April Showers “may” bring May Flowers

Forces of Valor’s 1:32 scale German Early Production Sd. Kfz. 181 PzKpfw VI Tiger I Ausf. E Heavy Tank – “Alwin”, “121”, schwere Panzerabteilung 501, Deutsches Afrika Korps, Tunisia, 1943 [Bonus Maybach HL 210 TRM P45 Engine]

We were a tad disappointed to learn that several 2021 Corgi items originally forecast for a March arrival will likely show up a month later in April. Its not clear why these items are being delayed since most have already been released in Europe and elsewhere. We can only assume that logistical issues are once again playing havoc with the release schedule for a number of diecast manufacturers.

With the recent spike in COVID-related cases in China, delays are being reported by several producers, most notably Hobby Master. Several items, originally earmarked for an April ship, still haven’t had their final images posted anywhere on the web, which generally means that they are nowhere near being completed. We are currently awaiting the latest shipping schedule from our distributor but I can say with some degree of certainty that similar indicators from the past usually point to extended delays. The question is by how many months will these items languish before they are actually produced.

This same distributor has indicated that they are already sold out of the latest Forces of Valor tanks, which include the second Sturmtiger, German Tiger I heavy tank and US M4 Sherman medium tank. We were able to procure some additional stocks on each of these vehicles, but we will eventually run out given supply and demand issues, the success of these items despite the recent price hikes, and lack of new product filtering into the market. Currently, the next major shipment is slated to make port in May, but given their inability to hit their forecast dates and recurring problems with the supply chain, it could be June or later before they actually storm our shores.

We were overrun with orders for the newly minted metal tracks for the Tiger I/Sturmtiger and made the mistake of listing a few remaining pieces on eBay, all of which were quickly gobbled up by eager collectors. We’ve placed a re-order for these tracks and are keeping our fingers crossed that they will be replenished with the next shipment. Meanwhile, the manufacturer is advertising metal tracks for the Sherman tank, so we strongly recommend pre-ordering them as soon as possible so we have a realistic idea as to how many to order.

Bear in mind that several different types of Sherman tracks will eventually be made, so please make sure you are ordering the correct set of tracks. We’ve made a concerted effort to match each pair of tracks with the correct Sherman tank, but fully realize some of you may want to mix-and-match the tracks with any of the Sherman variants they already own or plan to purchase at a later date. We haven’t opened the pre-order window for several upcoming Shermans because the manufacturer has a habit of changing the prices as the vehicles get nearer to release. Once the manufacturer has set the price for each vehicle, we will update our site accordingly.

We received an update concerning the long-awaited Panzerkampf M1070 heavy equipment transporters. The tri-color version is expected to arrive at our distributor’s facility this Friday, which means we should have our shipment in hand sometime towards the end of next week, perhaps by the 31st. They also reported that the desert version is leaving China on or around April 15th, so barring any unforeseen problems, they should have them several weeks later. As a result, we have moved up their receiving date to May instead of the somewhat nebulous summer arrival date we originally listed. We believe there’s a good chance the balance of the M1 Abrams tanks will also show up along with the desert M1070. Considering the success of the first batch of Abrams that are still in stock, the second batch should sell equally well. Keep in mind that a great many schools let out around May, and vehicles such as the Abrams tank make exceptional graduation gifts, if past performance with the larger FOV Abrams serve as any indicator.

In an interesting turn of events, Panzerkampf also noted that they are distributing a new line of 1:72 scale military vehicles under a heretofore unheard of brand called Legion. Thus far only a GMC CCKW 2-1/2-ton truck has been shown on their Facebook account although they are touting the fact that it is priced well within everyone’s budget. Its quite possible that these were originally sold under the Amercom license and are now being repurposed by Panzerkampf to both bolster their lineup and give these older toolings new life.

Curiously, Panzerkampf’s first warship, a 1:1250 scale rendition of the USS Enterprise (CV-6), is now being marketed under the Legion brand although it is still listed on the Panzerkampf web site. We can only assume that this will be their marketing strategy going forward – items that do not live up to the exacting standards Panzerkampf has set forth will be sold under the Legion banner.

We’ve dropped Herpa from our lineup and are cancelling any orders we’ve received to date for any of the items we had up on our site. Our distributor reported several issues with the line, most notably the receipt of damaged items, so, at least for now, we’ll put them on the back burner and hope for the best once these and some other problems get resolved.

This week Minichamps indicated that they were cancelling all four of the 1:35 scale tanks they had announced several years ago. Three vehicles were actually re-releases, while the fourth, the Leopard tank, was simply a new version of an existing mold, so none of the vehicles required new tooling. I’m always mystified how a manufacturer can reach this decision when all along retailers such as ourselves were accepting pre-orders and continuing to tell our customers that the product was coming albeit at some point in the future. Its almost as if they could care less how they treat both their retail partners as well as collectors, happy to do as they please since they are perhaps the largest diecast model maker. They claimed that the recent hike in trans-oceanic transport costs led to this decision but if true this would affect their entire line, not just their military vehicles, as well as several dozen other items they also decided to cancel. Candidly, if they would produce what they claim was coming within the same calendar year of its announcement, they wouldn’t have to hike the costs nor face the wrath of retailers and collectors tired of this tact. Moreover, this isn’t the first time they elected to cancel a product several years after first being announced, all the while hiking its cost and asking price. I believe it took them seven years to formally indicate that a 1:12 scale Brough Superior bike was being nixed. Seven years. To sum up, we’re done with Minichamps. While we wish them the best of luck going forward, issues such as this continue to sour my stance and dim my viewpoint. While they make a wonderful product that typically escalate in value, they have a lot to learn when it comes to working with the retail trade and how they treat their customers.

And then there’s our scheduled move to Florida sometime this summer. I’ve never had a house built before so near as I can tell its approximately 1/3-1/2 finished. In fact, my eldest daughter and her family recently stopped by the build to autograph the cinder block walls with everyone’s names before the drywall process begins. In case you’re wondering, we’re putting down roots in Wesley Chapel, an up-and-coming community on the port side of Florida and about 30 miles inland, almost 30 miles northeast of Tampa. The next town over is Zephyrhills, home of the Zephyrhills Museum of Military History. In addition to showing a wide array of WWII-era armor, they regularly run reenactments and next week plan to hold one based upon Operation Husky, the Allied invasion of Sicily. But more about all of this at a later date.

So why bring this up? At some point in the next couple of months we will have to suspend all inbound shipments in an effort to lessen the amount of inventory we must ship roughly half way across this great nation of ours. While we will continue to ship outbound orders until such time as we have to pack up our inventory ahead of our move, we thought it important to bring this up now in case anyone is desperately expecting certain items this summer. Candidly, we do not have a firm date for the resumption of both inbound and outbound shipments since this hinges upon how quickly we can get set up. Moreover, it may take some time before the shipping carriers (USPS, UPS and FedEx) are able to both send and receive deliveries to and from a brand new community. We will revisit this scenario at a later date when we have more concrete information to work from.

Finally, and this could very well be conjecture on my part, has to do with the diplomatic pressure the US is exerting on China should they decide to back the Putin regime in the Russo-Ukrainian Conflict. If the PRC decides to back the Russian government and send both lethal and non-lethal aid to Russia, the US may be forced to place additional sanctions on China, which could very well include the ban on Chinese imports or, at the very least, exceedingly high tariffs to dissuade them from providing help. I know a great many global companies are anxiously awaiting news of China’s decision and the lengths the Biden administration may be willing to go to prevent China from aiding their supposed ally in their hour of need. Time will tell if this is an issue that could have both short- and long-term adverse effects on the production schedule for the diecast industry and the economy at large.

Share This:

More Warbirds Take Wing this November from Hobby Master

Hobby Master’s 1:48 scale German Messerschmitt Bf 109G-6 “Gustav” Fighter – Heinrich Bartels, 11./Jagdgeschwader 27 “Afrika”, Greece, November 1943

Looking to beef up their holiday presence while simultaneously paying homage to some of the platforms taking part in the Russo-Ukrainian Conflict, Hobby Master, late last week, announced a wide array of new combat aircraft for the month of November. The list is quite impressive, adding a number of heavily requested items to what is already a daunting product portfolio. Here’s what you can expect to sit along side the turkey this coming Thanksgiving:

Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale USMC McDonnell F-4J Phantom II Fighter-Bomber – VMFA-232 “The Red Devils,” MCAS Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, 1977
Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale US Navy Boeing F/A-18C Hornet Strike Fighter – CAG Bird, “Chippy Ho,” VFA-195 “Dambusters,” 2010
Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale USAF Lockheed-Martin F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter – 495th Fighter Squadron “The Valkyries”, 48th Fighter Wing, RAF Lakenheath, England, December 2021 [Low-Vis Scheme]
Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale RCAF Lockheed-Martin F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter – Canada Aviation and Space Museum, Ottawa, Canada, 2010 [Low-Vis Scheme]
Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale USAF Fairchild Republic A-10C Thunderbolt II Ground Attack Aircraft – 75th Fighter Squadron “Tiger Sharks,” 23rd Wing, Moody AFB, Georgia, 2017
Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale Ukrainian Air Force Sukhoi Su-25M1 “Frogfoot” Ground Attack Aircraft – “Blue 08”, 299th Tactical Aviation Brigade, Nikolaev, Ukraine, 2022
Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale Ukrainian Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-29C ‘Fulcrum-C’ Fighter – “Yellow 57,” “The Ghost of Kyiv”, Ukraine, 2022
Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale German Panavia GR. Mk. 1 Tornado IDS All-Weather Bomber – Jagdbombergeschwader 32, Piacenza-San Damiano, Italy, 1999
Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale Ukrainian Sukhoi Su-27 “Flanker-B” Multirole Fighter – “Blue 58”, 831st Tactical Aviation Brigade, Mirgorod, Ukraine, 2022
Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale Russian Navy Sukhoi Su-33 “Flanker-D” Air Superiority Fighter – “Red 84”, 2nd Aviation Squadron, 2016
Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale US Navy Grumman F-14A Tomcat Fleet Defense Fighter – VF-84 “Jolly Rogers,” USS Nimitz, (CVN-68) July 1978
Share This:

Hobby Master Enters the Russo-Ukrainian Conflict

Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale Ukrainian Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-29C ‘Fulcrum-C’ Fighter – “Yellow 57,” “The Ghost of Kyiv”, Ukraine, 2022

So, I’m officially exhausted. Between all of the new Forces of Valor arrivals, receipt of a huge Hobby Master shipment and, if I may, off-the-charts sales on both our website and marketplace channels, its likely going to take us a couple of days for me to fully recover. Frankly, its a good thing another snow storm is bearing down on our neck of the woods this weekend, which will give me time to take a shower, shave and take stock of everything that has gone on around us. At least that’s my plan.

Why do I bring this up? For starters, I just wanted to thank everyone for holding off sending us missives asking about the status of their Forces of Valor order. As I alluded to previously, its counterproductive for us to take time out and respond to everyone’s query. Because of this, we’ve gotten out all of the tank and aircraft shipments and are now down to a handful of metal track orders, all of which will go out on Saturday. Afterwards, once I’ve downed a few cups of coffee, taken my meds and fed the hound, I’ll begin posting another set of eBay listings for the rest of the products contained within the January/February Hobby Master shipment. Expect them to show up on the Bay by Monday morning.

Lastly, we just received the Hobby Master November release list, which, as we fully expected, contains a number of items directly connected to the current situation in Ukraine. The most notable is the so-called “Ghost of Kyiv” MiG-29 fighter, which is decked out in a handsome digitized winter camouflage scheme. This could well be the best selling aircraft model of 2022, so we’ll do our best to list it first, followed by a scintillating Ukrainian Su-25 “Frogfoot” ground attack aircraft, then address the rest of the new announcements in due course. These should all be up and available for pre-order by Saturday evening. I urge you to place your pre-orders as soon as possible, so we have a fairly good idea how many we need to order from our distributor.

If I have any further thoughts, I’ll update this post over the weekend, once I’ve had a good night’s sleep and gotten my bearings. In the meantime, many of you should be receiving their FOV orders and I certainly hope the product was worth the extended wait. While I may have some reservations about how they conduct business, they happen to make awesome replicas and that is what this hobby is all about.

Share This:

March Idioms and Metaphors

Hobby Master’s 1:48 scale USMC Chance-Vought F4U-1A Corsair Fighter – Major Greg Boyington, VMF-214 “Black Sheep”, Torokina Airfield, Bougainville, January 3rd, 1944

Lately you can apply at least a half dozen idioms and metaphors to our March arrivals section. Its feast or famine, when it rains it pours, etc. Anyway, I think you get the drift. We’re still digging out from our huge Forces of Valor tank shipment, attempting to get out all of our pre-orders out the door before they turn their guns on us. That said, we learned yesterday that both the January and February Hobby Master shipments arrived at our distributor, which means we have to kick it into high gear so we can make room for all these new items before we get socked in. We’ve already updated our Product in Transit section and will likely receive these new items by week’s end. There’s a number of key aircraft in the mix, many of which will almost certainly get snapped up once we make them available for general sale. So, we strongly urge that you review the in transit section as soon as possible, then place an order for those items that tickle your fancy. Its an eclectic mix, to be sure, that cuts across a wide array of scales, eras and weapons platforms. Enjoy!

Share This:

March Roars in like a Lion…

Corgi’s 1:72 scale USAAF North American P-51D Mustang Fighter – 44 14164 E2 D, “Detroit Miss”, Lieutenant Urban L Drew, 375th Fighter Squadron, 361st Fighter Group, October 1944

Looks as if the wheels of progress are finally grinding inexorably forward. Our distributors are reporting progress as far as new items go, with several heavily requested items expected in the coming weeks. Here’s a rundown of product that likely see the light of day throughout the month of March:

Corgi’s second ever Churchill tank is now in stock along with “Detroit Miss”, their latest 1:72 scale P-51D Mustang fighter. Our salesman indicated that a handful of holdovers from their 2021 releases are expected later this month, even as some 2022 products start hitting their street dates. Moreover, they are making a concerted effort to announce the availability of each new item on a global basis, so that they don’t get into the habit of having one item listed as being available in Europe while collectors in other parts of the world wonder when the same item will turn up in their local market. Being a public company, I’m not sure how successful this strategy will turn out, if they are looking to make their sales forecasts each and every quarter to mollify their investors. And, with the global supply chain still in a state of flux, this may become wishful thinking until events warrant a return to normalcy later in 2022.

It would appear as if Wings of the Great War is back up-and-running after taking a multi-year hiatus. Two tanks that had been on back order, a French Saint Chamond and a captured Mark IV male heavy tank, have returned to stock after being out-of-stock for the better part of three years. In the air, two new aircraft, a German Pfalz D.IIIa fighter and a British Nieuport 17 fighter, have finally seen the light of day after being first announced way back in 2018. We’re hoping that their arrival points to even better things on the horizon, including a number of projects that were hinted at quite some time ago.

Our Forces of Valor military vehicle shipment should arrive early next week depending upon how UPS has us scheduled. This includes their first 1:32 Tiger I heavy tank, their second Sturmtiger, their first M4 Sherman medium tank, metal tracks for the Tiger/Sturmtiger, and three 1:72 scale WWII era prop-driven fighters. We’ve already received their pair of 1:48 scale AH-1W Cobra attack helicopters, which are quite literally flying out the door.

In a previous post, we indicated that Panzerkampf’s long awaited M1070 heavy equipment transporter is en route and slated to show up at our distributor mid month. Also returning are a trip of MH-53 Super Stallion helicopters, big and beefy replicas that far outsold our original allotment in 2021. Because of this, we padded our order with several more pieces than we usually do based upon our formulaic method of ordering, so we should have ample stock available throughout the middle part of the year. We’ll review our stock status at a later date to determine if we have to backstop this order with further aerial reinforcements. We’re currently awaiting news concerning several previously announced ground, sea and air models, which may or may not get shared with us over the next few weeks. As a result of the Russo-Ukrainian Conflict, I think there’s a good chance you may see some replicas based upon unfolding events both on the ground and in the air.

The latest Hobby Master shipment is expected shortly, although we are uncertain if follow-on shipments are still being adversely affected by the logjam at the ports. Its difficult to tell when product will roll out on a more timely basis, so, as always, we strongly ask that you order a cup of patience with each diecast entree. That’s about it for now and we will update this post should any further news trickle down over the next few days. In a related matter, there’s a strong chance Hobby Master will announce a number of aircraft replicas based upon the Ukrainian conflict. A number of weapons platforms are used by both sides, such as the Su-25 Frogfoot and MiG-29 Fulcrum, so don’t be surprised to see a split run created for each type of platform. Some will no doubt be made in greater numbers, such as the supposed “Ghost of Kyiv” MiG-29 that purportedly downed six Russian aircraft in the opening days of the war. To me, its a bit morbid and potentially dangerous to announce replicas based upon an ongoing military invasion, but this wouldn’t be the first time in my 40+ year career that I’ve seen this occur.

Precision Model Art (PMA) has resurfaced after closing down their web site, creating a replacement site, and finally building a brand new web site that now hawks Mecha vehicles. According to Wikipedia:

The term mecha (Japanese: メカ, Hepburn: meka) may refer to both scientific ideas and science-fiction genres that center on giant robots or machines (mechs) controlled by people. Mechas are typically depicted as humanoid walking vehicles. The term was first used in Japanese: ‘mecha’, after shortening the English loanword ‘mechanism’ (メカニズム, mekanizumu) or ‘mechanical’ (メカニカル, mekanikaru), but the meaning in Japanese is more inclusive, and ‘robot’ (ロボット, robotto) or ‘giant robot’ is the narrower term.

These machines vary greatly in size and shape, but are distinguished from vehicles by their humanoid or biomorphic appearance and size—bigger than a human. Different subgenres exist, with varying connotations of realism. The concept of Super Robot and Real Robot are two such examples found in Japanese anime and manga. The term may also refer to real world piloted humanoid or non-humanoid robotic platforms, either currently in existence or still on the drawing board (i.e. at the planning or design stage). Alternatively, in the original Japanese context of the word, “mecha” may refer to mobile machinery/vehicles (including aircraft) in general, manned or otherwise.

Its not clear if PMA has lost interest in producing historical replicas or if this is a new ancillary line designed to sit side-by-side with their existing ranges of WWII and modern-era ground and aerial vehicles. It could also be a case where they are attempting to cater to their home audience who are big fans of this type of product while still offering their tried-and-true historical lines for the rest of their global audience. Time will tell.

Share This:

The Forces of Valor Update: Chopper Support

Late yesterday we received word from our distributor that they had received and shipped out order for Forces of Valor’s pair of 1:48 scale AH-1W “Whiskey” Super Cobra attack helicopters. Barring any issues, we could have them in hand by the tail end of this week. If delayed, they will likely arrive the early part of next week. We will process any orders we have received to date as quickly as possible, and list any extra stock on both eBay as well as Amazon.

Forces of Valor’s 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

This is important news because it likely means our distributor also received the long awaited Tiger I heavy tank as well as the metal tracks, the second iteration of the Sturmtiger assault mortar, a US Sherman medium tank, and three new 1:72 scale WWII era fighters. We will likely receive shipping confirmation later today then update our site accordingly. It also means these items should arrive by the early part of next week, again barring any logistical issues. As always, we would greatly appreciate it if you could hold off sending us any messages asking about your pre-orders. These only serve to slow us down and prevents us from getting out shipments in a timely manner. If we have any billing questions we will reach out to those customers affected so please stand by with your information so we can process your order as expeditiously as possible.

Lastly, since re-opening for business after Chinese New Year almost three weeks ago, Waltersons has remained mum concerning several other projects purportedly in the hopper. They will likely post any updates to their Facebook account. Hear again we would appreciate it if you could refrain from asking us about these projects since you know as much as we know as this point in time.

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, California, March 2012

Note: As a follow up to our discussion yesterday regarding the impending arrival of a pair of 1:48 helicopters, we learned that our distributor is expecting a second FOV shipment to arrive today. This shipment contains the balance of those items that were earmarked for arrival in the month of March, all of which were discussed previously. This second shipment will likely leave our distributor either today or tomorrow, Thursday 3rd, and should arrive at our facility early next week. This series of events actually works to our advantage because we can first address orders for the helicopters then focus our attention on the rest of the items coming in next week. Again, we ask for your patience in this matter and rest assured we will turn around these shipments as quickly as possible.

Update: Our Forces of Valor shipment left the distributor late Friday and is headed our way. According to the tracking information, it is pegged for arrival on Tuesday, March 8th. We will begin to process orders this weekend ahead of its arrival so that we can turn around each order received to date. Customer tracking information will be assigned on the 8th and into the 9th. Once again, please do not contact us to indicate that you have placed an order with us. We will not be responding to these inquiries and instead focus our attention on getting out each order as quickly as possible. If we need to reach out to you for additional information, you will be notified via email or a telephone call. Thanks.

Share This:

Anatomy of War: The Ghost of Kyiv

In the midst of heavy fighting half way around the world, it would appear as if model makers, authors, gamers and others are sitting on the edge of their seats taking note of the brutal fighting occurring throughout the nation of Ukraine. Its a rather sad state of affairs that while property is destroyed, families are getting displaced and innocent people are losing their lives, many are seeing it as a golden opportunity to cash in on the heartache and brutality of war, but that’s a debate that will likely take place at another time when the fighting has subsided.

I’m not going to discuss how I personally feel about the conflict and whether or not its wise to discuss this right now when the fighting could well be entering its most ferocious stage of the war. Instead, I’m simply going to point out that you will likely see a number of models arising from the conflict, some historically accurate while others notional at best, all aimed at capitalizing on the successes of a modern day David standing toe-to-toe with a Goliath the likes of Russia.

Last week, for instance, a Ukrainian MiG 29 pilot, heretofore known as “the Ghost of Kyiv”, supposedly shot down six Russian aircraft in a little more than a day, defending the capital city when few Ukrainian aircraft were capable of taking to the skies. No one, to date, knows if the tale is actually true, particularly when the Russian Air Force has dominated the battlespace over Ukraine since the start of the fighting. Moreover, like the thirteen Ukrainian soldiers holding Snake Island in the face of overwhelming Russian firepower, it could be a story spun by the media and others to help galvanize the nation when they need it the most. It wouldn’t be the first time a tale was told in the middle of fighting to bolster a nation at its most critical juncture.

In any event, I would not be surprised if we see a bevy of new products announced very shortly by a number of manufacturers both in the scale military world and outside it. I would suggest, however, that a portion of the proceeds be donated to the Ukrainian war effort so that they at least can use the funds to purchase both lethal and non lethal aid to help them defend their land from further aggression. I think that’s the least we can do.

Share This:

Hobby Master Bolsters its Air Force

Hobby Master’s 1:48 scale German Focke-Wulf Fw 190A-4 Fighter – Rudolf Eisele, 8/Jagdgeschwader 2 “Richthofen”, Brest-Guipavas, France, January 1943

Looking to add more firepower across the entire spectrum of military conflicts, Hobby Master announced four more warbirds to its growing list of scale combat aircraft, all due out at varying intervals throughout 2022. By clicking on each line art image, you can then determine its price and estimated arrival date.

Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale RAF Harrier GR7A Jump Jet – ZD437, “Michelle”, 1 Squadron, Afghanistan, 2007
Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale Soviet Air Defense Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25PD “Foxbat-E” Interceptor – “Blue 56”, 8th Air Defense Army, 1980s
Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale US Navy Northrop Grumman E-2C Hawkeye AEW Aircraft – 165648, VAW-113 “Black Eagles”, USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76), June 2006
Share This:

Panzerkampf Victorious

Panzerkampf’s 1:72 scale US Oshkosh M1070 Heavy Equipment Transporter with M1000 Semi-Trailer – Tri-Color Camouflage

At long last, we’ve finally received word that Panzerkampf’s M1070 heavy equipment transporter is en route to us and should be in stock by month’s end. Thus far, only the tri-color version is reported to be in stock with our distributor, so we are presuming the desert version should roll in some time in March.

More importantly, our wholesale cost isn’t quite as high as originally anticipated, so we were able to reduce its selling price from $149.99 to $129.99, a healthy decrease considering the rising prices of some of the other items we’ve been holding out hope for over the last year. As I alluded to in a previous blog post, anyone that pre-ordered the set at $89.99 can still expect to pay this amount without seeing any upwards price adjustment on their invoice. The same will hold true for the desert sand version since we can only logically conclude that it should carry the same wholesale cost.

In a related announcement, we have now received and shipped out all of the first series of Panzerkampf M1A2 tanks with the TUSK I survivability kit. We have a handful of pieces left over for general sale and plan to re-order those SKUs that are currently listed as being back ordered. While all three SKUs come in the popular desert sand scheme and the M1070 expected comes in a tri-color camouflage scheme, the two products can still be displayed as a set should you wish to do so. Its not unheard of in the military world to combine two items in dissimilar schemes if time doesn’t permit their uniformity in appearance. Otherwise, we strongly suggest pre-ordering the desert scheme heavy equipment transporter, which will likely be snapped up in a hurry when they do arrive in early 2022.

Update: Our distributor informs us that the desert heavy equipment transporter wasn’t completed and ready for shipment at the same time as the tri-color version, so it will likely show up in the summer. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but these types of things do occur on occasion despite the best efforts to prevent them.

Share This:

The Forces of Valor Update: Break Out the Tweezers

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 [Model Kit]

Let’s face it. Some of us like to purchase a pre-assembled replica straight out of the box while others prefer to make ’em. Personally, I gave up on modelling in my teens when I realized I didn’t have the expertise, tools or time to build what was clearly being advertised. Nearly fifty years later, poor eye sight, lack of patience and other demands on my time means I’d prefer to ogle the finished product by tearing open the shrink wrap rather than trying to cobble one together.

Fortunately, Waltersons, the new caretakers of the Forces of Valor brand, sees things from both sides of the ledger, offering their customers both finished products as well as build ups, all designed to cater to a wider audience than their predecessors ever envisaged. In fact, earlier today, the manufacturer finally posted images of their first ever 1:32 scale tank: an early production Sd. Kfz. 181 PzKpfw VI Tiger I Ausf. E heavy tank. The pictures clearly show how much metal content is included in the kit, as well as the detail that goes into each and every tank they make, be they finished vehicles or model kits. Presently, no price has been announced for their first kit nor has a definitive release date been provided.

Share This: