Product Spotlight: Down to the Sea in Planes

Oxford’s 1:72 scale German Arado Ar 196A-3 Shipboard Reconnaissance Floatplane – D-IHQI, Prototype, 1938

In October 1936, the RLM asked for a He 114 replacement. The only stipulations were that it would use the BMW 132, and they wanted prototypes in both twin-float and single-float configurations. Designs were received from Dornier, Gotha, Arado and Focke-Wulf. Heinkel declined to tender, contending that the He 114 could still be made to work.

With the exception of the Arado low-wing monoplane design, all were conventional biplanes. This gave the Arado better performance than any of the others, and the RLM ordered four prototypes. The RLM was conservative by nature, so they also ordered two of the Focke-Wulf Fw 62 designs as a backup. It quickly became clear that the Arado would work effectively, and only four prototypes of the Fw 62 were built.

The Ar 196 prototypes were all delivered in summer 1937, V1 (which flew in May) and V2 with twin floats as A models, and V3 and V4 on a single float as B models. Both versions demonstrated excellent water handling and there seemed to be little to decide, one over the other. Since there was a possibility of the smaller outrigger floats on the B models “digging in”, the twin-float A model was ordered into production. A single additional prototype, V5, was produced in November 1938 to test final changes.

Ten A-0s were delivered in November and December 1938, with a single 7.92 mm (.312 in) MG 15 machine gun at the rear seat for defense. Five similarly equipped B-0s were also delivered to land-based squadrons. This was followed by 20 A-1 production models starting in June 1939, enough to equip the surface fleet.

The plane was loved by its pilots, who found it handled well both in the air and on the water. With the loss of the German surface fleet the A-1s were added to coastal squadrons, and continued to fly reconnaissance missions and submarine hunts into late 1944. Two notable operations were the capture of HMS Seal, and the repeated interception of RAF Armstrong-Whitworth Whitley bombers. Although it was no match for a fighter, it was considerably better than its Allied counterparts, and generally considered the best of its class. Owing to its good handling on water, the Finnish Air Force utilized Ar 196 solely on transporting and supplying special forces patrols behind enemy lines, landing on small lakes in remote areas. Several fully equipped soldiers were carried in the fuselage.

Look for Oxford’s second rendition of the German Arado Ar 196A-3 shipboard reconnaissance floatplane to slice through the waves this June.

 

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Films in Focus: Midway

Back in the seventies, director Jack Smight amassed an all star cast for the feature film, Midway, which, as its name implies, portrayed the pivotal air and sea battle that enabled the US Navy to wrest control of the war in the Pacific from the Japanese Empire. Fast forward forty years and now director Roland Emmerich (The Day After Tomorrow (2004), Godzilla (1998), Independence Day (1996) and The Patriot (2000) is looking to cast an equally star-studded ensemble that once again returns to the vast ocean waters near Midway Island. Emmerich is reportedly being backed with a $100 million budget, and has already locked up several prime time actors that include Woody Harrelson and Mandy Moore. For more details on the project, visit Film School Rejects.

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The Motor Pool’s Graduation 15% Off Sale!

 

They’ve worked hard all year, gotten the grades they’ve earned and now deserve a special reward for making their friends and family proud. Why not show them you care by giving them a special gift from The Motor Pool while taking advantage of our Graduates 15% Off sale! From now until Sunday, May 27th, you can take 15% off of any item we have in stock simply by entering our latest coupon code at the bottom of your shopping cart just prior to final checkout. Please enter discount code “TMP180” in the coupon box just prior to final checkout. Note: The following lines are excluded from this promotional offer: Air Force 1, Calibre Wings, Extreme Metal, Hobby Master, Luft-X and Wings of the Great War. Sale ends midnight, Sunday, May 27th, 2018. May not be combined with any other sales discount.

Promotion Duration: May 1st-May 27th

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Forces of Valor – What Goes Up, Must Come Down

“It’s a wasted trip baby. Nobody said nothing about locking horns with no Tigers.”

– Sergeant “Oddball”

A few diehard fans of the Forces of Valor range have pointed out that Walterson’s latest production schedule unveiled last week now indicates that the upcoming 1:16 scale Tiger I tank will be a late production model instead of the mid production version announced previously. To be frank, we haven’t had the opportunity to discuss this apparent change with the manufacturer so we’re not sure what’s in the cards as it stands right now. With the Shizuoka Hobby Show just a week away, we’re hoping that the manufacturer will provide some insight as to which model they indeed plan to portray, as well as its crew, commander and unit affiliation. So, before we get bombarded with requests for more information, please hang tight until we can get hard-and-fast details regarding which version they plan to offer. Lets just hope its not the T-34 conversion shown here.

In other news, we contacted the manufacturer to determine the feasibility of offering a Tiger I tank as depicted in the feature film, “Kelly’s Heroes”. Thinking outside the box, if you will, the hypothetical set would include a 1:16 scale figure of its commander, actor Karl-Otto Alberty, along with scale replicas of Clint Eastwood, Donald Sutherland and Telly Savalas as they approached the tank on foot in sort of a High Noon scenario. We’re not sure if the manufacturer would entertain such an idea, and if so, the costs associated with using the actor’s likenesses, not to mention the licensing fee from the film studio. In this day and age anything is possible so we’ll keep our fingers crossed and shrug off any “negative waves” that might come our way.

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Forces of Valor Opens Up About its Future

Forces of Valor looks to add the Russian Navy Kuznetsov Class Aircraft Carrier, Admiral Kuznetsov, to its growing fleet of naval replicas

At long last, Waltersons, the new owners of the Forces of Valor brand, has shed light on its production schedule for the balance of 2018. You can see firsthand which items are in the pipeline as well as their anticipated release dates by visiting their Facebook page. Frankly, we are going to add sixty days to the dates listed, thereby giving them a fair bit of leeway as they look to get each item into the marketplace given the sheer number of items they are looking to undertake, as well as the logistical issues they will likely face in the summer and autumn months.

Of note, the Company has announced plans to reproduce the Russian aircraft carrier, Admiral Kuznetnov, and their 1:16 scale Tiger I tank is still slated for a late 2018 release. Beginning with their 1:32 scale Sturmtiger, they also plan to offer model kits for much of their 1:32 scale line, so modellers can build, mod and paint them up any way they see fit. Several of their modern era 1:72 scale aircraft have been postponed, according to Waltersons, in order to add more metal content where needed and make other refinements to bring them up to current standards. In their place, the Company has resurrected several 1:72 scale twin-engine bombers, a number of 1:48 scale helicopters and even a few of their long out-of-stock 1:32 scale WWII era fighters, hopefully making some changes to each mold to address some of the shortcomings collectors have pointed out over the years. It would appear as if the Company plans to delve ever deeper into the model making business, by relaunching their 1:72 scale model kit line and, as pointed out earlier, creating a parallel business model whereby their 1:32 scale vehicles will be offered as pre-assembled replicas and un-built and unpainted models.

Over the next few days, we plan to digest and review the information just announced and make the necessary changes to our web site where applicable. The Japanese Shizuoka Hobby Show is just a week or so away, so we’re confident Waltersons will be making further product announcements and uploading imagery for many of their upcoming projects. Note: We are also updating our semi-regular newsletter to reflect those items expected in 2018, including any new additions gleaned from their recent update. Please do not get overly concerned if you do not see some items listed. They were likely pushed back into 2019 and therefore may wrongfully give our customers the impression that they are due out shortly.

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Hobby Master Ponders, “If Looks Could Kill”

Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale USAF Fairchild A-10C Thunderbolt II Ground Attack Aircraft – 107th Fighter Squadron “Red Devils”, 127th Wing, Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Michigan, August 2017 [D-Day Commemorative Scheme]
As the saying goes, “if looks could kill” then this menacing A-10 “Warthog” should be interred at a Maximum Security Facility instead of operating from a cold mid western air force base. Hobby Master’s latest A-10 ground attack aircraft (HA1326) is a blast from the past, paying tribute to the hundred year anniversary of the establishment of the 107th Fighter Squadron “Red Devils” back in August 2017. And, unlike some of its predecessors who typically wear a low-vis greyish scheme to blend in with the sky, this plane would prefer to hide at treetop level, thanks to its partially adorned olive drab exterior. Its also clad in bi-colored, striped identification markings, which was used by many elements of the USAAF during the WWII-era invasion of Normandy to lessen the chance of it being misidentified by AA gunners. Boasting a robust array of ordnance, and the over-sized “Red Devil” insignia of the 107th, look for this hellish warplane to take wing some time in September.

Face-to-face with Hobby Master’s latest and greatest A-10 Thunderbolt II ground attack aircraft
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Battlestar Galactica: Under a Pagan Sun

Battlestar Galactica Cylon Basestar – 1978 Series [With Collector Magazine]
Two more products have emerged from the Eaglemoss’ Battlestar Galactica group, both having to do with Cylon Basestars drawn from both the 1978 as well as the reimagined 2004 series. Obviously, neither is created to scale since they would each dwarf some of the smaller ships portrayed in the series. Still, both are designed to give collectors an idea as to their respective detail and painstaking research going into every ship in the series.

Battlestar Galactica Cylon Basestar – 2004 Series [With Collector Magazine]
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Air Force 1 Returns to the Fold this Summer

Air Force 1’s 1:72 scale USAF Lockheed SR-71A Blackbird Reconnaissance Aircraft – 61-7962, “R.I.P. Detachment 1”

Most collectors need no introduction to the SR-71 Blackbird. During the Cold War, the US Air Force’s fleet of super-sleek, high altitude reconnaissance aircraft gave the Soviets fits, as the planes routinely rocketed high above the USSR’s air defense network to keep a careful eye on their adversary. As better and more efficient satellites came online, however, the SR-71s were eventually retired, turned out to pasture to become the stuff of legend no one seems willing to forget.

From a collectible stand point, the SR-71 is also one of the most popular warbirds we’ve ever stocked, regularly snapped up by aviation buffs no matter who seems to make them and at what price. Air Force 1 has been out of this iconic plane for several months now, although they are finally bringing it back and at a MAP slightly lower than past releases (AF10088C). Scheduled for a June over flight, we highly recommend including this stalwart member of aviation history to your collection before it too becomes the stuff of legend.

Air Force 1’s 1:72 scale US Army Sikorsky MH-60 Night Hawk Helicopter – HSC-2 “Fleet Angels”, NAS Norfolk, VA, 2008

Two other models were also announced as part of Air Force 1’s summer roll out. Another USMC F-35B Joint Strike Fighter will be added to the AF1 foot locker (AF100009B), along with a Sikorsky MH-60 Night Hawk, clad in the markings of HSC-2 “Fleet Angels”, who are based out of NAS Norfolk in Virginia (AF10099A).

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Anatomy of War: Japan Seeks the Latest and Greatest Fighter

It’s no secret that when Japanese President Shinzo Abe met with US President Donald Trump last week, one of the talking points was obtaining a stealth fighter that could parry anything the Chinese PLAAF or Russian Air Force could throw at it. Years ago, they had sought to obtain the F-22 Air Superiority Fighter but Congress nixed the deal, refusing to allow the F-22 to fly for anyone but the US Air Force.

With conceptual work already underway on a sixth generation fighter, however, and Lockheed-Martin’s desire to restart the F-22 assembly line, talk has surfaced that Japan wants — and may get — a 5th generation stealth fighter that combines the best attributes of both the F-22 and F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. Essentially, such a design, when combined with indigenous work already laid down by Japanese designers, could be fielded by the 2030s and remain a staple of the JASDF for the foreseeable future, at least until a sixth generation fighter could gain traction and financing in Japanese circles.

It’s anyone’s guess as to what a hybrid F-22/F-35 might look like, no doubt boasting a pair of high performance engines for long endurance flights while incorporating the latest in RAM coating for low observable maneuvering and advanced avionics to give it a “first look, first kill” capability, particularly important if they are faced with a more numerous adversary. Recently, the USAF created and released a video depicting what a US sixth generation fighter might look like as well as some of its capabilities, a far cry from what currently exists in their inventory. As work progresses on such an aircraft, both Congress and Lockheed-Martin are more inclined to aid the Japanese effort, while keeping the best technology still at home under the government’s scrutiny.  

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The Great Motor Pool Give Away

Extreme Metal 1:16 scale German Mid Production Sd. Kfz. 181 PzKpfw VI Tiger I Ausf. E Heavy Tank

In years past, we would often times run a promotion where we ended up giving away a freebie as a token of our appreciation. For 2018, we decided to resurrect this give away, this time with a bit of a twist. Beginning May 1st and ending December 31st, 2018, whom ever purchases the most product from us, measured in terms of net dollars, will receive Forces of Valor’s upcoming Extreme Metal 1:16 scale Tiger I heavy tank. Obviously, said merchandise must have been purchased and shipped within this time frame, and any returns will be counted against this total. Pre-orders for merchandise expected to ship after January 1st, 2019, will not count towards this promotion. Moreover, purchases made on eBay or any other online marketplace will not count towards the total amount spent.

So what makes this promotion so special? Well, if you go on eBay, some of the earliest Extreme Metal products are commanding well in excess of $2,000 US, a five-fold increase in its original asking price. As a result, many people have made quite a killing by buying and storing these items, often times purchasing multiples of these tanks with the notion of selling them down-the-road at a huge profit. Others have kept their prized possession, passing up loads of money so they can say they own one of these beasts.

Keep in mind that whoever wins this promotion will be responsible for covering the shipping cost and may, if they so choose, decline accepting this item. In such case, we will contact the customer that placed the second largest total amount with us to gauge their interest. Lastly, when last we spoke with the manufacturer, the latest vehicle in the series was slated to be a mid-production Tiger I tank. This may have changed since last we spoke with them, so we will post information and pictures of the vehicle as soon as they formally announce it.

Note: Please do not contact us asking how much you have spent during the promotion period. You can determine how much you have spent by simply logging in to your account then clicking on the Review Orders/Track Packages link under the My Orders section. Any requests will be referred back to this message. No exceptions.

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