Hobby Master Puts the “P” in Production

Imperial Japanese Navy Mitsubishi A6M2b “Zero” Fighter – Lieutenant Junior Grade Tetsuzo Iwamoto, 253rd AG, Rabaul, January 1944 (1:48 Scale)

In a race to flood the market with diecast aircraft while other manufacturers sit back on their laurels, Hobby Master announced a bunch of new models for a June/July release. While no new toolings were unveiled, their most recent marketing literature did feature a number of favorites, including a pair of 1:48 scale Mitsubishi Zero fighters, demonstrating they are still supporting mid-twentieth century warfare platforms that seem to have fallen out of favor with other manufacturers. Here now the list of aircraft models we plan to bring in this coming summer:

Imperial Japanese Navy Mitsubishi A6M2b “Zero” Fighter – 261st AG “Tiger Corps”, Kagoshima, Japan, February 1944 (1:48 Scale)

USAF North American F-100 Super Sabre Fighter – FW-871, The National Museum of the United States Air Force (1:72 Scale)

USAF North American F-100D Super Sabre Fighter – 55-2950, 81st Tactical Fighter Squadron “Panthers”, 50th Tactical Fighter Wing, Toul-Rosieres Air Base, France, 1958 (1:72 Scale)

USAF Lockheed-Martin F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter – 22-5696, 176th Fighter Squadron “Badger Air Militia”, 115th Fighter Wing, Truax Field Air National Guard Base, Madison, Wisconsin, August 2004 (1:72 Scale)

US Navy Lockheed-Martin F-35C Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter – 169034, VFA-125 “Rough Raiders”, USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72), 2022 [Low-Vis Scheme] (1:72 Scale)

USAF General Dynamics F-16C Viper Fighter – “J-20 Aggressor” [Aggressor Scheme] (1:72 Scale)

USAF Fairchild Republic A-10C Thunderbolt II Ground Attack Aircraft -“Maryland Farewell”, 104th Fighter Squadron “The Fightin’ O’s”, Warfield Air National Guard Base, Middle River, Maryland, September 2015 (1:72 Scale)

French Dassault-Breguet Mirage 2000N Multi-Role Fighter – 4-BJ, EC 2/4 “La Fayette”, Luxueil, France, July 1992 (1:72 Scale)

US Navy Grumman F-14A Tomcat Fleet Defense Fighter – 160658, VFA-124 “Gunfighters”, October 1978 (1:72 Scale)

USAF Northrop/McDonnell Douglas YF-23 Air Dominance Fighter – “Blue 065”, 65th Aggressor Squadron, 57th Operations Group, Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada [Notional Scheme] (1:72 Scale)

All of these new introductions have now been listed in our product portfolio and are available for pre-order.

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Legion “Ups” Its Game with the SH-3 Sea King

US Navy Sikorsky SH-3A Sea King Helicopter – HS-1 “Seahorses”, USS Hancock (CV-19) (1:72 Scale)

We’ve learned that Legion Models plans on tackling the Sikorsky SH-3 Sea King as the basis for its next helicopter subject. Its been reported that six different models will be offered although thus far only information pertaining to three models have been unearthed. While the three may look similar in appearance, each is based upon a different helicopter squadron and naturally a different seaborne platform upon which they operated.

US Navy Sikorsky SH-3A Sea King Helicopter – HS-4 “Black Knights”, USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) (1:72 Scale)

Near as we can tell, all three shown here are expected in early 2026 and its quite possible the remaining three will face a delayed takeoff thereby hitting the streets mid year. We will certainly post information about the second trio of SH-3s as soon as we learn of their existence.

US Navy Sikorsky SH-3A Sea King Helicopter – HS-12 “Wyverns”, USS Midway (CV-41) (1:72 Scale)

We’ve listed all three helos in our Legion rotorcraft section and are now accepting pre-orders.

Update: We’ve learned that LEG14055LE will be available in extremely limited numbers, although no reason was given for its shortfall in availability. Its doubtful that we will list it on any of our marketplace sites and it will probably sell out prior to its arrival once word spreads regarding its availability. So, if you want one, we advise submitting a pre-order ASAP.

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Panzerkampf Asks, “At What Price Glory?”

US M1A2 SEP Abrams Main Battle Tank – 1 Battery, 16 Cavalry Regiment, Fort Knox, Kentucky, USA, 2002 (1:64 Scale)

Back in November, we posted a video to our blog on the development of the next-generation M1E3 Abrams main battle tank, kind of hoping that someone would get the hint and offer up the first diecast rendition of the tank in ANY scale. So, earlier today we were surprised to see that Panzerkampf was tapping the elderly M1 Abrams tank for its 1:64 scale series. Don’t get me wrong — its welcome news that a new Abrams is hitting the battlefield, just a little war weary, if you know what I mean, when newer more capable tanks are on the drawing board.

According to Panzerkampf, two versions of the illustrious M1 will roll out in early 2026 — one painted in the traditional tri-color scheme and the other in a desert sand pattern. Interestingly, both tanks will feature movable tracks and sport a working suspension, making them a bit more realistic for fans of the venerable Abrams platform. Some information, such as their SKUs and ultimate price point, weren’t discussed, so we’ve pegged them at $69.99 apiece, given their size difference as compared with a smaller 1:72 scale tank, not to mention the current trade war still being waged between the US and the PRC. We will update the listings as soon as we learn more information about the pair of vehicles.

US M1A2 SEP Abrams Main Battle Tank – Company Commander’s Tank “Beast Master”, B Company, 3-67 Armor (1:64 Scale)

Given the paucity of new product announcements coming about because of the trade war, we’re grateful that someone, nay anyone, is stepping forward to produce new product for the diecast marketplace. And, with their history of producing a multitude of variants, we can presume that several different versions of the Abrams are in the hopper, featuring up-armored hulls, different unit insignia and some of the different upgraded vehicles that could run the gamut up to and including the M1A2 SEP enhancements.

Footnote: Based upon the size of these vehicles relative to their 1:72 scale brethren, we had expected this item to weigh in at around a $69.99 price tag. We were shocked to learn today that the MAP has been set at $84.99 making them far more expensive than their 1:72 scale counterparts. Obviously, the Trump tariffs are being taken into consideration for the bump up in price. Frankly, if the Trump tariffs aren’t rolled back when the US Supreme Court takes up the matter of tariffs in late January, then I’m not certain we will be bringing in these vehicles. Mind you, the 1:72 scale Abrams have sold very well over the course of the last couple of years so we were eager to stock and sell these vehicles even if they were tagged at a slightly higher price. But at $85 apiece I’m just not certain how they’re going to move at retail unless they are heavily discounted. Food for thought in 2026.

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The Art of War: Meet the K3

While they aren’t exactly known for producing cutting edge armored fighting vehicles, South Korea’s Hyundai Rotem is looking to change that equation by developing and building a next generation battle tank known simply as the K3. As explained in the accompanying video, the K3 is intended to both grapple with the latest drones and loitering munitions that have plagued tanks in recent years, but is looking to go things one better by incorporating an AI-enabled fire control system to seek out and destroy threats before the enemy even knows the K3 is operating on the battlefield. Boasting a clean, stealth-shaping configuration, hydrogen-powered engine, three-man crew, embedded sensors to detect ground and airborne threats, 130mm smooth bore gun, and both noise-quieting and heat-dampening systems to hide the vehicle from enemy detection, and other cutting edge features not previously seen in a main battle tank, the K3 is seeking to become one of the first next-generation tanks to both defend South Korea from a potential invasion from the north but also serve as an export option for those nations that border Russia should the latter decide to attack the eastern flank of NATO. Its not clear how much each vehicle will cost or when the first batch of vehicles will roll off the production line and demonstrate its prowess. Nevertheless, several nations are examining the vehicle for possible inclusion in their own armed forces.

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The Art of War: Meet the Latest Abrams

In an age where many are questioning the value of the main battle tank, particularly when they are seen set upon by swarms of cheap drones, the US Army has not only forged ahead with plans to field a new battle tank but demanded that the first new vehicles roll out over the next couple of years. Currently, General Dynamics Land Systems, the creator of the Abrams tanks and all of its many iterations, is hard at work developing the so-called M1E3 main battle tank, the latest version of the Abrams that is not only chock full of both offensive and defensive gear but slimmed down to meet the challenges posed by a fluid battlefield far away from home.

In the accompanying video, Sandboxx, under its Firepower moniker, does an excellent job of tracing the evolution of the Abrams since its inception in the 1980s, then goes on to explain why the US Army still needs a 50-ton armored fighting vehicle that can stand-toe-to-toe with its newest rivals across the globe. Built to use less fuel, deal with all sorts of threats and resorting to an auto loader to cut down on weight and reconfigure the crew compartment so that the occupants have a better chance of survival, the M1E3 looks much like its predecessors, but packing a wallop and sensors few can match on today’s battlefield.

The lineage of the main battle tank, from the WWII era Sherman to the M1E3 Abrams. Sabot up, on the way!

While it may resemble an Abrams tank, the latest iteration of the venerable main battle tank is similar to comparing a Volkswagen to a Porsche. Sporting sensors for all-around exterior viewing, an auto-loader, an Israeli-created Trophy active protective system to ward off incoming missiles and other threats, a fuel efficient hybrid-turbine motor as well as other advanced systems, the newest version of the Abrams looks to soldier on at a time when many strategists and pundits question if the tank has seen its day.

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Hobby Master Continues its Rampage

US Army Air Force Douglas A-20G Havoc Medium Bomber – “Little Chief”, 321st Bomb Squadron, 1944 (1:72 Scale)

In a surprise announcement made late Friday, six new aircraft models were added to the Hobby Master air armada, all of which are tentatively scheduled to appear in May. Although no new toolings were shown, the roster did include a number of eagerly awaited warbirds by collectors world over, among them this handsome A-20G Havoc light attack bomber. So, without further ado or fanfare, here are the rest of the May introductions.

Chinese Peoples Liberation Army Air Force Chengdu J-7C Night Fighter – 69394, 2011 (1:72 Scale)

Czechoslovak Air Force Mikoyan-Gurevich Mig-21MFN Fighter – “Black 2500”, 41st Fighter Squadron, Caslav AB, Czech Republic, October 2002 (1:72 Scale)

USMC Boeing Harrier II AV-8B+ Plus Jump Jet – 164569, VMA-223 “Bulldogs”, MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina, 2025 (1:72 Scale)

USAF Republic EF-105F Thunderchief Wild Weasel Aircraft – 63-8301, “Jinkin Josie”, 357th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 355th Tactical Fighter Wing, Thailand, 1968 (1:72 Scale)

Chinese Peoples Liberation Army Navy Sukhoi Su-30MKK “Flanker-G” Fighter – 20694, 2013 (1:72 Scale)

Footnote: Incidentally, Hobby Master recently released preliminary photos for HA2826 (shown above), their newest F-22 Raptor Air Dominance Fighter. As some have correctly pointed out, the model is far too bluish in color, particularly around the nose cone and surface edges, and we pointed this out to Hobby Master. They responded by stating that the blues will be significantly toned down and that the final production images will have a more traditional greyish quality about it. So, take heart and don’t let the pre-production photos get you down. Like the second YF-23, which had to be re-shot to show off its true dark grey colors, the next F-22 will be touched up, re-photographed and re-examined to gauge its accuracy.

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Tales of Transparency: Its Been a Long Tough Year

To say that 2025 has been an incredibly tough year would be a terse yet severe understatement. Between my wife’s illness, her recovery, the new Administration coming to power, the recent government shut down and finally the effects of tariffs, all seem to conspire to work against us, particularly at this time of year when we should be up to our eyeballs in the latest and greatest product coming to market. I know our competitors feel much the same way, each dealing with the vagaries of business as best as they can, but it just seems to be hitting home at a time when we have to evaluate the world in which we play in discreet terms.

But then there’s the intangibles to consider. Earlier this month, Hornby USA shuttered its doors, all in an effort to consolidate its business and reduce costs. If you aren’t familiar with Hornby, they’re the blokes that sold us all sorts of Corgi merchandise, from 007-inspired motorcycles and copters to the complete Aviation Archives collection. Some lines we never carried, such as Wallace and Grommet kid-oriented products that has/had a devoted following over in Europe to the Thunderbirds puppet-based line of high-tech conveyances. Now I don’t know about you, but the Thunderbirds first appeared on television way back in the sixties when I used to watch it, so the license is a bit long-in-the-tooth for my taste. I’m sure it sold well, but I prefer something a little more current, such as Top Gun models or Star Trek starships, which help to define our industry to both old timers and newcomers alike.

Which leads me to the point of this post. Hornby decided to break up the distribution of its many US lines as a means of remaining in vogue with North American collectors. Unfortunately, this has led to several problems, most notably both pricing and pack sizes. While there’s no way of getting around the tariff situation unless the Supreme Court decides to put the kibash on the Trump-imposed taxes which many feel will occur in 2026, we’ve had to increase prices across-the-board to adhere to the latest bump up in MAP changes. But we’ve also noticed that the discounts we once received from Hornby have vanished and, along with it, an eye-popping increase in pack sizes. Whereas we were once able to purchase smaller aircraft in four-packs, we’ve now witnessed a threefold increase in some of the very same models, such as their Spitfires or World War I fliers. In one instance, their upcoming Stuka dive-bomber can only be obtained if we purchase in 36-piece lots, which is far in excess of what we feel we need in a standard business cycle. I’m not certain why they cannot be broken down further into smaller lots or re-packaged to accommodate the typical US re-seller beset by higher-priced merchandise. Now, the odd thing here is that the upcoming Me-410 destroyer can be obtained in single-serving packs, which makes the Stuka buy all the more problematic if we plan to continue stocking the line in 2026 and beyond.

To sum up, we cannot bring in some of their newest merchandise unless the pack counts decrease dramatically. While some dealers can no doubt handle these larger buys and tie up dollars for extended periods of time, we’ve decided to make camp along the banks of the Rubicon and wait it out until something is worked out between Hornby and our US distributor to make it worthwhile selling their products. Right now, something smells foul, and it isn’t my wife’s cooking.

Takeaway: While times are tough, manufacturers and distributors need to explore ways to make it as convenient as possible for dealers to sell their products before the clock strikes twelve and the coach in which we’ve rode in and reveled about reverts to an ordinary pumpkin. The mice have spoken…

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There’s No Holding Back Hobby Master in 2026

USAF Northrop F-5N Tiger II Fighter – “Red 117”, VFC-111 “Sundowners”, Naval Air Station Key West, Florida, 2014 [Aggressor Scheme] (1:72 Scale)

Earlier this week, Hobby Master indicated that a slew of new aircraft were in the works for an April release. While the list was indeed long, there weren’t that many new models that caught our eye, the bulk having to do with foreign air force’s that typically don’t sell all that well in the North American marketplace. For instance, while a Royal Thai F-16 looks promising, three are in the offing, meaning we have to tie up big bucks watching them sit for months on the shelf until we have a buyer. While it would be nice to stock everything under consideration, the fact remains that we have to be judicious in deciding which models fit our overall product portfolio. That said, only six new warbirds will be added, all of which have now been listed on our web site under the April 2026 release section. So, without further ado, here now the military muscle we’ll be offering to our esteemed audience this spring:

RCAF Northrop CF-116D Freedom Fighter – 116807, 419 Squadron, CFB Cold Lake, Canada, 1979 (1:72 Scale)

Japanese Air Self-Defense Force Boeing F-15J Eagle Multirole Fighter – 52-8858, Nyutabaru Air Base, Japan, 2025 (1:72 Scale)

USAF Boeing F-15A Eagle Multirole Fighter – 53rd Fighter Squadron “Tigers”, 36th Tactical Fighter Wing, Bittburg, Germany, 1981 (1:72 Scale)

USAF Lockheed YF-117 Nighthawk Stealth Attack Aircraft – 79-10782, 410th Flight Test Squadron “Baja Scorpions”, Edwards AFB, California, 2005 (1:72 Scale)

Chinese PLAAF Shenyang J-11A “Flanker-B” Multirole Fighter – 11230, “Falcon Strike”, Korat Thai AFB, Thailand, 2015 (1:72 Scale)

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Militaria Diecast Flexes its Muscles

Militaria Diecast US M40 155mm Gun Motor Carriage – 991st Field Artillery Battalion, Germany, March 1945 (1:43 Scale)

While other manufacturers seem to have fallen asleep behind the production wheel, Militaria Diecast claims they’re ready to break the speed limit by offering several new products for early 2026.Five new items were announced today: two in the air, two more on the ground and one for the high seas. As with their previous releases, each of these new items are affordably priced, especially when compared with some of the more prestige lines we sell

Militaria Diecast German Kriegsmarine Bismarck Class Battleship – DKM Bismarck, Operation Rheinubung, Gotenhafen, Poland, May 1941 (1:1250 Scale)

Militaria Diecast US Navy Grumman Avenger TBF-1C Torpedo Plane – “White 95”, VT-2, USS Bogue (CVE-9), August 1944 (1:72 Scale)

Militaria Diecast USAF Lockheed-Martin F-22A Air Dominance Fighter – 1st Fighter Wing, Langley Air Force Base, VA [Low-Vis Scheme] (1:72 Scale)

Militaria Diecast US Army Dodge WC6 1/2-Ton 4×4 Command Car – 2nd Armored Division, France, August 1944 (1:43 Scale)

We’re now accepting pre-orders for each of the items shown here, all of which are expected this coming March.

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Tales of Transparency: Amnesty Day

I’m not certain what gets into some people, talking down to us as if we were misbehaving junkyard dogs for not listening to or acceding to their demands. Its something we’ve had to deal with ever since our inception — instances where a customer feels as if they are in the right despite what they are being told, shown or provided. I don’t think its a generational thing, since it emanates from every quarter and every demographic, nor do I think its directed at us personally, even though I sometimes have my doubts. In any event, their behavior is so abhorrent and/or despicable that we either have to close out their account with us on the web site or permanently block them from making any further purchases on our marketplace sites. Its sad, but I hear this type of behavior occurs with other dealers.

That said, once a year, usually on Thanksgiving, we temporarily remove any account blocks and permit these very same people from making another purchase from us. Mind you, if we still get an earful of ridiculous comments or they take unwarranted action such as cancelling the sale moments after they make it, they go right back on our “Naughty List” and are blocked from both communicating with us or making any additional purchases for an entire year. “Amnesty Day”, as we’ve come to call it, is our way of rolling out the welcome mat all over again to those individuals that, for whatever reason, go off on a tangent, rant or any other type of misguided attack but have promised to behave and follow the rules.

So, on November 27th, Thanksgiving Day, anyone that landed on our blocked buyer list can purchase an item(s) on eBay without any strings attached. Should that same person decide to unload on us all over again, then the sale is cancelled and their account is once again blocked. If the purchase goes through without any hitches, then they can resume purchasing from us after Amnesty Day, unless, of course, they decide to blow up all over again.

Takeaway: Amnesty Day falls on Thanksgiving. Anyone that may be on our blocked buyer list on eBay can make a purchase from us and demonstrate that they have things under control, thereby enabling them to make further purchases on eBay. Blow it, and you’re back on our Naughty List. In short, you can save the drama for your mama….

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