News from Special Hobby 07/2021

This summer will see not just the release of a couple of new model kits, we have prepared reissues of several succesfull models from the past too. So you might start looking forward again to the 1/32 scale Heinkel He 100D also known as the (fictional of course) Heinkel He 113 in German markings, plus the Spanish and Moroccan Mirage F.1. Up the sleeve we also have the Dornier Do 27 as flown with the Bundesluftwaffe and Belgian or Spanish air forces and the French, Danish and Dutch Sea Otter. The brand new kit releases for this month comprise, among others, the 1/72 3.7cm PaK 36 anti tank gun in the colours of several countries including China. Similarly, in the month of August we will be releasing yet another German cannon, the 7.5cm PaK 40, in the colour schemes of the Wehrmacht (no surprise) and even something as exotic as the Vietnamese army as they put this weapon in service against Uncle Sam’s Navy vessels. Other models to become available during August are for example the NF Mk.14 version of the Meteor jet in British and French colours which interestingly offers a bit of a domestic flavour too as one of these Meteors was flown by M.Liskutin, a brave Czechoslovak pilot who had to flee his homeland twice, first because of the Nazi occupation and then, after the war again, when the communist régime had taken over our country.    So, just let me say I hope very much you will find our selection of models appealing and also let me wish a beautiful summer and do enjoy building our models. A. Riedel SPECIAL HOBBY PLASTIC MODEL KITS

Heinkel He 100D ‘He 113 German Propaganda Jäger’ Art.no. Scale Barcode 100-SH32009 1/32 8594071081447    The Heinkel He 100D was flown in comparative flight tests against the Messerschmitt Bf 109 type in the competition for the standard Luftwaffe fighter. Eventually, the Bf 109 became the winner, but as the He 100D outperformed it in a couple of respects, it also reached the production, albeit giving only a very small batch of airframes. These were later used by German nazi propaganda to give birth to the legend of a new Luftwaffe fighter called the Heinkel He 113. The He 100D received emblems of non-existing units and posed for photographers and film makers. In reality, the machines served in the defence of the Heinkel factory.    Our model comes on three styrene sprues. These are joined by a clear cockpit canopy, a fret of etches and a sheet of decals catering for markings of three fictious Luftwaffe units. the only existing 1/32 model of the He 100D interesting colour schemes etches and resin details already in the box Read more

Mirage F.1CE/CH Art.no. Scale Barcode 100-SH72289 1/72 8594071085391    The Mirage F.1C came about as a private venture by the French Dassault company. 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 the Mirage was also exported  successfully further afield. In Europe, Spanish and Greek militaries operated the type, 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.  This model offers three Spanish Mirage F.1CEs and two Morrocan Mirage F.1CHs finely detailed model interesting colour schemes and decals wide range of available CMK detail sets and painting masks Read more

3,7 cm PaK 36 ‘German Anti-tank Gun’ Art.no. Scale Barcode 100-SA72024 1/72 8594071088255    In the initial stages of the war, the German Wehrmacht was equipped with 3,7cm PaK 36 anti-tank drawn guns. These were designed during the 1930s and first put to service in the Spanish Civil War. Before WW2, the guns were also exported to several countries including China, Finland or the Soviet Union. The latter also bought the licence rights and produced it as the M1930 (1-K) cannon. At the beginning of the war, the PaK36 gun was capable of penetrating the armour of virtually all of the period armoured vehicles. Gradually, as the enemy vehicle‘s armour protection was becoming more and more efficient, the PaK 36 guns were losing their superiority and new and more powerful guns became to replace them. Nevertheless, the PaK 36 went on serving until the end of the war, its performance sometimes also boosted by the use of the Stielgranate 41 rocket anti-tank projectiles. The model colour schemes comprise guns of several armies. Those of the Wehrmacht are two, one in grey, the other in sand as it saw the fierce battles in Africa. Two other guns were on the strength of the Finnish army, one in the winter scheme, the other in several various camouflage colours. The Italian example, in fact captured, ex-Abyssinian army gun, is painted in two colours too. The PaK 36 guns of 88 Division of the Chinese army wore a single-colour scheme.        - not just Wehrmacht paint scheme, of other countries as well. Read more

SPECIAL MASK

Fouga CM-175 Zephyr Mask Art.no. Scale Barcode 100-M72018 1/72 8594071088033 Pre-cut painting masks for Special Hobby Fouga CM-175 Zephyr. Read more

Ki-54 Hei / Hickory Mask Art.no. Scale Barcode 100-M72025 1/72 8594071088293 Pre-cut painting mask for clear parts and wheel hubs of Special Hobby’s 1/72  Tachikawa Ki-54 Hei / Hickory. Read more

RESIN KITS & SETS

A-26 Invader Wheels Late Type 1/48 / for ICM kit Art.no. Scale Barcode 129-4422 1/48 8595593128702    Finely detailed resin cast wheels for the ICM model of the US-made A-26 ground attack and bomber aircraft. Read more

F-4B Phantom Wheels 1/48 / from Tamiya kit Art.no. Scale Barcode 129-4423 1/48 8595593128733     These detail resin cast wheels offer distinct, sharply executed tyre tread. Designed to fit the new Tamiya F-4B kit. Read more

A-26 Invader Wheels Late Type 1/72 / for Italeri kit Art.no. Scale Barcode 129-7473 1/72 8595593128719    Finely detailed resin cast wheels for the Italeri model of the US-made A-26 ground attack and bomber aircraft. Read more

T34/85 Solid Track Wheels Conversion 1/48 / for Tamiya kit Art.no. Scale Barcode 129-8060 1/48 8595593128740    A set of solid track wheels for the Tamiya T-34/85 kit, which offers just the type of wheels literally oozing with lightening holes in them. However, the real tanks very often had both styles of the wheels at the same time, or perhaps even just the solid ones. It depended on the production plant.  Read more

T-34 Makeshift Track Wheel (from Panther) 1/48 / for Tamiya kit Art.no. Scale Barcode 129-8061 1/48 8595593128757    In the final stages of the war, the Soviet tank units providing maintenance to their T-34s quite often made use of the wheels ‘borrowed’ from enemy’s Panther tanks. There is a plenty of period photos proving this and showing T-34 fitted with the said wheels used during the attack on Berlin or the liberation of Czechoslovakia. Read more

Westland Whirlwind Mk.I Gun Barrels Art.no. Scale Barcode 129-Q32395 1/32 8595593128764    These cannon barrels offer nice levels of detail and are a very easy replacement for the  styrene ones from the SH Whirlwind kit. Read more

DH.82 Blind Flying Hood Art.no. Scale Barcode 129-Q48382 1/48 8595593128221    This resin cast folded blind flying hood is far better than the styrene item from the 1/48 Airfix DH.82 kit. Very simple to use. Read more