Newsletter 9/2018

The summer is in full swing now, many of you enjoying the well-deserved holidays, but it is also a high time to start working on the September edition of our regular monthly Newsletter. I am writing these lines in my Tuscon hotel room, but it is no holiday for me here. With plenty of work ahead, I am going to meet up with many of our business partners at this year‘s IPMS Phoenix Covention. However, besides this newsletter, there is also one very pleasant thing coming later today, our visit to the Pima Air & Space Museum. I think I even might get inspired there for some of our new projects, who knows? But definitely, these new possible project will come to fruition in rather distant future, now we have to focus on our more recent models. So, let’s take a look at the models and sets which we are going to mention in this newsletter. And at the very end you will also find a list of those of our earlier models which have recently been sold out for good and are not to be produced again and please, do not ask for them. Well, our September new releases are as follows: A. Riedel SPECIAL HOBBY PLASTIC KITS

Mirage F.1C/C-200 'Armée de `l Air' 1/72 Art.no. Scale Barcode 100-SH72388 1/72 8594071086725 The Mirage F.1C came about as a private venture by the French Dassault company while it had been engaged in a project designed to fulfil the future needs of the French Air Force (Armée de l´Air) for a modern jet aircraft capable of carrying out interception and tactical attack roles carrying conventional or nuclear armament. A variety of designs were put forward in order to replace the outstanding Mirage III family which were currently filling this role and these were originally designed the Mirage IIIT, Mirage IIIF, Mirage G and Mirage G8. The Armée de l´Air chose the most promising of these designs which was the Mirage G8 with a variable-sweep wing but as the military expected a prolonged development of this advanced (for the day) technology they also decided to go ahead with the simpler Mirage IIIF which could enter service sooner and help bridge the gap before the new G8A could be finished. Two prototypes of the IIIF designated F.2 and F.3 were ordered and these were to be powered by a JTF10 engine. On top of these government contracts Dassault also decided to go ahead with their own simpler private venture design which featured a smaller airframe powered by an Atar 9K power plant. The first flight of the Mirage F.1 took place on 23rd December 1966 and production aircraft entered service with the Armée de l´Air as the F.1C single-seater fighter and F.1B two-seater trainer versions. During their service with France a number of these aircraft were upgraded by fitting of IFR probes which resulted in the designation F-1C-200. The Armée de l´Air also flew dedicated reconnaissance and a ground-attack versions of the MirageF.1 designated respectively as the F.1CR and CT, the latter being converted from the earlier F.1-200 airframes. A total of 246 Mirage F.1`s of all versions served with the French and Dassault also tried to offer the aircraft as the F.1E (E for European) version with a more powerful engine to Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands and Norway as a replacement for their F-104 Starfighter`s but these countries chose the F-16 Fighting Falcon instead and the F.1E remained only as a prototype. Nevertheless two other European NATO members did fly the Mirage F.1 with Greece and Spain ordering the type and it was also exported successfully further afield. In South America Mirage F.1`s were ordered by Ecuador (F.1JA and JE two seaters) for the Fuerza Aerea Ecuatoriana while in Africa and Asia the Mirage F.1 proved especially popular, serving with the air forces of Gabon, South Africa, Morocco, Libya, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Qatar and Kuwait. Flying with these air forces this variant of the famous Mirage family saw combat action the world, including mock dogfights over the Aegean between Greek F.1`s and Turkish fighters, French aircraft saw action over Chad, Libya, Afghanistan, Mali, Ivory Coast and even stood up against Iraqi Mirage F.1`s during the 1st Gulf War, Ecuadorian F.1`s were used in cross border skirmishes with Peru and South African Mirages also saw extensive action as a ground attack aircraft and fighter during the long Border War with Angola and Mozambique, often coming up against Cuban flown Soviet Mig 17, 21 and 23 jet fighters. Libyan F.1`s alo saw brief action during the Civil War of 2011 when several of them defecting to Malta. Although it is now quite an old aircraft the Mirage F.1 still sees frontline service with several countries including Libya which is bolstering its remaining fleet by buying some additional ex French aircraft, Gabon has bought six ex South African F.1AZ aircraft and Iran is believed to still fly some of the 24 ex Iraqi Mirage F.1BQ and EQ`s which defected here during the Gulf War. Finely detailed model of the Mirage F.1C/C-200 comes on six styrene sprues and one with clear parts. The decal sheet offers markings for two French F.1C machines and two more of the later C-200 version witch were equipped with the in-flight refuelling boom. Three of them are greyish blue on the upper surface with silver painted undersurfaces and feature colourful markings of their respective fighter units. The fourth machine, operated over African Djibouti, sports a desert camouflage scheme and carries, along its underwing armament, also a centreline fuel tank with a shark mouth and eyes. More info

Loire 130Cl "Colonial" 1/48 Art.no. Scale Barcode 100-SH48172 1/48 8594071086695 In 1933, the French Navy requested a new reconnaissance and light bomber seaplane able to serve aboard warships and launched using their catapults. Six companies offered their designs, the Loire 130 was the final winner. It was a shoulder-mounted wing monoplane with a pusher engine above the wing and was produced in two versions. The Loire 130M (for Métropole) saw service in home waters while the Loire 130 Cl (Colonial) machines were sent to the tropical areas. The latter airframe was built to withstand more demanding climate, it also got larger radiator and the crew was better protected from the elements. The Loire 130 began to be deployed on all catapult-equipped warships even before the outbreak of the war and also on shore bases in France, Africa and Indochina. The machines took part in the defence of France in 1940 and when the country was eventually defeated, they went on to serve with the Vichy forces. Several airframes were used by the Free French forces, too. The Vichy France even ordered further production. Some captured machines were evaluated by the German Luftwaffe. The Loire 130s which were operated from African bases struggled with the shortage of spare parts and in 1943, when French colonies in Africa were liberated and joined war effort with the Allies, as many as fifteen airframes were still airworthy and took part in war operations. Machines of the Loire 130 Cl version did their part in the French Indochina War against Siam and a handful of the machines flew till the end of the war, one of them was seen flying in Saigon as late as 1949. The decals bring markings for four machines. One of them saw service in the Indochinese Union (commonly known as French Indochina) transporting French Navy commanding officers and the marking she wore underwent certain evolution over the course of her flying career, all these alterations have painstakingly researched and illustrated in the camouflage scheme and the decal sheet. The second machine with eye-catching livery and red and yellow Vichy stripes was operated by the French Naval Aviation in Africa. The third camouflage option brings a green-camouflaged Loire 130Cl machine with red empennage which saw service between 1943 and 44 also in French Indochina. The final option is a Free French Loire based at Fort-de-France, Martinique. The kit contains four grey styrene sprues, one clear plastic sprue and a set of detailed resin cast parts. More info

Supermarine Spitfire Mk.VC 'Overseas Jockeys' 1/48 Art.no. Scale Barcode 100-SH48195 1/48 8594071086749 The Supermarine Spitfire definitely belongs among the most famous warplanes of the Second World War, and the Spitfire Mk.V version was produced in the largest numbers. The Mk.Vc subversion was equipped with a strenghtened wing enabling the machine to carry various cannon / machine gun configuration and bombs beneath the wing too. The ongoing production brought enough airframes to equip not only British Isles based units, but also those in overseas, so the Spitfire Mk VCs‘ combat area reached as far as Malta, India and Australia. The units using this version also varied in the origin of their aircrews, the pilots fighting on the Mk.VCs came from various countries of the Commonwealth, from France, the USA, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia and many other countries. And that was just our aim to show this interesting diversity in the aircrew origin and different combat areas the Spitfire Mk.VCs were operated from. The kit’s instruction booklet and decal sheet offer the following scheme options – a machine of Polish ace Antoni Glowacki, named the cockoo with kill markings beneath the cockpit, an Australian machine flown by Wg Cdr. Clive ‘Killer’ Robertson Caldwell which bore serial number BS295 and famous CR-C fuselage code letters. The third machine wore rather unusual camouflage scheme and US star and bar insignias, the fourth of the kit’s options was a French machine as operated by GC1/7 ‘Provence’, marked White 4 and the final option is a Yugoslav Mk.Vc used by 1.(lovačka) eskadrila of the NOVJ (or also known as No.352 'Yugoslav' Sqn. RAF) with Yugoslav national markings and bomb mission marking under the cockpit. The kit comprises of 10 grey styrene sprues, one sprue with clear canopy parts, resin cast details and a fret of photo etches. More info

RESIN ACCESSORIES FOR PLASTIC KITS

1/35 Trailer for Goliath Tracked Mine, for Tamiya kit Art.no. Scale Barcode 129-3141 1/35 8595593126241 The Leichter Ladungsträger, also known as the Goliath, was a small, wire-guided destruction vehicle used by the German Wehrmacht during WW2. It resembled a tiny tank sans the turret and was capable of carrying up to 60 - 100 kg of explosives to the target area where the charge was set off. Two variants were in production, the SdKfz 302 powered solely by the means of an electric motor and the SdKfz 303 with a petrol engine. To the front line, the Goliath was transported on a two wheel trailer towed by a vehicle or even using human power. The model of the electric-powered SdKfz302 Goliath is produced by Tamiya in 1/35 scale, but as it doesn’t contain the transport trailer, we spoted this gap on the market and prepared a resin model of the trailer for you. It has been 3D designed and the master parts produced on a 3D printer. More info

1/32 WWII Bristol Centaurus Engine for Tempest Mk.II for Special hobby kit Art.no. Scale Barcode 129-5129 1/32 8595593126258

The Bristol Centaurus sleeve valve engine was the pinnacle of the British radial engine development. Although it was designed during WW2, it saw service mainly in the immedate post-war period and powered such combat aeroplane as the Tempest Mk.II, Sea Fury, Buckingham, Brigant and also in civil-used Ambassadors. Our replica of the Centaurs (designed to fit the SH32054 Tempest Mk.II model) is also a pinnacle sui generis. Alongside the Sabre in-line engine (CMK 5110 set) it presents the very best we have prepared as yet for 1/32 scale models. The cylinders come as separate parts, there are two styles of the gearbox with and without its aerodynamic-shaped housing which allows the modeller to instal the engine into the model either with or without the propeller. The set contains also the detachable engine cover panels. More info 1/72 Ki-43-II/III Hayabusa Cockpit Set, for Special Hobby kit Art.no. Scale Barcode 129-7408 1/72 8595593126265 Detailed resin cockpit (with a floor, control column, pilot’s seat with belts and an instrument panel) for the Special Hobby’s model of the iconic Japanese Army Air Force WW2 fighter aeroplane. The instrument faces are pre-printed on a piece of clear film. More info

1/72 Ki-43 II Hayabusa Control Surface Set, for Special Hobby Art.no. Scale Barcode 129-7409 1/72 8595593126272 This set consists of the ailerons, tailplanes, elevators and the rudder and has been designed for the Special Hobby’s model of the IJAAF WW2 fighter plane. More info

1/72 Ox towing a Me 163B w/2 Luftwaffe Ground Crew Art.no. Scale Barcode 129-F72346 1/72 8595593126289 At the final stages of WW2, the Third Reich faced serious shortage of fuel and to save the maximum amount possible, draft animals were used for taxiing aircraft on airfields, too. Even the most advanced jet and rocket-powered military aircraft such as the Me 262 or Me 163 were often seen in 1945 being towed like a mere middle ages style ox cart. This set contains two groundcrew members of the Luftwaffe with a draft animal ready to tow a Me 163 Komet on the airfield (the figures have been sculpted based on a period photo. However, a photo of a Bf 109G being towed by such poor animal also exists). The cow offered in our set can be used in any other type of diorama, too. More info

1/48 AF-2/3 Guardian Mainwheels for Special Hobby kit Art.no. Scale Barcode 129-Q48327 1/48 8595593126296 Special Hobby AF-2S (SH48135) and AF-2W (SH48158) models are very nice, indeed, small mistake unfortunately occured in the wheel hub area. The wheels were designed based on a set of photos taken in a museum where the displayed aircraft had been fitted with a type of wheel not used on operational machines. The difference is in the number of slots in the hub, and our set brings the correct style ones now. Our latest model of the Guardian, kit #SH48194 already comes with the correct hub type but its styrene tyres cannot offer as much detail as the resin ones of this set. Designed and master part created using 3D technology. More info

1/35 German WWI 7.58 cm Leichter minenwerfer n/A – all resin kit Art.no. Scale Barcode 129-RA059 1/35 8595593126302

During WW1, the army of the German Empire used several types of mortars. Mortars were fairly new kind of military equipment and various armies employed them for the first time in the first decades of the 20th century. The 7.58cm Leichter minenwerfer was a light-weight weapon comparing to other mortars and was produced in two styles, the earlier known as the a/A and the later n/A (standing for alte Art and neu Art). The n/A variety was equipped with a circular firing platform which permitted a full 360 degree traverse. The barrel was longer and allowed for a direct fire too. These mortars were used by engineer units for a siege type of warfare. By the winter of 1916-1917, these mortars were transferred to infantry units and because of their light weight they could be transported on two wheel carts or even carried by a group of six men. They were used against enemy’s tanks too, because of their 0° - 27° elevation direct fire capability. This nicely detailed model has been designed using 3D and master parts created on a 3D printer and it could be finished in either the transport configuration or firing position (with the barrel positioned for direct or indirect fire). More info

UPCOMING MODELS 10/2018

P-40K-1/5 Warhawk 1/72 Art.no. Scale Barcode 100-SH72379 1/72 8594071086466

AJ-37 Viggen / Reissue 1/48 Art.no. Scale Barcode 100-SH48148 1/48 8594071084820

Fieseler Fi 103 / V-1 1/32 Art.no. Scale Barcode 100-SH32071 1/32 8594071086770