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Unread 12-31-2007, 03:26 AM
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KG_Jag KG_Jag is offline
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: New Braunfels, TX & Reno, NV
Posts: 3,762
Default 2007 Die Cast Buys of the Year

It's New Year's Eve and an appropriate time to pick our first annual die cast buys of the year. While there may have been a few better selections among the over 200 recommendations we made in 2007, I'll end the year by giving the top picks of year, inspired by the selections made during the entire year and tempered by what is still available at year end.

We'll start with aircraft. By far the best non-custom maker of military aircraft is GMP. They have only made two planes--P-40E and P-51D, albeit in multiple liveries for each. Sadly the word on the streets is that they won't be making any more. Perhaps it is because of the limited demand at the $150 per bird retail price was just too much for most collectors. In fact most of the folks I know who own them picked them up for far less on auction sites.

With that out of the way, our first pick is a livery of my favorite bird in my entire collection. It is the the 1:35 scale GMP P-40E. While it's not perfect (the plant in China managed to put all the tail wheels on backward), it's one of kind and head and shoulders above the rest. You can still buy the dear-to-my-Austin-based-heart Texas Longhorn version for just $59.95 from Pro Star 2.

001438B21 Texas Longhorn P-40E Fighter Warhawk 1/35 GMP
$59.95 $59.95
Texas Longhorn P-40E Fighter Warhawk 1/35 GMP. Texas Longhorn, P-40E (RAF serial ET 600), was assigned to the 9th Fighter Squadron of the 49th Fighter Group. This aircraft is seen at Rogers Airfield, also known as 30-mile, west of Port Moresby in 1943. This aircraft was lost on 12 May 1943 in New Guinea in a non-combat loss US Army photo. After finishing a tour with the US 9th Fighter Squadron, Landers went on to fly in the ETO where he eventually commanded the 78th Fighter Group of the Eighth Air Force. Authentic features include sliding canopy, removable magnetized cowling, opening gun bay doors, poseable flaps, rudders, and ailerons, mechanized landing gear, armament accessories, and more! 1 of 1,000. Wingspan 13 inches, Length 11 inches, and Height 5 inches.




See more detail at the site of the Diecast Ace!:

http://www.diecastace.com/review_gmp_texaslonghorn.html

and

http://www.diecastace.com/review_gmp...longhornb.html

(P.S. The antenna wires are correctly modeled)

Browse or buy here:

http://prostar2collectibles.com/shop...ml/001438.html

OK--we have to include the 1:35 scale GMP P-51D as well. The best deal from a vendor I can find on a livery of this bird is also from Pro Star 2. For only $49.95 you can have the Missouri Armada. Note that the real model, unlike the picture below, does not have the antenna wire and mast that is pictured and that is a part of the other GMP P-51D liveries.

09665B23 Missouri Armada P-51 Mustang WWII Fighter 1/35 GMP
$49.95 $49.95
This item is new in the box. Missouri Armada P-51 Mustang WWII Fighter 1/35 GMP. The World War II legend re-created in a spectacular 1:35 scale model. Rich with historical detail. Complete with authentic markings of Capt. J. B. England's own plane. Rolling wheels, rotating prop and sliding cockpit canopy. 1 of 1,000. Wingspan 12 inches, Length 11 inches, and Height 5 inches




The Ace! gives us more and accurate photos here:

http://www.diecastace.com/review_gmp_missouri.html

and

http://www.diecastace.com/review_gmp_missouri_2.html

Get yours here:

http://prostar2collectibles.com/shop...tml/09665.html

Some prefer what they believe is a more complete or common version of the P-51D. For those in that camp who also have an extra $20 to spend, they can still get the Red Tail version from North Star for $69.50.

GMP 1/35 1944 P-51D Mustang Duchess Arlene model

Item# gmp-135-1944-p51d-mustang-duchess-arlene
$69.50

Product Description

Hello,

You are looking at a 1944 P-51D Duchess Arlene Mustang. A highly detailed model as can be expected from GMP. A really nice item for the military aviation enthusiast.

History:

March, 1945, Germany had been surrounded and was fighting in vain for their tyrannical beliefs. The Allies continued their relentless bombing runs on the battered German defenses. Many fighter squadrons were involved in the final days of the war and one group was the Tuskegee pilots from the 332nd, Fighter Group. The group was based out of Ramatelli, Italy, and flew their routine bombing escort missions protecting the slow flying bombers on their runs. Many missions were met with heavy resistance and heavy fighting was a regular occurrence. The 332nd could possibly be the greatest bombing escorts of WWII. In all their escort missions they never lost a single bomber to enemy fighters. This was due in large part to the hard discipline of the group commander, Benjamin Davis. Davis constantly reminded his pilots that their job was to protect the bombers and not to go off to become an ace. Although frowned upon by many officials the Tuskegee Airmen rapidly became legendary and they soon became the requested white bomber pilots fighter escorts.

Features include:

Diecast body

Cloth seat belts

Diecast chassis

Tampo printed graphics

Individually serialized

Photo etched details

Thanks for looking and we appreciate your business.

Shipping within the Continental US is 12.00.

For our overseas customers please ask for a shipping quote.

The Ace's site provides more pictures and a review here:

http://www.diecastace.com/review_gmp_51004.html

and

http://www.diecastace.com/review_gmp_51004_2.html

If that has grabbed your interest, you can still grab this bird here:

http://www.northstarmusclemodels.com...ess-arlen.html


It's the ground-pounders turn. Two of the best makers of AFV's are Minichamps and Dragon. We feature one of each from these two lines, both in 1:35 scale, which by coincidence is the scale of all our 2007 yearly "winners".

First, from the heavy weight champion, Minichamps, we feature a classic from their World War II line. It is a Jagdpanther, brought to you from the Hobby Bunker for $79.99. It seems that Minichamps military vehicles are becoming harder and harder to find, especially at reasonable prices. So don't pass this one by if you are interested.

German Jagdpanther, France 1944 (4th Version)



Minichamps Item No.: 19024

Price: $99.95 $79.99 Type: Tank Period: World War II Scale: 1/35 Scale

German Jagdpanther, Schw. Heeres Panzer Jagd Abt 553, France 1944 (4th Version)

Put another dent in your credit card by starting here:

http://www.hobbybunker.com/details.cfm?ID=9889

Our final 2007 buy of the year selection is the the most affordable of the group. It is the initial production Tiger 1 from the Dragon 1:35 scale line. You can still get one from the Monkey Depot for $37.95, the lowest price I've seen on the net (or anywhere) for this great looking tank.



Dragon Models 61003





Email this to a friend

BLOW OUT Dragon Armor 1/35 Tiger #122 Initial Production (61003) DA0172 s.Pz.Abt.502

Detailed Description All photos are of actual production tank right out of the box!
Scale: 1/35
Size (Aprox): 9.75 in long from tip of barrel
Materials: Die cast metal hull with plastic parts
Description: This new 1/35 scale fully built-up model features an initial Tiger I with vehicle number “122”. It is skillfully hand painted in a stunning winter camouflage pattern as a member of sPzAbt 502. The original vehicle was one of the first Tiger I's ever to see combat on the Eastern Front.

Some of the peculiar features of this vehicle are the stowage bin mounted on the turret rear, and handrails on the turret sides. The lengthy 8.8cm scale gun barrel can even recoil!

Main Features:
- True to 1/35 scale (2nd release in the series!)
- Fully assembled
- Accurate winter camo and markings for a Tiger I serving with s.Pz.Abt.502
- Historically accurate
- Hatches can be opened and closed
- Front machine gun can rotate and point in different directions
- Barrel can recoil, just like the real thing


Grab one here:

http://www.monkeydepot.com/index.asp...OD&ProdID=9360


So there you have it--our best picks for 2007 and the last for this year.

Have a great New Year's celebration and we'll see you in 2008!
__________________
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Last edited by KG_Jag; 12-31-2007 at 03:41 AM..
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