As promised several months ago, Legion Diecast debuted four new warbirds as part of their budget-friendly1:72 scale aviation portfolio. Three of the newest models are based upon the legendary Supermarine Spitfire Mk. Vb fighter while the fourth replicates a Mk. IIa mount that was attached to the RAF’s Air Fighting Development Unit.
Since Legion is located in China, its not clear when these models will actually make it to our shores largely due to the tariff feud currently underway between the PRC and the Trump Administration. For now we have them listed as a late 2025 arrival but this could change should the trade dispute make it too expensive to bring in these models.
Even though several diecast manufacturers seem to be on hiatus largely due to the Trump Administration’s pursuit of tariffs, one company seems to be forging ahead. This weekend, Oxford announced their intent to grow their aviation range with the addition of three new models. Up for consideration are a 1:72 scale German Henschel Hs 123 biplane dive-bomber, a US Navy Grumman Avenger TBM-1C torpedo plane, and a USMC Brewster F2A-2 Buffalo fighter.
While these models have seen the light of day in past incarnations its refreshing to see that Oxford hasn’t shelved the range and continues to focus on the budget-minded segment of the marketplace when other manufacturers seem comfortable raising their prices to account for the hike in import costs.
Previously, we posted that model maker Air Force 1 was planning on releasing a 1:144 scale version of the Chengdu J-36 Air Dominance Fighter, a feat not simple to achieve since the real aircraft was debuted to the public just six months prior. As we suspected, AF1 also plans on offering a larger 1:72 scale version of the sixth generation fighter, painted, naturally enough, just like the 1:144 scale take. While details are still sketchy and we do not read the Mandarin watermarks that appear on some of the images, we thought you might like to see it in pictorial form so you can formulate your own opinion about the model. Bear in mind that AF1 is based in China, so, when taken in conjunction with the proposed Trump administration tariffs, we have no idea about its ultimate price or exactly when it will hit the streets. Please bear this in mind before submitting any inquiries about the item.
Our distributor reports that the first production run for both the 1:144 and 1:72 scale J-36 has sold out and were likely earmarked for the Asian market. Word is that they are looking to have the manufacturer produce a second run although nothing is definite considering the current trade tensions between the PRC and the US. So, its your guess as good as ours whether or not we will see these models anytime soon and their cost. Sorry, but this scenario will likely occur with other models until the trade war, particularly between the PRC and US, has been fully addressed to both parties satisfaction.
Its been a while since we had any news to report from the Waltersons camp, particularly when it came to new aircraft. While we do have some news to report it isn’t based on new aircraft — rather rehashes of previously released models formerly under the Unimax marque.
According to their updated web site, the Company plans on reintroducing several 1:72 scale jets that have been long out-of-production, this time around coupled with a section of flight deck/ runway to give them a more robust look so they can better compete with models made by other manufacturers. Based upon what we can see, collectors can look forward to a pair of F-15E Strike Eagles and a lone F-14 tomcat. The new aircraft carry a selling price of $99.99, making them excellent alternatives to models fetching $150 or more in the marketplace. Its not clear if any further enhancements or improvements will be made to the toolings and whether or not these models will make it to market in time for the holiday rush.
Also alluded to on their blog page is a new Sherman Firefly medium tank as well as a couple of “Easy Eight” Shermans that are, in effect, new models that haven’t been produced to-date. Before you get your hopes up we do want to warn you that these new models could potentially carry a much higher price tags than some of their recently produced tanks, perhaps upwards of $200 if you believe the scuttlebutt going back-and-forth on a Facebook fan page. We’re not sure why the manufacturer has been continually raising the price on their military vehicle series other than to take into account the tariffs being applied to China should ongoing negotiations with our current administration and trade representatives for the PRC fail completely.
Anyone steeped in Star Wars lore knows the meaning of this casually said yet iconic line, first uttered by Darth Vader mid way through his confrontation with son, Luke Skywalker, in the feature film The Empire Strikes Back. Interestingly, it also has some bearing on today’s military diecast market now that Hobby Master has officially announced the second Northrop YF-23 fifth-generation fighter, the so-called “Black Widow II”.
Formally designated as the YF-23A, the first aircraft (serial number87-0800), Prototype Air Vehicle 1 (PAV-1), was rolled out on June 22nd, 1990. PAV-1 took its 50-minute maiden flight on August 27th with chief test pilot Alfred “Paul” Metz at the controls. The second YF-23 (serial number 87-0801, PAV-2) made its first flight on October 26th, piloted by Jim Sandberg. The first YF-23 was painted charcoal gray and was nicknamed “Spider”. The second prototype was painted in two shades of gray and nicknamed “Gray Ghost”. PAV-1 briefly had a red hourglass painted on its ram air scoop to prevent injury to ground crew. The red hourglass resembled the marking on the underside of the black widow spider, further reinforcing the unofficial nickname “Black Widow II” given to the YF-23 because of its 8-lobe radar cross section plot shape that resembled a spider and as homage to the Northrop P-61 Black Widow of World War II. When Northrop management found out about the marking, they had it removed.
According to their latest literature, Hobby Master claims that we can expect the “Black Widow II” towards the end of the year, largely dependent upon the tariff situation with Bangladesh, where Hobby Master products are made. Word from our distributor is that the first YF-23 is pre-selling exceptionally well, so we anticipate sales of the second version to be as strong if not stronger largely due to its sinister appearance. As a guess, both models were on the assembly line simultaneously to take advantage of any cost savings associated with producing two models at the same time rather than in piece-meal fashion. If that is the case, we expect images of the second model to be forthcoming, perhaps over the summer.
Earlier today we learned that Legion will be offering their take on the P-40 Warhawk fighter. Built by Curtiss, the P-40 was employed in China during the early stages of the country’s war with Japan, taking on the cream of the Japanese Air Forces with slower, less nimble and some would say outdated aircraft. Operated by US pilots looking to both help out China and earn some cash in the process, the American Volunteer Group, as it came be known, performed well in combat despite flying against more capable Japanese aircraft that were flown by skilled Japanese pilots. Later, when the US became embroiled in World War II, many of these very same pilots were called upon by the Department of War to leave the Flying Tigers, head home and serve with the fledgling United States Army Air Corps who badly needed veteran pilots of their own.
Modeled in 1:72 scale, four aircraft will make the cut, all bearing the distinctive shark mouth nose insignia that became the hallmark of the Flying Tigers. Currently, the P-40s are slated to roll out this September, however, with the tariff war still looming, its entirely possible they could be delayed.
To borrow a phrase my late mother-in-law oftentimes used when she felt as if a family gathering had run its course, Air Force 1 seems intent to produce the first diecast replica of a Chengdu J-36 Air Dominance Fighter. You may remember that the actual prototype was flown for the first time on December 26th, so getting a model of the aircraft out the door in such a short time frame is no mean feat even for the best of engineers. Interestingly, they are calling this first 1:144 scale offering a stealth drone, even though its clear from these images that the aircraft will be manned and quite possibly carry a crew of two, if the aircraft is intended to carry out long-range strike missions as some hypothesize or work in conjunction with multiple collaborative combat aircraft.
Nevertheless, we’ve passed along this information to our distributor and they are currently working on getting information about this product along with any buzz surrounding an even larger 1:72 scale version. Its also a good bet that this same manufacturer is working on developing scale versions of the Shenyang J-50 Strike Aircraft as well as the AVIC White Emperor Air Dominance Fighter. Air Force 1 is headquartered in China, so even if preliminary information is available, we don’t know if these products will be offered at an affordable price to make it worth the while of importing. Stay tuned…
Thus far, no official SKU designation has been assigned to the prototype model, nor has pricing, background information and a release date been discussed. Still, its refreshing to see Hobby Master building new models again when it seemed as if they were content to re-hash existing molds. While the J-16 may not be as sexy as say a US-built F-47 stealth fighter or some of the classified US Air Force projects still under wraps, it represents an important step in fleshing out all of the aircraft currently in service with the Peoples Liberation Army Air Force. We will have further information regarding the J-16’s inaugural model when Hobby Master provides additional details.
“We’re doing an upgrade, a simple upgrade, but we’re also doing an F-55. I’m going to call it an F-55, and that’s going to be a substantial upgrade, but it’s going to be also with two engines because the F-35 has a single engine. I don’t like single engines.”– President Donald Trump, May 16th, 2025
It pays to stay current whenever President Donald Trump speaks to the media because you never know what you’re going to get. At a press conference held earlier this week in Qatar, Trump said he welcomes the idea of developing and potentially funding a twin-engine F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, which he has dubbed the F-55. Essentially, the F-55 would combine the best attributes of the Lockheed F-22 Raptor Air Dominance Fighter with the technological advancements put forward by the F-35 Lightning II, thereby giving it more muscle and a more reliable power plant should a conflict erupt over the vast Pacific Ocean. Frankly, the idea isn’t as far-fetched as some might claim, considering how the US Navy has long advocated for an aircraft equipped with two engines over one, an important consideration when landing areas are few and far between should the aircraft have to put down in an emergency. Moreover, Lockheed, which recently lost out to Boeing in the NGAD competition, claims an F-55 would be far cheaper to produce than Boeing’s F-45 Air Dominance Fighter, which is equally important when you take into account how many different Air Force projects are currently in the works. Its not clear if an F-55 would perform as well as the F-45 the Air Force is currently betting on, but sometimes funding issues are just as significant as performance when it comes to bringing a new aircraft to fruition. For more information on what Trump shared, visit The War Zone.
No stranger to the world of rotary-wing aircraft, Panzerkampf announced this week their intent to model the ubiquitous CH-53 Sea Stallion heavy lift helicopter. Five versions are to be offered according to the Company’s Facebook page, meaning there’s lots to choose from when they take on the diecast community later this year. Because Panzerkampf is headquartered in China, its not clear when these models will actually make it to our shores given the uncertainty swirling around the administration’s tariff policy. Should things change, we will update our web site accordingly.
