Forces of Valor’s 1:48 scale USMC Bell AH-1W “Whiskey” Super Cobra Attack Helicopter – “Never Forget”, Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 267, Camp Pendleton, March 2012
While the timing of the announcement has come under scrutiny on Facebook, Waltersons decided to use the 9/11 backdrop as a means of showing off their latest endeavor: a 1:48 scale USMC AH-1W “Whiskey” Helicopter. Flown by Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 267, which was based at Camp Pendleton, California, during March 2012. The low-vis attack helicopter features artwork inspired by the events of 9/11 on the sides of the fuselage, which includes, among other things darkened images of the twin towers and its attendant New York skyline, along with what looks to be a viper coiled for striking, hence its sobriquet.
Forces of Valor 1:48 scale USMC Bell AH-1W “Whiskey” Super Cobra Attack Helicopter – “Final Flight of the Whiskey AH-1W”, Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 167 “Warriors”, Camp Bastion, Afghanistan, December 2012
According to the manufacturer, the USMC helicopter, along with a second chopper that was operated by Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 167 “Warriors”, are expected to be completed by the tail end of October, although with shipping delays still plaguing our ports, it could be another couple of months before they actually make it to market here in North America. Still, its nice to see the manufacturer is making a concerted effort to get product out the door and into the hands of collectors despite all of the issues facing the global supply chain.
Thirteen Sherman variants are scheduled to eventually come out, beginning with these four vehicles
Back in late 1864, General William T. Sherman famously marched his Union troops through Georgia in an attempt to cut the Confederate forces in two and, in so doing, sew terror in the South’s populace and devastate its’ logistical network. Waltersons, the new owners of the Forces of Valor brand, is looking to achieve much the same results in the military diecast community with their first group of 1:32 scale M4 Sherman tanks. You may remember that Unimax, the previous owner of the FOV brand, released several M4A3 Sherman tanks several years ago, re-using a single mold over and over again for a variety of replicas. While this strategy certainly reduced manufacturing costs and sped up the release schedule, it was far from perfect, since it meant that collectors were essentially getting a “one-size-fits-all” medium tank that was both historically inaccurate and worse boasted less metal content with each ensuing release.
An M4 Sherman “Jumbo” tank boasting an elongated turret and more powerful main gun intended to go toe-to-toe with the German Army’s heavier battle tanks
Waltersons, well aware of the problems facing the original set of Unimax Shermans, have been hard at work revamping the original tooling — by not only increasing the vehicle’s metal content — but by making each of the many Sherman variants truer to form with their historical counterparts. To that end, the Company has made a number of different turrets, guns, adaptives and even suspension systems, all designed to give collectors what they have been politely demanding for almost twenty years. As can be seen in the accompanying photo, each model has been faithfully produced, including, but not limited to, travel locks for the main gun, entrenching utensils, hull and bow machine guns and even opening hatches just like the real things. Its not clear how many Shermans will make it to market by the close of the year given the current congestion issues still plaguing many of our nation’s ports, but suffice it to say that eventually these and other variants are in the works, meaning there will be no shortage of Allied armor set to storm our shores for the foreseeable future.
In other news, the Company has decided to split its 1:700 scale warship line into two segments: one designed to continue its legacy of making full hull capital ships while a separate segment is aimed at the wargaming community who are looking to recreate different naval engagements using waterline ships. Right now, several warships are slated to set sail in early 2022, including reworked versions of the USS Enterprise, the USS Missouri, IJN Yamato and the RN Invincible, and its a good bet that other previously released warships in the FOV armada will be similarly sent to the naval yards for a complete refit.
Finally, although the manufacturer did share with us some images of their 1:32 scale early production Tiger I tanks, they did ask us not to divulge them for now since they are still being worked on for technical accuracy, changes to the road wheels and other important facets of the vehicle endemic to its version. Suffice it to say we will pass along factory approved photos for all the world to see once the Company is satisfied that they have met all of their design goals and feel confident they can deliver a stunning replica that is both heavy in the hand and meticulously researched.
While we were away on vacation we learned that the USPS has temporarily but immediately suspended all package service to Australia. According to a USPS blog post, the suspension is due to COVID-19 transportation cancellations and restrictions. Any shipments currently en route to Australia are being turned around and returned to the sender. Its not clear when service will be resumed to Australia and whether or not this suspension will affect other nations going forward. Previously, the USPS suspended service to other nations, among them Malawi, Mayotte and Liberia, as well as Afghanistan although service suspension to and from Afghanistan is largely due to the pull out of US troops and other assets from the country.
You may remember that apart from Canada we temporarily suspended ALL international shipments earlier this summer for different reasons but are willing to explore the issue once again in early 2022 should we feel that the global pandemic has changed for the positive. We apologize for having to take these measures and hopr you understand that some things are beyond our control.
Earlier today, we listed all of the July Hobby Master products as being in stock even though they are set to arrive early next week. Candidly, they were supposed to arrive this week but Historic Sales ran into some issues stocking the items at their new facility in Georgia. Couple that with the fact that we are going away later this week and were therefore unable to accept inbound deliveries, so we thought it best to simply delay their arrival rather than risk some packages being left at our doorstep and quite possibly snatched up by some would-be porch pirates. To make a long story short, you can order any of the items now listed in the September Arrivals sections but we will ship them out as soon as we return on the 6th.
Other than that, there isn’t much we are expecting in the next week or two, unless something suddenly pops up on the radar that we weren’t aware of. The port congestion issues affecting much of the west coast are still alive and well and are hopefully being dealt with in an expeditious manner otherwise the coming holiday season is going to be chaotic at best.
We did hear that both PMA and Air Force 1 are on the water although no dates of arrival have yet been set. Panzerkampf, Forces of Valor, Corgi, et al are still pretty much up in the air so there is no point in discussing when we can begin to see their arrival dates get updated. We are hoping that after the Labor Day weekend we will have more concrete information to work from and a better sense of what may or may not be ship-able this holiday season. Frankly, in all my years of working in the toy business, in one capacity or another, I don’t remember working with so little information to make an education idea of how to proceed, in large part due to the tumult still affecting the global supply chain. There’s a very good chance that many items originally slated to arrive this year will be delayed until 2022 so it behooves everyone to double-check with us first before pinning your hopes and dreams on a piece of diecast Santa hasn’t included in his holiday run. That’s it for now and enjoy the Labor Day weekend…
We’ve stumbled upon a reliable source of diecast military aircraft that just so happens carries a full line of models from the German firm Herpa. Extremely popular in Europe and established just after World War II, we’ve come to the decision that it makes sense we add them to our growing product portfolio. Since we do not stock civilian airliners, we plan to mainly carry their military hardware, which is still rather extensive in its own right.
After looking over their stock list, they appear to have a wide variety of military aircraft, from the standard-sized 1:72 scale platforms, to a wide array of smaller scale aircraft, no doubt designed to replicate some of the larger military aircraft that have seen service with all the world’s air forces. So, after we return from vacation, we will begin the process of culling the list and adding those items we think will do well to our web site. Keep in mind, we do not anticipate taking delivery of any of their products until the fourth quarter, largely due to the problems still plaguing the global supply chain. So, please be patient if you would like to pre-order anything you see, since it will be several months before they reach American shores.
Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale USAF Fairchild Republic A-10C Thunderbolt II Ground Attack Aircraft – Indiana Air National Guard, Stout Field, Indianapolis, Indiana, 2021 [Anniversary Scheme]
Hobby Master announced ten more warbirds were added to their April 2022 roster, plus a pair of Ju-7 Stukas that were originally slated to swoop in this March. Interestingly, this recently unveiled A-10 Warthog was among the list, clad in a sleek midnight black anniversary scheme. When you combine the popularity of Hobby Master’s 1-10 Warthogs with a stunning scheme such as this, we feel this could be one of those rare gems in the making that will likely get bid up the moment they arrive. Here’s what you can also look forward to nabbing this coming spring:
Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale North Vietnamese Air Force Shenyang J-5 (MiG 17F) “Fresco C” Fighter – Le Hai, 923 IAP “Yen The”, June 1968Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale US Navy McDonnell F-4J Phantom II Fighter-Bomber – 157269, VF-92 “Silver Kings”, USS Constellation (CV-64), May 1972Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale USAF General Dynamics F-16C Viper Fighter – 89-2048, “Wraith”, 64th Aggressor Squadron, Nellis AFB, Nevada, 2020 [Aggressor Scheme]Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale RAAF Boeing F-18A Hornet Strike Fighter – A21-18, No.25 Squadron, RAAF Base Pearce, Perth, Australia, 2021 [Heritage Scheme]Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale East German Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-29A ‘Fulcrum’ Fighter – “Red 661”, (LSK-NVA), Germany, 1990Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale USMC Boeing F/A-18D Hornet Strike Fighter – 165685, VMFA(AW)-242 “Bats”, Yokota AB, Tokyo, Japan, 2020Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale RAF Panavia GR. Mk. 4 Tornado IDS All-Weather Bomber – ZA542, No.31 Squadron, Operation Ellamy, Italy, 1991Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale Russian Sukhoi Su-30SM “Flanker-C” Fighter – “Blue 77”, 2019Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale US Navy Grumman F-14B Tomcat Fleet Defense Fighter – 163225, VF-102 “Diamondbacks”, Operation Enduring Freedom, 2002 [Low-Vis Scheme]
Even though we do not have images to share with everyone just yet, Panzerkampf is continually announcing a bevy of new products that are likely due out over the course of 2022. We’ve already touched upon the Leopard 2A4, Bumerang APC and UH-60 Blackhawk in a previous post, and how they will integrate into their scheme of reproducing some of the key pieces of armament fielded by today’s armies. Now comes news that they will also be making the US Joint Light Tactical Vehicle as well as the Sikorsky MH-60 helicopter, both in 1:72 scale, two important additions to the US arsenal that are routinely deployed amidst many of the world’s hot spots.
While we’d love to discuss which units they plan to replicate first, and when you can add them to your collection, the fact remains that Panzerkampf has proven themselves to be a competent and reliable modelmaker in the face of global supply chain tumult, intent upon carving out a respectable share of the marketplace now and well into the future.
Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale USAF Republic F-105F Thunderchief Fighter-Bomber – 63-8301, Lt Col. Leo Thorsness, 357th Tactical Fighter Squadron “Dragons”, 355th Tactical Fighter Wing, Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, April 1967 (1:72 Scale)
Apparently everything isn’t doom and gloom for the dog days of summer. While a category one hurricane is bearing down on the northeast, gathering momentum as we speak, it seems to have brought good tidings as well, in the form of several new shipments. Recently we received a bunch of Hachette Collections 1:100 scale aircraft, two new Panzerkampf 1:72 scale Dassault Rafale multirole aircraft, all of the Solido 1:48/1:56 scale military vehicles, and Forces of Valor’s inaugural 1:72 scale Chance-Vought F4U Corsair fighter.
Solido 1:56 scale US M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tank – Desert Camouflage
And, if that didn’t tickle your fancy, we learned this morning that the July shipment of Hobby Master products has finally arrived at our distributor in Georgia and should be in stock at our facility by the end of next week. Right now, the only other major shipment that could appear by the end of the month is Corgi, although this could likely be pushed into early September if things go awry. All in all, not a bad way to end the month of August and the summer season given the state of things in the global supply chain.
Forces of Valor’s 1:72 scale USMC Chance-Vought F4U-1D Corsair Fighter – Lt. Ira Kepford, VF-17 “Jolly Rogers”, 1944
We had hoped that by the end of the summer, the logjam plaguing most of America’s west coast ports would have abated and product intended to reach consumers for the holiday season would again flow in plentiful supply. As of today, that seems to be wishful thinking.
The Wall Street Journal reported yesterday that things have gone from bad to worse in the Port of Los Angeles, the principal port of entry for most goods bound for the USA from Asia. All sorts of reasons for the problems were cited in the report, from COVID to big box retailers attempting to bring in their shipments ahead of schedule. What this means for a smaller retailer such as ourselves is anyone’s guess as the holiday shopping season looms and consumer expectations begins to rise. Many of the items we are currently anticipating for a November and December releases will likely be shunted into the new year, and items we are pinning our hopes on to arrive in the next 60 days may instead show up just before the close of the holiday season. At least that’s how we see things stacking up for the next few months unless things continue to worsen.
As always, we strongly recommend ordering those items either listed as being in-stock or expected within the next 30 days or so if they are intended to be gifted away to a friend or family member. Otherwise, we urge you to remain patient and stay abreast of the issues continuing to affect the global supply system since this is the best barometer of judging whether or not product will arrive as expected. The full text of the WSJ article can be found here.
Update: After speaking with a representative at Historic Sales, it does look as if the last couple of Hobby Master shipments will arrive much later than originally slated. Their December roster, for instance, will almost certainly arrive sometime in early 2022 and their November spate will likely show up some time after the new year. No word if the October HM shipment will arrive in time for the holiday season or if it too will be pushed back into 2022. Our guess is that it won’t be ready for the holiday season although this could change if herculean efforts to clear the ports meet with overall success.
We haven’t received any updates from Corgi regarding their third and fourth quarter shipments, but here again its likely these too will be affected by the port congestion problems previously highlighted. Although they receive shipments further north and nowhere near Los Angeles, the port congestion issues discussed affect virtually every major port of entry up and down the length of the west coast. Likewise, smaller manufacturers such as PMA, Panzerkampf and others are in the same boat, figuratively as well as literally, and may or may not materialize in time for the holiday season. I know this is tough news to hear but better you should learn it first hand before the holiday season commences than peg your hopes on receiving items that simply won’t be available for the holidays. We will continue to update our release schedule as further news continues to trickle in.
While some manufacturers seem to have slowed down their production efforts, others seem to have unfurled their sails, aiming to catch the wind before their competitor’s do the same. Panzerkampf is one such modelmaker, churning out a growing array of military vehicles, aircraft and helicopters that have been widely accepted into diecast collections by the worldwide community. Over the weekend, Panzerkampf added yet another 1:72 scale modern vehicle to their arsenal: the Russian built Typhoon-VDV K-4386 Mine-Protected Armored Vehicle.
While not exactly widely known in military circles, the Typhoon nevertheless fills an important niche in the Russian Army, much like the US-built MRAP was developed by the US in the face of accelerating use of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).
The Tayfun/Typhoon-VDV K-4386 is a 4×4 mine-protected wheeled armored vehicle designed and manufactured by Remdiesel, a subsidiary of Kamaz. It is the newest member of the Typhoon family of armored vehicles.
The Typhoon K-4386 is intended to support combat missions, crew transportation, logistics, cargo transport, medical support, and other intense armored offensive strikes.
Typhoon K-4386 is a single-compartment frameless armored cross country vehicle with two entrance doors in the front and one access door in the rear. It also features a roof-top hatch cover, allowing the troops to access weapons systems.
The K-4386 is built on a rugged hull, which provides the vehicle with a strong base, along with less curb weight and general centre of mass, leading to compact vehicular dimensions. The optimized hull enables the vehicle to carry more payloads and offer superior performance off the road.
The vehicle is 6m-long, 2.54m-wide and 2.4m-high and has a curb weight of 11,000kg, while its gross weight is 13,000kg. The armored vehicle can accommodate eight personnel, including crew and fully-equipped troops.
The 4×4 armored vehicle can integrate a range of multi-mission support systems and tools such as an assault ladder, a 6.75t self-recovery winch module, strobe lights for night missions, loudspeakers, a circular video camera for surveillance, and communication systems for inter-vehicle communication.
The vehicle was on display during the Russian Army’s 2019 International Military and Technical Forum in June 2019. It completed testing in December 2019 and is purportedly entering service with the Russian Army as we speak.
In a related development, Panzerkampf has also posted CAD drawings of their first Leopard 2A4 main battle tanks as well as a Russian-built VPK-7289 Bumerang (Object K-16) armored personnel carrier. Both are likely pegged for a 2022 release as other vehicles, long hinted at on their web site and elsewhere, have yet to be released here in North America. Despite these delays, the announced vehicles come as welcome news for diecast military vehicle collectors, who haven’t had much to choose from in recent years.
