Special Hobby EN

   Bücker Bü 181 The Bestmann was selected in 1939 as the Luftwaffe’s standard trainer. It served as a trainer throughout the war and, toward the end of the war, was even deployed in combat as a harassment bomber or anti-tank aircraft. Thanks to this, as well as Swedish licensed production and postwar Czechoslovak and Egyptian production, it achieved widespread use and renown. We offered a kit of this interesting aircraft under catalog number SH48120. However, the kit sold out, and during the reprinting process, the mold for the fuselage was damaged. As a result, the kit was out of stock for an extended period. It also took a long time because we not only created a new fuselage mold from modified 3D data but also additional molds with different engine variants. First, we released kit SH48173 with decals for Luftwaffe and Swedish Flygvapnet aircraft. The decals feature two Luftwaffe trainer aircraft and one very colorful Swedish-licensed Sk 25. We have also prepared two sets to accompa...

    Among the new items in the October newsletter, you’ll find two sets for the new 1/72 Junkers Ju 52 3mG4e kit. Set 7538 offers 3D-printed cockpit enhancements, and set 7539 offers cast main landing gear wheels along with 3D-printed main wheel rims, tail skid, and tail wheel. The tail skid is printed from a special, hard material. We are preparing at least three more sets: a complete set of three engines, a set with details to enhance the model’s exterior, and a set for the dorsal gun turret.

 Scott Dredge from Sydney, Australia, sent us photos of his completed 1/48-scale Wirraway and Boomerang models built from Special Hobby kits. Thank you very much for the photos.

 In connection with the release of Tamiya’s 1/35 M36 Jackson kit ( 35390), we have prepared six 3D-printed sets featured in our August and September new releases. These follow up on the previously released F35410 loader figure and 3155 cardboard cartridge tubes. In August, we released P35051 M36 Jackson Armour Plate Bolts, P35052 M36 Jackson Detailed Roadwheels (12 pcs.), and P35053 M36 Jackson Front Headlights and Tail Lamps w/ Guards; and in September, we continued with the sets P35055 M36 Jackson Machine Gun Travel Locks, P35056 M36 Jackson Fuel Tank Filler Caps (Type A) and Extinguisher Pull Handles, and P35057 M36 Jackson Towing Eyes, Horn Guard, and Antenna Base. These sets are designed to replace or supplement plastic parts. They can also be used with M36 Jackson model kits from other manufacturers.

 Martin Pfeifer continues building the 1/48 Heinkel He 177A-3 from the SH48210 kit. We photographed the painted interior quite some time ago; Martin is much further along in the build now. I just forgot to post the photos, and Martin had to remind me....