Hobby Master Hits Them Out of the Park in Early 2021

Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale Russian Sukhoi Su-57 “Felon” Stealth Fighter – “Bort 053”, MAKS 2019 Aviasalon Air Show

Even though their shipments have fallen behind schedule, that doesn’t mean Hobby Master hasn’t set its eyes on the coming year. Several new warplanes were announced recently, perhaps the most notable being their first 1:72 scale Sukhoi Su-57 “Felon” stealth fighter, which is clad in a scintillating digital camouflage scheme. Here now the list of what you can look forward to nabbing in early 2021:

#HA8751 – German Messerschmitt Bf 109G-6 “Gustav” Fighter – “Green 1”, Hermann Graf, Jagdgeschwader 50, Neubiberg, Germany, September 1943 (1:48 Scale)

#HA3882 – USAF General Dynamics F-16C Fighting Falcon Fighter – 88-0454, 8th Fighter Squadron “Black Sheep”, Holloman AFB, New Mexico, 2017 (1:72 Scale)

#HA3880 – USAF General Dynamics F-16C Block 40 Fighting Falcon Fighter – 88-0428, South Dakota Air National Guard “70th Anniversary”, 2016 [Anniversary Scheme] (1:72 Scale)

#HA3897 – USAF General Dynamics F-16CM Fighting Falcon Fighter – 92-3894, PACAF Viper Demo Team “Primo”, Komaki Base, Japan, 2019 [Low Vis Scheme] (1:72 Scale)

#HA1330 – USAF Fairchild Republic A-10C Thunderbolt II Ground Attack Aircraft – 81-0976, 354th Fighter Squadron “Bulldogs”, Incirlik AFB, Turkey, April 2017 (1:72 Scale)

#HA2811B – USAF Lockheed-Martin F-22 Raptor Air Dominance Fighter – Raptor 01, “Spirit of America” [Low-Vis Scheme] (1:72 Scale)

#HA4522 – USAF Boeing F-15E Strike Eagle Multi-Role Fighter – 01-2004, “‘Mi Amigo'” 75th Anniversary Fly Pass”, 494th Fighter Squadron, Lakenheath, England, February 22nd, 2019 [Low-Vis Scheme] (1:72 Scale)

#HA4910 – US Navy Lockheed S-3B Viking Anti-Submarine Aircraft – Bu.No. 160581, VX-30 “Bloodhounds”, “100 Years of Naval Aviation”, Naval Air Station Point Mugu, California, 2011 (1:72 Scale)

#HA4911 – US Navy Lockheed S-3B Viking Anti-Submarine Aircraft – Bu.No. 160147, VX-30 “Bloodhounds”, Naval Air Station Point Mugu, California, 2016 (1:72 Scale)

#HA6609 – German Eurofighter EF2000 Typhoon Multi-Role Fighter – 30+09 “Bronze Tiger”, TktLwG 74, Neuburg Air Base, “Tiger Meet 2014” [Tiger Meet Scheme] (1:72 Scale)

#HA6801 – Russian Sukhoi Su-57 “Felon” Stealth Fighter – “Bort 053”, MAKS 2019 Aviasalon Air Show (1:72 Scale)

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Another Six Warships Join the Ever-Growing DeAgostini Armada

We’ve learned that another six warships in DeAgostini’s Kriegsschiffe warships line are slated for a September arrival, perhaps the most notable being the German battleship Bismarck. Unless we hear otherwise, each comes bundled with a German written full-color magazine chock full of photos and information regarding each warship. Here now the latest additions to DeAgostini’s growing range of naval vessels:

#DAKS01 – German Kriegsmarine Bismarck Class Battleship – DKM Bismarck (1:1250 Scale)

#DAKS39 – German Kaiserliche Marine Derfflinger Class Battlecruiser – SMS Lutzow (1:1250 Scale)

#DAKS41 – German Kaiserliche Marine Kaiser Class Battleship – SMS Friedrich der Grosse (1:1250 Scale)

#DAKS47 – German Bundesmarine Training Cruiser – Deutschland (1:1250 Scale)

#DAKS57 – German Kriegsmarine Auxiliary Cruiser – Orion (1:1250 Scale)

#DAKS67 – British Royal Navy Nelson Class Battleship – HMS Nelson (1:1250 Scale)

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Despite Taking a Few Hits, Dragon Soldiers On

We were a bit confused several years ago, when Dragon decided to pull up stakes in the 1:6 scale action figure market and stopped producing one of their bread-and-butter lines. Admittedly, prices were starting to rise exponentially from where they started out in the early 2000s, and, when combined with rising competition, likely spelled the end for a series once hailed as the gold standard among action figure collectors.

Apparently, we gave then a standing 10-count well before they were ready to leave the arena. Earlier today, Dragon posted a teaser image on their Facebook page indicating they plan on making a return to the 1:6 scale action figure market, although no further details were provided. So, we’ll follow this lead where ever it takes us, and post news of any new offerings the minute they raise their head and expose themselves to return, and quite possibly, friendly fire.

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Calibre Wings Pulls Back the Curtains on the Stalwart F-16

Barely a day after we first announced plans to resume carrying the Calibre Wings line of military comes in-depth news concerning their upcoming F-16 Fighting Falcon. First hinted at a few years back, and occasionally discussed online in conjunction with different hobby expos, Calibre Wings recently put together a 21-minute video montage explaining the model in detail, which includes the amount of metal being used in its construction, salient features, how the aircraft can be taken apart, and multiple display configurations. While I’d love to go into greater detail and gush over its accuracy, we thought it best to whet your appetite by embedding the manufacturer’s video here. Bear in mind that the model shown is a Block 52 version of the F-16. Follow-on models will be based upon newer builds of the Fighting Falcon, which now come with conformal wing tanks attached to the upper surfaces of the aircraft giving them extended flying time. Enjoy!

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Calibre Wings Returns to Action

Calibre Wings’ 1:72 scale US Navy Grumman F-14D Super Tomcat Fleet Defense Fighter

We’ve had a difficult time getting Calibre Wings’ line of military aircraft with any regularity from a reliable seller so we’ve decided what better way to bring them back into the fold than to buy direct. Beginning in October, we plan on carrying the core line of Calibre Wings models which covers their F-14 Tomcats and Su-24 Fencers, along with several of their newer models, among them the Lockheed U-2 spy plane, General Dynamics’ F-16 Fighting Falcon and Convair B-58 Hustler strategic bomber. Based upon fan reaction, all of these models are doing fabulously well at retail, so we expect much the same results when they return to stock. The pre-order window is now open and the first batch of aircraft are expected to arrive some time next month.

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Hobby Master Fires ’em Up for September

Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale USAF McDonnell F-101B Voodoo Fighter – 59-0402, 192nd Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, Late 1972 (1:72 Scale)

Even though they shuffled their release schedule for the balance of 2020, that hasn’t prevented Hobby Master from putting another gaggle of warbirds on the September tarmac. Here’s what you can look forward to nabbing in the months ahead:

#HA3338 – US Navy Northrop F-5E Tiger II “Aggressor Special” Fighter – 1980s [Pseudo Scheme] (1:72 Scale)

#HA3339 – US Navy Northrop F-5F Tiger II “Aggressor Special” Fighter – 1980s [Pseudo Scheme] (1:72 Scale)

#HA6510 – Russian Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-29C ‘Fulcrum-C’ (9.19) Fighter – “Red 21”, 426th Air Group, 102nd Russian Military Base, Armenia, 2015 (1:72 Scale)

#HA3714 – USAF McDonnell F-101B Voodoo Fighter – 59-0402, 192nd Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, Late 1972 (1:72 Scale)

#HA6608 – Italian Eurofighter F2000 Typhoon Multi-Role Fighter – 37-12, 37 Stormo, 18 Gruppo, “Exercise Cobra Warrior 2019” (1:72 Scale)

#HA6650 – Qatar Emiri Air Force Eurofighter F2000 Typhoon Multi-Role Fighter – FGR4 ZK361, 12 Squadron, RAF Coningsby, England, 2020 (1:72 Scale)

#HA4423 – JASDF Lockheed-Martin F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter – 69-8701, 302nd Tactical Fighter Squadron, 3rd Air Wing, Hyakuri Air Base, Japan, March 2020 [Low-Vis Scheme] (1:72 Scale)

#HA5707 – Russian Sukhoi Su-35S “Flanker-E” Multirole Fighter – “Blue 50”, “Russian Knights”, Russian Air and Space Force (VKS), November 2019 (1:72 Scale)

#HA5707B – Russian Sukhoi Su-35S “Flanker-E” Multirole Fighter – “Russian Knights”, Russian Air and Space Force (VKS), November 2019 (1:72 Scale)

#HA6902 – USAF Lockheed U-2R Reconnaissance Aircraft – 80-1084, 9th Reconnaissance Wing, Fairford AFB, England, 1990s (1:72 Scale)

#HA6905 – USAF Lockheed U-2R Reconnaissance Aircraft – 10338, 9th Reconnaissance Wing, Fairford AFB, England, 1990s (1:72 Scale)

#HA6903 – USAF Lockheed U-2S Reconnaissance Aircraft – 80-1084, 9th Reconnaissance Wing, Osan Air Base, South Korea, October 2012 (1:72 Scale)

#HA5232 – US Navy Grumman F-14D Tomcat Fleet Defense Fighter – 164342, VF-31 “Tomcatters”, USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71), 2006 (1:72 Scale)

#HA5231 – US Navy Grumman F-14A Tomcat Fleet Defense Fighter – 160395, VF-33 “Starfighters”, USS America (CV-66), 1992 (1:72 Scale)

As I alluded to earlier, Hobby Master has been moving some projects up in the schedule and others back, so its entirely possible that these are initial release dates that could be altered in the months ahead. Food for thought as we near the all-important holiday selling season.

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The Forces of Valor Update: See You in September

So now that I’ve finished my rant in our previous post, there is a bit of good news to report in regards to Forces of Valor. We’ve switched to a new distributor, who is offering us much lower price points for all of the new and existing Forces of Valor products. For example, the new Jagdtiger with the Porsche suspension previously carried a MAP of $89.99. We’re happy to say that we can now sell this very same vehicle for only $74.99, a $15 savings for all you tread heads. Other vehicles have witnessed a similar cut and we’re hoping that all of their upcoming products, particularly their deep range of Tiger I tanks, will see a cut as well.

According to our new distributor, they will be shipping out the new Jagdtiger along with several back ordered items the first week of September. Many of the warships will be returning to stock as well along with a pair of new CH-47 Chinooks, this time around wearing Canadian markings.

The manufacturer, perhaps in response to our scathing critique earlier this month, decided to post a short video of their upcoming Sturmtiger, demonstrating its smooth rolling capabilities (see above) even clad in metal tracks. The optional metal tracks will be offered at some point after the Sturmtiger is released, which will undoubtedly be offered for their Tiger I tanks. Its unclear if the previously released Jagdtigers, Jagdpanther and British Sherman Firefly will also gain new tracks. No word concerning pricing nor how they will be sold, either as add-ons or included with the vehicles as a more deluxe offering.

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Tales of Transparency: August Odds and Ends

As the summer winds down, we’re beginning to look ahead at the all-important holiday selling season. Over the past week, a handful of formerly sold out items have once again returned to stock or are expected in time for holiday ordering. Oxford’s rail gun is back in stock and PMA’s Otto Carius Tiger I heavy tank is slated to become available again around the end of October or early November. Both items sold extremely well in 2019, so we look forward to brisk sales, now that they are returning to store shelves.

In other news, we’ve announced the roll out of the Armored Fighting Vehicles of World War II line of 1:43 scale military vehicles. To be clear, these are the same vehicles that were first made available through Altaya and released throughout Europe the past few years. Our line will be released sequentially as per the Altaya line, with six vehicles scheduled to be produced each and every month until the original line has run its course. At that point, we will evaluate the line, either introducing new liveries for several of the existing vehicles and/or producing a completely new set of complementary armored fighting vehicles, many of which have never been offered before in 1:43 scale. Lastly, we are hard at work repackaging the line and including numbered collector cards with each and every release. We fully expect this line to appreciate over time, so keeping all of the marketing materials that comes with each vehicle is vitally important if you are looking to one day sell off your collection.

There seems to be some movement on the Dragon Neo Armor front, both forwards and backwards. For some reason, their original US M1128 Mobile Gun System #DRR63007 appears to be sold out even though it never made it here to North America. We can only assume it was a phenomenal success in Asia. On the upside, a new M1128 Mobile Gun System is expected in October, DRR63013, so we will substitute any orders we received for DRR63007 with the replacement vehicle. If you prefer not to receive the replacement vehicle, please drop us a note and we will remove it from your order. We apologize for the inconvenience, but many of the anomalies you see occurring within the industry are simply out of our control.

Speaking of things that are out of our control, Forces of Valor continues to move at a glacially slow pace, promising lots of items for the holidays that we, quite frankly, don’t think will occur until well into 2021. We understand that they are doing their utmost to produce the finest specimens of AFVs known to man, but the problem remains that they continually make empty promises even when they understand the ramifications for doing so. For example, images for their three Sturmtigers have been hinted at for months now, and, as August draws to a close, the Company still hasn’t posted any paint masters for all the world to see. How they can then claim to have product available before the holidays is a mystery at best, which only ends up disappointing both their customers and retail partners. And then they claim to be making at least twenty different versions of the Tiger I tank for 2021, with more waiting in the wings under their Tank Ace series. Just one SKU requires, from a spatial standpoint, several feet of room so 26 over-sized cartons are a beast to manage, provided we, and others, agree to stockpile so many of the same vehicle type.

Now, we’ve been doing this for 20 years and I have NEVER run into an instance where a manufacturer decided to release so many of what is basically the same vehicle all at one time within one calendar year. I fully understand there are some cost savings that result at the manufacturer’s end by producing so many identical products within a single run, but even the auto manufacturers recognize this strategy has limitations. For a retailer such as ourselves, to tackle an endeavor of these proportions ties up an enormous amount of cash, to say nothing of the room required to keep everything in stock. We can only assume this same strategy will carry over to all of their other 1:32 scale projects, which is great for the collector since they will have loads to choose from, but absolutely overwhelming for both the retailers and distributors alike. Its not that I have anything against FOV since we helped to put them on the map when they first came into being 18 years ago. But come on, 20 or more different Tigers when the market in the wake of a global pandemic can sustain but a handful? That’s a bit much for even the most ardent supporters.

My biggest beef with the new owners of FOV is that there is no sense of urgency. Items are routinely announced only to languish on the manufacturer’s back burner for what seems like an eternity. Everyone’s hopes are raised then eventually dashed when deadlines pass and nothing more is mentioned either on their web site or through social media. Granted the pandemic has adversely affected a great many companies but even when you factor this sordid matter into the equation they just never seem able or willing to move the ball forward when other manufacturers, faced with the same issues, have dusted themselves off and begun fulfilling their promises. I’m not sure why FOV seems to follow this tact year in and year out but when pressed for an answer all they seem willing to say is that they are looking to produce the best possible replica. Great, but when? Its a strange way of meeting the needs of their collectors when they regularly claim that they have their best interests at heart. If I were to put it in football terms, its a bit like watching your favorite team take to the field, line up along the twenty yard line ready to hike the ball, then watch as quarter after quarter, game after game, nothing happens except for the clock winding down.

Lastly, we plan on moving our web site from Volusion, our current e-commerce platform, to Big Commerce, some time within the next 30 or so days, barring any unforeseen issues. All of the data we currently utilize should be moved over without any hitches and the migration should be rather seamless given the assurances we have been given by both BiGCommerce and our off-site technology team that has handled many of our previous projects.

That’s it for now. As always, Panzers vor!

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The Forces of Valor Update: The Sturmtiger and Beyond

Forces of Valor broke its silence and finally posted a bunch of new work-in-progress photos for their three upcoming 1:32 scale Sturmtiger assault mortars. According to the posts, final imagery are still weeks away, which means product won’t likely be built and shipped to our shores until October, at the earliest. The photos show the vehicle in three different configurations — initial, early and late stage variants — and provide up-close looks at some of the detail found both inside and outside the finished product. Previously, FOV posted preliminary photos of some of the figures that will accompany each vehicle, including Adolf Hitler and Albert Speer observing the vehicle during its initial presentation phase. Other figures being sculpted include loaders, drivers, gunners and vehicle commanders.

Unfortunately, the lack of final photos for the Sturmtiger typically means that work on all of their upcoming Tiger I (13) and Sherman tanks (8) haven’t moved all that far along beyond the CAD stage, and that product may not make it out for the holiday season. We’re still hopeful that some of the vehicles may make it under the tree this year but want to remind everyone that we aren’t making guarantees based upon the rate of progress we have seen thus far. We wish we had more hopeful news to offer, but want to remain realistic since the holiday season is fast approaching.

In other news, the Company is moving forward with their line of 1:72 scale prop-driven WWII-era fighters which the manufacturer claims will be out by the close of the year. They have also indicated that they have begun work on their 1:72 scale jet fighter series and have signed a licensing agreement with Bell to re-release their 1:48 scale AH-1 Cobra and UH-1 Huey helicopters that were formerly produced by Unimax. A UH-1N Twin Huey is apparently also in the offing as is a AH-1Z Cobra helicopter. We will likely see all of their 1:48 scale rotary wing aircraft produced in 1:72 scale, although these are probably a ways off considering all of the previous product announcements.

Finally, while we do not have confirmation just yet from our R/C distributor, it would appear as if their 1:24 scale line of radio controlled tanks will be re-released this fall, which will likely be augmented with their M26 Pershing and M1 Abrams tanks. Still no word concerning VS Tanks, a separate line of radio controlled tanks which was acquired four years ago. And, while images of a 1:16 scale T-72 they have been working on for several years were posted on Facebook several weeks ago, no pricing or date of release has yet been set.

Update: Earlier today, Waltersons acknowledged that nineteen (19) different Tiger I tanks are in the hopper and was kind enough to provide line art imagery for each of the proposed projects (no actual product photos were shown). Two models are listed as 2020 releases, although its not clear if that’s when they are scheduled to be produced or actually going to be released to the public. So, we’re going to assume that none of the Tiger I tanks will make it out by Christmas and that 2021 will be a bumper year as far as Tiger tanks are concerned. The same is likely true for all of the Sherman tanks expected as well as the Elefant tank destroyer. Incredibly, a separate line of “Tank Aces” was also hinted at in a recent Facebook post, thereby increasing the Tiger I count by several more vehicles. While collectors will certainly have a field day choosing from all of the different Tiger I tanks being proposed, it remains to be seen how distributors and retailers alike will be able to inventory and sell so many different versions of what is essentially one vehicle type and how this massed shotgun strategy will likely affect other models still waiting in the wings such as the Panzer IV, Panther and Sherman medium tanks, many of which have their own subset of vehicle types. I guess its time to build a new warehouse.

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Hobby Master Flies Even Higher into the New Year

Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale US Navy Boeing F/A-18XT Advanced Super Hornet Strike Fighter – 168492, 2013 [Low-Vis Scheme]

Like clock work, Hobby Master announced their latest spate of new models due out some time in December. While several intriguing new schemes were shown, the most notable new inductee into the pantheon of Hobby Master aircraft models is a F/A-18XT Advanced Super Hornet Strike Fighter, the latest generation of versatile combat aircraft that are designed to beef up the US Navy’s arsenal of aerial assets. Here now the newest military hardware in the pipeline:

#HA8320 – RAF Supermarine Spitfire Mk. IXc Fighter – ML214, Sqn. Ldr. Johnny Plagis, No.126 Squadron, RAF Harrowbeer Devon, England, August 1944 (1:48 Scale)

#HA8321 – RAF Supermarine Spitfire Mk. IX Fighter – PL258, No.331 (Norwegian) Squadron, Caen, Normandy, France, 1944 (1:48 Scale)

#HA19019 – USAF McDonnell F-4E Phantom II Fighter-Bomber – 73-1172, Commanding Officer of the 4th Tactical Fighter Wing, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina, 1990 (1:72 Scale)

#HA19018 – South Korean McDonnell F-4E Phantom II Fighter-Bomber – 60-499, South Korea, October 2019 (1:72 Scale)

#HA4612 – USMC Lockheed-Martin F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter – 169415, VMFA-211 “Wake Island Avengers”, January 2019 [Low-Vis Scheme] (1:72 Scale)

#HA6503B – German Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-29A ‘Fulcrum’ Fighter – 29+03, 2003 (1:72 Scale)

#HA6505 – North Korean Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-29A ‘Fulcrum’ Fighter – 553, 2015 (1:72 Scale)

#HA6507 – Hungarian Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-29A ‘Fulcrum’ Fighter – “Black 04”, 1st Tactical Fighter Squadron “Puma”, 59th Tactical Fighter Wing, 59th Air Base, Kecskemet Air Base, Hungary, 2010s (1:72 Scale)

#HA5118 – US Navy Boeing F/A-18XT Advanced Super Hornet Strike Fighter – 168492, Boeing Testing Facility, St. Louis, Missouri, 2013 [Low-Vis Scheme] (1:72 Scale)

#HA5009 – US Navy Northrop Grumman EA-6B Prowler Electronic Warfare Aircraft – 163521, VAQ-140 “Patriots”, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69), CVW7, 2012 (1:72 Scale)

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