Luft-X Returns to Do Battle

Luft-X’ German Messerschmitt Me 329 Fighter will be landing shortly

Some time has passed since Luft-X returned to do battle, determined to address some quality concern issues that sidetracked its business for almost two years. We’re now happy to report that they are back in the saddle, re-releasing its Horten Ho 229 fighter-bomber (LUFT004) this past week and now prepping for release some new items that were announced eons ago. Due out sometime this month is their German Messerschmitt Me 329 fighter (LUFT005), a twin pusher prop design that was intended to be a successor to the Messerschmitt Me 410. Also on the docket is their German Haunebu 1 Flying Saucer (LUFT010), which truly needs no explanation as its oddly-shaped design says it all, although we have learned that it is now likely to lift off in June..

Look for a German Blohm und Voss P.209.02 Fighter to take wing this June

Two more aircraft are set to fly in this June, including a German Blohm und Voss P.209.02 fighter (LUFT006) along with a German Focke-Wulf Ta 283 interceptor (LUFT007). Since the Haunebu has been assigned a LUFT010 SKU product identifier, we are also assuming that two new SKUS, which fall between LUFT007 and LUFT010, will also be announced very shortly.

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Dissecting Diecast: Are Two Versions of the Same Item Better Than One?

Unimax’ Action Grade packaging was designed to appeal to younger collectors and get them interested in military-themed collectibles

We’ve heard through the grapevine that Waltersons, the new owners of the Forces of Valor brand, may bring back the marketing duality of offering two versions of each upcoming aircraft. Unimax, the original makers of the brand, came up with this concept as a means of addressing how they planned to introduce the same merchandise into deep discount big box retailers as well as traditional hobby stores. They envisioned an “action grade” version for the Target, Walmart and Toys R Us chains of the world, which meant there was no weathering applied to the vehicle and the outer box had a somewhat mass market look to it, thereby appealing to kids as opposed to hard core collectors. The “enthusiast version”, on the other hand, gave each vehicle a more robust appearance, complete with weathering and some battle scarring, along with a more traditional collector designed outer box.

An enthusiast edition of the ubiquitous US GMC 2-1/2 ton truck, complete with some accessories and a collector focused outer box

According to a recent posting, Waltersons will likely offer a 1:72 scale aircraft in much the same look and manner as Unimax once crafted, pretty much a plain vanilla product priced well below the competition. They also indicated plans to sell an enthusiast version, which could, conceivably be painted slightly different than the standard version, and will be accompanied by carrier planking or some other appropriate accessory designed to make the product stand out a bit more. The enthusiast version could sell for as much as $99.99, which would make it a more premium offering and quite possibly come with a numbered certificate of authenticity, making it a more desirable product to obtain from a collector’s standpoint.

So, what say you? Does this marketing move make sense and are you willing to pay more for a more deluxe product that could conceivably appreciate at a quicker rate than a larger run item?

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Films in Focus: The Battle of Britain Gets A Reboot

German Heinkel He-111s medium bombers appear above the British coast in search of their targets

Word from Hollywood is that acclaimed director, Ridley Scott, has signed on to directing a new take on the pivotal Battle of Britain. Written by Matthew Orton, a British screenwriter, the film portrays the RAF’s desperate defense of the British Isles against the might of the Luftwaffe, thrown at the island bastion as a potential prelude to a sea and airborne invasion by the German Wehrmacht. The original feature length film of the same name aired way back in 1969 and used real aircraft from both sides of the battle to depict the air-to-air conflict, largely fought between June and September of 1940. Its not clear if the new film will make use of any aircraft still in flyable condition or more likely rely upon computer generated imagery (CGI) and mock ups for the aerial battles.

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Amercom’s Ships of War Collection

Amercom’s Ships of War 1:1000 scale rendition of the battleship, USS Massachusetts

There was a time, not too long ago, when model makers seemed to steer clear of pre-assembled warships in favor of pumping out military vehicles, aircraft and helicopters. Now, it appears as if everyone is jumping on the maritime bandwagon, recognizing the success of some series, importance of replicating warships from a historical stand point, and perhaps taking a page from today’s headlines, as more and more nations are rearming, particularly on the high seas.

A partworks series, we’re keeping our fingers crossed that the collection will eventually be picked up by a North American distributor and thus make these fabulous models available to North American collectors

Amercom is the latest player in the diecast military warship space, offering a partworks series of World War II-themed ships from amongst all the world’s navies. Unlike the Eaglemoss series, which essentially offers 1:1250 scale Japanese-centric ships that are paired with full-color magazines written in Japanese, the all-new Polish-based Amercom series features a more proportional range of warships from around the world rendered in a slightly larger 1:1000 scale, and are accompanied with beautifully illustrated magazines written for the English-speaking market. Thus far, the series is available from news agents in both Australia/New Zealand and the United Kingdom, but it shouldn’t be too long before the collection makes its way over to the much larger North American market.

Note: As of this writing (May 1st, 2017), seventeen warships have been announced and we anticipate the series could grow to as many as 60 ships or more, depending upon the success of the series.

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A New Squadron Sets Sail from Eaglemoss

 

The Imperial Russian Navy takes up arms in support of the Eaglemoss Warships of the World series with the Borodino

Four more warships have left their home port and are currently underway to us, expected early next week. The latest quartet of warships include:

  • EMGC61 – Imperial Russian Navy Borodino Class Battleship – Borodino [With Collector Magazine] (1:1100 Scale)
  • EMGC66 – Imperial Japanese Navy Mogami Class Heavy Cruiser – Suzuya [With Collector Magazine] (1:1100 Scale)
  • EMGC68 – Imperial Japanese Navy Kuma Class Light Cruiser – Kuma [With Collector Magazine] (1:1100 Scale)
  • EMGC74 – Imperial Japanese Navy Chitose Class Light Aircraft Carrier – Chitose [With Collector Magazine] (1:1100 Scale)
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The Hobby Master Armored Corps Receives Some Sorely Needed Reinforcements

Hobby Master’s first ISU-122 self propelled gun is based on the “S” variant

It was beginning to look as if Hobby Master had gotten out of the military vehicle game for good. Happily, that may have changed this week, with the announcement of a new 1:72 scale armored vehicle: a Soviet ISU-122S self propelled gun (HG7020). Drawn from the ISU-122 family of assault guns, the ISU-122S variant features the faster-firing D-25 gun. Interestingly, D-25S gun production was prioritized to be fitted to IS-2s, but as more became available in late 1944, they were fitted to the ISU hull. This variant passed trials in late 1944 and was referred to as the Object 249 or ISU-122-2. Its rate of fire was now 2-3 shots per minute, and even 4 shots per minute with experienced loaders.

The easiest way to spot this variant is by the double baffle muzzle brake or by the ball-shaped gun mantlet. The D-25S’ muzzle brake reduced the recoil force from firing the gun and made working conditions better for the crew, as well as allowing a smaller, lighter gun mantlet being mounted, but with the same effective armor protection due to its round shape. 675 ISU tanks were fitted with the D-25 gun, but because of the huge stocks of the A-19, both the ISU-122 and ISU-122S were produced until the end of 1945.

Look for the inaugural ISU-122 assault gun to reach the battlefield some time in October.

 

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This Ain’t Your Father’s Paintball Game Any More

Way back in the 90s, I gave paintball a go. Back then, I went to the effort of getting camouflage clothing, complete with insignia and name tag, and even toted a pair of miniature binoculars into battle, which, of course, I lost somewhere along the way, as I did my best trying to not get shot to pieces.

Nowadays, paintball has come a long way, employing high speed guns, elaborate battle maps, and get this, tanks. Apparently, its not enough to get a welt or two from a fast-firing machine gun aimed from the hip. Now, some guys have gone the extra mile and built miniature tanks, complete with rotating turrets, protective cages, and even paint-filled, shoot-n-scoot guns. Not to be outdone, there’s even heavy mini-guns and high-tech protective armor, as if the current outerwear wasn’t up to task and a bit too pase. I think I’ve seen it all.

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Anatomy of War: Military History Visualized

There’s no shortage of fascinating sites on the web, particular when it comes to military history. One such site is Military History Visualized, a free-to-view You Tube-based service that discusses various facets of warfare, from the age of antiquity to the modern times. Produced by an Austrian scholar with a strong background in the use of visual presentation software, the site has become a staple on the web, explaining virtually every type of warfare, tactics, and military forces that has stepped on to the battlefield. For more information, please visit this site

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Brickmania Snaps Together Gotterdammerung Month

Brickmania’s Gotterdamerung month showcases many of the most iconic weapons of WWII, all in brick form

The more I look at these images, videos and sets, the more I get blown away. Earlier today, Lego posted a brand new video entitled Brickmania Gotterdammerung April 2017, in which several new sets were shown for the first time, all in animated form. Frankly, I’m not clear if I’m more amazed by the user-created videos or the sets themselves, a far cry from what I remember Lego sets to be from the 60s and 70s. I guess I’m dating myself, but these sets are super cool, and what’s been done to breathe new life into this genre is simply fantastic.

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Product Spotlight: Master Fighter Turns Back the Hands of Time to Dien Bien Phu

Surplus US armor was used by the French Army in Indochina in an attempt to defeat the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese Army

“Underestimation of non-conventional units or a guerilla enemy by regular forces is a cardinal military sin.”

– Howard R. Simpson, Dien Bien Phu: The Epic Battle America Forgot

Admittedly, french manufacturer Quarter Kit, makers of the Master Fighter line of 1:48 scale resin military vehicles, tends to lean heavily on the use of french equipment to retell some of the most important armored battles in military history. For instance, while one of their upcoming Chaffee light tanks is based upon a vehicle that served with the US 1st Armored Division during the latter stages of WWII (MF48602US), two are being created to portray french involvement in Indochina during the early 1950s. Due out in May, the first of these replicas portrays a vehicle that entered service in 1953, and comes decked out in a standard factory-fresh olive drab pattern that might have been better suited to Europe (MF48602FR). The second is designed to model a vehicle that helped to defend french interests at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu, and comes painted in a more appropriate jungle motif (MF48602IN).

Later on during the First Indochina War, the French Army made a final if fateful stand at Dien Bien Phu, before withdrawing its remaining forces from the region

Master Fighter has announced several new vehicles that are also expected to put in an appearance in late Spring, so we are currently in the process of adding them to our product portfolio.

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