Newsletter Special Hobby 4/2018

The April instalment of our regular Special Hobby Newsletter is here with a really wide range of new products for you, bringing among others also superb CMK sets for 1/72 J2M Raiden / Jack kits and a 1/48 Asian Elephant figure which has recently been quite frequently discussed on many social platforms. We have also three new Special Hobby kits for you, firstly the long-awaited two-seater Viggen in the quarter scale which benefits from the addition of a new sprue with a couple of new parts, some of them meant to correct the weak points of the single-seater version. Our 1/32 Tempest family of kits welcome a new arrival, the Mk.VI Tempest, the last of all versions to be released yet. And lastly, the 1/32 Fokker D.II WW1 biplane fighter kit, which I am sure will attract many a modeller with its hugely interesting liveries. The fans of the smaller scale will no doubt be happy with the information on the release of as many as four 1/72 Simple Set kits (ie. PE-bagged, containing complete sprues and instruction sheet, sans any decals or other items). The price of all these sets is the same and fixed, no discounts possible. Due to be released this May is not only the re-issue of our Home Fleet Barracuda model (SH72306),but also yet another reboxing of this arguably very fine model, this time in a Pacific Fleet guise (SH72343). We are also going to release a reboxing of our 1/72 DH Vampire kit with a couple of new parts which will enable the modeller to build it into the very first Vampire version to took to the skies, the early Mk.I. This first of two Mk.I kits is coming with Swedish and Swiss marking options, named Vampire Mk.I 'The First Jet Guardians of Neutrality', kit no.SH72339. A.Riedel SPECIAL HOBBY PLASTIC KITS Hawker Tempest Mk.VI 1/32 Art.no. Scale Barcode 100-SH32055 1/32 8594071086534

During World War Two the opposing sides were constantly competing against each other to keep abreast of the latest technological developments and as a result this led to ever more powerful and effective warplanes. In 1941 the new German Fw 190 fighter aircraft began to enter service and as its main response the British hastily developed the Spitfire Mk.V into the Mk.IX with a better Merlin engine, although they also introduced a new type called the Hawker Typhoon Mk.I into the service too. The Typhoon fighters were rushed into service and suffered from a number of teething problems and it soon became clear that the new fighter would not fit the requirements for a standard day fighter aircraft. Sir Sydney Camm who was Hawker‘s chief designer began to design a new fighter aircraft which was partially based on the Typhoon. At first this was known as the Typhoon Mk.II but soon was renamed as the Tempest and in the end, it became one of the very best WW2 fighter machines. Following the Mk.V and Mk.II versions, the Mk.VI was put into production. Though it happened yet during the war, the type saw front line service in the post war conflict areas, mainly in the Middle East as this version was equipped for harsh desert conditions. The Mk.VI was fitted with a more powerful version of the Sabre Mk.V engine and comparing with its predecessor, the Mk.V verison, it had also larger wing root radiator, oil cooler and engine intakes. The kit’s plastic parts come on eight runners of grey styrene and one with clear parts. All the major parts‘ surface is adorned with very fine rivet lines. Throughout the build, the modeller is quided via an A4 size full-colour instruction booklet. The colour schemes and decal sheets cater for four various Tempest Mk.VI machines, the first of which, ie Camo A option features an overall silver doped machine bearing the name Poppet, Camo B option brings a RAF day fighter scheme coloured machine with red and white fuselage code letters. One of the very few bare metal Tempests is portrayed in Camo C option and wears V fuselage code. The final option is a machine with RAF desert scheme. The decal sheets bring also a full set of airframe stencils including those for the interior and fuel tanks. Read more SK-37E Stör-Viggen 1/48 Art.no. Scale Barcode 100-SH48150 1/48 8594071086558

The SAAB 37 Viggen was an aircraft ahead of its time. Its designers used an unorthodox construction which enabled the plane to meet all requirements which had been laid on it and in some parameters even surpass them. The Swedish Air Force ordered several various versions of the Viggen jet fighter, its basic design formed an universal platform which, using a specialized equipment, enabled the plane to be used for different roles. The first of seven prototype machines took off for its maiden flight on 8 February 1967 with E.Dalström at the controls. The aircraft was powered by a Volvo RM8 turbofan, a licence-built variant of the Pratt & Whitney JT8D with an afterburner and thrust reverser which, in addition to a double-delta wing design, enhanced the plane’s performance the take offs and landings on short airstrips. The avionics of the Viggen was state-of-the-art at the time, the Viggen was the first type to be equipped with a computer with integrated circuits. The first version of the Viggen to see service with the Flygvapnet was the AJ 37 strike fighter followed consequently by the SK 37 two-seat trainer, the SF 37 reconnaissance version with cameras in a redesigned nose section and the anti-shipping SH 37 with much differing avionics, capable of carrying a range of anti-shipping weapons. Ten years after the first Viggen version entered service, the second generation of the SAAB, the JA 37 dedicated fighter machine came into being. Up to date avionics was used and also a more powerful engine in a slightly longer fuselage. The earlier version got this updated avionics too and this way the AJS, ASFS and ASHS 37 versions were created. A certain number of the two seat airframes were converted to the SK 37 E electronic warfare trainers. And that is just the electronic warfare verison, in Sweden also known as the Stör-Viggen, that we are going to bring you in the shape of the currently reboxed 1/48 Viggen kit. The model contains 11 sprues accompanied by photo-etched details both for the exterior and interior of this verison. Compared to the single seater version models (Special Hobby SH48148, SH48188 and all Tarangus boxings), this model benefits from the addition of a new sprue with corrected foreplanes and the auxiliary power unit (or APU). The decal sheet and marking schemes cater for three various machines, two of which had the standard splinter-type camouflage scheme made up of several colour shades, the final marking option flew in two grey scheme and had rather dramatic lightning bolt on its tail fin. Read more Fokker D.II "Grünzweig`s Planes" 1/32 Art.no. Scale Barcode 100-SH32076 1/32 8594071086374 In 1915, Fokker E.I, E.II and E.III monoplanes ruled skies over the Western Front. But their supremacy did not last long, they got obsolete quite soon afterwards and stood no chance against new biplane fighter aeroplanes of the Allies which possessed much better performance. German designers were thus forced to try and find a suitable replacement type quickly. Martin Kreutzer, a Fokker’s designer, came with several varieties of a biplane fighter design designated as the M.17, one of which later reached production status and was known as the Fokker D.II. It was armed with one synchronized machine gun and the first machines of a total of 181 produced got to the front in the summer of 1916 and went on fighting until August 1917. However, beginning with very late 1916, they became to be employed on less exposed sections of the front or just to defend industrial centers against bombing raids of the Allies. The kit contains three styrene sprues, two of them in short run standard, the third one is produced using metal moulds and brings the smallest items of the kit. A photo etched set and a windshield pre-printed on a piece of clear film are also offered in the kit. The decal sheet caters for two machines, both of which were flown by Lt.Fritz Grünzweig, a fighter pilot also renowned as an excellent painter, cartoonist and a buffoon. His machines were adorned with elaborated mouths and eyes on the cowlings and thus belonged to the most eye-catching of all Fokker D.IIs Read more RESIN ACCESSORIES FOR PLASTIC KITS 1/72 J2M3 Raiden Control Surfaces, for Hasegawa kit Art.no. Scale Barcode 129-7394 1/72 8595593125695 This set contains new ailerons, rudder, tailplanes and elevators. All these parts feature higher levels of detail than the original kit parts have. Noteworthy is above all the rendition of the fabric covering to the control surfaces. Read more 1/72 J2M3 Raiden Wing Flaps, for Hasegawa kit Art.no. Scale Barcode 129-7395 1/72 8595593125701 This set offers a set of new landing flaps including the corresponding inside wing structure. The set is tailored to fit the Hasegawa kit. Read more 1/72 J2M3 Raiden Wheel Wells and Covers, for Hasegawa kit Art.no. Scale Barcode 129-7396 1/72 8595593125718 This upgrade brings brand new, much more detailed and deeper main wheel undercarriage wells and thin and nicely detailed u/c covers. Fits the Hasegawa kit. Read more 1/48 Asian Elephant (1 figure) Art.no. Scale Barcode 129-F48341 1/48 8595593125725

This set brings one-piece cast Asian Elephant figure. Elephants were used in India and Burma for tugging aircraft or other heavy burdens. During WW2, both warring sides, the Brits and the Japanese alike, used these animals for such purposes. Read more 1/72 A-4A/B/C(early) Skyhawk Wheels (early with spoke type hubs), for Fujimi kits Art.no. Scale Barcode 129-Q72307 1/72 8595593125732 This set brings brand new undercarriage wheels with spoke hubs. 3D-designed / created master patterns fit model for Fujimi. Read more 1/72 A-4C(late) and later Skyhawk Wheels (late type with plain hubs), for Fujimi, Hasegawa kits Art.no. Scale Barcode 129-Q72308 1/72 8595593125749 Brand new plain hub mainwheels, the master patterns were 3D designed. Read more 1/72 P-40E-N Control Columns (3 pcs.), for Special Hobby, Academy, Hasegawa, Sword, AZ Art.no. Scale Barcode 129-Q72309 1/72 8595593125756 Sada obsahuje 3ks zcela nových a velmi detailně provedených kniplů, které jsou určené nejen pro nové modely Special Hobby. Master vznikl 3D modelací. PŘÍSLUŠNOST: USA / WWII Read more 1/72 F-4B/J/N/S Phantom II – IFR, for Hasegawa kit Art.no. Scale Barcode 129-Q72310 1/72 8595593125763 This set brings parts necessary to portray the open IFR compartment and the probe deployed. Made to fit Hasegawa kits. Read more 1/72 Remora - Radar Jammer Pod for Mirage F.1 and Mirage 2000 Art.no. Scale Barcode 129-Q72311 1/72 8595593125770 The Remora is a French electronic countermeasure pod mainly used with the Mirage F.1 and Mirage 2000. Our resin rendition is cast one-piece with its pylon, two side antennae are separate items. Read more 1/72 Sycomor - Chaff/Flare Dispenser for Mirage F.1 Art.no. Scale Barcode 129-Q72312 1/72 8595593125787 The Sycomor Dispenser pod saw service with Mirage F.1 export versions. It comes as a ready to use one-piece item, the pylon is an integral part of the dispenser. Read more SIMPLE SETS 4/2018 Throughout the month of April, we are going to offer four Simple Set models (ie. polybagged plastic sprues and instruction sheet, sans any other stuff like decals etc.). All these models come for the same, fixed price 8 € and no discounts are possible. The models are as follows: Fouga Magister Simple Set 1/72 Art.no. Scale Barcode 100-SS008 1/72 8594071086268 Folland Gnat Simple Set 1/72 Art.no. Scale Barcode 100-SS009 1/72 8594071086572 P-40E/Kittyhawk Mk.IA Simple Set 1/72 Art.no. Scale Barcode 100-SS010 1/72 8594071086589 P-40N Warhawk Simple Set 1/72 Art.no. Scale Barcode 100-SS011 1/72 8594071086596 UPCOMING MODELS 5/2018 DH.100 Vampire Mk.I 'The First Jet Guardians of Neutrality' 1/72 Art.no. Scale Barcode 100-SH72339 1/72 8594071085865 Fairey Barracuda Mk.II "Home Fleet" 1/72 Art.no. Scale Barcode 100-SH72306 1/72 8594071085568 Fairey Barracuda Mk.II 'Pacific Fleet' 1/72 Art.no. Scale Barcode 100-SH72343 1/72 8594071086565 Now at the end of our newsletter, let us inform you that there are available the very last 50 pieces of our 1/72 Arado Ar 96B-1 kit SH72312. And once sold out completely, the kit is not going to be re-released again.