We will start our fifth year of featuring certain die cast items each week. During 2009 we posted 222 selections, including a few items which appeared more than once (generally from a different vendor) over the year. Those selections came from over 60 different vendors. Our mission is to provide an independent voice--highlighting some of the best values each week to the military die cast collector.
It is probably true that such an effort can never be completely objective. What we like, may not be exactly what you like, in terms of model type, scale, quality, manufacturer or other factors. That said; we try to include selections for both the most serious and budget minded collectors. We have certain dealers who have established outstanding reputations for product, prices and customer service. So these vendors probably receive more views than some others in the process of making our selections each week. There is also at least one vendor who we have never featured, due to poor customer service and relations experienced with him. Other dealers are outstanding in most respects--and may even have the very best customer service, but tend to have higher prices and few, if any, reduced price sales. As a result, their products tend to be recommended less than those with good products and outstanding prices, even if their customer service is of a lower quality.
We use the term "die cast" somewhat liberally, as we feature not only traditional die cast items, but also resin, wood and mostly plastic items as well. The keys are that each featured item come pre-painted and requires either little or no assembly.
The selections for 2010 begin with...two AFV's picks from The Flying Mule's Winter Sale and Dragon. The first checks in at 8.25" in length and a width of 4'. Offered at only $39.99, it is the Dragon Models 1:35 scale Armor 61017 Henschel/Porsche Sd.Kfz.182 King Tiger--German Army 1./sPzAbt 101, #111, France, 1944.
Weighing 69.8 tons, Germany’s King Tiger tank entered production in mid-1944. It was an impressive vehicle, and being the final tank design to enter production during WWII, it could be seen as the pinnacle of German tank design. The King Tiger was armed with an 8.8cm KwK 43 L/71 gun and its frontal armor was up to 180mm thick. Such a formidable fighting machine had weaknesses though, since its heavy bulk and underpowered engine meant it wasn’t as mobile as it should have been. Dragon Armor has launched its latest fully built-up 1/35 scale model of a King Tiger Henschel production version which is based on a tank from 1./s.Pz.Abt.101 that fought in France 1944. Dragon’s 1/35 scale tank is distinctive with a full coat of Zimmerit on the hull and turret. This copy of the original antimagnetic mine paste has been carefully and realistically crafted and textured to scale. The typical camouflage scheme is well painted, along with tactical markings painted over the Zimmerit in a most realistic manner.
Henschel/Porsche Sd.Kfz.182 King Tiger
Officially designated Panzerkampfwagen VI Sd.Kfz 182, the King Tiger entered service in 1944. This tank carried the awesome tank-killing 88mm main gun and had four-inch armor at its thickest. The system was crewed by five personnel and two machine guns were added for self-defense. The King Tiger’s ability to destroy enemy tanks at extreme ranges yet remain impervious to those same tanks made it more than a match for any Allied tank. The sight of a King Tiger on the battlefield was terrifying and did great morale damage to Allied forces.
Dragon’s 1:35 scale King Tiger tanks are constructed almost entirely of diecast plastic, which helps to highlight even the smallest details such as the delicately rendered coat of Zimmerit on the turret and hull. Each releases features photo-etched metal engine screens on the rear of the hull and a movable machine gun up front. The turret has opening hatches and a pivoting main gun with detailed muzzle break, and can be removed for viewing of the cannon’s breech system located inside. The series includes the distinctively streamlined early shaped “Porsche” turret and the shell-deflecting late production “Henschel” turret design.
Dragon Models 1:35 Armor
The Dragon Models "1:35 Dragon Armor" range presents highly-detailed, ready-made diecast models of military vehicles. Dragon Armor diecast tanks require no gluing or painting. Each model is an instant display piece or diorama centerpiece straight from the box. Made from diecast plastic components, the die cast tanks in the Dragon Armour series are 100% true to scale...
these don't look like model tanks, they look like tanks!. Color, camouflage and unit markings are carefully researched for maximum authenticity, marking the difference between and authentic scale model tank and a "toy" tank.
Dragon Models "1:35 Dragon Armor" diecast vehicles feature:
- Diecast plastic construction.
- Rotating turret, elevating cannon and accurate hull.
- Selected opening hatches.
- Painted, fitted, non-moving tracks on detailed non-rotating wheels.
- Realistic panel lines, antennas, access panels and surface details.
- Pad printed markings and placards that won't fade or peel like decals.
© Copyright 2003-2010 The Flying Mule, Inc.
Meet the monster here:
http://www.flyingmule.com/products/DM-61017
Our second pick is even larger, checking in at 12.75" in length and 3.5" of width. Offered for just $49.99, it is the 1:35 scale
Dragon Models Armor 61013 Morser Karl--German Army, "Thor", Eastern Front, 1944, Firing Configuration.
One of the most impressive artillery pieces ever produced must surely be the Gerät 040 series of self-propelled heavy siege mortars fielded by Germany in WWII. Weighing in at approximately 124 tons and with a length of 11.137m, these six massive war machines featured a 60cm barrel that could hurl a 2-ton shell a distance of 6.8km. To increase the weapon’s extremely short range, a 54cm gun barrel was subsequently manufactured and fitted to three of the Mörser vehicles. Now designated Gerät 041, the longer 7.1m barrel of the weapon increased the range to 10.4km.
One of these 54cm siege mortars has been meticulously recreated in miniature by Dragon Armor. The 1/35 scale vehicle depicted in this release is named “Thor”, which was the fourth vehicle to be produced. Serving with the 2nd Batterie of the 833rd schwere Artillerie Abteilung on the Eastern Front, “Thor” was eventually captured by the Soviets near the war’s end. Fully assembled and pre-painted, “Thor” constitutes an impressive model thanks to its sheer size and bulk. This Dragon Armor item is full of intricate detail, and it is presented in firing mode with the chassis lowered. The three-color camouflage scheme is particularly well done, lending the model a commanding presence. As a special bonus, a huge shell is included. This “god of thunder” bespeaks massive destructive power, and it’s ready for immediate display on any shelf big enough to take it!
Morser Karl
Seven Morser Karl self-propelled siege howitzers were designed and built by Rheinmetall from November 1940 to August 1941. Due to General Karl Becker's leadership in the development of this gun, his men named the weapon after him. The 12-cylinder Daimler-Benz power plant provided a maximum speed of 6.2 miles per hour. The muzzle velocity was measured at 6,950 meters per ton and the entire gun was mounted to a thick massive baseplate to absorb the tremendous recoil. Only six of these hefty guns were ever produced and all saw action across the war's many fronts. Despite its size and available firepower, the Karl had not been decisive in any single engagement and the value of such a massive weapon was highly questionable.
Dragon Models 1:35 Armor
The Dragon Models "1:35 Dragon Armor" range presents highly-detailed, ready-made diecast models of military vehicles. Dragon Armor diecast tanks require no gluing or painting. Each model is an instant display piece or diorama centerpiece straight from the box. Made from diecast plastic components, the die cast tanks in the Dragon Armour series are 100% true to scale...
these don't look like model tanks, they look like tanks!. Color, camouflage and unit markings are carefully researched for maximum authenticity, marking the difference between and authentic scale model tank and a "toy" tank.
Dragon Models "1:35 Dragon Armor" diecast vehicles feature:
- Diecast plastic construction.
- Rotating turret, elevating cannon and accurate hull.
- Selected opening hatches.
- Painted, fitted, non-moving tracks on detailed non-rotating wheels.
- Realistic panel lines, antennas, access panels and surface details.
- Pad printed markings and placards that won't fade or peel like decals.
© Copyright 2003-2010 The Flying Mule, Inc.
Couple your engine to this:
http://www.flyingmule.com/products/DM-61013
Our first flying pick of the year is a 1:48 scale Franklin Mint He 111 Heinkel StG 3 North Africa (FM11E199) from Squadron for only $57.75.
Heinkel He 111 Luftwaffe StG 3, North Africa, 1941. Heinkel He 111 Designed ostensibly as an airliner, the He111 was first flown as a military bomber version in 1936. Length: 13.5" Width: 18.5".
She's looking for targets here:
http://www.squadron.com/ItemDetails.asp?item=FM11E199
OB's has our final selection of this first week. Offered for $49.95 is the Hobby Master
HA 7202 Grumman F9F-2P Panther VC-61 PP/154 USN "Look" in 1:48 scale.
She's here, looking for your carrier deck:
http://www.obsdiecastplanes.com/Qsto...1&BACK=A0003A1