In a move aimed at garnering more of our outbound shipping traffic, FedEx has extended lower pricing to us for the balance of 2025 and well into the coming year. While we cannot say for certain if this will affect shipments to neighboring postal zones and states in and around the southeast, it should dramatically reduce our shipping costs to the west coast, thereby making it more affordable to send small, medium and larger-sized packages all-around the continental US. Typically we were using FedEx Home Delivery to send larger-sized packages to the west coast because USPS Ground Advantage rates were both inexplicably and abnormally high. Now we should be able to send packages of all sizes to the western most zones at much better rates.
According to our FedEx representative, these revised rates will kick in at our end within the next 24-48 hours. Once they do get implemented, we will review the FedEx rates that are shown to our customers on our web site to see if they are being properly reflected. So, give us a few days before we give everyone the green light to choose FedEx for our westernmost delivery destinations. Again, we reserve the right to select the carrier of our choosing, should one turn out to be appreciably less expensive than the others.
Earlier this week, we enabled eBay’s AI feature within their messaging app. This means that if you have a question for a seller such as ourselves, eBay will attempt to field your query automatically by answering basic questions using our listing’s description to see if the answer is readily apparent. I’m assuming that if you require a detailed answer it will then forward your question to us so we have some input and can respond more appropriately. We’re running this app over the course of the next couple of months to see how well it does before letting it loose for the holiday season. If you feel the app isn’t working as promised, you can always reach us at Support@themotorpool.net or by phone at (813) 406-5649 during normal business hours.
I’m not certain if their messaging app will attempt to negotiate with a buyer who may be seeking to make an offer for an item. Bear in mind that we do not accept offers. Our posted prices are fair and competitive. In most instances we offer a generous 10% discount and, where applicable, free shipping, so there’s no point for us to entertain low-ball offers.
Here’s a recent example of how the eBay AI handled a customer’s inquiry:
Looking to build out their assemblage of diecast military aircraft, Hobby Master debuted their February 2026 list of military muscle. While no new toolings were among their latest introductions, several significant models were included in the mix, among them two new General Dynamics F-16 Vipers including “Play to Win”.
Here now the balance of the recently announced models we plan to stock:
USAF North American F-86F Sabre Jet Fighter – 25333, 461st Fighter-Day Squadron “Deadly Jesters”, Hahn Air Base, West Germany, 1955 (1:72 Scale)
USAF General Dynamics F-16A Viper Fighter – “Golden Bat Viper”, 185 Air Refueling Wing, Iowa Air National Guard, 2022 [Commemorative Scheme] (1:72 Scale)
US Navy Boeing F/A-18E Super Hornet Strike Fighter – 166817, VFA-136 “Knighthawks”, USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75), 2024 (1:72 Scale)
Chinese Peoples Liberation Army Navy Sukhoi Su-30MK2 “Flanker-G” Fighter – “Blue 08”, 2012 (1:72 Scale)
Admittedly, the prices of many of their newest introductions seem to be reaching stratospheric levels, in part due to the tariffs being applied to Bangladesh where the Hobby Master product range is currently manufactured. As a result, we are careful as to which of their newest introductions are included in our product mix, largely based upon past sales performance and the need to discount slow-moving items to improve turn. For instance, Typhoons and Red Arrows aerobatic aircraft seem to appeal more to European collectors than they do to home-grown collectors here in the US. Couple that with increasing international shipping costs and we end up being reluctant to carry these types of models in favor of what we feel would appeal to domestic collectors. We’re not happy about this situation but its one we have to abide by to prevent inventory build at our end and keep our stock levels to within reasonable limits.
Recently, the PLA unveiled two new armored fighting vehicles to their growing arsenal of land-based weapon systems, both of which will likely be featured in an upcoming military parade that celebrates their victory over Imperial Japan some 80 years ago. The ZTZ-201, as its been named, is an all-new medium tank that weighs roughly 35-40 tons, and boasts an active protection system that is designed to ward off incoming airborne threats that include both drones and anti-armor missiles.
Smaller than their standard ZTZ-99 main battle tank and featuring a modular design so that a family of armored fighting vehicles can be created from a common base, the vehicles are likely being fast-tracked so that a significant number of them can be built and fielded should a shooting war erupt with Taiwan in the not-too-distant-future. The tank boasts an impressive 105mm caliber gun while its sister infantry fighting vehicle is armed with a 30mm cannon and can likely haul a 10-man squad in its rear compartment.
The tank features a reinforced dynamic protection shell attached to the hull sides and turret, that is designed to rely less upon steel and applique armor to shield the vehicle from various threats in favor of speed and agility. A three-man crew, seated within a capsule towards the front of the vehicle, has been developed for crew protection and survivability and an autoloader has been incorporated within the turret to both reduce the size of the crew as well as speed up target acquisition and firing. Each crew member likely wears an augmented reality head set that provides all-around viewing thanks to a complete set of externally embedded sensors and cameras.
Needless to say information remains classified regarding the composition of these protective shells. And, with the weight reduction, its not clear if these vehicles are designed to be air-transportable, thereby aiding Marines and other ground-based assets in the early hours of a seaborne invasion.
Its been a couple of years since Corgi released their last B-17 “Flying Fortress” heavy bomber. Mind you they have several large bombers in their growing portfolio so they have to be careful where they place their eggs in the product basket. But with the recent airing of the mini series “Masters of the Air”, hype was building for a 1:72 scale model that could both live up to its name and entice more collectors into the hobby. So, when Corgi indicated that a new B-17 was in the works, one that had a storied history behind it, we were downright giddy and looking forward to taking orders for the holiday season.
That is until now. Last week, as part of their regular Diecast Diaries newsletter, preliminary images were shown for “Royal Flush”, a legendary B-17F that, as it turned out, was the only aircraft to survive a bombing mission over Munster in 1943. As a member of the “Bloody 100th” bomb group, so named for the number of aircraft lost on this single mission, “Royal Flush” somehow survived this strike, despite being set upon by countless Luftwaffe fighters intent upon destroying the entire bomb group. At the controls of “Royal Flush” was Lieutenant Robert “Rosie” Rosenthal, an accomplished pilot that somehow performed a number of defensive maneuvers so that they could return home to their base at Thorpe Abbot Field in England.
But now the model. As you can see, the replica has a huge gap that runs from its nose down the fuselage, with a tampo-printed insignia overlaying the forward part of the model. The gap is so large that it almost seems as if you can peer into the nose section to see inside. Now I can understand if this was Corgi’s first attempt at modelling the B-17, but folks this is at least their 15th look at bringing the B-17 to their collector base. How they managed to bungle the job and introduce such a large join line at this point in the model’s lineage is, quite frankly, baffling, especially since they pride themselves on offering professionally-built and heavily researched scale models to their Aviation Archives series.
I don’t often criticize a model for its accuracy, especially one that hasn’t been released as yet and represents a sizeable impact on Corgi’s overall revenue this holiday season. But with the Trump Administration’s hike in tariffs on product brought in from China, we thought it made sense to say something now since there may be some time to re-work the model so that the join lines aren’t so noticeable. “Royal Flush”? Well, you decide if the name has a dual meaning.
There seems to be no shortage of sharp, pointy things coming out of the Hobby Master camp. All kidding aside, the Company announced their intent to model the Chengdu J-10 multirole aircraft as part of their effort to introduce every new warbird to their adoring public.
While specific information in the press release was rather light, Hobby Master was kind enough to supply us with photos of the prototype. The inaugural aircraft is likely due out in early 2026.
For those of you unfamiliar with the J-10 “Vigorous Dragon”, the accompanying video does an admirable job of showing the capabilities of the aircraft. Enjoy!
Well, not exactly but try telling that to Legion Models. Earlier today, the manufacturer indicated that they were getting into the Sherman game with the Firefly medium tank, due out by year’s end if you can put stock into their marketing material. Legion, a budget-minded producer of military diecast models and an offshoot of Panzerkampf, seems to like the British Firefly tank — so much so that five models will be offered when they roll out for front line duty this holiday season. Why they have a penchant for releasing so many versions of any given subject all at the same time is anyone’s guess apart from economies of scale, no doubt an effort to keep the retail price as low as possible. Be that as it may, we’re in the process of listing the quintet to our web site, and should have the diminutive platoon ready for pre-sale by the close of business today.
And, if you’re wondering about the difference between the standard US-built Sherman medium tank and the British conversion, check out the accompanying video that was produced by the British Tank Museum:
Diecast sometimes makes for strange bedfellows. Take the case of Militaria Diecast, who recently indicated that two more 1:72 scale warbirds were joining their growing pantheon of military aircraft. According to our distributor, two new fighters are winging their way to us, each, in its own right important additions to the Allied war effort in World War II. As it turns out, both are the mounts of two high-scoring aces, one in the ETO, the other halfway around the world in the PTO.
USMC Chance-Vought F4U-1A Corsair Fighter – “Lucybelle,” Major Gregory “Pappy” Boyington, CO of VMF-214 “Black Sheep,” Vella Lavella, Solomon Islands, November 1943 (1:72 Scale)
The first aircraft represents Francis “Gabby” Gabreski’s P-47D Thunderbolt fighter, a plane that made him one of the top scoring ace’s facing the Luftwaffe over the western front. And, if that weren’t enough, collectors can look forward to a rendition of Greg “Pappy” Boyington’s F4U Corsair, who famously went on to become the leader of the “Black Sheep” squadron operating against the Japanese in the vast Pacific Theatre of Operations.
Pegged at just $39.99, these replicas have become synonymous with quality at an affordable price, at a time when just about everything else in the diecast military space seems headed towards the stratosphere. Both models are on their way to us and we should have them in stock and ready for outbound shipping by the middle of August.
Like clockwork, Hobby Master recently announced a gaggle of new aircraft models that are slated for a January release. While no new toolings debuted, the roster includes a number of fan-favorites that have demonstrated a strong sales history among collectors world over. Included are two models from their SkyMax Models range — a separate budget-mind line that has largely been ignored over the last few years., Both introductions are based upon the Grumman F8F Bearcat fighter, a highly respected if late-to-the-party warbird that ended up being pressed into service at the start of the Cold War.
Here now what you expect to place on your diecast tarmac in early 2026:
SkyMax Models US Navy Grumman F8F-2 Bearcat Fighter – 121717, VF-61 “Jolly Rogers”, 1949 (1:72 Scale)
SkyMax Models US Navy Grumman F8F-2 Bearcat Fighter – 121714, Duxford, England, 2014 (1:72 Scale)
USAF Lockheed-Martin F-22 Raptor Air Dominance Fighter – 09-4190, 90th Fighter Squadron “The Diecemen”, 3rd Fighter Wing, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, 2017 [Low-Vis Scheme] (1:72 Scale)
USAF Fairchild Republic A-10C Thunderbolt II Ground Attack Aircraft – 80-0283, 25th Fighter Squadron “Assam Draggins”, 51st Fighter Wing, Osan Air Force Base, Japan, 2015 (1:72 Scale)
USAF Boeing F-15E Strike Eagle Multi-Role Fighter – 88-0705, 90th Fighter Squadron “The Dicemen”, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, August 2005 [Low-Vis Scheme] (1:72 Scale)
French Dassault Rafale B Multirole Fighter – “113-1E”, EC 01.007 Provence, Libya, 2011
US Navy Boeing E/A-18G Growler Electronic Warfare Aircraft – 168256, VAQ-139 “Cougars”, Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington, 2025 (1:72 Scale)
Additionally, Hobby Master is bringing back a fan-favorite with the re-release of HA33003. This aircraft sold out quickly when it was first issued earlier this year, so its encore performance will certainly be viewed with great fanfare.
USAF Northrop F-5C Tiger II Fighter – 64-13332, 10th Fighter Squadron, Commando “Skoshi Tiger”, Bien Hoa AFB, Vietnam, 1965 (1:72 Scale)
With each military conflict, new weaponry oftentimes get introduced and tested under real-world battlefield conditions, all in an effort to gain the upper hand against the other side. In Word War I, attempts at breaking the stalemate ended up giving rise to the submarine, tank and rudimentary forms of air power. In WWII, the aircraft carrier gained prominence, particularly in the vast Pacific Ocean, forcing battleships to take a less pivotal role. The war in central Asia being waged by both Ukraine and Russia is certainly no different and will quite possibly be known as the “war of the drones” due largely to incredible technological developments being put forward on both sides of the ledger.
Recently, Russia provided a behind-the-scenes look at a factory located within the country that is designed to build and supply their forces with their own fleet of reconnaissance and attack drones. The drones borrow heavily from Iranian-supplied attack drones Russia once purchased early in the conflict as a means of breaking a stalemate they themselves faced largely due to the effectiveness of Ukrainian-deployed drones. Interestingly, now the US has entered the fray with Epirus Leonidas, a new as yet-to-be-deployed system designed to cheaply and effectively locate, identify and destroy incoming drones before they can do any damage. Essentially, the Leonidas is a high-power microwave (HPM) weapon developed to disable unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) swarms. It was named after Leonidas of Epirus.
Epirus was founded in 2018 to enter the counter-drone market and it unveiled the Leonidas in 2020. The threat of small drones, especially cheap consumer models, is difficult to counter in large numbers using traditional kinetic means. Against regular air defenses, cheap drones can be deployed in large numbers to overwhelm a defender or force them to expend more expensive interceptors. Leonidas is designed as a directed energy weapon that fires electromagnetic pulse (EMP) beams to disable electronics. The system is able to pick individual targets or cover a large area in wide beam mode to affect any electronic device that passes through. While it was intended to be used against airborne drone threats, it has the ability to knock out ground vehicles and sea vessels; it works against any electronics, and has been demonstrated to disable an outboard ship motor.
Due to its use of gallium nitridetransistors previously used in radars instead of magnetronvacuum tubes, Leonidas can maintain a durable microwave beam while being smaller and requiring less power. As a directed EMP, the system has advantages over other DEWs; lasers can only be used against one target at a time while an HPM can focus on a large area, and it works against autonomous UAVs with no link back to an operator that radio jamming would be ineffective against. Because it is software-based, it is able to discriminate between enemy and friendly aircraft, allowing it to take down enemy drones while enabling friendly ones to operate in the same vicinity. The original configuration was as a towed trailer. In October 2021, Epirus and General Dynamics announced they were teaming to integrate Leonidas onto the Stryker to provide mobile short-range air defense. Epirus unveiled the Leonidas Pod in February 2022 capable of being carried by a heavy-lift UAV. The Leonidas Expeditionary Directed Energy Counter-Swarm (ExDECS) was unveiled in September 2024 as a small version for mobile forces such as the U.S. Marine Corps. The Leonidas H2O, a system one-third the size of the original, was used in a U.S. Navy exercise in August 2024 to disable small boat motors. It was effective at 100 meters working at half power, and can achieve greater ranges than normal by reflecting off the water’s surface.
On January 23rd, 2023, Epirus was awarded a $66.1 million contract by the Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office (RCCTO) to deliver the Leonidas to the U.S. Army as part of the Indirect Fire Protection Capability-High-Power Microwave (IFPC-HPM) program after outperforming six other systems. Four prototypes were to be produced by 2024 and then transitioned to a program of record in 2025.Epirus announced on November 1st, 2023, that the first prototype had been delivered and all four were delivered by March 2024. Some of the IFPC-HPM prototypes were deployed to CENTCOM to see how they perform in a real-world environment, with two deployed by early 2025.
Presently, its not clear if the US will purchase and deploy the Leonidas as a means of bolstering their own forces should they come into contact with swarms of drones on the battlefield. If they do, you can bet the system will first be deployed in Ukraine to both demonstrate the system’s effectiveness and gain an understanding of drone warfare and the best means of defeating them.
