Another Quartet of Vessels Joins the Eaglemoss Fleet

Four more 1:1100 scale warships have set sail from our distributor and are expected to make port the second week of January. The four new ships include:

EMGC55 – Imperial Japanese Navy Yubari Class Light Cruiser – Yubari [With Collector Magazine] (1:1100 Scale)

EMGC56 – French Marine Nationale Bearn Class Aircraft Carrier – Bearn [With Collector Magazine] (1:1100 Scale)

EMGC57 – Imperial Japanese Navy Tone Class Heavy Cruiser – Chikuma [With Collector Magazine] (1:1100 Scale)

EMGC65 – Imperial Japanese Navy Kagero Class Destroyer – Isokaze [With Collector Magazine] (1:1100 Scale)

A battleship would have made this grouping a royal flush, but that’s the way it works in the scale warship business.

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Atlas Hoists Up the Wehrmacht on its Brawny Shoulders

In the, “their loss is your gain” department, Atlas Editions is closing out a very handsome range of 1:32 scale German soldiers from WWII that covers everything from the Deutches Afrika Korps to the Luftwaffe. Molded in metal, each pairing of German soldiers comes pre-painted and pre-posed with a decorative base, and even comes with a numbered certificate of authenticity and cushioned packaging. Best of all, each of the fifteen sets retails for only $12.99, making them an absolute bargain. no matter how you look at it. All of the sets are expected in March, and the distributor importing the line is claiming that they will be available in limited quantities, so its entirely possible we may not have them available for general sale once they do arrive. Enjoy!

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Corgi Takes a Bold Step for 2017

 

These days, it isn’t often when Corgi decides to take a gamble and invest in new tooling, particularly when they seem more comfortable taking a safer route with their older molds. However, with the debut of the 2017 catalog, it would appear as if they are doing just that by upscaling their English Electric Lightning jet fighter that’s been a hit with collectors for several years running. According to their web site, a 1:48 scale F.6 Lightning fighter is currently under development, although details concerning its feature list are still rather sketchy (AA28401). Since no image was posted on their web site or in their catalog, we are led to believe its still a ways off, likely expected towards the end of 2017. In any event, this could be a watershed moment in Corgi’s history, as they look to explore the feasibility of offering larger versions of previously released warbirds.

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The Show Must Go On

Veteran collectors know that after the holidays, many diecast manufacturers start to get their ducks in a row and prepare for the multitude of trade shows that occur around the world. Several open in January, but the grand daddy of all shows, the Spielwarenmesse, opens this year on February 1st in Nuremberg, Germany. Occasionally, we get a glimpse of what will be on display at some of the smaller shows, such as the Hong Kong Toys and Game Fair which begins on January 9th. Anyway, if you are curious about some of the upcoming trade shows, check out our Calendar of Events page, which shows when each one is scheduled to open and run.

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Wings of the Great War Grows a Tail

When they rolled out their Mark IV Male and Female tanks, everyone knew it was just a matter of time before some of the variants were introduced to the collecting community. Earlier today, Wings of the Great War confirmed those suspicions when they unveiled their newest land warship: a Mark IV Male Tadpole heavy tank (WW10203).

During the War, a large number of Mark IV tanks were also used for development work. In an attempt to improve trench-crossing capability, the tadpole tail, an extension to the rear track horns, was introduced. However, it proved insufficiently rigid and does not appear to have been used in combat. Other experimental versions tested radios, mortars placed between the rear horns, and recovery cranes. Some of these devices were later used on operational tanks. Mark IVs were also the first tanks fitted with unditching beams by field workshops. A large wooden beam, reinforced with sheet metal, was stored across the top of the tank on a set of parallel rails. If the tank became stuck, the beam was attached to the tracks (often under fire) and then dragged beneath the vehicle, providing grip.

Look for the first Tadpoles to slither across the battlefield sometime in February.

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Waltersons Mutters, “Mugsy, Take the Scenic Route”

Lately, it seems as though most of the new product announcements we are posting have one thing or another to do with Waltersons’ resurgent look at the Forces of Valor brand. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, particularly if their intent is to resurrect some of the oldies but goodies in the Forces of Valor product portfolio. Earlier today, as part of the run-up to the Nuremberg Toy Fair, the Company floated the idea of bringing back the deluxe diorama sets that were a part of their initial product mix way back in 2003, when the line was first introduced. I fondly remember ogling the sets at the American International Toy Fair held here in New York City, remarking to the distributor and owner how lifelike they looked and the degree they were prepared to support the hobby across all market segments.

Fourteen years later, and it now appears as if the new owners feel the same way, showcasing one of the now sold out scenics with an accompanying Tamiya 1:35 scale Challenger II main battle tank. If they do indeed move forward with the re-release of the dioramas, they will likely make some minor tweaks and improvements along the way, which may or may not affect the retail price, weight, packaging, etc. For now, we’re just happy that they are looking to bring them back in full force, which will no doubt be supplemented with additional dioramas featuring several of the new vehicles they’ve already hinted at coming to market in 2017. Enjoy!

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The Motor Pool’s $4.95 Flat Rate Shipping Special!

We are happy to announce that for a limited time we are offering $4.95 flat rate ground shipping for qualifying orders of $25 or more that are shipped within the 48 contiguous states. Restrictions: The free shipping discount does not apply to the BBI or Merit 1:18 scale lines of military aircraft and vehicles, Unimax Bravo Team and BBI 1:18 scale military vehicles, Dragon 1:6 scale vehicles, Merit’s 1:350 scale aircraft carrier, 1:16 or 1:24 scale radio controlled vehicles, or any over-sized Corgi aircraft, such as the 1:32 scale De Havilland Mosquito and 1:72 scale multi-engine bombers. Simply put, over-sized items are too expensive for us to ship to qualify for reduced-rate shipping discounts. We also reserve the right to cancel an order should it prove too costly for us to complete the transaction.

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The Motor Pool’s 15% Off Winter Sale Begins Now!

Its cold outside, the snow is piling up and you have a wad of cash you’re dying to spend on your favorite piece of diecast. If that’s the case, why not take advantage of our 15% off “Winter Sale” now in progress! This discount may be applied to any item listed on our web site except for the following lines: Hobby Master, Wings of the Great War, Air Force 1, Luft-X and Aviation 72. Please enter discount code ” TMP163” in the coupon box just prior to final checkout. Sale ends midnight, Sunday, January 8th, 2017. May not be combined with any other sales discount.

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Waltersons Declares, “One if by land, three if by sea”

 

Mum for some time regarding their soon-to-be-released range of static military models, it now appears as if Waltersons is releasing information to the public on a day-by-day basis. Yesterday the Company posted imagery of their upcoming 1:32 scale Tiger I tank. Earlier today, they revealed pictures for the warship series, which explains how the vessels will come packed when “shipped out.”

Rather than using a plastic blister to keep them in place, the Company developed a new locking nut mechanism that permits the buyer to easily take the ship in and out of its packaging. Moreover, the outer packaging features an open tabbed fifth panel, which is designed to make it far easier to remove, and, if necessary, replace the item in its box, thereby reducing the likelihood of damage.

As an Easter Egg of sorts, it appears as if the French Navy’s nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, Charles de Gaulle (R91), will be joining the growing Forces of Valor fleet in 2017, as well as some other unidentified warships. We’ve also re-categorized our Forces of Valor 1:700 scale subsections into a Battleship and Aircraft Carrier Series to correspond with the changes shown on the back of the aforementioned packaging.

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Waltersons Maintains, “There’s Still a Tiger in Your Tank!”

As a special holiday gift, Waltersons, the new owners of the Forces of Valor brand, has debuted images of their upcoming 1:32 scale Tiger I heavy tank. Posted to Facebook earlier today, the up-close photos demonstrate some of the principal differences between the Tiger I tank produced by the former owners, Unimax, then contrasts them with some of the enhancements made by Waltersons, all of which are intended to correct certain deficiencies and make each vehicle more realistic. In the case of the Tiger I tank, five new molds were produced, among them a new chassis, new road wheels, swing arms, torsion bars, new sprocket & new idler wheel, new engine details, and new caterpillar tracks. You can see all on the improvements and follow the progress of some of the other vehicles still under development on their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/fovhobbies/?hc_ref=NEWSFEED. A new web site is also reportedly under construction.

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