Hobby Master’s 1:48 scale USN Grumman F4F-4 Wildcat Fighter – Warrant Officer Donald Runyon, VF-6, USS Enterprise (CV-6), 1942
Per Hobby Master’s MAP guidelines, we have removed any price restrictions on all of the September 2022 Hobby Master arrivals. The price for each item has been reduced to their regular selling price and you may now apply any discounts we offer towards the purchase of these items. This process will recur on the first of every month in compliance with their updated MAP pricing program. You can tell if an item is no longer MAP protected if the blue MAP seal that appears alongside its image and just below its price has been removed. In effect, a retailer is no longer bound by the 6-month introductory MAP restriction policy and can sell the item for whatever price they deem appropriate.
In other news, our distributor reports that Legion has now arrived and is on its way to us. The first shipment encompasses most of their 1:72 scale military vehicles, a pair of Yorktown class aircraft carriers and finally all four F4U Corsairs. Again, this line is aimed at the collector on a budget and/or entry level aficionado who may be put off by some of the higher priced lines such as Panzerkampf. Also winging their way to us are a pair of the latest Oxford Frontline Fighters.
Hobby Master’s 1:48 scale German Messerschmitt Bf 109G-6 “Gustav” Fighter – “Christl”, Gerhard Barkhorn, II./Jagdgeschwader 52, Ukraine, September 1943
“For the last two and one-half years the bitter and costly struggle against Bolshevism has made the utmost demands upon the bulk of our military resources and energies. This commitment was in keeping with the seriousness of the danger, and the over-all situation. The situation has since changed. The threat from the East remains, but an even greater danger looms in the West: the Anglo-American landing! In the East, the vastness of the space will, as a last resort, permit a loss of territory even on a major scale, without suffering a mortal blow to Germany’s chance for survival. Not so in the West! If the enemy here succeeds in penetrating our defenses on a wide front, consequences of staggering proportions will follow within a short time. All signs point to an offensive against the Western Front of Europe no later than spring, and perhaps earlier. For that reason, I can no longer justify the further weakening of the West in favor of other theaters of war. I have therefore decided to strengthen the defenses in the West, particularly at places from which we shall launch our long-range war against England. For those are the very points at which the enemy must and will attack; there–unless all indications are misleading–will be fought the decisive invasion battle.” – Fuhrer Directive No. 51, announcing preparations for a two-front war, November 3rd, 1943
Gerhard Barkhorn is credited with the second highest victory tally in WWII, and is only one of two pilots to have reached the 300 level, the other being Erich “Bubi” Hartmann. For most of his combat career, Barkhorn served with JG 52, although he earned his come uppance in July 1939 with JG 2.
While his unit took part in the Battle of Britain, he was never able to score any victories in the skies over England. Afterwards, JG 52 was transferred to the Eastern Front in July 1941, where Barkhorn earned his first victory on the second of the month. This tally soon grew, reaching an astounding 52 kills by August 1942. For this he was awarded “Das Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuz” (Knights Cross of the Iron Cross). His count continued to soar, reaching 175 victories in January 1943, at which point he received the Oakleaves to his Knights Cross.
In September, he was promoted to the rank of Gruppenkommandeur of II./JG 52. He reached the magical mark of 200 kills in November, and gained his 250th victory in February 1944, for which he received the Swords to his Knights Cross with Oakleaves. He eventually claimed 300 victories at the beginning of 1945 and his final kill, an incredible 301 victories, on January 5th, 1945.
On January 15th, he was promoted to the rank of Major and became Geschwaderkommodore of JG 6. In April, he was moved to the “Jagdfliegerheim” for recuperation, before moving to JV 44 — “The Squadron of Experts” — under the tutelage of Johannes Steinhoff & Adolf Galland. Called upon to fly the jet-powered Me 262, he was forced to make a crash landing due to engine failure and heavy enemy opposition on April 17th, which left him seriously injured. The injury would put an end to his flying career, which stood at an incredible 1,104 combat missions, spanning much of Continental Europe.
Look for “Christl”, Gerhard Barkhorn’s Messerschmitt mount, to defend the skies over The Third Reich this April.
Hobby Master’s 1:48 scale German Messerschmitt Bf 109F-4 “Friedrich” Fighter – Otto Kath, Stab/Jagdgeschwader 54 “Grunherz”, Staraya, Russia, December 1941
Few model makers are as forward-looking as Hobby Master. In fact, right around the middle of each month, Hobby Master trots out the latest models due out in approximately nine to ten months time. So, while others are still looking to get their ducks-in-a-row for the quarter before them, Hobby Master is toiling away at the drawing board for much further out, plying their drafting tools and expertise for months on end so they can beat their competition to the punch without looking back.
This month is no different, with lots of aircraft on the docket for every type of wartime interest and collector. While we are awaiting pricing for some of the latest warbirds still pending US Navy approval, here’s what you can look forward to placing in your curio cabinet come this December:
Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale USMC McDonnell Douglas A-4M Skyhawk Attack Aircraft – 160030, VMA-214 “Black Sheep”, Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona, 1989 [Low Vis Scheme]Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale USN Curtiss SB2C Helldiver ASW Aircraft – “White 208”, VB-83, USS Essex (CV-9), April 1945Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale USN Curtiss SB2C Helldiver ASW Aircraft – “White 62”, VB-18, USS Intrepid (CV-11), 1944Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale USMC McDonnell F-4B Phantom II Fighter-Bomber – 158378, VMFA-122 Squadron “Flying Leathernecks”, Da Nang, South Vietnam, 1968Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale USAF Lockheed-Martin F-22A Raptor Air Dominance Fighter – 07-4147, “Spirit of Tuskegee”, 477th Fighter Group, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, 2013 [Low-Vis Scheme]Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale US Navy Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet Strike Fighter – 165926, VFA-122 “Flying Eagles”, Naval Air Station Lemoore, California, 2022Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale German Eurofighter EF2000 Typhoon Multi-Role Fighter – 31+45, “Living the Spirit”, Taktisches Luftwaffengeschwader 71 “Richthofen”, Rostock, Germany, 2021Hobby Master’s 1:48 scale US Navy Grumman F9F-5 Panther Fighter – Captain Royce Williams, “Actions Speak Louder than Medals”, VF-781 “Pacemaker”, November 1952Hobby Master’s 1:48 scale US Navy Grumman F9F-5 Panther Fighter – Captain Royce Williams, “Actions Speak Louder than Medals”, VF-781 “Pacemaker”, November 1952Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale RAF Lockheed-Martin F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter – ZM149/015, 207 Squadron, HMS Prince of Wales, June 2021 [Low-Vis Scheme]Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale RAF Lockheed-Martin F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter – ZM159/025, 617 Squadron, HMS Queen Elizabeth, November 2022 [Low-Vis Scheme]Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale Soviet Air Defense Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25PD “Foxbat-E” Interceptor – “Blue 20”, 146th GFAR, Vasilkov Air Base, Russia, 1990
Per Hobby Master’s MAP guidelines, we are now able to remove any price restrictions on all of the August 2022 Hobby Master arrivals. The price for each item has been reduced to their regular selling price and you may now apply any discounts we offer towards the purchase of these items. This process will recur on the first of every month in compliance with their updated MAP pricing program. You can tell if an item is no longer MAP protected if the blue MAP seal that appears alongside its image and just below its price has been removed. In effect, a retailer is no longer bound by the 6-month introductory MAP restriction policy and can sell the item for whatever price they deem appropriate.
In other news, our distributor reports that the February Hobby Master container has arrived and that our shipment of new merchandise is well on its way to us. Oddly, we are still awaiting final imagery for several products, although these will likely be passed along in the coming days.
Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale US Navy Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet Strike Fighter – 165796, NAWDC, Naval Air Station Fallon, Nevada, “Top Gun 50th Anniversary” [Anniversary Scheme]
If you’re a fan of the movie Top Gun: Maverick then you’ll be delighted to learn that images were finally debuted for Hobby Master’s tribute to the blockbuster film. The twin-seat F/A-18 shown here was the type used in the filming of the movie even though action sequences depicted in the movie showed the more common single seat version. The reason is fairly simple – the actors portrayed in the film sat in the rear seat while the actual pilots flew the aircraft from the front seat, much like the filming sequences for the original film Top Gun. Lets face it — Tom Cruise may be talented, a huge box office draw and a pilot in his own right but he was never trained as a Hornet driver and for good reason. He’s paid to put movie goers in theater seats not defend our nation’s interests and risk his life in the process.
The fully assembled model differs in certain respects from the aircraft depicted in the movie, with no mention of Pete “Maverick” Mitchell stenciled on the sides of the fuselage and an oversized “Top Gun” moniker adorning the refueling pod slung underneath the aircraft. Moreover, the seated pilot figure is standard fare with no attempt to portray Cruse’s likeness for fear of offending the actor and potentially getting Paramount, the film’s maker, from getting all riled up.
Hobby Master was careful to get the model approved while avoiding licensing fees and a lawsuit from landing on their doorstep. Nevertheless, the upcoming Top Gun Hornet model will likely sell well despite the aforementioned dissimilarities with the filmed version of the aircraft largely because of the manufacturer’s reputation for producing highly accurate models right out-of-the-box without the need or assistance of a master model maker to put the whole thing together. Flying right up to the edge of the envelope, if you were, without dangling over it.
It may be the tail end of Chinese New Year, but that hasn’t prevented Hobby Master from announcing even more new aircraft models in the making for later this year. Expected sometime in November, the latest gaggle of model in minutiae encompasses just about everything for everyone, covering every major epoch from World War II to the present day. One new tooling was debuted – a 1:72 scale version of a RF-101 Voodoo reconnaissance aircraft shown above.
Here now the latest and greatest from the prolific house of Hobby Master.
Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale Soviet Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15bis “Fagot” Fighter – “Black 8170”Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale Chinese Peoples Liberation Air Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15bis “Fagot” Fighter – “Red 811”, Lt. V. I. Chizh, 72 GvIAP, Ansan, North Korea, November 1st, 1950Hobby Master’s 1:48 scale RAF Supermarine Spitfire Mk. XIV Fighter – Wing Commander Colin Gray, Lympne Wing, Lympne, England, October 1944RAF Supermarine Spitfire Mk. XIV Fighter – Wing Commander, J. E. “Johnnie” Johnson, No. 125 Wing, Copenhagen, Denmark, June 1945Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale USAF General Dynamics F-16C Viper Fighter – 89-2060, 8th Fighter Wing “Wolf Pack”, Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, 2021 [Heritage Scheme]Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale USAF General Dynamics F-16C Viper Fighter – 91-0379, 79th Fighter Squadron, 2005 [Tiger Meet Scheme]Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale USAF McDonnell F-4B Phanton II Fighter-Bomber – 151506, VF-84 Squadron “Jolly Rogers”, USS Independence (CV-62), 1964Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale USAF Boeing F-15C Eagle Multi-Role Fighter – 85-0114, 58th Tactical Fighter Squadron “Gorillas”, Eglin AFB, Florida, 1991 [Low-Vis Scheme]Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale Israeli Boeing F-15D Baz Multi-Role Fighter – “957”, Markiya Shakim “Sky Blazer”, No.106 Squadron “Spearhead”, Tel Nof Airbase, Israel, 2011Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale USN Lockheed-Martin F-35C Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter – 169304, VFA-147 “Argonauts”, USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70), 2021 [Low-Vis Scheme]Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale US Navy Northrop Grumman E-2C Hawkeye AEW Aircraft – 161522, “Miss B. Havin”, VAW-124 “Bear Aces”, USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71), 1991Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale US Navy Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet Strike Fighter – 168929, VFA-94 “Mighty Shrikes”, USS Nimitz (CVN-68), 2021Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale Russian Mikoyan Gurevich MiG 31B “Foxhound” Interceptor – “Red 24”, 712th Interceptor Regiment, Kansk, Russia, 2022
Hobby Master’s 1:48 scale USAAF North American P-51B Mustang Fighter – Lieutenant Steve Pisanos, 334th Fighter Squadron “Fighting Eagles”, 4th Fighter Group, Essex, England, May 1944
Perhaps channeling or celebrating the life of the late great disco singer, Donna Summer, Hobby Master announced yet another wave of new diecast aircraft that are slated to hit the dance floor in September 2023. No surprises were included – rather most are based upon tried-and-true subjects that have sold well over the course of the last few years. Interestingly, a standard as well as a signature edition P-51 Mustang, based upon Steve Pisanos’ famed USAAF mount, is included in the mix even though the war hero passed away back in 2016. Not sure how they managed that but I’m sensing a theme here and I’ll let Hobby Master explain away that one. Anyway, here now the rest of the dance card:
Hobby Master’s 1:48 scale USAAF North American P-51C Mustang Fighter – Lieutenant William T Whisner, “Princess Elizabeth”, 487th Fighter Squadron, 352nd Fighter Group, RAF Bodney, England, 1944Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale RCAF McDonnell CF-101 Voodoo Fighter – 409 “Nighthawk” Squadron, CFB Cold Lake, Alberta, Canada, 1982Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale USAF McDonnell F-101B Voodoo Fighter – 50-80308, 62nd Fighter Interceptor Squadron “Spike War Dogs”, Ki Sawyer AFB, Michigan, 1965Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale USAF McDonnell F-4E Phantom II Fighter-Bomber – 68-0531, 163rd Fighter Squadron “Blacksnakes”, 122nd Tactical Fighter Group, Fort Wayne, Indiana, May 1987Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale USAF General Dynamics F-16B Viper Fighter – 920458, “Top Gun”, 90th Anniversary of Naval Aviation, NSAWC, 2009 [Anniversary Scheme]Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale USAF General Dynamics F-16A Viper Fighter – 920409, “Centennial of Naval Aviation”, 2006-2008 [Anniversary Scheme]Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale Russian Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23MLD “Flogger-K” Fighter – “White 36” (1:72 Scale)Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale RAF Panavia GR. Mk. 1 Tornado IDS All-Weather Bomber – “Debbie”, ZD790, 31 Squadron, Bahrain, 1991 (1:72 Scale)Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale Ukrainian Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-29C ‘Fulcrum-C’ Fighter – “Yellow 45,” “The Ghost of Kyiv”, Ukraine, 2022Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale Russian Sukhoi Su-35S “Flanker-E” Multirole Fighter – “Blue 01”, 116th Combat Application Training Center of Fighter Aviation, VKS, September 2022Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale US Navy Grumman F-14D Tomcat Fleet Defense Fighter – 163904, VF-31 “Tomcatters”, September 2006 [Low-Vis Scheme]Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale USAF Boeing F-15E Strike Eagle Multi-Role Fighter – 71-0291, McDonnell Douglas Aircraft Company, St. Louis, Missouri, 1980
Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale French Dassault Rafale B Multirole Aircraft – Operation Chammal, Escadron de Chasse 14 “Gascogne”, 4e Escadre de Chasse, France, 2018
Without a doubt, Hobby Master has become the preeminent maker of finished diecast military aircraft. All you have to do is peruse their monthly release schedule to see just how many models they have in the works vis-a-vis other model makers. I think you’ll agree that they are not only in this to stay but to win in virtually every high-flying category save perhaps WWI fighters, drones and perhaps rotary-wing aircraft. And, its just a matter of time before these categories too become the stomping grounds of this behemoth, forcing others to scramble for the scraps.
That said, here’s what you can look forward to ogling and hopefully owning next summer:
Hobby Master’s 1:72 scaleCuban Revolutionary Air Force Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-29A ‘Fulcrum’ Fighter – 231st Fighter Squadron, San Julian Air Base, Cuba, 1997Hobby Master’s 1:72 scaleRussian Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-29A ‘Fulcrum’ Fighter – “Red 32”, 906th Fighter Regiment, Russia, 1997Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale Israeli Air Force Lockheed-Martin F-35A “Adir” Joint Strike Fighter – No.921, 140 Squadron “Golden Eagle”, Nevatim Airbase, Beersheba, Israel, 2021Hobby Master’s 1:72 scaleRAAF Boeing F-18A Hornet Strike Fighter – A21-29, No.75 Squadron, RAAF Base Tindal, Australia, 1990Hobby Master’s 1:72 scaleRCAF Boeing CF-188B Hornet Strike Fighter – 188902, 425 Tactical Fighter Squadron “Alouettes”, CFB Bagotville, Quebec, Canada, 2004Hobby Master’s 1:72 scaleUSAF Lockheed-Martin F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter – 11-5021, 65th Aggressor Squadron “Aggressors”, Nellis AFB, Las Vegas, Nevada, June 2022Hobby Master’s 1:72 scaleUSAF Fairchild Republic A-10A Thunderbolt II Ground Attack Aircraft – 80-0221, 18th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 343rd Composite Wing, Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, March 1982Hobby Master’s 1:72 scaleUS Navy Northrop Grumman EA-6B Prowler Electronic Warfare Aircraft – 161350, VAQ-132 “Scorpions”, November 2006Hobby Master’s 1:48 scaleGerman Messerschmitt Bf 109E-3 “Emil” Fighter – Hauptman Siebelt Reents, Staffelkapitan of 1./Jagdgruppe 88, Spring 1939Hobby Master’s 1:48 scale German Messerschmitt Bf 109F-4 “Friedrich” Fighter – “Yellow 14”, Hans-Joachim Marseille, 3./Jagdgeschwader 27, Libya, February 1942
Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale US Army Boeing AH-64E Apache Guardian Attack Helicopter – 73117, 1st Air Cavalry, Fort Hood, Texas, 2018
Like clockwork, Hobby Master added another flock of warbirds to its growing arsenal of diecast military aircraft. While no new toolings were unveiled, several new models are almost certain to turn heads, many of which have been requested for some time by ardent collectors. Here now the latest additions due out in July 2023.
Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale USAF Northrop T-38C Talon Jet Trainer – 69-7079, 49th Fighter Training Squadron “Black Knights”, Moody AFB, Georgia, 2006 [Low-Vis Scheme] (1:72 Scale)Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale USAF Northrop T-38C Talon Jet Trainer – 70-1576, 50th Fighter Training Squadron “Strikin’ Snakes”, Columbus AFB, Mississippi, 2009 [Low-Vis Scheme]Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale Cuban Revolutionary Air Force Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-29A ‘Fulcrum’ Fighter – 231st Fighter Squadron, San Julian Air Base, Cuba, 1997Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale RAAF General Dynamics F-111C “Aardvark” Strike Aircraft – “Pave Tack Prototype” A8-138, No. 1 Squadron, 1984-5Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale USAF Republic F-105G Thunderchief Fighter-Bomber – 63-8336, 17th Wild Weasel Squadron, 388 Tactical Fighter Wing, Korat RTAB, 1973Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale USAF Boeing F-15EX Eagle Multi-Role Fighter – 20-0002, 53rd Wing, Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, 2022 [Low-Vis Scheme]Hobby Master’s 1:48 scale USAAF North American P-51D Mustang Fighter – “Daddy’s Girl”, Major Ray Wetmore, 370th Fighter Squadron, 359th Fighter Group, East Wretham, Norfolk, 1945
On Monday, our distributor released product information pertaining to Hobby Master’s latest spate of aircraft models. What piqued our interest wasn’t so much the new models slated for a mid 2023 release. Rather, what caught our eye was this single sentence that appeared in the body of the announcement’s cover letter. “In the coming days, we will announce an assortment of fully licensed US Navy replicas.” As part of the announcement, they also indicated that one of their upcoming F/A-18 Hornets, one clad in a US Navy Blue Angels aerobatics squadron scheme, was being upped in price, meaning that any additional aircraft models paying homage to the Blue Angels would likely carry a “licensed by the US Navy” logo emblazoned on its packaging. Or the sentence could mean something else entirely.
With Top Gun: Maverick continuing to do exceptionally well at the box office its plausible to presume that Hobby Master has or is about to lock up the coveted Top Gun license, otherwise why claim an assortment of aircraft will be announced instead of a lone Blue Angels model. If true, collectors can likely expect to see a wide range of aircraft models based on not only the 2022 film but quite likely the original flick. Done right, and with a wide range of accessories to support them, running the gamut from aircraft revetments to action figures, its quite possible that Hobby Master may have pulled off quite the coup, ponying up the big bucks for what many believe is an evergreen license that will continue to sell well for years to come. We don’t want to jump the gun and claim that all manner of Top Gun merchandise is in the works even if we’d love to shout it out from the mountaintop depicted in the film. What I will do, however, is watch for further announcements in the days and weeks ahead and update our blog post with any further developments just as soon as they’re passed along.
