Forces of Valor’s 1:32 scale US M4(105) Sherman Medium Tank with VVSS Suspension and Deep Wading Gear – “White 6”, 711th Tank Battalion, Okinawa, April-June 1945 [Bonus Continental (Wright) R-975, Radial 9 Engine]
After speaking with Waltersons earlier today, they are getting set to ship out our next order, which includes the fourth Sherman tank in their Engine Plus series. The shipment also includes metal tracks expressly developed for the previous Sherman release, an all-new 1:72 scale Chinook helicopter and lots of stuff that was on back order for several weeks running. We should have everything in-house around the second week of April since our order will be shipped out to us via freight instead of a standard ground carrier due to its sheer size and weight.
If you ordered the “Cobra King” Sherman along with this new Sherman tank with wading gear, then we will ship out both vehicles in one parcel to reduce shipping costs. Sorry to have kept you waiting for so long but we originally thought both vehicles would be sent out together instead of this staggered release.
Again, we would appreciate it if everyone refrains from contacting us to ask about their order. As I have indicated previously, it only ends up slowing us down and prevents us from getting your orders out as quickly as possible. If we have any questions regarding your order we will reach out and contact you – otherwise look forward to receiving an order completion notice followed by tracking information. That’s about it for now and hope you enjoy Forces of Valor’s latest diecast hardware.
The Multinational Force in Lebanon (MNF) was an international peacekeeping force created in August 1982 following a 1981 US-brokered ceasefire between the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and Israel to end their involvement in the conflict between Lebanon’s pro-government and pro-Syrian factions. The ceasefire held until June 3rd, 1982 when the Abu Nidal Organization attempted to assassinate Shlomo Argov, Israel’s ambassador to London. Israel blamed the PLO and three days later invaded Lebanon. West Beirut was besieged for seven weeks before the PLO acceded to a new agreement for their withdrawal. The agreement provided for the deployment of a Multinational Force to assist the Lebanese Armed Forces in evacuating the PLO, Syrian forces and other foreign combatants involved in Lebanon’s civil war.
The four-nation MNF was created as an interposition force meant to oversee the peaceful withdrawal of the PLO. The participants included the U.S. Multinational Force (USMNF), which consisted of four different Marine Amphibious Units (MAUs); British 1st Queens Dragoon Guards armored reconnaissance regiment; the 1st inter-arm Foreign and French Brigade, 4 Foreign Legion Regiments, 28 French Armed Forces regiments including French and Foreign paratroopers, units of the National Gendarmerie, Italian paratroopers from the Folgore Brigade, infantry units from the Bersaglieri regiments and Marines of the San Marco Regiment. Additionally, the MNF was in charge of training various units of the Lebanese Armed Forces.
The relatively benign environment at the beginning of the mission gave way to chaos as the civil war re-escalated following the assassination of President-elect Bashir Gernavel in September 1982. Subsequent political and military developments on the ground caused the MNF to be viewed not as a peacekeeper, but as a belligerent. In early 1984, after it became apparent that the government of Lebanon was no longer able to impose its will on warring factions as they entered Beirut and hostilities renewed, the MNF ended its presence mission in Beirut and went offshore before completely leaving Lebanon in July of the same year in the aftermath of the October 1983 barracks bombing that killed 241 U.S. and 58 French servicemen. It was replaced by the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) already present in Lebanon since 1978 under the leadership of Ghanian Lieutenant General Emmanuel Erskine.
The involvement of British forces in the Multinational Force was agreed by the UK Government on December 15th, 1982. The American request for UK military support posed a dilemma for Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher who was wary of entanglement in the complex conflict in Lebanon. However, she agreed to a small, limited commitment as a token effort to support the UK-US ‘special relationship’. The contingent of BRITFORLEB, code-named Operation Hyperion, was limited to an armored reconnaissance squadron equipped with Ferret armored cars with, at most, 115 deployed personnel. British Forces were based in the East Beirut district of Regie Hadath. The contingent did not suffer any fatalities and was withdrawn, with the other multinational contingents, in February 1984. BRITFORLEB consisted of three squadron-sized rotations from armored reconnaissance units: C Sqn (Feb-Aug 1983) and A Sqn (Aug-Dec 1983) from the 1st Queens Dragoon Guards, and A Sqn (Dec 1983-Feb 1984) of the 16th/5th The Queen’s Royal Lancers.
Looking to pay tribute to the “special relationship” that continues to exist between the US and UK as well as the British contribution to the UN peackeeping mission, Waltersons will be releasing a 1:72 scale replica of a helicopter that participated in BRITFORLEB – the British effort to bring peace to Lebanon in the early 1980s. Their newest British-based Chinook proudly wears an over-sized Union Jack on its rear pylon as well as its fuselage underside and capitalizes on the success of Walterson’s range of CH-47 Chinook helicopters. Expect their newest rotary wing aircraft to soar over Beirut and the diecast battlefield this April.
To improve mobility in soft terrain, the Army came up with a field expedient solution called a “duckbill” end connector. This was an end connector with a sheet steel foot welded to it, and when bolted in place on the track, it added several inches to the tracks width
Apparently, Waltersons received the all-new M4 Sherman Tank Model T48 Duckbill Tracks at the same time they took in the new M4 Sherman Jumbo tank but neglected to tell anyone. Be that as it may, we have placed an order for them along with another cache of initial production Tiger I tanks, all of which should be in stock by the middle of this month. I believe the previously released Sherman track set should still work on the Jumbo tank, although these are the type expressly developed for the vehicle during the war by our defense industry.
On a different note, we are holding those Sherman Jumbo tank orders that also called for the upcoming M4 Sherman tank with the wading gear. Bear in mind that our company policy expressly states that we do not split up orders in order to reduce our outbound shipping costs. Again, these are large, heavy models that can get quite expensive shipping across this great land of ours. So, if you ordered both vehicles on one invoice, hang in there and we will notify you when your order is ready to ship out complete.
Update: To mitigate the costs of shipping these large, oversized items from Waltersons’ locale on the west coast to our location in Florida, the Company will be shipping our re-stock order plus the upcoming Sherman with wading gear via freight instead of standard ground delivery. We will likely have to increase our orders down the road to avoid out-of-stock situations that are caused by excessive shipping costs. As with “Cobra King”, we strongly recommend submitting your order for the next Sherman tank as soon as possible so we have a clearer idea as to how many to order to fill our initial requirement. This will likely hold true for each new 1:32 scale tank the Company plans on rolling out at least for the balance of 2023.
Its been seven years since Waltersons first acquired the Forces of Valor brand from its former owner, Unimax. In that time, the Company has released a number of well-received projects that cut across the diecast spectrum, from big and beefy 1:32 scale tanks to pose-able 1:72 scale WWII-era fighters. To mark its seventh year of operation, the Company was gracious enough to share with us several new products that are in the pipeline, all of which are fairly far along and due out by the end of the second quarter.
For openers, two rather different 1:32 scale Opel Blitz trucks have been created, both of which sport medical markings but intended for use in vastly different theatres of action. As you can readily see, one is donning a desert sand motif, indicative of its ties to Rommel’s Deutsches Afrikakoprs. The second is clad in a winter camouflage pattern, and is likely based upon a vehicle that saw action in either the winter of 1941 or ’42 on the cold, snow-covered steppes of the Eastern Front.
Also passed along to us is this waterline version of the USS Missouri, which is wearing a Measure 32, Design 22D camouflage it was painted in during1944, in support of US naval operations against the Japanese Empire in the Pacific. The Company also plans to re-issue a full hull version of the ship and has a similar strategy in mind for the re-release of the German super battleship, Bismarck.
While no mages were included in the brief, plans for the first half of 2023 include a US M24 Chaffee light tank in two dissimilar paint schemes. Also being rolled out is “Julia” – a US M4A2(76) Sherman that was used by the 761st Tank Battalion “Black Panthers” – a segregated, all-black American unit involved in the the crossing of the river Rhine operations in early 1945.
Lastly, as can be seen here, is a 1:32 scale 10-wheeled US CKWW 351 cargo truck, similar to the type employed in the Red Ball Express operation to bring greatly-needed fuel and other supplies to the advancing US forces in their bid to race across northwest Europe during the summer and fall of 1944. Since these are the first soft-skinned vehicles being resurrected and re-purposed by Waltersons, it isn’t clear as yet if these upgraded trucks will come with removable engines thus making them a part of the Engine Plus series or perhaps members of a brand new sub brand within the Forces of Valor universe.
The Company also hinted at several more 1:72 scale modern aircraft as being in the works, although its a good bet these are based upon molds first introduced by Unimax almost two decades ago. These will likely include a MV-22 Opsrey, F-14 Tomcat and possibly an F-22 Raptor. We’ve been promised clearer and sharper images to follow along with detailed information concerning product codes, pricing and feature lists.
One last bit of news should be taken at face value — the Company has categorically stated that some highly successful introductions will only be available for a limited time, pointing to the recently released “Cobra King” Sherman as a prime example. This means that while the Company is already running low on inventory thanks largely to incredible popular demand, they don’t plan to re-release it for upwards of 24-36 months and quite likely at a higher price point. Food for thought if you are still sitting on the fence considering whether to purchase this esteemed battle wagon.
Forces of Valor’s 1:32 scale US M4(105) Sherman Medium Tank with VVSS Suspension and Deep Wading Gear – “White 6”, 713th Tank Battalion, Okinawa, April-June 1945 [Bonus Continental (Wright) R-975, Radial 9 Engine]. Currently set to storm the beach in early April…
Today marks the opening day of shipping out the all-new 1:32 scale Sherman Jumbo Tank, “Cobra King”. Whenever we receive a heavily requested item such as this, we elect to ship out product in waves. So, wave one, as we like to refer to it, will be going out today and possibly into tomorrow, depending upon how quickly we can get the orders processed, labeled and ready for our USPS driver. Wave two will begin going out on Tuesday afternoon and lastly wave three will likely be wrapped up on Wednesday, perhaps into Thursday. Wave three usually encompasses orders where we have to contact the customer to go over their billing information or confirm quantities requested. Again we ask that you patiently await shipping information before contacting us to ask for an update. If you do not receive a shipping update by Friday, then you may contact us about your order.
The first two F-16s to be produced by Waltersons in their long awaited 1:72 Modern Aircraft Series are these ROCAF Vipers. An odd choice given these are US-built warbirds that likely would sell better in North America than in Taiwan.
In other news, Waltersons debuted some of their new products for 2023 at the recently concluded Nuremberg Toy Fair. While we do not as yet have any photos to share, it appears as if the upcoming Sherman with wading gear as well as an all-white Tiger were being shown for the first time. Also unveiled was their first 1:72 scale jet – a F-16 Viper complete with lots of bells and whistles to help differentiate it from the competition. It also looks as though the Company is finally getting back into the 1:72 scale market by employing the same strategy they used so successfully with their interlocking 4-inch Flight Deck series. Based upon the image we saw, it appears as if they are developing an interlocking vignette set on a D-Day landing area. So, some of the display bases will feature a beach background while others will sport bunkers and other obstacles. There will be landing craft, tanks and other military vehicles included with each individual vignette, all likely tied to vehicles previously released under the Unimax moniker several years back. Should the strategy succeed, there’s a good bet other vignettes will be offered too.
Forces of Valor’s upcoming 1:72 scale D-Day vignette (as shown at the Nuremberg Toy Fair) looks to encompass 12 separate sections that, when fitted together, forms a sort of beachhead scenario, complete with vehicles, figures and obstacles. As a guess, the entire set will ship in the fourth quarter. Prices to be established
Lastly, the manufacturer has hinted at a number of projects still to come, such as more 1:72 and 1:48 scale helicopters, two iterations of the USS Enterprise, and several more 1:32 scale military vehicles that aren’t based upon either the Tiger I or Sherman vehicles. No word concerning their highly anticipated 1:16 scale tank that has been both privately and publicly discussed for some time. The Company could be waiting for the upcoming Shizuoka Hobby Show in Japan to formally announce and show these projects.
Update: Incidentally, we’re almost out of the initial batch of “Cobra King” Shermans. We ordered so many on the first go round that they had to be shipped via freight from California instead of a traditional carrier such as UPS or FedEx. We’ve already contacted the manufacturer to see if more are immediately available and will place our order shortly. But if you’re looking to nab a tank from the first batch and possibly avoid a delay in shipping, we have only two pieces left in stock as of the morning of March 1st.
Also, in case you missed it, Forces of Valor plans on coming out with a 1:32 scale model kit of the M4A3E2 Sherman Jumbo. While no price or ship date has been set, modelmakers are free to depict any Sherman they like, perhaps doing away with the “First in Bastogne” sobriquet that adorns the side of “Cobra King” for something more commonplace. Sweet, huh?
Forces of Valor’s 1:32 scale US M4A3E2 Sherman Jumbo Assault Tank with VVSS Suspension – “Cobra King”, C Company, 37th Tank Battalion, 4th Armored Division, Bastogne, Belgium, December 26th, 1944 [Bonus Ford GAA V-8 Engine]
So we finally have some news to share regarding Forces of Valor. With the 2023 Nuremberg Toy Fair fast becoming a distant memory, the principals at Forces of Valor have indicated that they are ready to begin shipment of their latest 1:32 scale Sherman tank, “Cobra King”, along with their 1:700 scale replica of the IJN Yamato battleship and their trio of 1:72 scale P-40 Warhawks. We don’t have a definite date as yet for their arrival but we are tentatively looking at around the fourth week of February for them to be rolling in. Some back ordered items will be hitching a ride on the shipment, including their latest Tiger I tank and the 1:700 scale take on the USS Arizona.
That said, we implore that you take a seat and relax as we start to process orders around the middle of next week. Please do not contact us saying “I placed my order back on such-and-such date” or “I Paid you by PayPal and you’ve been sitting on my money ever since”. These were YOUR decisions, not ours. We never asked for payment up front and we are the last link in the supply chain. So, just because a manufacturer announces a new item, they have to make it, ship it overseas, pass through customs and lastly stock it with a distributor before it heads our way. We’ve explained this countless times before so this shouldn’t be new to anyone.
Once our shipment arrives, we will start by processing the Sherman tank orders, looking at the oldest orders first then the latest in chronological order. So, if someone placed an order back on March 2021, their order will be reviewed first before an order that was submitted say in October of last year. Sorry, but that’s the fairest method we regularly use when it comes to shipping out orders for a highly requested item. If you cannot wait, then contact us to cancel your order and you are certainly free to place your order with another vendor. If this becomes a habit be forewarned because we will cancel any remaining orders you have with us and close out your account. I don’t want to wake up each day and read all sorts of missives that either talk down to us as if we were intentionally sitting on your order or hear how important it is that you be moved to the front of the line and get this item immediately. That’s not going to happen and we will continue to do things at our own pace to avoid mistakes, favoritism or anything else you can throw our way.
On a positive note, we hope you enjoy FOV’s latest 1:32 scale combat vehicle once it does arrive. We likely will only have a handful available to be listed across our marketplace sites until we are prepared to submit a re-order.
US M4A3E2 Sherman Jumbo Assault Tank with VVSS Suspension – “Cobra King”, C Company, 37th Tank Battalion, 4th Armored Division, Bastogne, Belgium, December 26th, 1944 [Bonus Ford GAA V-8 Engine]
Waltersons, the owners of the Forces of Valor brand, today indicated that a new shipment is leaving China in early December and, their words not ours, will hopefully arrive at their facility in late December. Frankly, we have our doubts that this shipment will make it to us before the holidays. We reach this decision based upon previous experience with this manufacturer together with logistical issues that will likely conspire to delay its arrival, perhaps into the New Year. We wish we had better news to pass along and, as you might imagine, we do not know if we will have to reroute this shipment so that it is sent to Florida instead of New York should further delays complicate things.
According to the manufacturer, the latest shipment will contain more of the initial Tiger I tank painted in a winter camouflage scheme along with their new Jumbo Sherman. Their Sherman with the Duplex Drive is not expected to be included in this shipment and instead will likely reach fruition in early 2023. This also applies to their soon-to-be-released trio of 1:72 scale P-40 fighters along with both the waterline and full draught versions of their Yamato battleship. I know this comes as disappointing news to a great many of you but here again we play no part in getting product made, shipped out of China or distributed here in North America. If you are looking to give any of these three items as a gift I would strongly suggest choosing a different product that is currently listed as being in stock. Keep in mind too that with our clearance sale kicking off on Monday, the 28th, our remaining stocks of Forces of Valor products will almost certainly sell out quickly.
Update: This email was received from the owner of Waltersons on December 3rd. “Our recent shipment has just been loaded on the vessel yesterday, and it was supposed to occur 5 days ago, however, our factory district got locked down for almost a week. Until 2 days ago, every lock down policy was dramatically lifted. With that said, I think the arrival date to the US will probably be after Xmas, so I think its better if we ship to the Florida facility.”
Forces of Valor’s German Initial Production Sd. Kfz. 181 PzKpfw VI Tiger I Ausf. E Heavy Tank – “100”, schwere Panzerabteilung 502, Leningrad, Russia, February 1943 [Bonus Maybach HL 210 TRM P45 Engine]. To quote Pink Floyd, “Wish You Were Here”
To borrow a catchphrase from HBO’s award-winning series, Game of Thrones, we finally received our opening allotment of Forces of Valor’s latest Tiger tank. Unfortunately, this new supplier could only send us a grand total of twelve pieces, which means we cannot even cover all of the pre-orders we’ve received to date, much less list the item for open sale in our store or any of our marketplace sites. We’ve placed a back up order with another distributor who will hopefully be able to fill our order for the holidays. If not, we will likely receive our next order after we have completed our relocation move to Florida. We apologize for not having more on hand but sometimes these issues are completely out of our control. On the plus side, we do have their 1:200 scale interlocking aircraft carrier set in stock, their inaugural 1:32 scale Tiger tank model kit, as well as a trio of 1:72 scale Spitfires. All have been listed as being available on both our site as well as on eBay. As I alluded to earlier, winter is coming, although it may be a tad late for their newest Tiger.
We’re still keeping our fingers crossed that both of their forthcoming Sherman tanks will be here for the holidays. Admittedly, it doesn’t help that we have to knock on the door of multiple distributors to see what news they can share about the Shermans’ fate. We’ve submitted our opening order with our more reliable source and await to news concerning when the ranks will show up.
Can the Waltersons Viper compete with so many rivals? Improvements in some areas and deficiencies in others means collectors will have to decide with their wallets.Engine and instrumentation covers are a nice touch but pronounced rivets have caused some to wonder if the FOV Viper is worth it.
Incoming items addressed, the manufacturer has started to hint at what’s ahead for 2023. Before they closed up shop several years ago, Unimax, the previous owner of the Forces of Valor brand, had been working on a 1:72 scale F-16 Viper. Waltersons picked up the gauntlet and has finished the mold, adding a few bells and whistles along the way to enable it to better compete with similar models produced by Hobby Master, Calibre Wings and JC Wings. For one the nose cone can be opened via a hinge, which exposes a fully fleshed out radar. Items such as a cockpit access ladder, differing engine nozzles, engine and instrumentation covers and a full complement of weaponry are apparently now standard, as is a section of paved runway. The maker claims that both a standard as well as deluxe version of the F-16 will be offered, although it isn’t clear what changes/additions will be made to the model to further enhance it.
While talk of a Japanese F-2 fighter has also begun — again designed to compete with an existing Hobby Master mold — so too has information slowly leaked out about an upcoming UH-60 Blackhawk, likely offered in multiple configurations, liveries and service markings. The Blackhawk should be a welcome addition to their stable of combat rotorcraft, although we’re not certain if its catering to the 1:72 or 1:48 scale markets.
While the virtual keel may have been laid way back in 2018, this is apparently as far as the manufacturer has gotten commissioning their latest aircraft carrier. Hang in there naval buffs. Salvation is waiting in the wings.
Finally, Waltersons has disclosed that three versions of the USS Kitty Hawk aircraft carrier are being worked on, one for each of the three distinct eras of the Cold War. Apart from some CAD drawings, no photos were provided, which leads us to believe they are still a way’s off and likely to be surged across a staggered schedule, most likely beginning with the 1960-1980 version, although the jury is out debating the release order. Obviously, each version will come with different types of embarked aircraft based upon when they saw service and in which operation the Kitty Hawk took part in.
Berlin or bust! FOV’s re-imagined 1:72 scale series will feature interlocking base plates and standardized appearances so that collectors can display an entire vignette as opposed to a single, solitary vehicle devoid of obstacles, flora or detriment of war
Waltersons, the new caretaker of the Forces of Valor brand, has decided to share some insight as to their plans moving forward. In an effort to increase its exposure in the North American market, they have elected to partner up with a west coast distributor to import the entire line from model kits to the huge 1:16 scale Extreme Metal series they alluded to in a recent Facebook post. To further its reach, they plan to open a second distribution center in the middle of the country in early 2023. This can only be viewed as good news for collectors who have been asking for a more reliable and steady stream of product that they can pick and choose from. It isn’t clear as yet if this move will help to decrease prices for many of their most recent works, several of which are pegged at $130 or more in the retail landscape. Its certainly a tall order to both increase market share and maintain margins in what many currently see as a country headed into recession but one they feel they can adequately address.
The manufacturer also has a few tricks up its sleeve for 2023, such as re-launching their 1:72 scale military vehicle line as well as christening a new range of AFVs catering to the 1:64 scale enthusiasts. Instead of offering a hodgepodge of vehicles that cut across all eras and theatres, their goal, this time around, is to build out an expandable diorama setting much like their recently released 1:200 scale aircraft carrier set, whereby the collector can create a stylized vignette such as the invasion of Normandy or the Battle of the Bulge. So, you might have a Sherman tank clad in olive drab attempting to pierce the Norman bocage countryside which can then sit alongside a group of heavily laden trucks trying to haul supplies up to the front lines or perhaps an artillery battery blasting away at the enemy’s defenses. An Ardennes Forest scenario might depict a King Tiger navigating along a treacherous dirt road while an accompanying set might show some of the smaller vehicles following behind, perhaps a knocked out Sherman sitting off to one side.
In other news, the manufacturer has finally realized that they have an almost inexhaustible supply of 1:32 scale vehicles that needn’t be overhauled quite as dramatically as say their Sherman and Tiger tanks to get them into the hands of collectors more quickly. Vehicles such as their Panther and Sturmgeschutz may only need a fresh coat of paint and a few minor upgrades to make them worthy introductions to tread heads world over, who are desperate to fill out their armored ranks with vehicles that are no longer to be found at affordable prices. Best of all, some of these “legacy” releases will carry sticker prices that are far more affordable to the average fan, in some cases fetching between $69-$100.
We’re hoping to get a list of which vehicles will be tapped for front line service very soon, and, if possible, open the pre-order window well ahead of their debut. Stay tuned.
While they haven’t signed off on it yet, it’s looking as if the next installment in the Extreme Metal series will be based upon this legendary vehicle. No telling what the final price will be but expect to cough up a pretty penny if you want to own this beast.
Lastly, while no final decision has been made as yet, it appears as if their upcoming 1:16 scale King Tiger heavy tank will bear the markings of SS-Oberscharfuhrer Kurt Sowa’s mount, which was attached to 2.Kompanie, schwere SS Panzerabteilung 501, Kampfgruppe Peiper, then deployed to the Ardennes Forest during December 1944. They enlisted the aid of several industry experts to come up with this choice, which will purportedly come with four riders from the 3.Fallschirmjager Division. Presently, its not clear what other features will be included, although they are making a concerted effort to reduce the pitting shown on the first two Unimax King Tigers as well as ensuring all of the parts fit as advertised without fear of breakage when being attached to the vehicle. It also looks as if the newest 1:16 entrant will fetch close to $1,000 and a smaller chunk of change to ship it within the lower 48 states. Better save up!
Waltersons posted an image of their 1:72 Tiger I, 1:32 scale Tiger I, and their newly announced 1:16 King Tiger to demonstrate the size comparison between the three models. Anything larger, and we’d be forced to drive it off the dealer’s lot and to the customer’s home instead of mailing it.
When Waltersons resurrected the Forces of Valor brand some six years ago, we were under the impression that they would immediately bring back many of their fan favorites, including their beastly 1:16 scale Extreme Metal series. Previous releases in the series now command $3,000 or more in the marketplace, so consumer interest is, to say the least, quite voracious given its value as a collectible and importance as a piece of military history. For one reason or another, however, that was the last we heard of the sub brand — at least until today.
In a surprise Facebook posting, the manufacturer indicated they would be bringing back the 1:16 scale series beginning with their King Tiger heavy tank. According to Waltersons, the newest vehicle will be available some time in 2023 although little else is known about the model including its cost, what it will look like, which extras will be included, etc. In other words, we have little to go by other than to say that a new King Tiger is in the offing.
Rather than speculate further, we are providing the following link so you can put your sleuthing skills to the test and help us ascertain more information about the vehicle. Obviously, we will hold off accepting pre-orders until we have more concrete information to go by.
One last thing. Before you reach for your wallet or log in to your PayPal account, there are some important points to consider. Their last 1:16 Tiger I tank came out way back in 2006 and initially fetched $400; their last King Tiger was unleashed in 2005 and also carried a $400 sticker price. Both now command prices well in excess of these figures. However, their last 1:16 scale release, a Sherman medium tank, was unleashed in 2008 and also carried a $400 price tag. How did that do? We had to help Unimax sell off their remaining stock of Shermans for around $100 a pop, otherwise they would have sat in inventory til the cows came home. Its anyone’s guess where a King Tiger in today’s market will initially sell for — as a guess closer to $1,000 or possibly more plus shipping. So, if you’re looking to turn this around and make some quick cash I would suggest you evaluate the marketplace as best you can and decide if spending that kind of dough, possibly during a recession, will pay off handsomely in the short term, long term or if at all. Caveat emptor, my friends.
