Hobby Master’s 1:32 scale US Navy Douglas SBD-3 Dauntless Dive Bomber – 41-S-13, Lieutenant John M. DeVane, Jr., VS-41, USS Ranger (CV-4), November 1942
Operation Torch (November 8th-16th, 1942) was an Allied invasion of French North Africa during World War II. Torch was a compromise operation that met the British objective of securing victory in North Africa while allowing American armed forces the opportunity to begin their fight against Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy on a limited scale.
The French colonies were aligned with Germany via Vichy France but the loyalties of the population were mixed. Reports indicated that they might support the Allies. The American General Dwight D. Eisenhower, supreme commander of the Allied forces in Mediterranean theater of the war, approved plans for a three-pronged attack on Casablanca (Western), Oran (Centre) and Algiers (Eastern), then a rapid move on Tunis to catch Axis forces in North Africa from the west in conjunction with the British advance from Egypt.
The Western Task Force encountered unexpected resistance and bad weather but Casablanca, the principal French Atlantic naval base, was captured after a short siege. The Centre Task Force suffered some damage to its ships when trying to land in shallow water; Oran surrendered after bombardment by British battleships. The Eastern Task Force met less opposition and were able to push inland and compel surrender on the first day.
The success of Torch caused Admiral Francois Darlan, commander of the Vichy French forces, who was in Algiers, to order co-operation with the Allies, in return for being installed as High Commissioner, with many other Vichy officials keeping their jobs. Darlan was assassinated by a monarchist six weeks later and the Free French gradually came to dominate the government.
Look for Hobby Master’s huge and highly detailed 1:32 scale rendition of Lieutenant John M. DeVane, Jr.’s SBD-3 Dauntless dive bomber in April.
No one can accuse Panzerkampf of not having a love affair with the Leopard tank. To date, they’ve released something on the order of 20 different Leopards, from the early version 2A4 to the venerable 2A7+. Throughout their production run, one common theme seems to be to release them en masse, offering as many choices as is possible to get the biggest bang for the buck right from the start.
Earlier today, Panzerkampf announced a further six models of the early version Leopard 2A4 main battle tank are in the works, all destined for a summer release. The six are shown here, all resplendent in differing camouflage schemes and operated by several user nations.
We applaud the decision to return to their roots by once again tapping the early version Leopard as their latest 1:72 scale release. The problem, as we see it, is that the 2A4 is getting a little long in the tooth, particularly when other more current versions of the tank are being fielded by several NATO nations (see accompanying video). Moreover, I’m not certain how many people are clamoring for either a Turkish or Finnish version of an older AFV, when other tanks, in particular the German Panther and MERTE tanks, are in development. Time will tell if this represents a good move for them as well as the hobby in general.
Takeaway: There seems to be a recurring theme going on over the last few blog posts whereby I have continually showed mixed emotions over the latest hardware coming out from several manufacturers. Don’t get me wrong. Its always refreshing to see new product in the pipeline — its just that certain manufacturers seem to feel as if they know better by releasing product THEY think will sell instead of asking dealers about their experiences with certain product or taking note of historical trends that influence buying decisions. Offering more 1:72 scale Leopard 2 tanks when there are so many other subjects to explore is lazy at best and leads to apathy that is difficult to reverse. If kits are needed to build a diecast product, then it may be preferable to wait for one to surface instead of going back to the well over and over again and re-using that which should be taken out back and shot out of mercy.
When President Trump announced his plans to increase tariffs on dozens of countries way back on April 2nd of last year, it basically threw the market into a tizzy. The diecast model making business, which is essentially located in both China and Bangladesh, was deeply affected by the move, forcing several to shut down for an indefinite period of time, and others to adjust their shipping schedule to accommodate the changes. One Company that has attempted to soldier on despite the tariffs is Hobby Master, who, up until “Liberation Day”, was pumping out at least a dozen or so new products each month. It too, was eventually forced to alter its battle plan, delaying the release of many products by several months and shunting others to the back burner until the “all-clear” signal was issued.
This April, fully one year after the Trump tariffs took effect, our distributor reports that a large number of Hobby Master products are slated for an April arrival, many of which had been expected months ago. In fact, 24 military aircraft models are destined to reach our shores this month, and that ain’t no April Fools joke. We are currently awaiting confirmation from our distributor regarding which models are in the works and when we can expect them. We will update this blog post once we have firm confirmation regarding their release.
Note: The following products are confirmed to arrive in April: HA33007, HA3383, HA38069, HA9805, HA19081, HA19082, HA38070, HA4447, HA1341, HA38068, HA4625, HA3593, HA6214, HA5143,HA9558, HA5654, HA9707,HA0218
Panzerkampf’s 1:35 Scale German Early Production Sd. Kfz. 181 PzKpfw VI Tiger I Ausf. E Heavy Tank – SS-Hauptsturmfuhrer Reinhardt, “White S33”, 8./Panzer Regiment 2, 2.SS Panzer Division “Das Reich”, Kursk, Russia, 1943
About a year or so ago, Panzerkampf hinted that it was getting into the larger scale pre-built armor game when it posted a couple of preliminary photos of a German Tiger heavy tank. Today, more information surfaced concerning this endeavor.
While no pricing was offered, nor was there a list of the vehicles’ features, photos of two early production Tiger I tanks were shown off for the first time – one decked out in a feldgrau (field grey) pattern and the second in a summer camouflage pattern, based upon a vehicle that saw action with the 2 SS Panzer Division during the fateful battle of Kursk. We’ve asked Panzerkampf to provide additional details concerning both vehicles along with estimated release dates. Thus far, all they’ve said to date is that the schematics were based upon a popular model kit. As we’ve come to expect from Panzerkampf, they likely have at least 5-6 different versions in the works ( a common theme whether it be aircraft or helicopters), with more planned should their inaugural entries take off.
Panzerkampf’s 1:35 Scale German Early Production Sd. Kfz. 181 PzKpfw VI Tiger I Ausf. E Heavy Tank – “Red 332”, schwere Panzer Abteilung 503 “Feldherrnhalle”, Belgorod, Russia, 1943
On a personal note, while we welcome their entry in the 1:35 scale regime, it would’ve been nice if they had chosen a different subject to kick things off. Dragon released a bevy of 1:35 scale Tigers a few years back and Forces of Valor already has a number of larger 1:32 scale Tigers in their lineup, with more eventually planned. A better choice might’ve been either a Panzer IV or Panther medium tank, two vehicles collectors have been requesting for years on end. We’re certainly not looking a gift horse in the mouth but the fact remains initial sales will be based upon the vehicles’ interest amongst the collecting community, which shouldn’t be dampened by the fact that multiple versions of the Tiger already exist.
Takeaway: It’s hard enough to get new product into our country due to the Trump tariffs so while we welcome the announcement as well as their intent to play in a new sandbox, it would’ve been ideal had they chosen to pick a different vehicle to kick off the new range. Two entrenched players in the 1:32/1:35 scale market have already sewed the “seeds of destruction” by modelling the Tiger I tank, so it might’ve made more sense to go with a subject that would’ve been accepted with more relish instead of offering yet another Tiger I.
Typically, we discuss feature length films or series under our Films in Focus section, however, a recent YouTube video caught our attention. Over the last couple of years, Blue Paw Print has put together an awesome array of in-depth videos designed to explain the inner workings of various combat platforms. Recently, they created one on the German Schwerer Gustav railway gun (a.k.a. “Dora”), which was used with mixed effect by the German Army on the Eastern Front during World War II.
Schwerer Gustav (German pronunciation: (lit. ’Heavy Gustav’) was a German 80-centimetre (31.5 in) railway gun. Two were developed in the late 1930s by Krupp in Rügenwalde, however only one was ever actually fired. They were created as siege artillery for the explicit purpose of destroying the main forts of the French Maginot Line, the strongest fortifications in existence at the time. The fully assembled gun weighed nearly 1,350 tonnes (1,490 short tons) and could fire high-explosive shells weighing 4.8 t (5.3 short tons) to a range of 47 km (29 mi), or armour-piercing shells weighing 7.1 t (7.8 short tons) to a range of 38 km (24 mi).
The guns were designed in preparation for the Battle of France but were not ready for action when that battle began, and the Wehrmacht offensive through Belgium rapidly outflanked and isolated the Maginot Line, which was then besieged with more conventional heavy guns until French capitulation. Gustav was later deployed in the Soviet Union during the Battle of Sevastopol, part of Operation Barbarossa, where, among other things, it destroyed a munition depot located roughly 30 m (98 ft) below sea level. The gun was moved to Leningrad, and may have been intended to be used in the Warsaw Uprising like other German heavy siege pieces, but the uprising was crushed before it could be prepared to fire. Gustav was destroyed by the Germans near the end of the war in 1945 to avoid capture by the Soviet Red Army.
Schwerer Gustav was the largest-calibre rifled weapon ever used in combat, and in terms of weight, the heaviest mobile artillery piece ever built. It fired the heaviest shells of any artillery piece. It was surpassed in calibre only by the British Mallet’s Mortar and the American Little David bomb-testing mortar — both at 36 inches (91.5 cm) — but was the only one of the three to go into action.
We invite you to take a look at the accompanying video because it does a superb job of discussing how it was created and why no one has attempted to build a similar weapon since, including in diecast form.
In a 6-3 ruling, the US Supreme Court today struck down the Trump Administration tariffs that were imposed in early 2025 citing that the executive branch has overstepped its bounds by attempting to add tariffs to countries we trade with to level the “economic playing field”. According to the Trump Administration, they will attempt to enforce the tariffs by other means, many of which take time to implement. Its not clear if these attempts will come before the Supreme Court at a later date and get reviewed much like the Trump tariffs.
In the meantime, monies collected under the Trump tariffs will have to be refunded to those entities that were forced to pay them in order to bring goods into our country. This includes import/exporters and distributors but does not include retailers nor customers of retailers that had to pay higher prices throughout the 2025 calendar year and part of 2026. What it will likely do is help to decrease the price of goods that have yet to be shipped to the United States. Countries such as China will likely benefit the most since these trading partners were charged some of the highest tariffs under the Trump plan.
In his press conference following the ruling, President Trump announced that the US will be imposing a 10/15% global tariff on every country around the world that trades with the US at least until the Administration can come up with other ways to address the tariff issue. Clearly the President has no intent on letting the matter drop or who he lashes out against to gain the upper hand. At this point in time, we are not certain Trump can tinker with the tariffs without Congressional approval since Congress holds the power of the purse, not the Executive branch. And, in light of the recent SCOTUS ruling, its highly unlikely they will approve any subsequent attempts at imposing a tariff even if he claims our nation is being hurt by unfair trading conditions.
For more information on the Supreme Court decision and Trump’s response, visit this link.
Takeaway: While it was hoped that the SCOTUS ruling would help to bring about certainty in an uncertain world, it may have had the opposite effect. Trump is still pursuing other methods of raising tariffs, some of which he may have the power to implement and others where he clearly has to defer to Congress to enact. As a retailer, its therefore difficult to determine what the going price should be for anything coming in from afar. One minute, we remove the tariffs from the price of an item, and the next we have to put it back on and at indeterminate levels. We had hoped that with the SCOTUS decision we and others would be done with this whole affair but our President seems to feel otherwise. Ultimately, it may take a change in the administration to bring about tariff relief — one more willing to deal with our trade partners — which is still two years away. An eternity for some, a death knell for others.
The following post popped up on our Facebook feed early this morning.
“At JCW Models, we have always believed that true excellence lies in the pursuit of detail. With the launch of our new flagship product line, JCW Extreme, we are setting a new benchmark in aviation modeling—one defined by uncompromising precision, extreme refinement, and a dedication to authenticity that goes beyond expectation.
JCW Extreme is crafted for collectors and aviation enthusiasts who seek more than a model; they seek an experience. Every aircraft in this line is engineered to capture the essence of its real-world counterpart with astonishing accuracy. From the aerodynamic contours of the fuselage to the subtle textures of the cockpit interior, each element is reproduced with meticulous care. Our mission is not simply to replicate airplanes, but to reveal their true character, allowing you to discover the hidden face of aviation.
This product line embodies the philosophy that precision inspires passion. By combining advanced manufacturing techniques with a deep respect for aviation heritage, JCW Extreme delivers models that transcend ordinary craftsmanship. They are not just scaled reproductions—they are immersive gateways into the engineering brilliance and spirit of flight.
For collectors, JCW Extreme offers more than ownership; it offers discovery. Each model invites you to explore the aircraft’s authentic features, to appreciate the artistry of aviation, and to connect with the stories these machines carry. It is a celebration of aviation’s finest details, brought to life in miniature form.
With JCW Extreme, JCW Models proudly presents the ultimate expression of our craft. This is where passion meets precision, and where the true face of aviation is revealed—one detail at a time.”
It would appear as if the F-16 shown here was sold by Calibre Wings to JC Wings as a means of kicking off this line. Its possible, too, that other Calibre molds will follow suit, much like their Su-22 mold that was sold to JC Wings a couple of years back. If true, they may have formed either a short- or long-term collaboration to ensure the success of this new range. Time will tell. Further, no word was given concerning price and initial dates of availability. Calibre makes several other subjects including the F-14 Tomcat Fleet Defense Fighter, Su-24 Fencer tactical bomber and MiG-31 interceptor, all of which could now be in the hands of JC Wings as part of this line extension.
Takeaway: While I haven’t spoken to Noel Lee at Calibre Wings, its possible that he may have sold off his legacy molds to finance the B-58 production and future projects. It wouldn’t be the first time he raised capital by selling off an existing mold. Keep in mind that he has promised the creation of several models, so rather than compete with Hobby Master et al, it may make more sense for him to get out of certain models while he can and change direction by offering premium models aimed at a different and possibly more lucrative segment of the hobby.
Update: After speaking with Noel Lee via text, he explained that he did not sell the F-16 mold or any other mold to JC Wings. Instead, JC Wings has licensed the mold in an OEM arrangement with JC Wings. An Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) produces parts, components, or systems that are purchased by another company—a Value-Added Reseller (VAR)—and integrated into the final product sold to consumers, often under the buyer’s brand. OEMs specialize in specific, high-quality components (e.g., engines, chips) and collaborate closely with buyers. Key benefits include guaranteed compatibility, high quality, and manufacturer warranties. So, while there’s a good bet that you will eventually see F-14s, Su-24 and MiG-31s produced under the JC Wings brand, the molds are still in the possession of and owned by Calibre Wings.
Finally, after much prodding and pushing, it would appear as if JC Wings has finally launched its own web site. Its clean and professionally done, but took far too long to come to fruition particularly when collectors were requesting an online presence for several years running. In an age where my neighbor could put together a web site literally overnight, its a shame that it took JC Wings several years to build and host their own site thereby enabling them to communicate with their fans and interested parties directly instead of through roundabout methods.
While the site looks terrific, no mention was made regarding the JC Wings Extreme announcement, which is a bit of a step back right off the bat if they are looking to court their clientele with timely and accurate information. We can only hope they are reading this blog post and take action while the iron is still hot.
This month, we managed to get out a bunch of orders that had been languishing for some time because we were waiting for the products’ arrival from our distributors. This included Calibre Wings, Corgi, Hobby Master and Panzerkampf. A second batch of Hobby Master products are expected by the middle of February, so we’ve decided to take a step back and catch our breath for now until this new flock arrives. This next shipment includes a re-stock of their first issue YF-23 Air Dominance Fighter along with their eagerly awaited second issue, which is decked out in a charcoal-like skin color. A number of other important aircraft are expected, which are currently listed in our In Transit section. Interestingly, our distributor indicated that Hobby Master was contemplating more of the first issue YF-23. Great news if you were still holding out hope for a YF-23 — not so wonderful if you thought the first batch might increase in value for the foreseeable future. Still, if demand warrants the production of additional models, who am I to turn up my nose accumulating more models?
Anyway, this should do it for now since Chinese New Year is right around the corner. Typically the lengthy holiday slows down production of new models for several consecutive weeks despite Hobby Master having moved its manufacturing to Bangladesh several years ago. Corgi, Panzerkampf, Legion and a handful of others are still working out of China, so expect to see slowed production from them as well. As a result, March is forecast to be somewhat dry for new arrivals at least until everyone returns to work and companies can establish their next moves. New models are still being announced, as evinced by our February 2026 New Additions section, but don’t expect to see them for some time. Take a peek when you have a chance and make sure to get n your pre-orders at your first opportunity.
Takeaway: Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain. After examining our March 2026 schedule, it appears as if we are expecting an incredibly heavy lineup of merchandise to hit our docket this March. Hobby Master, for example, has a doubled-up roster of new items slated to arrive, both at the beginning of the month and again towards its end. A number of new items are also expected from other suppliers, meaning we get to do a lot of shipping throughout the entire month. So much for a break!
Well, we received our allotment of Calibre Wings B-58 Hustler bombers and out the door they went. We had several people waiting for what seemed like an eternity so we wanted to process their orders as quickly as possible and get them into the USPS slipstream tout-de-suite.
While I would’ve loved to have opened one up to see what they look like in the “diecast flesh”, we thought better of it and decided to get them ready for shipment first thing Friday morning. So, if you were lucky enough to have ordered one from us, keep one eye on your tracking information and the other on the USPS truck cause they’re headed out for the final leg of their journey.
Takeaway: Despite its price relative to other models of its size and standing, Calibre’s inaugural B-58 Hustler sold like hotcakes. We could’ve easily sold more models had we been permitted to obtain them, and had to turn away orders far in excess of what we actually sold. We anticipate Calibre will be announcing a second B-58, perhaps in a Southeast Asian camouflage scheme, very soon. While it likely won’t be as popular as the first release (second issues never are), we should continue to see brisk sales once its announced, built and inspected for imperfections. Will it carry the same price tag and come in the same presentation box? At this point its anyone’s guess and we can only hope Calibre will continue to offer subjects collectors have been requesting for several years on end.
First they wooed us with the M1A1 Abrams main battle tank clad in the TUSK reactive armor kits. Now, they’re whispering sweet sonnets in our ears with the M1A2 SEP V2. Fresh off of news that they’re modelling a 1:64 scale Abrams comes news that the manufacturer plans to produce five different 1:72 scale takes on the US Army’s latest main battle tank, or at least until the M1E3/M1A3 rolls out.
Expected in the April/May time frame, the newest M1 rendition features the upgraded System Enhancement Package (SEP), which is a series of critical, incremental upgrades designed to improve the lethality, survivability, and networking capabilities of the U.S. Army’s main battle tank. The current SEPv3 (Version 3) and future SEPv4 variants focus on power generation, advanced armor, enhanced sensors like 3GEN FLIR, and ammunition datalinks for better combat effectiveness. Nice, right? The best part is that the price hasn’t changed from the previous iteration, despite being produced in China. Enjoy your new sweethearts!
Takeaway: Its hard not to love the Abrams main battle tank. Four decades after it first rolled onto the battlefield, the Abrams continues to soldier on, despite numerous challenges that can render the tank obsolete and almost meaningless before it can even take up a firing position. Fortunately, upgrades to the basic vehicle are underway in the form of the M1E3/M1A3, which will hopefully restore the vehicle to its prominence on the battlefield. For now, the V2 SEP variant will have to do and hence Panzerkampf’s decision to model this iteration instead of its next-generation counterpart.
