Memorial Day is devoted to honor those who have served and who are serving in the military. It is also the time when some of the military die cast vendors run a sale. The most impressive one that I have seen this year is that of the Flying Mule. Be sure to check out all that they have to offer at some very good prices. We just can't feature them all here.
Once in a while one of our picks falls outside the realm of historical military equipment. Let's just say that I am looking ahead (or perhaps behind to 1966 and our family's first color TV) for the first selection, which is Kirk's Enterprise. Flying Mule offers it at the never before seen price of only $9.99. Beam it up from here:
http://www.flyingmule.com/products/CG-CC96601
The Mule also offers a Klingon Bird of Prey at the same price.
Back on Earth and next up is couple of AFVs. For only $6.00 Great Models offers a 1/72 MRC35002 M113ACAV Tank USMC DaNang Vietnam.
Turn on your lava lamp and link to it here:
http://www.greatmodels.com/~smartcar...m_num=MRC35002
Our second AFV pick is from the Flying Mule's sale. It is a
Corgi Military Vehicles HC60409
M3 Half-Track Diecast Model
USMC
1:50 ScaleLengthWidthM3 Half-Track4.75"1.75"
This early-model M3 Half-Track with .30-caliber water-cooled machine gun was one of the first used by the Marines in the Pacific. The M3 did not lend itself well to jungle warfare or beach landings, so was not widely used.
Pull out your $9.99 and link here to spend it:
http://www.flyingmule.com/products/CG-HC60409
It's time to take to the sky with the Flying Mule for our two picks of the air. The first is a Special Edition that Corgi makes for only the Flying Mule. It is available for $19.99:
Corgi Flying Mule Collection US33820
P-47D Thunderbolt Diecast Model
USAAF 4th FG, 336th FS, "Donnie Boy", Don Gentile, RAF Debden, England, 1944
Limited Edition
1:72 Scale Length WidthRepublic P-47D Thunderbolt 6" 6.75"
The Flying Mule presents another limited edition model, commissioned from Corgi Classics as a part of their Aviation Archive series. This model is limited to just
750 pieces worldwide!
Dominic Gentile began his fighter pilot career in the RAF, where he was a member of the No. 133 Eagle Squadron, an elite flying force consisting entirely of American born pilots. It was in the cockpit of a Supermarine Spitfire that Gentile made his first mark as a great pilot, earning the British Distinguished Flying Cross after shooting down two German aircraft within 10 minutes of each other.
The following month, Gentile and his fellow Eagle Squadron pilots were transitioned from RAF duty to the US Air Force 336th Fighter Squadron, Fourth Fighter Group, a unit that went on to become one of the most successful air combat units of WWII. The 336th continued to fly Spitfires (
Gentile's USAAF Spitfire is also available as a Flying Mule edition) until the P-47 Thunderbolt came on the scene in 1943. Used to the lighter, more maneuverable Spitfire, Gentile was not pleased with his new plane, but he christened it "Donnie Boy" and went on to score 4.33 victories in its cockpit, two of which occurred during a famous low-altitude dogfight in which he out-maneuvered an Fw-190. During that battle, Gentile shot down two Fw-190s but ran out of ammunition and was forced to out-fly a pursuing Fw-190 until it, too exhausted its ammunition. The incident was a remarkable example of Gentile's skill in the cockpit-not many pilots could fly a tight-turning dogfight in a P-47 against a pursuing Fw-190 and come away the winner. While serving in the 336th, Gentile and fellow ace Duane Beeson began a friendly rivalry nicknamed "The Ace Race" (
Beeson's P-47 is also available from Corgi). Both men were so dedicated to their goal of scoring the highest number of German kills that they exchanged leave time for the opportunity to fly. The record was ultimately captured by Gentile when he broke Rickenbacker's record of 26 kills on April 5, 1944, at the age of 23.
Here's the link:
http://www.flyingmule.com/products/CG-US33820
Our last selection for this week is also an American WW 2 birds, but this one has twin engines and lays big eggs. Available for $59.99, it is:
Corgi Aviation Archive Collector Series US35307
B-25 Mitchell Diecast Model
USMC VMB-433, "Lassie", Solomon Islands, 1944, w/5 Figures
Limited Edition
1:72 Scale Length WidthNorth American B-25 Mitchell 8.75" 11.25"
Formed in September 1943, VMB-433 was one of 16 Marine Corps units to be equipped with PBJ-1s in WWII — some 706 were delivered to the USMC by North American. Seven of these units would see action with the aircraft in the Southwest Pacific in the hot and bloody war fought against the Japanese in the Solomon Islands chain. VMB-433 commenced combat operations with MAG-61 on Green Island in July 1944, flying dreaded night bombing missions. The unit remained in action until February 1945, when it returned to the US and was deactivated. This particular aircraft was one of the very few PBJs to be adorned with nose art — an uncommon practice in the Marine Corps in WWII.
Get on board here:
http://www.flyingmule.com/products/CG-US35307