Hobby Master displays a quartet of upcoming Lockheed F-35A Joint Strike Fighter covering four different air forces
Say what you will about the oft maligned Lockheed F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter. Hobby Master obviously holds a different opinion, offering four liveries to choose from this summer that should keep even the most ardent critics more than satisfied. Shown in the upper left hand of this montage is a F-35I “Adir” that served with the Israeli Air Force in 2016 (HA4410). Next, is a Royal Australian Air Force F-35A JSF that entered service with the country earlier this year (HA4411). In the bottom right hand position we have a F-35A that was accepted into service by the Japanese Air Self Defense Force last August (HA4412) and finally we have a USAF F-35A that was attached to the 34th Fighter Squadron, 388th Fighter Wing, which is currently based at Lakenheath, England (HA4413). The montage shows, in visual form, just how many nations are accepting the F-35 into active service to replace their own aging fleets of fourth generation aircraft, with other nations also selecting the F-35 over other possible candidates.
Forces of Valor explains the depth and breath of nuances that goes into producing a pre-assembled model
We’re constantly deluged by inquiries asking why its taking so long for Waltersons, the new owners of the Forces of Valor brand, to bring their product portfolio to market. Beyond the learning curve associated with creating a static model, its a question of trial-and-error, as the new owners experiment with different techniques to both enhance the range and satiate the appetite of baying customers looking to get their hands on the newest introductions.
Vincent Tsang, Managing Director of the Forces of Valor line, posted a three part essay on Facebook describing the process in detail and why they are taking their time to get things right. We strongly suggest paying a visit to their Facebook page and read up on their explanation, which will hopefully provide added insight concerning how they are approaching the model making business.
Last year, the Kingston Community Credit Union produced an informative if somewhat whimsical YouTube video that discusses the differences between debit, prepaid debit and credit cards. We strongly suggest everyone take a few moments out of their busy schedule to watch and review this video, since it goes a long way in discussing the advantages and disadvantages of using each type of card. We hope to integrate this video along with a few others within our shopping cart in the coming months, making them more visible during the checkout process. Enjoy!
The second video goes a bit further in describing the pros and cons of using each type of card and when they should generally be used.
Eaglemoss is offering loads of category extensions for its hugely popular Star Trek series, including a new glow-in-the-dark series scheduled to debut for the holidays
If you’ve been wondering what new rabbits Eaglemoss plans to pull out of its Star Trek hat, wonder no more. Word on the street is that they plan to offer a glow-in-the dark series of standard-sized starships, beginning with the USS Defiant NCC-1764. A fuzzy image was uploaded by Ben Robinson, project manager for the Eaglemoss Star Trek series, showing how the product would likely look when viewed in the dark. No further product information was provided and whether or not the starship would come bundled with the customary magazine.
Ebay is currently running a promotion where buyers receive a generous 10% Ebay Bucks reward for any purchases made by June 16th at 11:59PST. Said discount can be applied with no minimum purchase and across all categories. This discount may be deducted from any future purchases once the buyer has been notified, which generally happens one month later.
Wings of the Great War’s first ever 1:700 scale replica of LZ 41 Zeppelin, Tactical No. L 11, as it looked in 1915
“We who strike the enemy where his heart beats have been slandered as ‘baby killers’ … Nowadays, there is no such animal as a noncombatant. Modern warfare is total warfare.” – Peter Strasser, chief commander of the German Imperial Navy Zeppelins during World War I
There are, without question, certain aircraft that have come to symbolize a conflict. The Harrier and Super Entendard are instantly recognizable as the instruments of war during the Falklands Conflict. The Spitfire, P-51 and Bf 109 are, of course, the tools of the Second World War. The B-52, F-4 Phantom II and MiG 21 are synonymous with the Vietnam War.
When it comes to the Great War, most associate the War to End All Wars with the biplane – the flimsy, open cockpit invention that took chivalry to new heights and created an added dimension to modern warfare. But, it was the Zeppelin that struck fear in the hearts of the civilian population, enabling Germany’s Imperial Air Service to bomb cities, docks and industrial targets with relative impunity – or so they thought.
Recognizing its significance on the battlefield of Central Europe, Wings of the Great War has decided to pay homage to this slow and ponderous behemoth by offering its first ever 1:700 scale replica of a Zeppelin (WW19901). The Zeppelin P Class was the first Zeppelin airship type to be produced in quantity after the outbreak of the First World War. Twenty-two of the type were built as well as 12 of a lengthened version, the Q Class. They were used for many of the airship bombing raids on the United Kingdom in 1915-16, for naval patrol work over the North Sea and Baltic and were also deployed on the eastern and south-eastern fronts.
Look for the Zeppelin to take to the skies this August.
Corgi’s first ever 1:48 scale RAF English Electric F.6 Lightning Fighter – XR728/JS, 5 Squadron, RAF Binbrook, 1987
At long last, Corgi has lifted the veil of secrecy on their upcoming 1:48 scale English Electric Lightning fighter (AA28401). Scheduled for a 4th quarter release, their opening effort in the 1:48 scale category represents a plane flown by the RAF Binbrook Station Commander, which is liveried as a Lightning Training Flight. The actual aircraft is currently curated by the Lightning Preservation Group, located at the Bruntingthorpe Airfield Liecestershire. Thus far, only one image of the massive Lightning is shown on the Corgi web site, so we hope that more detailed photos will be added shortly. Priced at $179.99, it remains to be seen if enough interest can be generated both here and abroad to help it sell out so that a second version can be cranked out for the following year.
Having worked as a so-called “journalist” in the video game industry for a number of years, I’m quite familiar with the term embargo, and how it relates to news stories not yet ready for prime time with our readership. In fact, presently, we are sitting on a number of important developments in the diecast military space, some of which could make your hair turn grey prematurely or cause you to run out and want to purchase stock in these companies, should they ever go public.
So, if you are a manufacturer, and want to share some interesting information about either your company or the products you peddle, feel free to contact us with your salacious bit of gossip. We’ll sit on the story until such time as you feel it satisfactory to release it to your adoring public. Of course, we may have to spin it a tad, just to show how it fits in within the present framework of the diecast community and why its important to everyone involved.
Ebay is currently running a promotion where buyers receive a generous 8% Ebay Bucks reward for any purchases of $50 or more made by June 10th at 11:59PST. Said discount can be applied with no minimum purchase and across all categories. This discount may be deducted from any future purchases once the buyer has been notified, which generally happens one month later.
Hobby Master’s inaugural M60A1 medium tank sports the Reliability Improved Selected Equipment (RISE) IR/White Light Spotlight, a failed concept which quickly gave way to the less cumbersome and more survivable Passive night-fighting system seen on later Patton tanks.
With the announcement that Hobby Master plans to produce a scale model of the M60A1 medium tank (HA5601), we thought it made sense to take a moment and explain one of the principal differences between a standard M60 Patton tank and the updated M60A1. Affixed to the main gun barrel is the Reliability Improved Selected Equipment (RISE) IR/White Light Spotlight, which differs from the Passive version that replaced it later on in a number of important respects. Essentially, the device was used to gather low ambient light so that the vehicle could identify and engage targets at night, thereby turning the battlefield of the sixties into a potential 24-hour long engagement. The problem was that the searchlight threw off so much light when aimed at the enemy that the vehicle, in turn, could be quickly spotted and fired upon, thereby negating the vehicle’s temporary night-fighting advantage.
Back in the sixties, when the apparatus was first introduced, the concept of night-fighting wasn’t exactly new. Germany’s Wehrmacht actually tinkered with the concept as far back as 1936, as explained in this discourse posted on Achtung Panzer.
“In 1936, the AEG was ordered to start the development of infrared night-vision devices and in 1939, first successful prototype unit for use with 37mm Pak 35/36 L/45 anti-tank gun was constructed. In autumn of 1942, unit for use (infrared headlamp with viewer ZG 1221) with 75mm PaK 40 L/46 anti-tank gun was constructed and was also mounted on the Marder II (Sd.Kfz. 131).
In mid 1943, the first tests with infrared night-vision (Nacht Jager) devices and telescopic rangefinders mounted on a Panther started. Two different arrangements / solutions were created and used on Panther tanks.
Solution A – Sperber (Sparrow Hawk) was made up of one 30cm infrared searchlight (with range of 600m) and image converter operated by the commander – FG 1250.From late 1944 to March of 1945, some Panzerkampfwagen V Panther Ausf G (and other variants) mounted with FG 1250, were successfully tested. From March to April of 1945, approximately 50 Panthers Ausf G (and other variants) mounted with FG 1250, saw combat service on the Eastern Front and Western Front. Panthers with IR operated with SdKfz.251/20 Uhu (Owl) half-track with 60cm infra-red searchlight and Sd.Kfz.251/21 Falke (Falcon). This solution could be easily mounted on any type of armored fighting vehicle.
Solution B – Second more complicated arrangement / solution was “Biwa” (Bildwandler), which provided driver (installed on the front hull), gunner (installed on the mantlet in front of the gun sight) and commander (as in Solution A) each with one 30cm infrared searchlight (with range of 600m) and image converter. Various variants of the Panther tank were converted and mounted with “Biwa”. It was reported that tests were successful, but there were very few combat reports from the Eastern or Western Front. Due to the lack of evidence, the existence of Solution B is still questionable and even considered a hoax.
Various units received IR Panthers including 116.Panzer Division (3rd company of 24th Panzer Regiment, Western Front, Summer of 1944), Sixth SS Panzer Army (Hungary, early 1945), Panzer Division Muncheberg and Clausewitz.One combat report is by a veteran of the 1st SS Panzer Regiment, 1st SS Panzer Division “LSSAH”, who states that few Panthers equipped with infrared night-vision devices possibly from 116th Panzer Division were used in 1944/45 during the Ardennes Offensive.In April of 1945, Panthers equipped with IR equipment (solution B) joined Panzer Division Clausewitz and in mid April near Uelzen destroyed entire platoon of British Comet cruiser tanks. Also on April 21st of 1945, same Panthers overran an American anti-tank position on the Weser-Elbe Canal.Most of those reports can’t be confirmed and are questionable.
In addition, it is reported but not supported that single unit equipped with Jagdpanthers also received and used infrared night-vision devices.”
