TSM Model Wings – The Motor Pool

Whose Top of the Heap?

We’ve pretty much given up on the Top Gun: Maverick line of military aircraft and accessories that was supposedly coming out from TSM Model Wings. The film is slated to debut on June 26th, 2020, so we would have thought that any new products based on the film would already be in the pipeline. Likewise, the Company doesn’t seem to be making any aircraft or accessories connected with the original film, which tells us they can no longer do so. They haven’t officially said anything as yet, but sometimes silence speaks louder than words.

Furthermore, with the announcement on July 26th that Mattel had inked a deal with Paramount, the producers of the Top Gun franchise, we are assuming that Mattel now has complete merchandising rights to both films and will likely begin showing new product for both films at the upcoming Toy Fair held in early February. While Mattel intends to produce a full range of Top-Gun-related products including toys, figures and playsets, it isn’t clear if they will address the high-end collectible market which has sustained TSM Model Wings for the past several years.

We have therefore decided to remove any product that had been announced by TSM Model Wings almost two years ago at Toy Fair and show only those items we still have in stock. We hope TSM still retains some merchandising rights and can continue producing Top Gun-related merchandise but right now we have our doubts and must act accordingly.

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Product Spotlight: Drawing Back the Curtains on the “MiG-28”

TSM’s 1:200 scale US Navy Northrop F-5E Tiger II Fighter – “MiG-28” [Aggressor Scheme]

Let’s get one thing straight right from the get go: there is no such thing as a MiG-28. Popularized in the feature film, Top Gun, the MiG-28 was, nonetheless, the subject of much speculation by Western analysts and served as the focal point for Kelly McGuiness “Charlie” character who sought more information about the plane from Pete “Maverick” Mitchel, (played by none other than box office favorite, Tom Cruise) who had a face-to-face, or rather cockpit-to-cockpit encounter with the plane from an unnatural viewpoint.

Despite its notional status, Top Gun posited that the MiG-28 was a twin-engine, single or two-seat fighter jet operated by Soviet bloc air forces. As seen in Top Gun, it used wingtip-mounted Vympel K-13 (NATO reporting name “AA-2 Atoll”) missiles as its primary air to air weapon (the Atoll is a reverse-engineered version of the AIM-9 Sidewinder). The MiG was highly maneuverable, but somewhat slower than the F-14 Tomcat, its chief adversary.

In the Opening scenes of Top Gun, Lt. Pete “Maverick” Mitchell and his wingman Cougar squared off against MiG-28s with no NATO reporting name and of unspecified nationality. These were nothing more than actually American Northrop F-5s, painted black for better visibility when filming and to show their ominous status. The nation that flew the MiG-28s was not specified whatsoever in the film but assumed to be the Soviet Union or another Communist state. In the script, American pilots were warned that the MiG-28 was armed with the AM 39 Exocet, a French-made Anti-ship Missile not found in the inventory of Soviet forces. In video games licensed from the films, the enemy planes are replaced with real Soviet aircraft, the MiG-29 “Fulcrum”.

Interestingly, TSM Model Wings has finally moved forward and produced a 1:200 scale replica of the MiG-28. Due out this February, the MiG-28 is one of the last replicas in the Top Gun collection, as the manufacturer now gets ready for the film’s sequel, Top Gun 2. Its a bit like getting around to finally offering a TIE fighter from Star Wars as the second film gets set to debut but be that as it may, it will certainly prove to be a natural addition for anyone’s Top Gun line up.

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Highway to the Danger Zone Takes a Temporary Detour

TSM Model Wings’ 1:200 US Navy Northrop F-5E Tiger II Fighter – “MiG-28” [Aggressor Scheme]

From time-to-time we get a little edgy, particularly when a manufacturer shows product at one show then fails to display it a year later at the very same venue. Such is the case with Sunrich Hobby, who, we have found out, owns Taiwan-based TSM Models, a prolific maker of diecast collectibles. At last year’s Nuremberg Toy Fair, TSM had on display several new aircraft toolings that immediately caught the hobby by storm and helped whet the appetite of many a collector. Oddly, at this year’s show, no such aircraft were anywhere to be seen, leaving this pundit in a lurch and immediately speculating that something had gone wrong.

Turns out all is well in Fightertown USA according to our source at Sunrich, with work proceeding smoothly on the models shown at last year’s show as well some they cannot openly discuss for obvious reasons. If you read between the lines, that means they have locked up the Top Gun 2 license, and pretty much cornered the market on Top Gun 2 collectibles well ahead of the film’s 2020 release. We’ve already learned that the now retired F-14 Tomcat will make an encore performance in Top Gun 2, and its a well known topic of conversation that Tom Cruise, reprising his role as Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, has been seen “puttering around” in the F/A-18 Super Hornet, meaning a new aircraft will join the ranks. What hasn’t been confirmed are some of the other aircraft and drones that will likely be featured in the sequel, meaning lots more subjects to be replicated once the film hits the silver screen.

TSM Model Wings” 1:72 Scale Aircraft Carrier Deck Base with Catapult Operator Figure [Base 1]

For now, the Company has confirmed the imminent release of a 1:200 scale MiG-28, a mythical adversarial aircraft featured in the original film, Top Gun. Also in the works is a remake of their popular 1:72 scale flight deck, which will likely see the light of day this summer. So, while Sunrich and TSM Model Wings aren’t actually showing anything in their aircraft line up at Nuremberg this year, that doesn’t necessarily mean the pump hasn’t already been primed and product, scrutinized and approved by Paramount Films, isn’t already in the pipeline.

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TSM Model Wings Bowls Us Over With a Feather

Oftentimes, it takes a load of bricks to knock us down and force us to take an interest in something. And then there’s the odd occasion where all it takes is a simple feather. Earlier today we learned that TSM Model Wings is planning on stretching its wings in the aviation community in an incredible way, not just with the Top Gun license, but with a whole host of new toolings and subjects that left us slack jawed. According to their Facebook page, the Company has big plans for 2018, with both an A-12 as well as a YF-12 in development. Also in the cards are 1:72 scale renditions of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter as well as an F-15 Eagle. Its not clear if any of these aircraft will be featured in the upcoming sequel to Top Gun, which isn’t due out until 2019 at the earliest. We also saw that a 1:200 scale portrayal of an E-2C Hawkeye is being produced, meaning they haven’t forgotten about their smaller brethren.

We’ll keep a close eye on TSM Model Wings going forward as they seem to have caught our attention as well as others with some of these surprise announcements. We’re hoping to have pricing and other information pertaining to these product announcements shortly and will update our product portfolio accordingly. In the mean time, enjoy the TSM Model Wing photo gallery.

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Product Spotlight: Naval Aviation Gets Tricked Out

If you’re a fan of naval aviation, and would prefer to display your fleet favorites in a non-standard format, then we have some good news to share. At long last, we have taken delivery of TSM Model Wings aircraft accessories sets, all of which were first announced back in 2015.

Responsible for licensing and releasing a pair of 1:72 scale Top Gun F-14s, TSM has finally “called the ball” with a 1:72 scale aircraft carrier deck (TSMWAC001), launch crew figures (TSMWAC002) and several deck servicing vehicles (TSMWAC003-5). We are already starting to run low on several of the sets, and will likely run out as we near the holidays.

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TSM Provides a “Personnel Touch” to Their Top Gun Collection

Announced way back in 2016, it would appear as if TSM Model Wings has finally put their stamp of approval on their long awaited range of 1:72 scale aircraft carrier deck, vehicles and launch team personnel that completes their Top Gun collection.

Needless to say, these very same products are designed to work in conjunction with any type of 1:72 scale US naval aircraft, making them versatile in their own right and an excellent means of displaying aircraft in their launch mode being prepped for takeoff. Based upon information supplied to us, we anticipate their availability towards the end of August.

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TSM Model Wings: They Finally Feel the Need for Speed

“I feel the need — the need for speed.”

– Lieutenant Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, Top Gun

Announced over a year and a half ago, TSM Model Wings has confirmed that they are finally in receipt of a pair of 1:72 scale F-14 Tomcats that pay tribute to the feature film, Top Gun. One aircraft pays homage to the aircraft flown by “Maverick” and “Goose” (TSMWTP001) while the other models the one flown by “Iceman” and “Slider” (TSMWTP002). Both are now on allocation basis by the manufacturer/distributor, who has indicated the next batch aren’t expected until mid-2017. As a result, we won’t list them on eBay, Walmart or Amazon, and will simply sell off the remaining allocated quantities on our web site. All of the accessories and figure packs are still expected in early 2017.

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New Line: TSM Model Wings

It’s starting to get awful crowded in the Grumman hangar. We learned today of a newcomer to the model making space, TSM Model Wings, which is a brand new division of TSM Models that plans to test the diecast aviation space in a big way. To mark the occasion, they plan to kick things off with a pair of 1:72 scale F-14 Tomcats that were employed in the smash hit feature film, “Top Gun.” Amazingly, its been 30 years since the film was released to its adoring public, and comes at an especially important time, since a sequel is already in the works and expected to make its theatrical release in 2017.

Two of the central aircraft depicted in the film are being replicated – the first flown by “Maverick” and “Goose” while the other was piloted by “Iceman” and “Slider”. Additionally, several combat accessories are also in the works, including a flight deck, tow tractors, fire fighting equipment and even several flight deck crewmen. Currently, we anticipate the aircraft to buzz the tower some time in January, while the accessories are earmarked for a December release.

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