Panzerkampf Takes the Hind for a Spin

If you thought Panzerkampf was “one-and-done” in the under-served helicopter space, you’d be wise to think again. Earlier today, the company revealed plans to offer up the Mil Mi-24 attack helicopter to its adoring public, likely loitering over the diecast battlefield sometime in mid 2021. Thus far, only a couple of CAD drawings were shown on their Facebook page, so its not clear which version will make the initial cut and/or in which liveries. Still, its a promising sign that their initial MH-53 Super Stallion met with great success and therefore opened the door for other oft-requested helicopters.

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Corgi Slides into Bed With World of Tanks

Corgi’s “Fit-to-box” German Sd. Kfz. 182 PzKpfw VI King Tiger Ausf. B Heavy Tank with Henschel Turret [WOT]

Earlier this year, we learned that Corgi decided to launch a new “fit-to-box” military vehicle range that leveraged the highly popular World of Tanks name as a means of gaining product awareness and, hopefully, spurring impulse sales during the holiday season. For those of you unfamiliar with World of Tanks, its a free massively multiplayer online game that has been around for a number of years and gained quite a hefty international following thanks, in large part, to huge multi-tank engagements in which players gain fame and notoriety by knocking out their opposition in a sort of last man standing battle then leveling up afterwards with the aid of rewards and other perks.

Up until now, however, it wasn’t clear what each of the seven vehicles would look like or when they would be released. With Christmas fast approaching and most of their other ranges already in the sales pipeline, Corgi has finally unveiled the lineup, along with its packaging, and provided details concerning their impending release. We’re keeping our fingers crossed that we’ll get all or some of them in for the holidays thereby making them excellent stocking stuffers, and will, of course, update our release schedule as further word is passed along.

Note: Corgi has announced another addition to the World of Tanks range: an M3 Stuart light tank. While images for this late lineup addition were posted, we’re of the opinion that it will get released some time after the first batch of vehicles hit the streets this Winter.

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Calibre Wings Explains the Fencer in Detail

One of the reasons some model makers succeed in this business where others fail stems from the fact that a select few actually take the time to fully explain their model(s) in detail. Rather than rush their products out the door, Calibre Wings is one such company, oftentimes opting to take a few moments out of their busy schedule to describe their latest offerings so that customers can fully appreciate all of the work that went into the design process. Either through Facebook postings or YouTube videos, Noel Lee, the architect behind the Calibre Wings phenomena, has never shied away from the lime light and, with the release of their second pair of Su-24 Fencers, has created a polished 8-minute plus video showing off all of the model’s details as well as the procedure for assembling and dis-assembling the model both to prevent damage from occurring and showcasing all of the components found throughout the build. We invite you to watch the accompanying video, which will no doubt be followed up with additional post-release videos and testimonials.

We’ve decided to integrate these videos within the affected product listing, whenever and wherever possible. In the past, we were hesitant to do so since we had heard that embedded videos can have an adverse effect on a product’s search ranking on Google. Be that as it may, we’ve decided to change course and, where applicable, incorporate these videos into our listings since its value as a selling aid far exceeds its impact on the search ranking charts.

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Calibre Wings: In Defense of the Shah

Calibre Wings’ 1:72 scale Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force Grumman F-14A Tomcat Fleet Defense Fighter – “3-6079”, 82nd Tactical Fighter Squadron, Esfahan/Shahid Beheshti International Airport, Iran

When someone mentions the ubiquitous Grumman F-14 Tomcat, images of the feature film Top Gun spring to mind, along with Tom Cruise, his character, and the so-called “need for speed”. And yet, with all of the hoopla that surrounded the plane, the competition, and its impact on US Naval recruiting back in the latter half of the eighties, there was one other nation that managed to nab several dozen of the plane at the height of the Cold War. And that country, believe it or not, would be Iran.

Calibre Wings, never one to shy away from a subject or livery, has decided to replicate one of these warbirds as part of their latest wave of F-14 models. Due out in early 2021, the Iranian F-14 comes in a scintillating, multi-colored desert camouflage scheme and represents one of the aircraft used with great effect against its neighbor Iraq, in their long running Iran-Iraq War of the eighties. We’ve listed this model on our website are are now taking pre-orders, looking to take delivery in either January or February.

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The Chinook Update

I’m sorry to say that we’re all out of the Forces of Valor 1:72 scale MH-47G Chinook helicopter. Of course, it didn’t help that we were short-changed, receiving one case of a Japanese CH-47JA instead of the MH-47G we were counting on. We decided to keep it instead of returning it and have listed it on our web site. Typically, the Far Eastern liveries of US-built equipment (Japanese, Taiwanese, Singapore, Korean, etc.) don’t sell as well as models based upon machines designed for the primary user nation. However, seeing as how well all of the previous Chinooks have sold, we decided we could be making a mistake by rejecting it out-of-hand. Be that as it may, we are expecting a follow-on shipment probably towards the middle of December but this could change based upon all manner of issues. We highly doubt that we will be able to turn around all of the helicopter models in the follow-on shipment as soon as they come in and have them arrive at their appointed destinations in time for Christmas. More likely, they will arrive some time thereafter, perhaps as late as the New Year, if the shipping carriers run into problems getting all of their Christmas deliveries out and on time. My gut instinct is to say they are going to get slammed for the holidays, so I’ll err on the side of caution and say that the second wave will more than likely arrive at their final destinations the first week of January.

I know a great many of you have been waiting for a long time for this model, and more orders were placed once word got out that the helo arrived over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. On the plus side, I think there’s a good chance that the manufacturer is quite content with its sales and will more than likely offer a larger scale version of it sometime down the road seeing as how several 1:48 scale helicopters are expected in early 2021.

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Panzerkampf Hits the Surf

Panzerkampf’s 1:1000 scale US Navy Yorktown Class Aircraft Carrier – USS Enterprise (CV-6)

It was bound to happen. After first producing a wide array of scale military vehicles, aircraft and even helicopters, Panzerkampf has decided to flex its muscles once again by offering up their first ever warship replica. According to a recent posting on the manufacturer’s web site, the first ship they plan to model is the war-winning USS Enterprise (CV-6), a Yorktown class aircraft carrier that played a pivotal role at the Battle of Midway and in virtually every major battle of the war in the Pacific during WWII. Replicated in 1:1000 scale, its not clear if the warship will come with a complement of aircraft lining its deck, or if details such as a moveable aircraft elevator will be included. Pricing is still up in the air, as is its date of availability, which we presume will be some time in early 2021.

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Tales of Transparency: Lightning Strikes Twice

For anyone that has been following this blog, you’ll probably remember that way back in 2017 my son-in-law, Dr. Samir Pandya, along with the assistance of Dr. Whitney McBride and a good portion of the esteemed surgical staff at Maria Ferrari Childrens Hospital in Westchester, New York, successfully separated conjoined twins who were connected at their spine and shared several internal organs. A minute long commercial ran at the conclusion to the 2017 Super Bowl, congratulating the parents and pointing towards the complexities of performing such a procedure. I’ve posted both before and after photos of the twins, who are now fully ambulatory and are destined to lead long and fruitful lives, just as it was intended, thanks to their 20 plus hour long operation.

On a recent trip to Dallas, I mentioned that I had received a photo of the twins from their mother, who are now five-years old, and looking perfectly healthy. His response, rather curiously, was “which set of twins were in the photograph?” I looked at him, unsure of what he meant by that flippant remark, not putting two and two together until he filled me in further. Turns out that just a few weeks ago he, along with the eminent staff of the Childrens Hospital of Dallas, successfully separated a second set of conjoined babies, this time around connected at the liver. Unfortunately, I don’t have any photos to share with you but suffice it to say that he has entered a rather select worldwide fraternity of medical professionals who have now separated multiple sets of conjoined twins. Needless to say, they look forward to helping other young families in their quest towards leading normal lives, all with the help of modern medicine and the patience and fortitude of doctors such as Samir.

I’ll get off of my soapbox now. Oh, and if you aren’t already doing so, wear a mask. If he can wear it for over 20 hours, you can do it for just a few scant minutes every day. Thanks and Happy Thanksgiving….

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Tales of Transparency: Odds and Ends for November

With Thanksgiving just a week away, we thought it might be a good idea to update everyone as we head into the all-important holiday season. So, with that said, lets get to it!

Earlier this week, we received the October shipment of Hobby Master goodies. Our distributor has informed us that they are still expecting the September shipment some time this week, if all goes according to plan. If it does arrive as prescribed, we will likely have everything in stock right before Turkey day. Why these shipments have taken so long is anyone’s guess. You’ve got your pick of reasons, from the pandemic to shipping and customs issues, to well, everything in between.

The often asked about Forces of Valor MH-47G Chinook has arrived at a different distributor and is now on their way to us. Here again, they should land at our doorstep right before Thanksgiving, which means we have a lot of boxing and shipping to do as we scarf down our turkey dinner.

On the downside, we were told several months ago that the Forces of Valor 1:24 scale radio controlled tanks were expected in November, which turned out not to be the case. Grrr. As it stands now, they are now scheduled to arrive in early 2021, unless, of course, this turns out to be another fictitious release date. We aren’t expecting anything else from Forces of Valor this year, although the manufacturer claims that several items are pegged for an early 2021 release, most notably their first 1:32 scale Sturmtiger. Most of the warships are presently in stock save the Yamato and Bismarck, which, as we understand it, are undergoing some modifications so that they can be displayed in either full draught or waterline poses.

We’re not sure what’s happening with Panzerkampf or when we can expect either the three MH-53 Super Stallions or any of the Mirages to arrive. They’re likely loaded on to a very slow boat out of the Far East, so we’re not sure how or when they are hitting our doorstep. The same holds true for their Abrams tanks, tank transporters and Russian APCs, all likely arriving very late this year on possibly in early 2021.

We received a large shipment of PMA products, including their second Karl Gerat mortar and a re-stock of their very popular Otto Carius Tiger I tank. Both are selling rather quickly so if you have your eye on any of these items, we strongly recommend you nab them now.

With that all said, we urge you to purchase only those items listed as being in stock if you intend to give them as gifts for someone special. Otherwise, there’s a good chance we may not be able to supply many of the items still listed as arriving in December. Sales are particularly strong this year, brought on, in part, by more people purchasing online rather than visiting a brick-and-mortar outlet. Please keep all of this in mind this holiday season.

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Calibre Wings Fires Up the Tracker

Calibre Wings 1″72 scale US Navy Grumman S-2G Tracker Anti-Submarine Warfare Aircraft – Bu. No. 152806/NH-720, CAG “Tooter” Teague, VS-37 “Sawbucks”, USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63), 1974

The Grumman S-2 Tracker Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) aircraft is one of those oft-requested planes that never seemed to earn the respect it so dearly deserved from several of the leading model making houses. Its a pity really, since it enjoys a rich history all its own, and helped to put US Naval Aviation on a par with every other branch of the military during the Cold War.

The Tracker (S2F prior to 1962) was the first purpose-built, single airframe anti submarine warfare aircraft to enter service with the United States Navy. Designed and initially built by Grumman, the Tracker was of conventional design — propeller-driven with twin radial engines, a high wing that could be folded for storage on aircraft carriers, and tricycle undercarriage. The type was exported to a number of navies around the world. Introduced in 1952, the Tracker and its E-1 Tracer derivative saw service in the U.S. Navy until the mid-1970s, and its C-1 Trader derivative until the mid-1980s, with a few aircraft remaining in service with other air arms into the 21st century.

According to Calibre Wings, the model has already entered the prototyping stage with images of their achievement already proliferating around the web. If the rumors are true, the first production model is expected in early 2021 with other follow-on models expected throughout the rest of the year. There’s a good bet that Calibre is already eyeing the Tracer and Trader as likely candidates to succeed the Tracker once the obvious schemes and high profile squadrons have run their course.

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Panzerkampf Strikes Out for the Green Fields Beyond

Panzerkampf’s 1:100 scale British Mark IV Male Heavy Tank

Thus far, Panzerkampf has been perfectly fine catering to the needs of the 1:72 scale military collector, disgorging a wide array of vehicles, aircraft and helicopters that has earned them a special place among the pantheon of military modelmakers. It therefore comes as a bit of a surprise that they would dabble in the smaller 1:100 scale military market, perhaps scratching an itch no one knew existed.

According to a recent press release, the manufacturer is about to roll out seven different WWI-era military vehicles, spanning everything from the ubiquitous British Mark IV to the somewhat brutish German A7V tank. Interestingly, all seven vehicles are expected to roll out in time for the holidays, late November to be specific, if you’re a calendar watcher. Priced at just $14.99 apiece, these tanks make ideal stocking stuffers and a great way to start beginners off on the diecast battlefield.

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