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The 2016 is the first year that saw a new name for our company, changing from MPM production to Special Hobby in January, and clearly this change was a good move. Although we haven´t achieved every single goal we planned to, we still reckon this year as a success. A great deal of it was, no doubt, brought about by the ever increasing quality of our products, the 3D-designed injection moulded plastic model kits and cast resin sets alike. Also our colleagues from the sales and marketing department and all the other Special Hobby employees must take the lion's share of the responsibility for our current results. Last but by no means least, we want to express our thanks to you, the distributors, model shops, and the modellers as well. Our huge thanks for the successful cooperation, and let me assure you we look forward to an equally successful next year. Now let us unveil our last model announcements for the end of 2016:
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IMPORTANT INFO
Our long-time unavailable kits
SH48093, SH72113, SH72116
are returning to our catalogue, so you can order kits again or confirm your earlier pre-orders.
On the other hand,
SH72103, SH72057, SA72016, SH72082, SH48067
have now sold out and are withdrawn from production.
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SPECIAL HOBBY PLASTIC MODELS
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The Mirage F.1C came to being as a private venture of the French Dassault company. The French Air Force, or the Armée de l´Air, had ordered two prototype aircraft named Mirage F.2 and Mirage F.3 which were to be equipped with a JTF10 engine. However, Dassault built at their own expense an additional prototype, smaller than the two previous and fitted with an Atar 9K power plant. This machine, which was eventually chosen, took off for its maiden flight on 23 December 1966 and production aircraft were put on strength of the Armée de l´Air in single-seater fighter version known as the F.1C and two-seater F.1B trainer version. During their service, a number of the machines were upgraded by fitting of In –Flight Refuelling (IFR) probes which gave the F-1C-200 version. The French Air Force also used a dedicated reconnaissance and a ground-attack version, designated the F.1CR and CT respectivelly, the latter being converted from F.1-200 machines. In total, 246 of all versions served with the French, and the type was exported abroad where it enjoyed success with foreign air forces. In Europe, the Greeks and the Spanish flew the Mirage F.1C, in South America the sole operator was the Fuerza Aerea Ecuatoriana, but in Africa and Asia the Mirage F.1C an B were put on strength of the air forces of Gabon, South Africa, Morocco, Libya, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Qatar and Kuwait and were used in many clashes around the world, including non-shooting dogfights between Greek pilots and their Turkish adversaries, as well as French military actions in Chad, Ecuadorian over-border skirmishes with Peru, battles of South African Mirages against Angola-based Cuban fighters, and the list might end with mentioning the Iran-Iraq war in which the Mirages were used by both sides. Even today the type continues in service in several countries.
The reconnaissance version Mirage F.1CR was operated solely by the Armée de l´Air and was the last French version of the F.1 jet to remain in service, being withdrawn in June 2014. The last unit of the French military to field the Mirage F.1 was the Escadron de Reconnaissance 2/33 Savoie. Before their withdrawal, the reconnaissance Mirages had been used in campaigns in Chad, Iraq, Afghanistan, Serbia, Mali and Libya.
Comparing the kit with our earlier Mirage F.1 models, this one will benefit from an additional sprue, making it possible to portray the model in a correct reconnaissance configuration. This sprue has been designed to contain Corail underwing chaff/flare dispensers used in the final stages of the Mirage F.1CR service, the air-cooling unit for the Cyclope thermographic sensor, or the unique tailcone mounted Lacroix flare dispenser. A sprue with canopy clear parts also comes with this model.
The decal sheet printed by Cartograf covers three French machines, each of them in a different camouflage scheme. The Mirage with 33-TA fuselage codes wore very special four-tone camouflage used during Red Flag excercises in the USA in the late 80s and its nose section was adorned with a tally of two F-15 adversary fighters brought down. Of interest may be the identity of the pilot responsible for this success, by the name of André Lanata, a young captain then, who currently has reached the top position in the ranks of the French Air Force, being the Chief of Staff of the Armée de l´Air. The second option is a desert-camouflaged machine that in the winter of 1987-88 took part in the Chad campaign, and the last one is a grey-green painted CR Mirage that saw action over the former Yugoslavia, operating in 1999 from Solenzara base, Corsica and participating in recce missions over Kosovo as a part of NATO launched Operation Allied Force.
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The Seafire naval fighter aircraft came into existence during WW2 as a mere stopgap measure based on a standard Mk.V Spitfire airframe adapted by adding naval equipment. Three versions were produced, which were fitted with a RR Merlin engine, which were the Mk.I to Mk.III, followed later by Griffon-equipped Seafires Mk.15, 17, 45, 46 and 47 (Special Hobby offers the Mk.15 version under cat.nos. SH48116 and 48125). The Seafire Mk.III was unlike its predecessors, equipped also with a folding wing. A low-altitude tuned Merlin 45 engine made the plane much faster at sea level than the then current land-based Spitfire Mk.XII was. Eventually, the Mk.III Seafire version turned out to be the best WW2 naval fighter of British origin. During its service on aircraft carriers, the Seafire´s delicate and fragile undercarriage was a drawback, but once aloft, the fighter became a formidable enemy, which may have been witnessed even by Japanese pilots in the final stages of the war.
The SH48052 kit brings you the chance to build one of three Seafires that operated from aircraft carriers in the Pacific, one of which was flown by Sub/Lt R.H. Reynolds, a pilot with the highest score achieved in a Seafire. The other machine took part of the very last combat of WW2 that British naval fighter pilots fought in. On the morning of August 15, 1945. Sub/Lt G.J.Murphy shot down two Zero fighters in this engagement. The kit comes on five sprues of grey styrene, one clear sprue of canopy parts, photo-etched parts and a set of self-adhesive masks.
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Before the outbreak of the Second World War, Australia was looking for a new aircraft suitable for the roles of advanced training and ground attack, and eventually found one in the form of the licence-built NA-16, a predecessor to the famous Texan training aircraft. A licence for the aircraft was bought, Australian designers improved the type to fit local needs and production was commenced in a newly-built state-owned plant. The mass-produced type received the name Wirraway, and was used for ground attack missions, precision bombing, patrolling and even enjoyed his few moments of fame in a fighter role. Of course, it also served faithfully in pilot training not only during the war, but also in the years after the conflict. Because of the unexpected Japanese attack against the USA and its allies, the first batches of Wirraways saw combat deployment at the end of 1941, where they took part in the first fightings over Rabaul, Malaya and elsewhere too.
Our model depicts the CA-9 which was the mid-production version. Three sprues of grey styrene accompany one clear sprue with canopy parts, plus the modeller also gets detailed resin parts and a set of PE parts. The decal sheet caters for three machines, one of which was embelished with nose artwork.
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100-SH48177
Junkers Ju 88C-4 "Night Intruder"
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100-SH72198
Nakajima Ki-115 Tsurugi
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100-SH72199
Nakajima Ki-115 "Battle of Tokio 1946"
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Please note, that we still have a discount on our CMK sets. Check them out on our e-shop - just click on the link below.
CMK SALE
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The cylindrical-shaped AS 250-lb Mk.VIII bomb was one of the most widespread version of British anti-submarine bombs. This set offers two detailed resin bombs with separate suspension lugs. The bomb can be used with a wide variety of anti-submarine patrol aircraft not only of British provenance.
AFFILIATION: UK / WW II
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Two nicely detailed resin 500-lb Mk.IV anti-submarine bombs are offered in this set. The tail fins, rear ring struts and suspension lugs come as separate pieces. The bomb can be used with a wide variety of anti-submarine patrol aircraft not only of British provenance.
AFFILIATION: UK / WW II
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Two nicely detailed resin 600-lb Mk.I anti-submarine bombs are offered in this set. The tail fins, rear ring struts and suspension lugs come as separate pieces. The bomb can be used with a wide variety of anti-submarine patrol aircraft not only of British provenance.
AFFILIATION: UK / WW II
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The set contains all new cockpit for a model of the first production version of the German WW2 rocket fighter aircraft. Tailored to fit the Condor range model and the first batch of the same kit reissued by Special Hobby. Among the new parts there is the cockpit tub, pilot´s seat, control column and the instrument panel. There is also a fret of photo-etched parts.
AFFILIATION: Germany / WW II
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This set brings separate control surfaces (landing flaps, ailerons, rudder) for a model of the German WW2 rocket interceptor aircraft. Intended to be used with the Condor range model or its reissue by Special Hobby.
AFFILIATION: Germany / WW II
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Detailed resin rendition of two French air-to-surface, wire-guided anti-shipping missiles which were used not only with French aircraft and helicopters. The countries which introduced this weapon were many (France, UK, Spain, Argentina, Greece, Turkey, Iraq and others) as well as the types armed with the weapon (to name only few of them: the Breguet Alizé, Lockheed P-2 Neptune, Breguet Atlantique, Westland Wasp, Aérospatiale Alouette III, Hawker-Siddeley Nimrod, Westland Wessex and others). The 1982 Falkland War made the missile famous as the AS-12s launched from Westland Wessex helicopters hit and sunk Argentine submarine ARA Santa Fe.
AFFILIATION: France, UK / modern
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Four detailed resin Matra F2 rocket pods come with this set. The pod with six 68mm rockets was used with many French and British military aircraft and helicopters as were the Mirage III, Jaguar and others.
AFFILIATION: France, UK / modern
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Detailed cast resin pilot´s seat for a Hurricane fighter aircraft model released by Airfix.
AFFILIATION: UK / WW II
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I love the new box of Mirage
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