With Game of Thrones having run its course, some of you may be contemplating cancelling your HBO subscription. Before you do, you may want to wait for The Cold Blue, an all-new documentary that focuses on the US bombing campaign over Europe during WWII. Directed by Erik Nelson and featuring newly restored footage shot by Oscar-winning director William Wyler, The Cold Blue is a meditation on youth, war and trauma, and a tribute to one of the world’s great filmmakers and the men of the Eighth Air Force. The Cold Blue is scheduled to air on Thursday, June 6th.
The FOV Update: Lighting Conditions
Earlier this week, we discussed how, beginning with their upcoming T-34/85 medium tank, Waltersons, the new owners of the Forces of Valor brand, has developed a method by which they can slightly alter the exterior color of a vehicle to reflect differing lighting conditions. As a result, we have begun making this option available to our customers when they order the vehicle in question. While we await manufacturer-supplied photos that demonstrate the differences between a vehicle operating under both day- and night time lighting conditions, we have enabled this option on the product’s ordering page. Please take a moment to review this change since it will affect other vehicles in the range that are produced going forward. We aren’t certain if these lighting effects will be applied to any upcoming artillery and anti-aircraft guns, so we have decided not to enable this option for them.
In other news, our distributor reports that they have finally received the 88mm FLaK gun. We should be receiving our shipment by the middle of next week.
Lastly, we do not have firm release dates for those items still showing as in the production queue by Waltersons. These dates are still notional at best and based upon conversations with our distributor and manufacturer. Item staging and run completion are two separate and unrelated milestones. Moreover, just because the manufacturer is indicating that an item has completed production does not mean it will be available in the North American market within weeks. Typically, distributors look to reduce their overseas shipping costs by waiting until they can fill a container, thereby making it more economical particularly if the proposed tariffs go into effect. So, they may wait until several items are available en masse, before signing off on a shipment bound for the US. That said, the next large shipment will likely occur some time this summer, after the Sherman Firefly, Jagdpanther and T-34/85 tanks are all completed and available for shipment at one time.
Hobby Master Puts the “Boo” in October’s Sonic Boom
Hobby Master’s Russian Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-29C ‘Fulcrum’ Fighter – “White 51”, Borisoglebsk Training Center, Summer 2001
The folks at Hobby Master have been busy as bees of late, posting imagery for several of their upcoming projects as well as debuting a gaggle of new warbirds due out this October. Perhaps the most noteworthy new addition to the Hobby Master hangar is a MiG-29 Fulcrum multirole fighter, clad in a post Soviet Union break up scheme from 2001. “White 51” as its known, was attached to the Borisoglebsk Training Center, which plays host to the Borisoglebsk Higher Military Aviation School of Pilots, designed to train up would be fliers on the latest Russian aircraft.
Also slated to arrive this October are the following items:
HG5005 – German Sd. Kfz. 7 8-Ton Personnel Carrier / Prime Mover – SS-924015, “Marta”, 1.SS Panzer Division Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler ‘LSSAH’ (1:72 Scale)
HG5208 – British Cruiser A34 Comet Mk. IV Tank – T335293, “Arrogant”, Queens Own Hussars, Berlin Brigade, 1960 (1:72 Scale)
HA3112 – USAF Convair F-102 Delta Dagger Interceptor – 0-61409, Florida Air National Guard, 1960s (1:72 Scale)
HA7743A/B – USAAF North American P-51D Mustang Fighter – Captain Abner M. Aust, Jr., 457th Fighter Squadron, 506th Fighter Group, Iwo Jima, 1945 (1:48 Scale)
HA7744A/B – USAAF North American P-51D Mustang Fighter – “Hon Mistake”, 1st Lt. William G. Ebersole, 462th Fighter Squadron, 506th Fighter Group, Iwo Jima, 1945 [Signature Edition] (1:48 Scale)
HA4558 – USAF Boeing F-15D Eagle Multi-Role Fighter – 78-0567, 65th Aggressor Squadron, 57th Wing, 2012 (1:72 Scale)
HA5007 – US Navy Northrop Grumman EA-6B Prowler Electronic Warfare Aircraft – 163890/AJ502, VAQ-134 “Garudas”, June 2015 “US Navy Farewell Scheme” (1:72 Scale)
HA4516 – USAF Boeing F-15C Eagle Multi-Role Fighter – 82-0023 “Maloney’s Pony”, 27th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 1st Tactical Fighter Wing, 1991 (1:72 Scale)
HA4419 – USAF Lockheed-Martin F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter – 15-5194, 466th Fighter Squadron “Diamondbacks”, 419th Fighter Wing, October 2018 [Low-Vis Scheme] (1:72 Scale)
HA6501 – Russian Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-29C ‘Fulcrum’ Fighter – “White 51”, Borisoglebsk Training Center, Summer 2001 (1:72 Scale)
HA5706 – Russian Sukhoi Su-35 “Flanker-E” Multirole Fighter – 901, MAKS-2007 Airshow, Zhukovskij, August 2007 (1:72 Scale)
HA5226 – US Navy Grumman F-14B Tomcat Fleet Defense Fighter – 162911, VF-24 “Fighting Renegades”, USS Nimitz (CVN-68), 1989 [Low-Vis Scheme] (1:72 Scale)
HA6303 – Russian Sukhoi Su-34 “Fullback” Strike Fighter – “Bort #10”, Oleg Peshkov Commemorative Scheme, August 2016 (1:72 Scale)
HA0211 – USN Douglas SBD-2 Dauntless Dive-Bomber – CDR Howard Young, Commander of the Enterprise Air Group, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii (1:32 Scale)
The Forces of Valor Update
Waltersons’ 1:24 scale Radio Controlled US M1A2 Abrams Main Battle Tank – Tri-Color Camouflage
We’ve been having some interesting private discussions with the powers that be at Waltersons, the new owners of the Forces of Valor brand. From a production standpoint, they have a number of projects in the works that we have already touched upon in previous Forces of Valor updates so there is no sense in rehashing old conversations.
Waltersons’ Forces of Valor Radio Controlled US M26 Pershing Heavy Tank
What we have learned is that beginning with their upcoming 1:32 scale T-34/85 medium tank, the Company plans to offer at least one pair of slightly differing paint schemes that portrays the vehicle in question under different lighting conditions. So, one tank might appear slightly lighter with gun metal grey tracks while another, still representing a vehicle from the same unit and battle, could appear a bit darker and with more muddied tracks, suggesting it may have seen action that day and has now been withdrawn during the early evening hours for rest and refit. We’re not sure if they plan to assign separate SKUs to each scheme, which would help to keep things straight from an ordering and inventory perspective, or include them in each master carton without any further fanfare. Once we have photos of the vehicles, thereby showing them side-by-side, we will have a better idea as to how they wish to proceed and offer them to the buying public at-large with more precise information. Earlier, we had suggested they think about including one “chase” vehicle in each master carton, which would differ slightly from the other vehicles and thereby command a somewhat higher price in the secondary market
On other fronts, the four original 1:24 scale radio controlled tanks should be in stock by the end of next week, barring any unforeseen issues. Some time towards the end of the summer, this assortment will be bolstered by a M26 Pershing tank as well as an M1A2 Abrams tank clad in a tri-color camouflage scheme. Years ago, a desert sand M1A1 Abrams was sold by Unimax, so this new version is not only painted differently but reflects a more updated main battle tank. Also in the offing is a MLRS, which will probably make it to market later in the year.
No new information was provided regarding their rotary- and fixed wing aircraft, although that doesn’t necessarily mean that work has come to a stand still. The Company does recognize, however, that their most popular lines continue to be their 1:32 and 1:16 scale military vehicles, so its entirely possible that their current efforts are being directed towards getting these into the market ahead of some of their other ancillary lines.
Four More Warbirds Join the Atlas Fighter Sweep
The Atlas Fighters of World War II series got a boost with four new aircraft joining the aerial assault. The following warbirds are expected in late May, so check ’em out now if you want to be the first to add them to your collection:
ATL7896001 – German Messerschmitt Bf 109F-4/Tropical Fighter – Hans Joachim Marseille, 3./Jagdgeschwader 27, North Africa, 1942 (1:72 Scale)
ATL7896024 – US Navy Chance-Vought F4U-1A Corsair Fighter – Ira Kepford, VF-17 “Jolly Rogers”, 1944 (1:72 Scale)
ATL7896028 – USAAF Lockheed P-38L Lightning Interceptor – “Pudgy (V),” Thomas McGuire, 431st Fighter Squadron, 475th Fighter Group, 1945 (1:72 Scale)
ATL7896029 – German Heinkel He 219A-0 “Uhu” Night Fighter – Werner Streib, Nachtjagdgeschwader 1, June 1943 (1:72 Scale)
As usual, each model is priced at only $24.99, making them ideal introductions to the aviation market and great gifts for that special someone looking to get into the hobby.
Tales of Transparency: Who Knew There Would be No New News?
We’ve been in business for nearly twenty years and I cannot recall a time when there were so few new product introductions being made mid way through the month. While Hobby Master has yet to announce their roll call for the month of May, and Eaglemoss has been mum of late regarding new product announcements, several manufacturers have seemingly gone dormant of late or showed their hand and intentions months ago at the last round of Toy Fairs held at the beginning of the year.
My guess is that a lot of companies have decided to take a cautious stand in recent months largely due to the trade war we are now facing with mainland China. While some spokespeople — including our own president — remain hopeful, continuing to present a rosy picture even in the face of stalled negotiations and Chinese reciprocity, its becoming increasingly clear that the business world has begun to take a dim view of the proposed tariffs, which will now affect our industry as early as June.
Its difficult to say how or even when this situation will play itself out since there are many factors to consider and several points of view that coalesce to form the overall picture. Its also a question of saving face at this point as neither side wants to be seen as giving in to the other, even if their case and cause seems justified despite the collateral damage created in its wake. So, we’ll keep our fingers crossed that this issue gets resolved to everyone’s satisfaction, and the flow of goods and new product announcements resumes unabated all aimed at keeping this hobby alive and vibrant for years to come. Lets hope this current trade war ends up as a scuffle and not a full-blown conflict with no resolution in sight and the business world doing its best to stay apace.
Tales of Transparency: Tariffs
According to Tabletop Wire, our industry could soon be affected by the proposed increase in tariffs with mainland China announced on Friday. After a series of failed trade negotiation meetings with the Chinese government, President Trump approved an increase in tariff fees to 25%. Moreover, he decided to place these fees on products already affected by the tariffs as well as a number of new product categories that our country imports from China. Under section 9503.00.00 of the proposed new tariff rules, diecast collectibles, which falls under the heading of toys, subheading reduced scale models, will be affected by the hike although hearings must first be held on June 17th to determine any issues with these proposed hikes. If passed, the tariff could go into effect as early as June 24th.
As an aside, some of the manufacturers we deal with are still located in China so these tariffs will obviously have an impact on the selling price of their goods going forward. Many will likely alter their production schedule should order reductions and/or cancellations ensue. Other manufacturers, in the wake of higher labor costs in recent years, have already moved their operations elsewhere, most notably to Bangladesh, Vietnam and other countries along the Pacific Rim, and will therefore not be affected by these proposed changes. We will keep everyone abreast should we have to increase the price of certain items/lines once these tariffs go into effect.
Keep in mind that the US and China are still negotiating a trade deal according to both United States Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin, although the Chinese may decide to delay action until after the 2020 presidential election. Should a deal be concluded, however, then these hikes will likely be removed almost immediately. Bear in mind too that although our president continually claims that the Chinese are paying for these tariffs, the added costs are, in fact, born by US importers, who must then pass along these added hikes to everyone within the supply chain and ultimately to the consumer.
Forces of Valor Rolls Out the Heavy Armor at Shizuoka
According to recent reports, it would appear as if Waltersons is resuming its radio controlled business in a big way for 2019. First off, it looks as though they will be bringing back several of their sold out 1:24 scale models (Tiger I, Sherman and Panzer IV) and hopefully have them ready for the all-important fourth quarter. To bolster their lineup, they also plan to re-introduce their long sold out M26 Pershing heavy tank and ressurect their Abrams mold, this time around making it an updated M1A2 variant and painting it in a tri-color camouflage scheme. At some point, it would be nice if they offered a T-72 or T-80 main battle tank, thereby giving it something to fight against in a head-to-head competition.
And speaking of T-72s, Waltersons is finally showing off its long-discussed 1:16 scale main battle tank, which will reportedly come in three versions, each aimed at three different market segments. Pricing and actual dates of release should be revealed shortly, so keep an eye out for further announcements as they, well, roll in. Sorry…
Corgi’s Spring Aerial Campaign Begins in Earnest
Even though it appears as if their ground offensive has stalled by several months, that hasn’t prevented Corgi from initiating their 2019 aerial attack on the world at-large. Four new aircraft are currently winging their way to us and should be ready for shipment to our clientele by the third week of May. In no particular order, here’s what you can look forward to adding to your aviation arsenal in just a couple of weeks:
Corgi’s 1:72 scale German Heinkel He-111H-16 Medium Bomber with Fi 103 (Doodlebug) – A1+HK, 2./Kampfgeschwader 53 ‘Legion Condor’, Air Launch V-1 Flying Bomb Unit, Late 1944
When World War I ended, the German Air Force was disbanded under the Treaty of Versailles, which required the German government to abandon all military aviation by October 1st, 1919. However, by 1922, it was legal for Germany to design and manufacture commercial aircraft, and one of the first modern medium bombers to emerge from this process was the Heinkel He 111, the first prototype of which an enlarged, twin-engine version of the single-engine mail-liaison He 70, which set 8 world speed records in 1933 flew in February of 1935. The second prototype, the He 111 V2, had shorter wings and was the first civil transport prototype, capable of carrying 10 passengers and mail. The third prototype, He 111 V3 also had shorter wings and was the first true bomber prototype. Six He 111 C series airliners were derived from the fourth prototype, the He 111 V4, and went into service with Lufthansa in 1936, powered by a variety of engines, including BMW 132 radials. The first production models had the classic stepped windshield and an elliptical wing, which the designers, Siegfried and Walter Gunter, favored. That said, AA33716 is a German Heinkel He-111H-16 Medium Bomber ferrying a Fi 103 (Doodlebug) under its fuselage. It was attached to 2./Kampfgeschwader 53 ‘Legion Condor’, an Air Launch V-1 Flying Bomb Unit operating during the latter half of 1944.
Corgi’s 1:72 scale German Messerschmitt Bf 109G-6/U2 Fighter – “White 16”, 1./Jagdgeschwader 301, July 1944 [75th Anniversary of the D-Day Invasion]
Numerically the most abundant fighter produced by either side during WWII, the Messerschmitt Bf 109 formed the backbone of the Jagdwaffe on both the eastern and western fronts, as well as in the Mediterranean and North Africa. Of the eight distinct sub-types within the huge Bf 109 family, the most populous was the G-model, of which over 30,000 were built between 1941-45. Despite its production run, only a handful of genuine German Bf 109s have survived into the 1990s, and with the serious damaging of the RAFs G-2 at Duxford in October 1997, only the German-based MBB G-6 and Hans Ditte’s G-10 (both composites) are currently airworthy. AA27108 replicates a German Messerschmitt Bf 109G-6/U2 Fighter known as “White 16”, that was attached to 1./Jagdgeschwader 301 during July 1944. Note that it is part of Corgi’s 75th Anniversary of the D-Day Invasion collection.
Corgi’s 1:72 scale RAF Hawker Typhoon Mk. Ib Ground Attack Aircraft – MN625/MR-B, No. 245 (Northern Rhodesian) Squadron, Homesley South Airfield, Hampshire, June 1944 [75th Anniversary of the D-Day Invasion]
The Typhoon was a British single-seat strike fighter, produced by Hawker Aviation starting in 1941. Intended as a replacement for the Hawker Hurricane in the interceptor role, it suffered from performance problems, but eventually evolved into one of World War II’s most successful ground attack aircraft. AA36512 depicts a RAF Hawker Typhoon Mk. Ib Ground Attack Aircraft that was attached to No. 245 (Northern Rhodesian) Squadron, then deployed to Homesley South Airfield, Hampshire, England during June 1944. Note that it is part of Corgi’s 75th Anniversary of the D-Day Invasion collection.
Corgi’s 1:72 scale RAF Handley Page Halifax B.III Heavy Bomber – LV937/MH-E “Expensive Babe”, No.51 Squadron, Snaith, England, March 1945 – Halifax Centurion
The Handley Page Halifax was one of the British front-line, four-engine heavy bombers of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. A contemporary of the famous Avro Lancaster, the Halifax remained in service until the end of the war, performing a variety of duties in addition to bombing. The Halifax was also operated by squadrons of the Royal Australian Air Force, Royal Canadian Air Force, Royal New Zealand Air Force and Polish Air Force. AA37209 represents a RAF Handley Page Halifax B.III Heavy Bomber known as “Expensive Babe”, that was attached to No.51 Squadron, then deployed to Snaith, England, during March 1945.
DeAgostini Sails the Seven Seas with the Kriegsschiffe Series
DeAgostini’s 1:1250 scale German Kriegsmarine Graf Zeppelin Class Aircraft Carrier – DKM Graf Zeppelin
When you get used to banging out base hits time and again, you really can’t fault a batter when he suddenly stands at the plate instead of running the bases, watching as his latest swing of the bat clears the center field wall. Such is the case with DeAgostini and their long awaited Kriegsschiffe series of 1:1250 scale warships, a home run if ever there was one and certainly a series that needs to be admired.
We’ve been waiting for this unique line to make it to American shores for what seems like an eternity and now we can happily report that the first wave of World War II era warships is finally making port. While there is a smattering of Allied warships included in the range, the vast majority of the warships are of German lineage since it was designed, by and large, to cater to the German audience and traces the evolution of the German navy through the twentieth century. Each scale warship is composed of both diecast metal with some plastic parts and comes with its own display base. Best of all, each comes bundled with a German language magazine explaining the ship in greater detail.
According to our distributor they have received their initial shipment of 26 different warships and will be filling retailer orders the first week of May. Several warships are in short supply, so if you’re interested in obtaining some of these naval vessels, run don’t walk to your computer and place your order as soon as possible.