Looking to build out their product portfolio, Hobby Master debuted a line drawing of its next military subject, the Chengdu J-10 “Firebird” multirole aircraft. While not as sexy as some of the PLAAF’s sixth generation aircraft currently undergoing testing, the J-10 is nevertheless an important bridge to the future until their next generation warbirds move from the drawing board to serial production over the next few years. Due out in August, the first version of the J-10 represents an aircraft that is deployed to Zhuhai, China, during 2025, and would likely be employed in an aerial conflict that focused on the invasion and potential seizure of Taiwan.
A number of other models were also announced as part of the August release roster. These are currently being addressed as we speak with concrete pricing out by week’s end.
Recognizing that the Century Wings line of military aircraft still has legs, Hobby Master has purportedly acquired the molds to many of the Century Wings aircraft models. The list reportedly includes the SR-71 Blackbird reconnaissance aircraft, A-6 Intruder attack aircraft, A-7 Corsair II light attack aircraft and F-8 Crusader air superiority aircraft. Additionally, the purchase includes their entire range of 1:144 scale military aircraft, which includes their A-6, A-7 and F-14 replicas. Word on the street says that the purchase does not include CW’s 1:72 scale F-14 Fleet Defense Fighter largely because Hobby Master already makes a model of the Tomcat.
Hobby Master will reportedly thoroughly inspect each mold and make improvements where needed to keep them up-to-date and ensure they are capable of being used multiple times over the course of their reinvigorated lifespan. While no mention was made regarding which models will come out first, the announcement does claim that some models will start to show up towards the latter half of 2026. We are assuming that Hobby Master packaging will be used throughout so there is no confusion with previously released black-box Century Wings models. With its exacting attention to detail, its possible that the CW F-14 mold could end up with yet another manufacturer, although nothing firm has been indicated and several manufacturers, among them Calibre Wings and JC Wings, already possess their own F-14 molds.
The acquisitions solidifies Hobby Master’s position as the leading maker of diecast military aircraft models and rounds out their range of Cold War era subjects. Naturally, it would be nice to see models based upon some of the warbirds currently being developed and tested world over by a number of nations, among them several sixth generation fighters and other equally important aerial platforms. Likewise, it would be sweet to see them delve deeper into other sophisticated combat systems, most notably drones, collaborative combat aircraft, ground vehicles and even surface and sub-surface systems that comprise many of today’s military arsenals.
Takeaway: This is a great development for fans of both Hobby Master and Century Wings. While Hobby Master has slowed down its production of new aircraft types, the Century Wings acquisitions serves a dual purpose by completing Hobby Master’s pantheon of Cold War military aircraft and resurrecting the Century Wings molds many had thought were doomed after the manufacturer announced its closure this past December.
Legion’s 1:72 scale USAAF North American P-51D Mustang Fighter – Robert Williams, “Duchess Arlene,” 100th Fighter Squadron, 332th Fighter Group “Tuskegee Airmen,” Ramitelli, Italy, 1944
Looking to build out their WWII aerial armada, Legion recently indicated plans to roll out six different takes on the war-winning “bubble top” P-51D Mustang. We’ve elected to bring in three of the six aircraft models they plan to produce, leaving a handful on the table for others to stock. While they all look terrific, our experience has been that certain models, among them Chinese and RAF-based versions, haven’t sold all that well for us, so there’s no reason we should expect anything different with these offerings. The three US-based P-51Ds shown here are slated to hit the tarmac early this summer.
Legion’s 1:72 scale USAAF North American P-51D Mustang Fighter – James Tapp, “Margaret IV,” 78th Fighter Squadron “Bushmasters”, 15th Fighter Group, Iwo Jima, April 1945
Pricing hasn’t changed, meaning you can still pick up each for the nominal sum of $49.99.
Update: We’ve heard from a number of collectors that the upcoming P-51D Mustang comes with a misshapen bubble canopy. While not apparent in the original set of photographs we received in the marketing material, it becomes rather obvious in the photo below. Frankly, even the tail seems a bit stubby as compared with the real aircraft and the wings seem to exhibit less curvature when displayed against the real deal. We brought these observations to the attention of our distributor and they informed us that the mold is essentially done and little can be done about it.
I’m not certain how they came up with this configuration when the bubble top canopy has been photographed by experts around the world for decades on end. So, we’ve cancelled our opening order but decided to leave the products up on our web site in the oft chance that Legion decides to pull back and re-work these models so they better reflect the “D” version of the Mustang.
Side view of an actual P-51D Mustang. After comparing the two images, it looks as if Legion molded the bottom of the canopy onto the fuselage instead of attaching it to the base of the bubble canopy.Supposedly, the Legion replica is based upon a previously-built mold, which obviously wasn’t inspected very closely for accuracy.
Takeaway: Save your money. If this is Legion’s attempt to portray the North American P-51D Mustang, then they need a better set of prescription glasses because it misses the mark by a long shot. A proper eye chart and better reference material might be in order.
Corgi’s 1:72 scale German Messerschmitt Me 410A-1 Heavy Fighter – “Black F”, 14./Kampfgeschwader 2 “Holzhammer”, Late 1943
If you missed out on Corgi’s inaugural Me-410 destroyer then we’ve got some good news for you. As part of their January-April 2026 line up, the manufacturer announced plans to roll out their second take on the twin-engine aircraft, this time around offering a night fighter version clad in a darkened camouflage pattern. Also up for consideration is a brand new Dornier Do-17 light bomber, the first one to appear on the diecast tarmac since way back in 2018.
Corgi’s 1:72 scale German Dornier Do17Z-5 Kauz Light Bomber – 1./Kustenfliegergruppe 606, October 1940
Currently, we are awaiting pricing information and actual release dates, so we’ve pegged them with an initial price point and approximate date of release. Other aircraft of interest are this Fairey Swordfish that was involved in the Battle of Taranto and this de Havilland Mosquito fighter-bomber that was attached to No.613 Squadron. Enjoy!
In other news, Corgi revealed that they are working in collaboration with the Commemorative Air Force to produce a wide range of models based upon actual aircraft in their extensive collection. While no further details were discussed, nor were some of the models shown, we anticipate these will start to trickle in during their second trimester showings.
Takeaway: Despite closing their North American offices late last year, Corgi is still showing no signs of slowing down by announcing the release of several new aircraft models. While none are new tooling, some old favorites are marking their return including the Dornier Do-17 “Flying Pencil”. Moreover, the second release of the Messerschmitt Me 410 is now on the calendar, clad in a subdued night time pattern and scheduled for the first trimester. With the trade tariffs still up-in-the-air, its not clear where each will ultimately be priced so we’ve listed them for what we feel is a fair price until more concrete information hits the air waves.
Its been awhile since we last spoke about Forces of Valor and with good reason — there wasn’t much to talk about. With the Trump tariffs still in doubt and companies such as Waltersons reluctant to produce new items because of how it might affect them, the line has been on hiatus for some time now. Several new items have been hinted at but nothing has been formally announced. That said, we contacted the manufacturer over the weekend to find out what’s in stock and where we stand with the Company now that the Christmas stampede has run its course.
Thus far, only a handful of new items are said to be in stock and ready to be shipped. These include several of the new 1:64 scale military vehicles and a handful of accessories, many of which have been shown on their site for months on end. The balance of the line has strangely not come in as yet so we assume they aren’t too far behind. Because of this, we’ve elected to hold off ordering them for now, largely because we want to get things started with them slowly then open up the spigots to bring in a number of items that had been on back order for the better part of a year and now show as being in stock. So, we’ve placed an initial order with them for several back ordered items, which will hopefully be received and ready to head off to the diecast front early next week. We’ve listed them in our In Transit section and will continue to monitor the situation once we review their initial shipment then go from there. Keeping our fingers crossed that this will lead to bigger and better things for the balance of the year.
Takeaway: Waltersons, the owners of the Forces of Valor brand, has always been a questionable commodity ever since they opened their North American warehouse/offices in the US over two years ago. Much of their focus still remains on Greenlight Collectibles, so it’ll be interesting to see where and when the Company decides to place added emphasis on their military range. Thus far, things are quiet but that could change with Toy Fair right around the corner.
Update to the Update: It looks as if Waltersons has gotten their act together, having taken and shipped out our opening order without incident. So, we’re getting set to place our second and larger order with them, which will contain three of their 1:64 scale military vehicles, a few accessory packs originally produced by Unimax and a bevy of back ordered merchandise that have been out-of-stock for several months. Still no word on any of the new items hinted at on their own blog or any of the products they announced years ago that have remained in limbo for some time. Their Facebook page is still mum, having gone dark over three years ago so no public information is being disseminated. As I mentioned earlier, the Trump tariffs are still acting as a headwind and the Company could be withholding new product announcements until the upcoming Toy Fairs have run their course. To sum up, we’re working in the dark and hope to have more concrete information to work with by the end of January. Maybe…
In the meantime, we’ve prepped our web site to reflect these changes, and made several amendments to our eBay store page so we can plug in the quantities available once we ensure that all of our pre-orders have been accounted for. We’re holding off indicating that the second shipment is available until we review its receipt. I’d like to ensure, first hand, that there are no discrepancies, gauge the quality of the new items and get everything ready in case we get beset by loads of orders. We are accepting pre-orders and quite frankly aren’t sure how quickly the new and back ordered merchandise will be received. Bear in mind too that we are expecting large Hobby Master, Corgi and Panzerkampf shipments by the end of the month, so getting ahead of these will be our mantra for the next couple of weeks.
Panzerkampf’s 1:72 scale Boxer A2 Multirole Armored Fighting Vehicle with Skyranger 30 Air Defense Turret – Digital Camouflage
As one Company fades into the sunset, it appears as if another rises like a morning sun to the east. Yesterday, Panzerkampf indicated that they were bolstering their armored vehicle collection with the addition of the Boxer armored fighting vehicle. Produced by Rheinmetall. The Boxer is family of armored fighting vehicles designed by an international consortium to accomplish a number of operations through the use of installable mission modules. The governments participating in the Boxer program have changed as the program has developed. The Boxer vehicle is produced by the ARTEC GmbH (armored vehicle technology) industrial group, and the program is being managed by OCCAR (Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation). ARTEC GmbH is based in Munich; its parent companies are KNDS Deutschland and Rheinmetall on the German side, (with Australian factory) and Rheinmetall Defence Nederland B.V. for the Netherlands. Overall, Rheinmetall has a 64% stake in the joint venture.
As we’ve come to expect from this manufacturer, Panzerkampf doesn’t like to test the waters by offering up one or two iterations to see how sales go and whether or not they should commit additional resources by making more versions. Instead, they plan to roll out 10 different versions of the Boxer that include a command vehicle, standard armored personnel carrier and a vehicle equipped with the Skyranger 30 air-defense system. The turret is equipped with a 30 × 173 mm KCE revolver gun firing programmable ABM, two Stinger surface-to-air missiles, and a sensor suite. The latter will comprise a Hensoldt Spexer X-band radar with three panels each providing 120° azimuth coverage integrated into the turret and an electro-optical tracking sensor with a thermal camera, day camera, and laser rangefinder for target identification and tracking. The turret will also be equipped with Rheinmetall’s Rapid Obscuring System (ROSY) smoke grenade launchers.
While we applaud the decision to add the Boxer to their burgeoning 1:72 scale military vehicle line up, its not clear why the manufacturer continually needs to roll out so many iterations all at one time. Not only does it saturate the market, making it more difficult for collectors to choose which vehicles to purchase before they potentially run out-of-stock, but it makes it equally hard for the average dealer to order and stock what is, for argument’s sake, similar products when other items are coming to market. We don’t want to be seen as complainers, but the fact remains that a better business strategy needs to be adopted for everyone to be satisfied.
As an aside, this series is a bit problematic for us for several reasons. To begin with, Dragon snagged first mover advantage a few years ago by releasing several Boxer AFVs as part of their Neo Dragon Armor series. While the choices may not have been as prolific as Panzerkampf’s, they were able to sell them for far less and with no competition in the space. Panzerkampf’s releases come on the heels of the Dragon offerings and as such most collectors likely already have an example or two wedged into their collection. Moreover, our distributor sells the Panzerkampf range in case lots, meaning we have to make a considerable investment in money, energy and space to stock all of these iterations. If we do decide to stock the series, we may only bring in a few versions, perhaps the Skyranger variants and a couple of AFVs that aren’t so redundant in appearance and background. I’m sorry but our primary mission is to curate the line, any line, and bring in only those versions that will potentially sell the best.
Takeaway: As a retailer with over 25 years in the industry, our principal job is to curate each line and bring in only those items we feel we can sell within a reasonable period of time. While we applaud Panzerkampf’s efforts to release as many versions of an item as is possible, they really need to consider staggering their releases so that each segment of the industry, from distributor on down, can stock and sell their products at a meaningful rate without having to worry about saturating the marketplace.
Recently we received a negative feedback on eBay and the marketplace seems unwilling to remove it even though we fully explained our side of the story. The reason this buyer decided to leave a scathing remark was because he received a large Forces of Valor tank that he claimed was slightly damaged during transit. Apparently, he was able to repair the minor damage but in so doing sent us a message indicating his displeasure and, more importantly, that we didn’t respond quickly enough to his missive during the busy holiday season. He did not indicate that he wanted to return the model; nor did he ask for a partial refund as compensation. Instead, his note to us was vulgar, as if to say we had a hand in sending him a broken model. While we don’t open each model ahead of time to inspect a product for any number of reasons, we do shake it a bit to see if anything is rattling around prior to its packing and mailing.
We don’t often get negative feedback on eBay — in fact, if you read our overall feedback you’ll see most comments are quite positive. In some instances, models arrive damaged from a courier mishandling the parcel so we do our best to work with the buyer to resolve the issue. If the customer cannot repair the damage, then they are free to open a return, whereby we pay for the return shipping and promptly refund the customer the cost of the sale. What bothers me isn’t so much the negative feedback. What does strike a chord, however, is the recent trend of running into aggressive buyers on eBay and elsewhere, where they feel as if they can dictate terms, tell us what they are willing to pay for an item, and, if need be, tell the world that we didn’t buckle to their demands. Our policy is simple. This is what we sell and this is what we sell it for. I don’t go into a local fast food restaurant and attempt to barter or negotiate with the manager to get a burger or taco at a lower price, and this is the way we conduct our own business. If you do not like this approach to the running of our business, then I have only one thing to say — buy the item from someone else. We are not here to be talked down to as if we are some sort of misbehaving junk yard dog nor do we deserve the brunt of your misplaced anger if your day isn’t going well. In short, I will not cave to your demands under any circumstances and, if need be, will resort to legal action if you decide to take things to another level when our response is not to your liking.
A couple of years ago, we ran into a similar situation on our e-commerce web site where one buyer demanded we lower the price of an item and wouldn’t take no for answer even when we explained to him that the manufacturer increased the cost of the item well beyond its initial asking price. He did his utmost to destroy our reputation, but never once told the full story behind his anger. As if that weren’t enough, he then went on to attempt to break into our Amazon Seller account to do as much damage as possible to our operation. I know this because we received multiple notifications that someone was attempting to access our account. To make a long story short, he was unable to break into our account but to this day still attacks us online.
To sum up, if you do not like the fact that we stick to our guns when selling an item, then move on. From my standpoint, life is too short to worry about why you feel it necessary to take a piece of diecast memorabilia so seriously and whether or not you can deal with someone saying no to your demands. There are plenty of other dealers out there who I can only assume are more than willing to cave to your demands. I won’t.
What better way to usher in the new year than with a new set of models? On New Years day, Panzerkampf announced plans to release five different 1:72 scale Sikorsky HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters, all scheduled for shipping some time this spring. We’ve listed preliminary information for the quintet to our web site, although we’re still awaiting full descriptions and a better set of images for each model. Currently, we are still including the tariffs in their price, which could change should the US Supreme Court strike down the Trump tariffs in their decision expected by month’s end.
In a related development, reports are surfacing that Panzerkampf plans on tackling the US Air Force Sikorsky HH-60W Jolly Green II Combat Rescue Helicopter as their next rotary-wing subject. The HH-60W Jolly Green II is the U.S. Air Force’s next-generation combat search and rescue (CSAR) helicopter, built on the proven UH-60M Black Hawk air frame but significantly upgraded for long-range, high-threat missions, featuring enhanced fuel capacity, advanced avionics, integrated defensive systems, and improved survivability to replace aging HH-60G Pave Hawks for rescuing isolated personnel in hostile territory, as well as for other vital roles like medical evacuation and disaster relief. Its possible the HH-60W was involved in Operation Absolute Resolve, the recent combined arms mission to take down the Nicholas Maduro regime in Venezuela.
Air Force 1’s USAAF Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress Heavy Bomber – “Man ‘O War II”, 323rd Bombardment Squadron, 91st Bombardment Group, Bassingbourn, Cambridgeshire, England, November 1944 (1:72 Scale)
We’ve got some especially good news for all of you collectors out there that didn’t mind waiting and likely have a fist full of cash from Christmas presents. There’s a bunch of new items that have either arrived this past week or in transit, most notably two months worth of Hobby Master products. These should be landing later this week, unless the holidays play havoc with the schedule or something else comes up that delays their arrival. Also headed our way are a number of Legion Models items, including a bunch of 1:72 scale Sherman tanks, a gaggle of Supermarine Spitfires and a squadron Curtiss P-40 Warhawks.
Air Force 1’s Chinese Peoples Liberation Army Air Force Chengdu J-36 Deep Strike Aircraft – Chengdu Aircraft Corporation, Chengdu, Sichuan, China, December 2024 (1:100 Scale)
Over the weekend, we took delivery of several Air Force 1 aircraft, including their highly popular 1:72 scale B-17G Flying Fortress bomber (shown above) that was out-of-stock for over a month. We also received models of two PLAAF sixth generation aircraft. Bear in mind the actual jets are still undergoing rigorous testing back in China and will likely get deployed in the next couple of years. Both aircraft have been the subject of intense scrutiny and conjecture and will likely continue to evolve based upon test results.
Corgi’s USAAF Boeing B-17F-45-VE Flying Fortress Heavy Bomber – “Royal Flush”, Lieutenant Robert “Rosie” Rosenthal, 418th Bomb Squadron “Bloody Hundredth”, 100th Bomb Group, Bassingbourn, England, October 10th, 1943 (1:72 Scale)
In other news, there’s still quite a few models expected in January that have faced delay after delay and are supposedly now on their way to our distributor. These include a shipment of Panzerkampf models (which includes a number of back ordered items as well as new products) and Corgi aircraft, as well as another batch of Hobby Master military aircraft models (both new and back ordered items). Beyond that, its not clear what else is in store for January or even February, seeing as how several distributors are awaiting news on the Supreme Court ruling on the Trump tariffs before bringing in new shipments. If the Supreme Court rules in favor of the tariffs, then we can guarantee that this Spring will be especially dry with very few products making it to market. For instance, the recently announced Panzerkampf 1:64 Abrams tank is currently pegged at $85, making it far too expensive to entice most collectors into purchasing it. If the Supreme Court rules against the tariffs, then it will likely get rolled back to around $69, still pricey but within range of most collector’s budgets.
While we haven’t stocked the line in several years, we’ve learned that Japanese-based Century Wings will be shutting down operations at the end of December. Citing declining orders and deteriorating molds as two reasons for the change of heart, Century Wings had been weighing their options for the better part of the year. The current trade war between the US and the PRC, which culminated in exorbitant tariffs for goods being brought in to the US, no doubt also factored into their decision to close up shop. The Company has been is existence since 2006, producing primarily SR-71, F-14, A-6, A-7 and F-8 models, so collectors probably felt as if they had enough of each subject and were looking for other types of aircraft to add to their collection.
We’re not surprised by Century Wings’ decision to throw in the towel, which will certainly be taken into consideration by other model makers if the Trump tariffs aren’t rolled back to an acceptable level. As it stands right now, there’s only so much a manufacturer can charge for a new aircraft, tank or warship, before the collector balks and walks away to pursue other interests. It would be a sad way to say goodbye but one that is both logical and foreseeable given the current set of circumstances affecting both nation’s intransigence and reluctance to give in.
From a personal standpoint, part of the problem for their closure was self-inflicted. While I don’t have an excel spreadsheet that lists every model they’ve produced to date, the fact remains that most collectors do not need or want the same items over and over again. Sure, there are some collectors who would like nothing more than to show off every single Tomcat Century Wings ever built; a like number of Blackbird enthusiasts who can display every Mach 3 jet in their oversized glass cabinets. But the fact remains that most collectors are on a budget and will buy an example or two of any given subject before moving on to other models. By bombarding the hobby with the same aircraft type ad nauseum is, at best, a poor business plan that will come back to haunt any model maker.
As it stands right now, Century Wings decision to ring down the curtains could be a precursor for other diecast manufacturers that have largely halted production to see how the US Supreme Court would rule on the Trump tariffs. Should they be overruled, then many will likely resume production and look back on 2025 as an aberration. Should they be upheld, however, then you can expect more manufacturers, distributors and retailers to follow suit and call it a day, unable and unwilling to sell product at inflated prices that few can afford. Guess we’ll have to see what the Court decides to do when they take up the matter in January. In the mean time, it may already be too late for several companies to await the decision.
