopf”, Kharkov, Russia, 1943 (1:72 Scale)
Luft-X
LUFT006 – German Blohm und Voss P.209.02 Fighter (1:72 Scale)
LUFT007 – German Focke-Wulf Ta 283 Interceptor (1:72 Scale)
Eaglemoss Warships
EMGC67 – Royal Navy Hermes Class Aircraft Carrier – HMS Hermes (95) [With Collector Magazine] (1:1100 Scale)
EMGC69 – Imperial Japanese Navy Asahi Class Battleship – Asahi [With Collector Magazine] (1:1100 Scale)
EMGC70 – German Kriegsmarine Admiral Hipper Class Heavy Cruiser – DKM Prinz Eugen [With Collector Magazine] (1:1100 Scale)
EMGC72 – Imperial Japanese Navy Takao Class Heavy Cruiser – Maya [With Collector Magazine] (1:1100 Scale)
Eaglemoss 1:43 Scale Military Vehicles
EM031 – US Studebaker US6 (M16A) 6×6 2-1/2 Ton Truck – CIAB (Czechoslovak Independent Armoured Brigade), Northampton, England, April 1944 (1:43 Scale)
EM045 – US Army GMC CCKW 353 6×6 2-1/2 Ton Workshop Truck – Vehicle 3, 3886 Transport Company, Advance Section Communications Zone, Cherbourg, France, 1944 (1:43 Scale)
Corgi’s 1:72 scale Avro Vulcan boasts tampo printed markings and insignia, just like other aircraft in the Aviation Archive range
Earlier today, Corgi indicated that their long awaited 1:72 scale Avro Vulcan bomber (AA27203) had reached the US and was ready for shipment. Several months ago, collectors on the other side of the pond reported that the Vulcans they had received had decals instead of the usual tampo printed markings. Furthermore, some claimed that the decals were already peeling or cracking right out of the box. While we cannot comment on the issue and what steps were taken to rectify the matter, we did ask our US supplier to inspect the shipment they received to determine if they too suffered from the same type of issues. Upon inspection, our rep said that the Vulcans in their possession featured tampo printed markings and insignia not decals, and that they looked fine to even a trained eye. So, we agreed to accept our order, and now expect our allotment to arrive the first of week of August.
Bombs away! Looks as if this Vulcan is getting set to plaster a target
1990 was a very good vintage for the RAF’s F-4J Phantom II fighter bomber
Photos were released earlier today for Hobby Master’s upcoming pair of RAF F-4J Phantom fighter-bombers. Hailing from No. 74 Squadron, which was deployed to RAF Wattisham, England, the first represents a bird flown in 1990 (HA1985) while the second portrays one flown five years earlier in 1985 (HA1986).
Turn back the hands of time by another five years and you have this equally impressive F-4J from No. 74 Squadron
Both come with a nice weapons load out and all of the hallmark detail and craftsmanship you’ve come to expect from Hobby Master for well over a decade. Look for this deadly duo to appear over our skies some time in October.
Each year, as part of our self-reevaluation initiative, we look at ways to improve our web site given the current state of technology. Earlier today, we rolled out a new suite of buttons across our main web site, all of which will hopefully do a better job of maintaining the overall look and feel of our present template.
Later in the year, our web hosting solution is planning on rolling out a brand new version of their e-commerce platform — which we have signed up for — one that will include a number of important front end and behind-the-scenes features that will help to keep us on the cutting edge of online retailing practice. We will share further details regarding the proposed update once we have gained familiarity with it and make the necessary tweaks to best address our product portfolio and audience.
Hobby Master’s trio of long overdue M60A1 Patton tanks. The Three Musketeers include a US, Israeli and Austrian versions.
If you were sitting on the fence concerning Hobby Master’s upcoming trio of M60A1 Patton tanks, well then we recommend you hop off right now. Earlier today, the manufacturer released images for all three vehicles expected this fall: one represents a US M60A1 with a Reliability Improved Selected Equipment (RISE) IR/White Light Spotlight (HG5601), an Israeli variant (HG5602) and finally an Austrian Army version that served under NATO command during the post-war period (HG5603). Frankly, all three are downright gorgeous, although we know the top nod will go to both the US and Israeli versions. We aren’t sure how many vehicles were produced by Hobby Master, but we get the impression these are going to be snapped up quickly given their realistic appearance and lack of anything new from the Hobby Master motor pool in quite some time.
