Back when they were first offered about a dozen or so years ago, Forces of Valor’s model kit line didn’t exactly light the world on fire, perhaps because they concentrated on the smaller 1:72 scale category instead of the more lucrative larger sized category where they had a more loyal following. While we stocked their armor line, we backed off of their aircraft line since the vehicles weren’t selling all that well.
Fast forward to today and Waltersons, the new owners of the Forces of Valor line, has decided to both re-launch their 1:72 scale model kit line as well as kick off a brand new series: 1:32 scale armor kits. While we’re going to beg off the 1:72 scale category for reasons already mentioned, we believe that their 1:32 scale range will do quite well in today’s market, since a great many of our clientele continue to build models, provided they still have the patience, expertise and eyesight to turn bits and pieces of unfinished raw material into works of art. FOV’s first foray into the 1:32 scale build category is based upon their first pre-assembled Tiger I tank – an early production Sd. Kfz. 181 PzKpfw VI Tiger I Ausf. E that served with schwere Panzerabteilung 505, then deployed to Kursk, Russia, during July 1943. While model makers can certainly compare their skill and prowess against what FOV has produced by duplicating the vehicle in every sense of the word, they also have the ability to portray a completely different vehicle from a completely different unit that served on a completely different front. Ah, the joy of model making!
Presently, we do not have a price for the kit or a firm release date, nor do we know if it will come with an engine, metal or vinyl tracks, or the commander figure, all commonplace in their pre-assembled vehicles. And, since FOV is hawking the fact that their 1:32 scale armor now contains more metal, its not clear how much metal will be used in their model kit line, if at all. We hope to have more complete information shortly as well as insight concerning other vehicles, aircraft and/or warships that will also be available in kit form.