Modern Era
Military Muscle Release 1
Military Muscle Release 2
Military Muscle Release 3
Military Muscle Release 4
Hollywood on
Wheels
Catalog
 Johnny Lightning, American Glory, M1A1 Abrams |
 Johnny Lightning, American Glory, M1A1 Abrams |
 Johnny Lightning, Desert Storm, M1A1 Abrams |
 Johnny Lightning, Lightning Brigade, M1A1 Abrams with mine attachment |
Johnny Lightning is a series of small scale (approximately 1/87ish) diecast vehicles made by Playing Mantis. Until 2003, most of the armour has been restricted to modern armour, generally M1A1 Abrams, although several other vintage vehicles (jeeps, halftracks, etc.) have been featured in the "D Day" and "Pearl Harbor" series. The M1A1 Abrams has been issued in the "Lightning Brigade" (release 2), "American Glory" (release ?), and "Desert Storm" (release 1) releases.
Johnny Lightning also features "White Lightning" releases.
Best described straight from the Johnny Lightning website:
"A
White Lightning® is a highly sought after‚ rare variation of our Johnny
Lightning® cars. They are produced at the rate of 1% of the production run (plus
or minus 10%) and are randomly packaged into the cases shipped to stores.
Finding one is a real stroke of luck! It does not necessarily have to be "white"
to be a White Lightning. You may find one that has only a white chassis or
perhaps the body is white or the wheels will say "White Lightning." Our newer
packaging is less obvious and heightens the thrill of the hunt."
White Lightning tanks generally feature white treads.
These are the Military releases of the Lightning Brigade, as report by Playing Mantis:
Release |
Product |
Variation |
| 1 | WW II GMC® 6x6 Cargo Truck | Olive Drab |
| 1 | Desert Storm M1A1 Tank | Sand |
| 1 | WW II Willys MB Scout Jeep | Olive Drab |
| 1 | WW II WC54 Ambulance | Olive Drab |
| 1 | WW II M-16 Anti-Aircraft Half Track | Olive Drab |
| 1 | Desert Storm M998 Cargo Humvee® | Sand |
| 1 | JL Direct Car - MASH Ambulance Bus | Olive Drab |
| 2 | WW II Willy's MB Scout Jeep | Olive Drab w/ Tan Roof |
| 2 | M1A1 Abrams Tank with Mine Plow | Green & Brown Camouflage |
| 2 | WW II CCKW Gasoline Tanker | Olive Drab |
| 2 | WW II WC-54 Military Police | Olive Drab |
| 2 | 7th Army M-16 Half-Track | Olive Drab & Brown |
| 2 | CUCV-II Command Tahoe™ | Green & Brown Camouflage |
| 3 | Pearl Harbor - Willys US Navy Shore Patrol Jeep | Flat Dusty Blue |
| 3 | Pearl Harbor - Hickam Field Army Air Corps 1937 Ford Staff Car | Flat Olive Drab |
| 3 | Pearl Harbor - Wheeler Field Army Air Corps 1940 Ford Pick-Up | Flat Olive Drab |
| 3 | Pearl Harbor - WC54 US Navy Ambulance | Flat Light Gray |
| 3 | Pearl Harbor - CCKW 6x6 Troop Carrier | Flat Olive Drab |
| 3 | Pearl Harbor - Willys US Navy Jeep | Flat Dusty Blue |
| 4 | WWII WC-54 Ambulance | Olive Drab |
| 4 | CUCV-II Carrier Cargo / Trooper | Gulf Armor Sand |
| 4 | WWII M2A1 Half Track | Olive Drab |
| 4 | WWII MB Willys Jeep | Flat Bronze |
| 4 | WWII CCKW 6x6 | Olive Drab |
| 4 | M1A1 Tank | Gulf Armor Sand |
| 6 | Battle of the Bulge - WWII Willys Jeep | Olive Drab |
| 6 | Battle of the Bulge - WWII Willys Jeep | Olive Drab |
| 6 | Battle of the Bulge - WWII CCKW 6x6 | Olive Drab |
| 6 | Battle of the Bulge - WWII CCKW 6x6 Tanker | Olive Drab |
| 6 | Battle of the Bulge - WWII WC54 Ambulance | Olive Drab |
| 6 | Battle of the Bulge - WWII M-16 Half Track | Olive Drab |
| 7 | D-Day - WWII Willys MB Jeep | Olive Drab |
| 7 | D-Day - WWII Willys MB Jeep | Olive Drab |
| 7 | D-Day - WWII CCKW 6x6 Truck | Olive Drab |
| 7 | D-Day - WWII WC54 Ambulance | Olive Drab |
| 7 | D-Day - WWII M-16 Half Track | Olive Drab |
| 7 | D-Day - WWII M2 Half Track | Olive Drab |
| 8 | Pearl Harbor II - Willys USN Jeep | USN Gray |
| 8 | Pearl Harbor II - GMC® CCKW Fuel Tanker | Kodak Yellow |
| 8 | Pearl Harbor II - GMC CCKW 6x6 Cargo Truck | Olive Drab |
| 8 | Pearl Harbor II - WC54 Ambulance | Olive Drab |
| 8 | Pearl Harbor II - WC54 Radio Communication Truck | Olive Drab |
| 8 | Pearl Harbor II - USN Ford Pickup Truck | USN Gray |
Military Muscle
Military Muscle Release 1 - WWII
 |
 Johnny Lighting Military Muscle Sherman, 1:100 |
 Johnny Lighting Military Muscle Sherman, 1:100 |
 Johnny Lighting Military Muscle Command Car, 1:87? |
 |
 Johnny Lighting Military Muscle Tiger, 1:100 |
 Johnny Lighting Military Muscle Tiger, 1:100 |
 Johnny Lighting Military Muscle Kubelwagen, 1:87? |
 Johnny Lighting Military Muscle Panther, 1:100 |
 Johnny Lighting Military Muscle Rear of card |
 Johnny Lighting Military Muscle Collectors cards |
|
The Military
Muscle release 1series has two
editions: General Patton and Ground Assault. The General Patton
edition has the two Shermans and the Command car. The Ground
Assault edition has the Tiger, Panther, and Kubelwagen
These models are well done. The detail is good to excellent. They have the "heavy" feel of metal diecast (especially the Tiger!), and they are DIRT CHEAP. I got mine for $2.99 at Hobby Lobby, and I have seen them for $4.99 at KB Toys. A bargain at either price!
Military Muscle Release 2 - War Birds
 War Birds 1:144 |
 Hummer with TOW launcher 1:69 |
 M1A1 Abrams 1:100 |
 Collectors Cards Release 2: ground assault |
|
 Back of Release 2 card featuring the tanks from Release 1 |
The second release is "War Birds". This release consists of 4 cards with 2 WWII vintage airplanes on each card. It also features two cards with one modern era vehicle each card. It call these two the 'Ground Assault' edition: an M1A1 Abrams and a Hummer. If you collect planes, they seem very nice (I am no expert here). The M1A1 and Hummer are well done. The M1A1 appears to be a re-release of the 'Lightning Brigade" tank with a different paint scheme.
 Sherman Sicily, 1:100 |
 Sherman with Hedge cutter, 1:100 |
 Hummer troop carrier 1:69 |
 Halftrack Philippines, 1:100 |
 Command Car WC-57 1:64 |
 Staff Car North Africa, 1:64 |
 Release 3 Cards |
|
The Third release features two Sherman tanks: one green with yellow camo relating to the Sicilian Campaign, and the other solid olive green with a hedge cutter. The other vehicles in the series are: a Humvee cargo/troop carrier, a WWII halftrack with quad AA guns from WWII Philippines, a WC-57 command car, and a Chevy staff car from North Africa
 M3 Lee #23, 1:100 |
 M3 Lee #23, 1:100 |
 M3 Lee #23, 1:100 |
 M3 Grant #22, 1:100 |
 M3 Grant #22, 1:100 |
 Release 4 Tank cards |
 Humvee Cargo/Troop Carrier #21 |
 WWII Jeep #19 |
 M1A1Abrams with mine plow, #20 |
 WWII 6x6 truck #24 |
|
|
The Fourth
release features two M3 tanks: a Green M3 Lee tank, and a desert
tan/brown camo M3 Lee tank. The other vehicles in the series are:
a WWII Jeep (yellow), WWII M1A1 tank with mine attachment (Yes, I
know the M1A1 is a modern tank, I guess JL is taking
"creative license"), Humvee cargo/troop carrier, and a
6x6 truck with "canvass" cover on back (green w/white
camo).
This is a cool release because you just can't find a diecast Lee
or Grant at this scale!
| Release # | # in the release |
# in series; collector card # |
Item | Comments |
| 1 | 1 | 1 | M4A3 Sherman Tank | Green/White |
| 1 | 2 | 2 | M4A3 Sherman Tank | Green/Tan |
| 1 | 3 | 3 | Dodge WC-57 Command Car | OliveGreen |
| 1 | 4 | 4 | Panther G Tank | Green/Camo |
| 1 | 5 | 5 | Tiger 1 Tank | Green/Camo |
| 1 | 6 | 6 | Kübelwagen | Green/Camo |
| 2 | 1,4 | 7 | Curtiss P-40E Warhawk | Olive Drab |
| 2 | 2,3 | 8 | North American P-51D Mustang™ | Moonglow Silver |
| 2 | 1.3 | 9 | Vought F4U-1A Corsair™ | USN Sea Blue |
| 2 | 2,4 | 10 | Republic P-47D Thunderbolt™ "Razorback" | Olive Drab |
| 2 | 5 | 11 | Humvee® Tow Missle Carrier | Flat green |
| 2 | 6 | 12 | M1A1 Abrams Tank | Gulf Armor Sand |
| 3 | 1 | 13 | M4A3 Sherman Tank | Olive Drab w/Yellow camo |
| 3 | 2 | 14 | M4A3 Sherman Tank | Olive Drab w/ hedgecutter |
| 3 | 3 | 15 | Humvee | Tan/Camouflage |
| 3 | 4 | 16 | WW-II Half Track with quad AA guns | Olive Drab |
| 3 | 5 | 17 | Dodge WC-57 Command Car | Olive Drab |
| 3 | 6 | 18 | '41 Chevrolet Special Deluxe Staff Car | Gulf Armor Sand |
| 4 | 1 | 19 | WW-II Jeep | Yellow Flat |
| 4 | 2 | 20 | M1A1 Abrams Tank, w/ mine attachment | Desert Armor Sand |
| 4 | 3 | 21 | Humvee troop carrier, open back | Flat Green |
| 4 | 4 | 22 | M3 Grant Tank | Desert Armor Sand w/ brown camo |
| 4 | 5 | 23 | M3 Lee Tank | Olive Drab |
| 4 | 6 | 24 | WW-II 6x6 Truck | Olive Drab w/ white camo |
Release 2, Restated:
Card 1 - F4U-1A Corsair and a P-40E Warhawk
Card 2 -P-47D Thunderbolt Razorback and a P-51D Mustang
Card 3 -P-51D Mustang and F4U-1A Corsair
Card 4 - P-40E Warhawk and P-47D Thunderbolt Razorback
Card 5 - 1:69 Humvee with TOW missile Launcher
Card 6 - 1:100 M1A1 Abrams with mine attachment
Hollwood on Wheels
Calendar Girls
Saturday evening post
 Hogan's Heroes Kubelwagen |
 |
 |
One of many releases capitalizing on popular television shows, Johnny Lightning released a Kubelwagen honoring Hogun's Heroes. Also released were two Jeeps, one in the Saturday Evening Post series, and one in the Coca-Cola Calendar Girls Series.
 Johnny Lightning 2000 Catalog |
 Johnny Lightning Pg 7 |
 Johnny Lightning 2000-2001 Catalog |
 Johnny Lightning 2000-2001 Catalog |
