The Motor Pool: Looking Ahead to 2015

Yesterday

As 2014 draws to a close, we are already looking ahead to the new year with a great deal of excitement. For openers, we will be migrating our web site to a more responsive design, using a cutting edge template that is both informative and attractively conceived. Likewise, our mobile interface will change substantially, so that it looks more appealing on today’s larger phone and tablet screens. Look for the changes to take effect in early 2015.

In other news, we will be dropping a number of under-performing lines where we see little growth going forward. Some lines have been languishing for some time, either no longer supported by the manufacturer or in need of a redress. This is actually good news for us, since we plan to bring in a great many new lines in 2015, several of which are tied to the expanding military science fiction universe heralded in by such brands as Star Wars and Star Trek. Moreover, a number of new military themed lines have been moving aggressively to market, which portends good things to come for our collector audience.

We hope you enjoy many of the changes coming your way.

The following lines are being drawn down and closed out:

Gaincorp aircraft, Easy Model warships, aircraft and military vehicles, Tamiya Masterworks, older Minichamps racing motorcycles, figures and racing helmets, Minichamps classic cars, Dragon Warbirds, Blitz 72, Schuco, Sky Defenders, Air Commander, Sword Models, The Collectors Showcase, Merit International, BBI, Gearbox Toys, IXO Models, Sky Guardians Europe, Marushin

The following lines look to be dramatically expanded going forward:

Air Force 1, Hobby Master, Eaglemoss Collections, Fabbri, Wings of the Great War, Luft-X, DeAgostini, Oxford, Hasbro, Bandai, Modelcollect, Panzerstahl, Disney

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Century Wings Carols, “Its Beginning to Look alot Like February”

CW001614

With their recently released “Santa Cat” being checked off from every aircraft collectors holiday wish list, Century Wings is turning the clock forward by a couple of months with their latest release – an operational scheme F-14B that saw action over Afghanistan in 2001. Based upon a bird that flew with VF-102 “Diamondbacks”, their latest deployment of the Tomcat will be strengthened to a release run of 1,500 pieces, up several hundred pieces from their most recent Fleet Defender replicas, and perhaps a sign that demand is once again outstripping present supply levels.

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Air Force 1 Continues its Aerial Assault

AF10007B

With collectors still pondering their holiday gifts, Air Force 1 announced plans to offer several new weapons platforms for a February release. In the air, look for another take on the General Dynamics F-16D Fighting Falcon fighter (AF10007B).

AF1helos

While the fixed wing replicas have become an industry staple, their passion for modelmaking has extended into the rotary wing arena, with three new modern era helos on the brink of attack. Look for two different versions of the AH-64D Longbow Apache helicopter (AF10100 and AF10100A), and, just as importantly, a Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk utility helicopter (AF10099). All of the above mentioned introductions are being created in 1:72 scale.

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The Motor Pool’s ‘Merry Christmas’ 15% Off Sale!

Christmas Sale2

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and with good cause, because its time to celebrate our annual 15% off ‘Merry Christmas’ Sale. This sale begins on Monday, December 1st, and ends on Saturday, December 20th, 2014 This discount can be used for any type of item, from in-stock merchandise to pre-orders, back orders and special orders.

As always, we would greatly appreciate it if you could keep these orders separate and do not combine non-qualifying items with sales merchandise. If you have any questions, feel free to call or email us. Customers must apply discount code “TMP131” at the point of checkout in the coupon code box. Sale ends Sunday, December 20th, 2014, 12AM EST

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Star Wars: The Force Awakens Trailer

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plwVRYEQG_I&w=560&h=315]

Black Friday seems to have several meanings this year, as filmmaker J.J. Abrams can mutely testify. Earlier today, the Star Wars director for Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens released the first trailers for the upcoming film, which is slated to premiere December 18th, 2015.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RsQd7hn9bg&w=560&h=315]

Interestingly, we can hear Darth Vader’s aspirator at the end of the film, the black caped figure who purportedly died in episode VI, but will likely make a flashback or “Force”-reinvigorated cameo appearance for the upcoming film. Anyway, sit back and enjoy!

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyfTIU02jFQ&w=560&h=315]

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Star Trek Boldly Goes to London

Paramount

According to StarTrek.com, the proposed Paramount London Resort, scheduled to open southeast of London in 2020, will feature a Star Trek-themed area, that will include rides, attractions and other Star Trek-related cornucopia.

Paramount 2

More information concerning the planned park, as well as other areas within the resort, can be found here: http://www.startrek.com/article/paramount-london-resort-with-trek-attraction-2020-opening

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Hobby Master Hears Ya

HA4502

Perhaps its growing competition from Air Force 1 or possibly the steady decline in oil prices, but Hobby Master has taken the bold step of reducing the retail prices of several of their forthcoming aircraft. All of their F-15s, including the one we recently received (HA4501), now sell for $99.99, which drops them below the so-called price resistance barrier of $100.

HA4601

Likewise, all of the F-35s have been lowered to $82.99, down a few bucks that puts them on more equal footing with the Air Force 1 offerings. Hopefully, this may signal the willingness of several diecast manufacturers to begin lowering their prices which will spur sales and gain added collectors.

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Air Force 1 Remains in the Dark

AF10090B

Ordinarily that tag line might be a tad offensive but in the case of Air Force 1, it hits the nail right on the head since they just announced their latest take on the P-61B Black Widow night fighter (AF10090B). Crewed by Lt. Stan Logan and Radio Operator Lt. George Kamajian, this all new look at the coveted Black Widow will come unsigned, and therefore retail for only $89.99.

AF10090B Compilation

One of the eight squadrons flying over the islands of the South Pacific, the 418th Night Fighter Squadron also has the distinction of being the top scoring unit against the Japanese and also had the only nightfighter ace in the Pacific/CBI theater. Logan’s plane “Black Panther” didn’t achieve any kills but it is a nice example of a P-61B flown by the 418th. The name and the panther outline are yellow, with white and red details on the panther. Due in January, this likely won’t be the last time we see the P-61 piercing the night.

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Falcon Models – Tough Times Ahead?

FA721104a

Our distributor has just informed us that the factory Falcon Models had been using has closed down and that they are currently searching for a new factory to build their models. At this time, no further information is available, so it could be some time before we begin to see their models in the production pipeline. We still have a number of their replicas in stock, although when word like this leaks out, its just a matter of time before they get snapped up by concerned collectors. With the holidays looming, we strongly recommend you check out what’s still available while you can still obtain them.

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DeAgostini Ponders, “Fancy Yourself a Ship Builder?”

Akagi

Every so often, when we receive word of an impending shipment, we troll the web in search of similar products our customers might be interested in. Yesterday, we learned that a new shipment of Eaglemoss warships were headed our way, which got us to thinking about some of their competitors in the warship space. In the case of DeAgostini, we discovered that they are offering a build-it-yourself, 1:250 scale version of the IJN aircraft carrier, Akagi. Measuring over a yard in length, and bearing incredible craftsmanship, this baby has got to be seen to be believed and will likely take several months to fully kit out.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0bQXwcW_dA&w=560&h=315]

For those of you looking to showcase their modelmaking capabilities, we invite you to view the accompanying video then pay a visit to the manufacturer’s web site at: http://www.model-space.com/gb/build-the-akagi.html

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