PMA’s 1:72 scale USMC M60A1 Patton Medium Tank with Explosive Reactive Armor (ERA) and Amphibious Gear
We learned that a new pair of armored vehicles have been added to the PMA arsenal; an updated 88mm FLaK gun in a Norman paint scheme, as well as a USMC M60 Patton tank outfitted with both Explosive Reactive Armor (ERA) and an amphibious snorkeling device. While neither subject is new to the PMA stable, they do, nonetheless, represent important additions since stocks of their previous incarnations are beginning to run down.
Luft-X 1:72 scale German Horten Ho 229 Fighter Bomber
Two years ago, a pair of highly successful lines we stocked suddenly went dormant, no longer available from our principal distributor or the manufacturer in Asia. The reason the lights went out may never fully be known in its entirety, seeing as how they were privately run companies that seemed to ebb and flow with the fickle fate of the marketplace.
Fast forward to 2021 and I’m proud to announce that both Luft-X and Wings of the Great War are returning to the fold, bigger and badder than ever. In fact, some models are expected to return as early as June, while a handful of previously announced but never released items are slated to finally make a soft landing this September. We’ve updated both sections and are now accepting pre-orders. Get ’em while you can.
Wings of the Great War’s 1:72 scale German Pfalz D.IIIa Biplane Fighter – Carl Degelow, Jasta 7, March 1918
No stranger to producing a wide array of diecast tanks, Panzerkampf recently posted a montage image to their Facebook account indicating that several projects are in the works, none of them having to do with tanks. Perhaps worried that they’ll be seen simply as a maker of armored fighting vehicle, the portrait shows a number of CAD images, one of them a combat helicopter while the remaining four depict differing types and makes of multi-wheeled vehicles. We’ll leave it up to you to decide which projects are in the offing but we will certainly keep an eye on both their Facebook page and web site for further information and hopefully some finished images of the upcoming prototypes.
Panzerkampf’s 1:72 scale US M1A2 Abrams Main Battle Tank with TUSK I Survivability Kit – Commander’s Vehicle, E Troop, 2nd Squadron, 3rd Armored, Cavalry Regiment, Iraq, 2011
Late last year, Panzerkampf posted images of several different M1 Abrams tanks replicas, all of which boasted the US Army’s latest TUSK survivability equipment. TUSK improves protection, firepower, and Situation Awareness of the tanks. The TUSK includes such components as add-on explosive reactive armor and a slat armor, which provides protection against RPG rounds, 32 dischargers for 66-mm defensive grenades, which loaded with a combination of smoke and anti-personnel grenades, a transparent shielding around vehicle commander’s 12.7-mm machine gun that allow vehicle commander to be protected from enemy fire.
Panzerkampf’s 1:72 scale US M1A2 Abrams Main Battle Tank with TUSK I Survivability Kit – 3rd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, FOB Hammer, Iraq, 2011
Even though we are still awaiting the release of the first set of vehicles, the manufacturer, earlier today, posted three more additions to its growing fleet of M1 Abrams models, this time centering around the exploits of several US armored units deployed to Iraq in 2011. Its not clear if this latest set of vehicles will be released in conjunction with the first set of products or if these are slated to come to market later this year.
Panzerkampf’s 1:72 scale US M1A2 Abrams Main Battle Tank with TUSK I Survivability Kit – 68th Armored Regiment, 1st Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, Iraq, 2011
Keep in mind that it is entirely possible that the manufacturer has more Abrams tanks in the pipeline, as is common in the diecast military market.
Never one to disappoint, Hobby Master announced today their intent to model the Sukhoi Su-30SM fighter as its next modern era subject. The Su-30 comes as no surprise to the collecting community seeing as how the manufacturer has already modeled virtually all of the other modern era combat aircraft found within the Sukhoi family. Still, it represents an important addition to the Hobby Master stable of modern era platforms, and cements their place as the preeminent maker of pre-assembed diecast military aircraft.
Several other noteworthy aircraft were also shown for the first time, all of whom are tentatively slated for a November release. What follows are the balance of the May product announcements:
Hobby Master’s 1:48 scale RAF Supermarine Spitfire Mk. Vb Fighter – RF-D/EP594, Lieutenant Jan Zumbach, No.303 (Polish) Squadron, RAF Northolt, England, August 1942Hobby Master’s 1:48 scale RAF Supermarine Spitfire Mk. Vb Fighter – BM592, Wing Commander Alois Vasatko, No.312 (Czech) Squadron, Exeter Wing, RAF Duxford, England, June 1942Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale Israeli Boeing F-15A Baz Multi-Role Fighter – “672”, No.133 Squadron, Tel Nof Airbase, Israel, February 13th, 1981Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale USAF Boeing F-15C Eagle Multi-Role Fighter – 86-0169, Lt. Colonel Cesar “Rico” Rodriguez, 493rd Fighter Squadron, 48th Fighter Wing, March 24th, 1981 [Low-Vis Scheme]Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale NASA Lockheed ER-2 High Altitude Research Aircraft – “809”, Dryden Flight Research Center, California, 1999Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale Spanish Boeing Harrier II Plus EAV-8B Jump Jet – VA.1B-24, Naval Air Station Rota, Andalusia, Spain, 2019Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale Spanish Navy Boeing Harrier II Plus AV-8B Jump Jet – 1-19, Marina Militare, North Arabian Sea, Operation Enduring Freedom, 2002 [Low-Vis Scheme]
Forces of Valor’s 1:72 scale USMC Chance-Vought F4U-1D Corsair Fighter – Lt. Ira Kepford, VF-17 “Jolly Rogers”, 1944
When they took over the Forces of Valor brand some five years ago, Waltersons had hinted that many of the sub brands FOV had become famous for would be brought up to today’s standards, even if it meant taking some time to consider how to fulfill this dream. While anyone could have simply re-released several of their older and obviously more tired molds, thereby recouping some of their investment within the first year of the acquisition, Waltersons correctly realized that something had to be done to help differentiate them from their peers, even if it meant taking their time to get it right.
Forces of Valor’s 1:72 scale Imperial Japanese Navy Mitsubishi A6M2 “Zero” Fighter – Lieutenant Commander Sigeru Itaya, 2nd Squadron, 1st Section, IJN Carrier Akagi, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, December 1941
At long last, it appears as if the fruits of their labors are now quite evident, thanks, in part, to the posting of a group of photos aimed at showing off some of the features now found in their first batch of WWII-era, piston-engine fighters. Three fighters are expected to swoop in this summer, among them two Japanese Mitsubishi fighters and a lone USMC F4U Corsair, with several more warbirds looking to bolster their aerial armada later this year. While none of the subjects are new to the FOV squadron, Waltersons decided this would be their starting point with new toolings pushed off for a future date.
Forces of Valor’s 1:72 scale Imperial Japanese Navy Mitsubishi A6M2 “Zero” Fighter – Lt. Sumio Nouno, 11th Section, 4th Hikotai, IJN Carrier Hiryu, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, December 1941
The images clearly show the direction and philosophy Waltersons intends to take this category. For starters, each aircraft will come with a configurable display stand, which will enable collectors to pose the model in varying angles of attack. Should they decide to display their model in a landed position, each model will also come with a decorative display base designed to resemble a section of an aircraft carrier’s deck. And, while each model will come with a free-spinning propeller typical of a piston-powered fighter, the Company is also including a partially painted plastic spinner, which is designed to convey the illusion of motion, no easy feat given these are static display replicas. Other improvements include a removable engine cowling, which reveals a detailed power plant, seated pilot figure, and bombs/drop tanks, where applicable. Look for the first group of aircraft to arrive some time in July.
Forces of Valor’s 1:32 scale German Early Production Sd. Kfz. 181 PzKpfw VI Tiger I Ausf. E Heavy Tank – “100”, schwere Panzerabteilung 505, Kursk, Russia, July 1943 [Bonus Maybach HL 210 TRM P45 Engine]
Per the course, Waltersons seems to be falling behind schedule with their inaugural Tiger I tank, a model originally forecast for an April release that has now been pushed back until mid May. Nevertheless. the manufacturer did post a bevy of imagery for the vehicle, which “we” believe will hit the streets some time in July, given requisite load times, the ability to fill a shipping container and current congestion clogging virtually all of the west coast ports. Still, we’re looking at things from a “glass half full” viewpoint, pointing out many of the improvements the manufacturer has made to the existing mold and assurances that slowdowns in production times are finally being addressed with some measure of satisfaction.
Hobby Master’s 1:48 scale USN Grumman F4F-3 Wildcat Fighter – Lt. Edward H. “Butch” O’Hare, “White F-15”, VF-3, USS Lexington (CV-2), 1942
Some time ago, Hobby Master released a 1:48 scale tribute to Lt. Commander John S. Thatch, inventor of the so-called “Thatch Weave,” an early war combat tactic that was aimed at preventing enemy aircraft from assuming a position behind friendly aircraft for fear of being shot down themselves. Of course, Thatch wasn’t alone in developing the combat tactic — he was assisted by then Lieutenant Edward “Butch” O’Hare.
Lieutenant Commander Edward Henry “Butch” O’Hare was an American naval aviator of the United States Navy, who on February 20th, 1942, became the Navy’s first flying ace when he single-handedly attacked a formation of nine heavy bombers approaching his aircraft carrier. Even though he had a limited amount of ammunition, he managed to shoot down five enemy bombers. On April 21st, 1942, he became the first naval recipient of the Medal of Honor in World War II.
O’Hare’s final action took place on the night of November 26th, 1943, while he was leading the U.S. Navy’s first-ever nighttime fighter attack launched from an aircraft carrier. During this encounter with a group of Japanese torpedo bombers, O’Hare’s Grumman F6F Hellcat was shot down; his aircraft was never found. In 1945, the U.S. Navy destroyer USS O’Hare (DD-889) was named in his honor.
A few years later, Colonel Robert R. McCormick, publisher of the Chicago Tribune, suggested that the name of Chicago’s Orchard Depot Airport be changed as a tribute to Butch O’Hare. On September 19th, 1949, the Chicago, Illinois airport was renamed O’Hare International Airport to honor O’Hare’s bravery. The airport displays a Grumman F4F-3 museum aircraft replicating the one flown by Butch O’Hare during his Medal of Honor flight. The Grumman F4F-3 Wildcat on display was recovered virtually intact from the bottom of Lake Michigan, where it sank after a training accident in 1943 when it went off the training aircraft carrier USS Wolverine (IX-64). In 2001, the Air Classics Museum remodeled the aircraft to replicate the F4F-3 Wildcat that O’Hare flew on his Medal of Honor flight. The restored Wildcat is exhibited in the west end of Terminal 2 behind the security checkpoint to honor O’Hare International Airport’s namesake.
“Butch” O’Hare’s 1:48 scale Wildcat is now in stock and ready for immediate shipment.
i’s 1:72 scale CorgUSAAF Lockheed P-38G Lightning Interceptor – 43-2264, Major John Mitchell, “Miss Virginia”, 339th Fighter Squadron “Gremlin on a Double Eagle”, 347th Fighter Group, Operation Vengeance, April 18th, 1943
Having been forced to endure the horrors of the surprise Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor, the American people found themselves dragged into a war they had tried so hard to avoid, now determined to avenge this day of infamy. Their long fightback began with victory at the Battle of Midway in June 1942, but for the men of the USAAF 347th Fighter Group, their chance to inflict a huge psychological blow against the Japanese nation and specifically against man who had planned the Pear Harbor attack would come in April the following year. US Navy intelligence code-breakers had been monitoring Japanese communications for months and discovered that Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto planned to fly from Rabul to troops stationed in the Solomon Islands, to boost their morale in the wake of the Midway defeat. Flying in one of two Mitsubishi G4M ‘Betty’ bombers and protected by six Zero fighters, the formation was intercepted by sixteen US Lockheed P-38G Lightnings, whose pilots had made the long flight from Guadalcanal with one specific aim – vengeance. In the ensuing dogfight, P-38G ‘Miss Virginia’ piloted by Rex T. Barber, slipped in behind the bomber carrying Admiral Yamamoto and unleashed a torrent of bullets from his .50 calibre machine guns, sending it crashing into the jungle below. ‘Operation Vengeance’ had been successful and one of America’s most deadly enemies had been eliminated. In what proved to be one of the most significant aerial engagements of the Second World War, ‘Operation Vengeance’ was the ambitious plan to intercept an aircraft carrying Japan’s most accomplished military tactician and architect of the Pearl Harbor attack, Isoroku Yamamoto.
The mission was entrusted to brilliant US aviator Major John Mitchell, who would have to plot a course far enough away from islands inhabited by Japanese spotters and low enough to avoid detection by enemy radar, whilst ensuring his fighters intercepted the enemy formation at exactly the right moment. With only a map, his watch and a highly accurate compass borrowed from the US Navy installed in his fighter, the mission had only a slim chance of success, but was a risk they had to take. The only aircraft capable of undertaking this perilous 1000 mile round trip was the Lockheed P-38 Lightning and even then only by using drop tanks containing additional fuel – indeed, due to short supply, each aircraft was fitted with a single large 330 gallon drop tank, as well as a smaller 150 gallon tank. As the sixteen Lightnings took off from Kukum Field, Guadalcanal at 7am on April 18th, 1943, they had no idea of the size of the enemy force they would be facing, or if indeed they would manage to intercept them. In a feat of exceptional airmanship, the Lightnings arrived at the anticipated interception point just one minute behind schedule and to a shout of ‘Bandits’ from one of the American pilots. In the ensuing dogfight, ‘Operation Vengeance’ would strike a huge blow in the fortunes of the Pacific War and highlight that America would accept nothing less than total victory.
You too can get Yamamoto with John Mitchell’s 1:72 scale “Miss Virginia”, which is expected to arrive at the interception site the first week of May.
Forces of Valor’s 1:24 scale radio controlled US M1A2 Abrams Main Battle Tank – Tri-Color Camouflage
At long last, we’ve finally received an update concerning Forces of Valor’s line of 1:24 scale radio-controlled military vehicles. Two tanks, the M1A2 Abrams main battle tank and the M26 Pershing heavy tank are slated to make land fall in June. That’s the good news. As for the original four vehicles released a few years back — the Tiger I, the Panzer IV, the Sherman and the T-34/85 tanks — don’t expect them to return to stock anytime soon. They could be in the cards for a late 2021 return date, or they could be pushed back into 2022.
Forces of Valor’s 1:24 scale radio controlled US M26 Pershing Heavy Tank
At this point, we simply don’t know their fate. On the plus side, the prices for the two upcoming tanks haven’t changed so if you’re interested in adding these vehicles to your stable of radio controlled tanks, we strongly suggest you jump on this opportunity before they disappear like the dinosaurs.
