We’re Headed Off for an Oxford Education

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We’ve had great success with Oxford’s 1:72 scale line of diecast military aircraft, so it makes sense for us to dig a little deeper and offer their accompanying range of diecast military vehicles. Crafted in 1:76 scale, which is a smidgeon smaller than a traditional 1:72 scale vehicle, the Oxford military vehicle range offers loads of options for the discriminating collector, again designed to help build your war museum on a shoestring budget.

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Most of the vehicles are priced less than $20, with several contenders weighing in at just $7, providing good value and choices not previously available to the military enthusiast. The first wave of sixteen soft skinned vehicles are expected to storm the beaches some time in June.

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Unimax Puts the Bravo Back in Bravo Team

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When Unimax decided to discontinue their highly successful Bravo Team line of 1:18 scale plastic vehicles and figures back in 2012, we were stymied  The range sold well, and was the perfect entree for younger enthusiasts to get their hands on something big and beefy in the military arena. Fortunately, Unimax has done an about face and plans to relaunch the line beginning in May. The same WWII era vehicles previously available are being reintroduced, along with two separate figure packs — one German and one American — with each figure boasting 18 points of articulation and loads of weaponry. Keep in mind shipping costs have gone up considerably over the past twelve months, so the best way to ship these vehicles across the Continental US is with UPS Ground service. For collectors living outside the US, well, get ready to fork over some hefty dough in order to take delivery.

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Disney: New Star Wars Movie Each and Every Summer

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According to a recent press release put out by Disney, plans call for the filmmaker to release a new full-length, feature film that takes place within the Star Wars universe each summer beginning in 2015. The plan is to create a trio of sequel films to be released every other year that serve as a continuation of the space opera as we know it. Interspersed every other year within this scheme will be a new generation of one-off films that will remain true to the original Star Wars universe but take place at differing periods and perhaps introduce a bevy of new characters that fit within the tale.

Seeing as how there will likely be an avalanche of new Star Wars related memorabilia due out to coincide with the movies releases, our intent is to carry the more adult-themed collectibles, such as limited edition diecast ships and ground vehicles, or the occasional figure, rather than the burgeoning toy line likely to be made available to the big box stores. We hope to have more concrete information available when the lineup of manufacturers and their plans becomes more certain.

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Hobby Master Pays Tribute to Boston

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In a roundabout fashion, Hobby Master is paying tribute to the city of Boston with its upcoming Douglas Boston Mk. IV light attack bomber (HA4202). Portraying a bomber that was attached to the RAF’s 18th Squadron deployed to Italy during late 1944-early 1945, the Boston is actually a derivative of the Douglas A-20 Havoc, which was originally built and intended for use with the French Air Force prior to their capitulation in 1940. The RAF agreed to take up the balance of the now-frustrated French order which was diverted to the UK, and the bombers were given the service name “Boston” with the further designation of “Mark I” or “Mark II” according to the earlier or later engine type. Look for the Boston to fly into history some time in August.

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Corgi Harkens Back to World War I

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There was a time when Corgi was pumping out scale WWI aircraft faster than you could shake a stick at. That was then and this is now. For 2013, it looks like only one WWI-era biplane is on the docket – a German Fokker D VII Fighter that was piloted by Oblt Erich Lowenhardt, then deployed to Puisieux-Ferme, during August 1918 (#AA38905). A squadron of these beauties are on their way to us, which will likely get snapped up the moment they land. If you were thinking about purchasing one of these ageless beauties, now would be as good a time as any to lock in your order.

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MotoGP Gets Off to a Scorching Start in 2013

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With the first race of the season now entered in to the record books, the 2013 MotoGP season has gotten off to a quick start with many of the usual suspects rising to the top of the leader board. Its no surprise that perennial favorite, Jorge Lorenzo, sits atop the rankings as the pack heads into Texas this weekend for the Circuit of the Americas race, however, what is unusual is seeing some of the old guard – particularly Valentino Rossi – breathing down his neck in second position. Other notables at the top include Dani Pedrosa and Nicky Hayden, with several newcomers sprinkled in amidst the top, middle and bottom of the rankings.

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Hobby Master Rolls Out the Thunderbolt

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If you collect 1:48 scale military aircraft, then you’ll be happy to learn that photos have finally been released for Hobby Master’s upcoming P-47 Thunderbolt (#HA8401). Replicating a “D” model, complete with the perspex bubble canopy, their first Thunderbolt could likely become their most sought after, largely because of who it belongs to – legendary ace, Francis Gabreski. A member of the 61st Fighter Squadron, 56th Fighter Group, Gabreski destroyed 34.5 aircraft in aerial combat over the ETO and was one of only seven U.S. pilots to become an ace in two wars (World War II and the Korean Conflict). Gabreski’s mount is due to take to the skies some time in June.

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The Collectors Showcase Stomps the Competition

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Every so often, we get blown away by some of the subjects created for the collecting community. For instance, have a look at The Collectors Showcase upcoming war elephants range, which is intended for use with their Romans: Claudian Invasion series. According to the manufacturer, two versions will be offered – one represents a Claudian mount complete with all the trimmings a Roman Emperor would wear into battle, while the other is a more typical Roman fighting elephant. These and other new introductions are slated to lumber on to the battlefield some time in late May.

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Hobby Master Goes Thru its Pre-Flight Check List

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It’s been a while since there was anything to crow about in the 1:72 scale, piston-engine regime, so it’s with great fanfare and a good deal of excitement that we make room for Hobby Master’s first-ever Douglas A-20G Havoc light attack bomber. The Havoc is one of those aircraft that everyone is familiar with but unable to lay their mitts on since they typically take a back seat to some of the more well-known bombers of WWII. That said, Hobby Master’s first A-20 (HA4201) portrays a “G” model that was attached to the 668th Bombardment Squadron, 416th Bombardment Group, and bears the D-Day striped invasion markings on its wings and rear fuselage over a green camouflage scheme. The black-and-white stripes were added to all Allied aircraft just prior to the D-Day invasion to help distinguish them from Axis aircraft and hopefully cut down on fratricide, which became an acute problem during Operation Husky – the invasion of Sicily in mid 1943.

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Dragon Makes a Stunning Return

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When stalwarts such as Dragon mysteriously disappear from the scene, you have to wonder if something nefarious is going on without your knowledge. For several months running, this company was announcing an ever growing array of new 1:72 scale armor, all of which never seemed to materialize. Fortunately, this may be changing, with two new pieces due to make their debut later this month. The first up for your consideration is an M10 Ersatz tank destroyer (DRR60529), which was used with great success by German commandos during the Battle of the Bulge winter counteroffensive.

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Also expected is their first ever German VK 45.02 (P)V Ausf. A heavy tank (DRR60530), which mounts a curved Porsche turret atop the forward deck of a King Tiger chassis. Other variants are expected in May, all designed to round out some of the so-called ‘Paper Panzers’ that were contemplated but never actually deployed en masse against the Western powers. Both vehicles are part of their newly introduced Ultimate Armor collection, with other oddities due out later this year.

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