News from Special Hobby 06/2021

Even though the past month saw just two new items from the SH range of plastic model kits, we need to admit that May was really very hectic. And not just May, the whole spring of 2021 is literally packed up to the brim with new items. On the top of the sales firmly stands the 1/32 Westland Whirlwind Mk.I(SH32047) with the Messerschmits Bf 109E-3 and E-4 (SH72443 and SH72439) following closely, along with the 1/48 Tempest and several other 1/72 kits as are the SF-260, Mirage F.1, Martin 139WC/WSM/WT and the military vehicle models the Sd.Kfz250/1 and Sd.Ah 115 Flatbed Trailer. And yes we do believe that all we have prepared for the month of June will be equally well received by the modelling community. Going to be re-released is the 1/72 SMB-2 Super Mystère  'Sa`ar – Israeli Storm in the Sky' kit, being joined on the shelves by such hot new items as the P-40M Warhawk/Kittyhawk Mk.III kit (offering a really nice choice of schemes), the sleek Japanese twin engined Tachikawa Ki-54 or even one more Mess, which this time is the machine gun-fitted E-1 version of our earlier-released and highly acclaimed Bf-109E3/4 kit.    And the wave of new kits is definitely not going to get any weaker in the months to come. We are simply set to overwhelm you with plethora of new items such as the Meteor Mk.14, 3.7cm PaK 36 German Anti-tank Gun’, 7.5 cm PaK 40 ‘German Anti-tank Gun’, Potez 25B2 ‘Polish Jupiter Version’ or even a couple of re-released kits with new decal guises as the Vampire Mk.3 and Mk.9, 1/72 and 1/48 Viggens or the Vautour IIB. We are also cooperating with ICM to rebox their 1/32 model of the Hi-Tech version of the AH-1G Cobra model of the Vietnam War fame. The same chopper, just a bit smaller (so in 1/48 scale) is currently being worked on by our team with the first test shots already revealed, and we are so very pleased that the images got huge attention from the readers of our blog. There is also the 1/72 Mirage III in the pipeline, waiting to be finished and released, but all in due time.    Our own pre-cut painting masks may be around just shortly now, but they have already achieved the status of really handy product able to provide the modeller with much needed assistance in painting some difficult areas. So, it leads to make the range of such masks even wider. In this newsletter, you will find our new masks for the 1/48 Tempest and 1/72 P-40M/Kittyhawk Mk.III. In the next one, there will be similar sets for the Ki-54. The resin sets usually reflect the latest new models available on the market. So, this time our team are working on a couple of sets for the ICM 1/32 Tiger Moth or Tamiya’s 1/48 F-4B Phantom II. We cannot forget our own models for sure, so start looking for the coming sets for the 1/72 Messerchmitt Bf109 or 1/32 Whirlwind. Following the serious success of the Recon Lightning sets, we are working on conversion sets for Merlin engine powered Beaufighter Mk.IIs in both major scales.     A new range of cutting tools is also getting ready for the customer, it is supposed to become available later this year and will increase or range of modelling tools.   Unlike the previous, slightly political editorial, you can see that today we have tried to focus only on the topic common to us, modellers. However, allow me to get back, just for a tiny while, to last month’s editorial, which raised rather strong response from the readers. Those which came from abroad were in majority quite positive ones. Those negative, however came mainly from our fellow citizens. So it might seem that the old Czech saying ‘The hit goose always squeals the most’ (which can be loosely translated as ‘He that has a great nose thinks everybody is speaking of it’) once again proved itself right. Well, never mind. As I already wrote last time, the model kit production is running well and we do believe it will continue to do so in the future, too.  A. Riedel   SPECIAL HOBBY PLASTIC MODEL KITS

Tachikawa Ki-54 Hei / Hickory Art.no. Scale Barcode 100-SH72270 1/72 8594071087944      The Ki-54 Hickory was a WW2 Japanese twin engine aeroplane which was manufactured in four main versions used for pilots training, wireless operators and navigators training, aerial gunnery training and finaly the version used for both transport and anti-submarine patrols. The kit comes on four styrene sprues and one with clear parts.    The first incarnation of our kit is the transport variety and brings three Japanese airframes, one of which in two guises. Among the schemes you will also find the Ki-54 Hei / Hickory no.5541 which had to make an emergency landing on the Towada lake on 27 September 1943. The plane was found and fished out of the lake on 5 September 2012 and was put on display at the Misawa museum. An airframe which can boast with its interesting past is the 10.Dokiuritsu Hikodan Shireibu machine which was used to fly the Lieutenant General Masao Baba capitulation delegation to Borneo. For this particular option, the decal sheet has the green capitulation crosses as well. the Ki-54 has never been kitted in styrene format before decals cater for airframes with interesting history paint masks also available Read more

Messerschmitt Bf 109E-1 ‘Lightly Armed Emil’ Art.no. Scale Barcode 100-SH72454 1/72 8594071088194   In the first two years of World War Two, the Messerschmitt Bf 109E was arguably among the top fighter aeroplanes of the world, if not the very best of them. The type was produced in two major varieties differing by their armament – the so-called lightly-armed type and those with heavier punch. The former was fitted with four machine guns, two of them above the engine, the other two in the wings, the production gave versions E-1, E-5 and E-6.    This kit is a follow up to the E-3 and E-4 versions of Special Hobby Bf 109E kits which have recently been awarded the Model of the Year 2021 prize. It comes on two grey styrene sprues, one clear parts sprue and the decal sheet brings markings for four interesting machines operated by the Luftwaffe. The picked schemes offers machines flown by such ace fighter pilots as were Fritz Losigkeit who spent some time during the war flying in Japan and H.Trautloft, there is also a machine in two shades of green wearing a witch emblem under the cockpit and a machine of JG2 commanding officer Obers Gerd von Massow. superbly detailed model interesting decals, machines of the ace pilots this version has never been on the market before in this quality available separately are the painting masks and CMK resin sets Read more

P-40M Warhawk/Kityhawk Mk.III Art.no. Scale Barcode 100-SH72382 1/72 8594071086480 The Warhawk was a true hero and a workhorse of the Second World War. Its many various versions fought with the Allied air forces over almost all fronts and theatres of operations. The M version was the penultimate production version and was delivered both to the USAAF and the Allies. And this is the very reason there is so many interesting-looking colour schemes which the M Warhawks wore during their flying career.     Our model has been kitted to a very high standard, three styrene sprues and one clear are joined by a decal sheet offering markings for four machines. You will find the almost mandatory Wairarapa Wildcat of the RNZAF top ace pilot G.B.Fisken, then there are two US machines and one as flown by an Aussie pilot. Quite difficult to chose just one from all these ‘Pacific Warriors’, we believe. Interesting paint schemes The best 1/72 P-40 currently available Large number of resin sets and painting masks available separately Read more

SMB-2 Super Mystère  'Sa’ar – Israeli Storm in the Sky' / reedice Art.no. Scale Barcode 100-SH72345 1/72 8594071087135 This kit depicts the French jet fighter fitted with an US-made J52 powerplant in its longer tail section as operated by the IAF. The model is produced using steel moulding tools, comes on as many as nice styrene sprues (two of them comes twice) and one clear parts sprue. finely detailed and highly accurate model meticulously researched decals including full sets of stencils, the sheet cater for three IAF airframes in various schemes wide variety of underwing stores included in the kit resin armament available separately to make your kit look even more like before a real mission Read more

SPECIAL MASK

Tempest Mk.II/V Mask Art.no. Scale Barcode 100-M48006 1/48 8594071088187 Pre-cut painting masks for Special Hobby Tempest Mk.II/V. Read more

AT-6 Texan/Harvard Mk.II/IIA/IIB Mask Art.no. Scale Barcode 100-M72024 1/72 8594071088170 Pre-cut painting masks for Special Hobby AT-6 Texan/Harvard Mk.II/IIA/IIB. Read more

P-40M Warhawk/Kittyhawk Mk.III MASK Art.no. Scale Barcode 100-M72026 1/72 8594071088231 Pre-cut painting masks for Special Hobby P-40M Warhawk/Kittyhawk Mk.III. Read more

RESIN KITS & SETS

Gloster Meteor F Mk.8/9 Gun Bays 1/48 / for Airfix kit Art.no. Scale Barcode 129-4419 1/48 8595593128672 This set contains open fuselage Hispano cannon compartments for either the Mk.8 fighter or the Mk.9 reconnaissance Meteors as kitted by Airfix. Read more

Gloster Meteor F Mk.8/9 Main Fuel Tank 1/48 / for Airfix kit Art.no. Scale Barcode 129-4420 1/48 8595593128689 The Meteor fuselage fuel tank was located behind the cockpit, its covering panel could be removed for servicing. And now you can do the same while building the Airfix kit if you use this resin set. Also contains photo etches. Read more

A-26 Invader Wheels Late Type 1/32 / for Hobby Boss kit Art.no. Scale Barcode 129-5134 1/32 8595593128665 Detail resin cast wheels for the Hobby Boss models  of the US A-26 Invader ground attack and bomber aeroplane. The kit contains black vinyl items which not liked very much by the modellers. Read more

Hurricane PR Mk.I/II - Conversion Set // for Arma Hobby kit Art.no. Scale Barcode 129-7465 1/72 8595593128559 Conversion set with two styles of the Hurricane underbelly camera pods, their differ by the position of the cameras within the housing. The decals offer markings for one PR Mk.I and two PR Mk.II Hurricanes. Read more

Junkers Ju 88A-1 Cockpit 1/72 / for Revell kit Art.no. Scale Barcode 129-7467 1/72 8595593128603 Resin cast detail set directly replacing the styrene cockpit parts of the  Junkers Ju 88A-1 kit.  Just swap the complete cockpit floor, side consoles, instrument panel and armament for the new ones. Comes with photo etches and clear film. Read more

Junkers Ju 88A-2 - Rocket Assisted Take Off Unit / Walter HWK 109-500 1/72 / for Revell kit Art.no. Scale Barcode 129-7469 1/72 8595593128658 Auxiliary take off rocket engine pods used by the Luftwaffe of their Junkers Ju 88 A-2 bombers and several other bombers and transport aircraft. Read more

F-16MLU Cockpit 1/72 / for Revell kit Art.no. Scale Barcode 129-7470 1/72 8595593128696 Detail resin cast set which is a direct replacement for the original styrene one as found in the Revell’s F-16MLU kit. The set also contains a fret of photo etches with a new instrument panel and a few details for the hot seat. Read more

German He 162A Mechanics (2 pcs.) / for Special Hobby kit Art.no. Scale Barcode 129-F72372 1/72 8595593128597 The new Special Hobby Heinkel He 162 kit will no doubt enjoy some more attention from a pair of ground crew, do you think not? So give the little Sparrow what it deserves in the form of the set of the two mechanics, the first of who is opening the armament compartment, the other taking a closer look as if to learn something new from his superior. This is just one more of the already nice and wide range of He 162 sets, which are as follows: F72365 Pilot figures, 7443 Armament Set, 7444 Engine Set, Q72361 Seat and Q72362 Wheels. The mechanics themselves will definitely not object being put to another Luftwaffe airframes. Read more

Junkers Ju 88A - Open Wing Fuel Fills (2 pcs.) 1/72 / for Revell kit Art.no. Scale Barcode 129-Q72394 1/72 8595593128641 This nice set brings the open fuel tank filler caps for any version of the Revell’s Junkers Ju 88 kits. Read more