News from Special Hobby 04/2023

Dear business partners,    The March Special Hobby Newsletter is here to bring you a trio of really attractive plastic model kitsets as well as highly interesting resin and 3D-printed models and accessory sets. The plastic models are represented, beside the re-release of quite eye-catching and colourful Swiss-operated Vampire 6 jet, also two models of aeroplanes that fought in the Pacific Theatre of Operations (PTO) in the war years. The Australian Wirraway and American A-20G Havoc are arguably among the very iconic types of military planes of that area. The resin and 3D-printed accessory sets and models do seem to be a response to the present time horrible situation, the Russian aggression and attack against Ukraine. Our range of model kits gets a few new members, the 1/72 HESA Shahed 136 drone and 1/35 MG3 infantry machine gun. The resin cast F/A-18F Cockpit set for 1/72 Revell kit is a contemporary matter, too. And the rest of the sets for this month might take you back to the previous large scale conflict, the Second World War – PT Boats sets, Kittyhawk Pitot Tubes, or to the immediately post-war era – 1/48 scale Zetor 25‘Military w/Towbar for MiG 15/17s’.    Let me also use this opportunity to inform you that as of 1 April 2023 we will have to adjust our prices. It is not going to be just an increase, the prices will change in both directions, up and down within a maximum range of 10%. Unfortunately, this way we need to respond to the changes in prices of the raw materials and energy. The new price lists will be prepared for you by the March Newsletter release date, however all orders received before 31 March 2023 will be invoiced at the original price levels. A. Riedel SPECIAL HOBBY PLASTIC MODEL KITS

Nakajima Ki-43-II Ko/Otsu ‘Japan's allies’ 1/72 Art.no. Scale Barcode 100-SH72479 1/72 8594071089214    The Ki-43 Hayabusa/Oscar was arguably one of the most significant fighter types of the Japanese Army Air Force. The Oscar was also delivered to the air forces of Japan allies as were the puppet state of Manchuria and Thailand. The Manchukuo Imperial Air Force Oscars bore interesting and colourful markings and on the fuselage sides also had large presentation slogans. The Thai fighters saw combat against USAAF aircraft and several of remaining examples were still in service after the war with the Royal Thai Air Force.    The kit portrays both the Manchurian Ki-43-II Koh version and the Thai Ki-43-II Otsu machine. The latter can be modelled in two various camouflage and marking styles, either wearing camouflage pattern of small colour blotches and white elephant national markings or in standard camouflage pattern of rather large colour field with markings of stripes in the Thai national colours. Read more

AF-2 Guardian ‘Fire Bomber’ 1/48 Art.no. Scale Barcode 100-SH48225 1/48 8594071089009    The largest single engine, piston engine aircraft to have ever been flown from the decks of aircraft carriers – yes this is the apt description of the anti-submarine AF-2 Guardian aeroplane. Following the Korea War, the Guardians were redelegated to reserve units and eventually struck off charge. Some of them, however, and mainly due to the strength of their airframe and their excellent range and payload capability, were given a new lease of life and converted to fire fighting machines which kept flying well until the 1970s.   The kit consists of seven grey styrene sprues, one with clear parts, a set of  PUR parts and a fret of etches. There are also two styles of the water tanks available and the decal sheet caters for makrings of a trio of machines.  -    Limited edition -    Unique version Read more

CH-37C ‘Deuce USMC’ 1/72 Art.no. Scale Barcode 100-SH72172 1/72 8594071081201   The CH-37C large transport helicopter powered by two piston engines was developed to the USMC requirements, later however was also used by the US Army. At the time when the type was introduced to service, the CH-37C was the most massive helicopter in world. Both the Marine Corps and Army also operated the Deuce in the Vietnam War.    This re-release of the model kit offers one significant improvement in the form of the extra sprue with new and correct shaped external fuel tanks with pylons. The decal sheet caters for three USMC machines. -    etches and resin parts contained by the kit set -    very interesting subject -    only a limited number release -    the original model kit has been out of production and unavailable for a long time, its price on auctions skyrocketed Read more

Mirage IIIC ‘Armée de l'Air’ 1/72 Art.no. Scale Barcode 100-SH72476 1/72 8594071089191    The Mirage IIIC was the first jet produced in Western Europe to break the double speed of the sound in the level flight. The type was the very first of te whole family of Mirage fighters IIIC, IIIE and 5 some of which keep flying even until these days. The Mirage IIICJ was the epitome of the Israeli air supremacy in the wars with the neighbouring Arab countries during the War over Water, Six Day War, Attrition War and Yom Kipur War as well as many other more minor conflicts. A great number of Israeli fighter pilots became aces flying their Mirages. The Mirage IIIC saw service with the domestic Armée de l’Air, too, the first airframes being fitted with a unique belly mounted rocket booster motor to enhance the performance in the initial climb. The later machines though had this booster removed to enable them to carry more ordnance to more distant targets. The Mirage IIIC was also delivered to the SAAF and some of the ex-IAF machines found their way to Argentina. The type completely proved worthy in its role of air superiority jet.    As many as seven sprues of grey styrene plus one sprue with clear parts offer highly and finely detailed parts, the kits also has a sheet of decals with markings for four French machines, two of which flew in the natural colour of metal (one of them of the early booster-fitted variety), then also one machine in blue grey over aluminium and one in the later desert scheme.   -    superbly detailed model -    atractive colour schemes and decals -    also available for this model: pre-cut paint masks M72041 and accessory sets Q72401Mirage IIIC Wheels, Q72402 Mirage IIIC Mirage IIIC Atar 9B Engine Nozzle and Q72403 Mirage IIIC Seat Read more

BACK IN STOCK Steyr 1500 Krankenwagen/Wood Cab 1/72 Art.no. Scale Barcode 100-SA72016 1/72 8594071083953 The Steyr 1500 vehicles of ex-Austrian Steyr-Daimler-Puch company were designed for the unification programme of the German Wehrmacht that was supposed to give standardised vehicles of  needed properties to the armed forces. Although this programme was carried out only partially, its outcome, the Steyr 1500 vehicle was indisputably successful design. The number of the produced machines reached over 12,000 and even famous Ferdinand Porsche himself was involved in the development. On the 4WD chassis many different upperstructures appeared, one of the most widespread being the ambulance that were really very important part of the rear line support, in particular on the Eastern front, where the fightings were quite heavy. Model of the Steyr ambulance vehicle, as also its name suggests, is equipped with typical rounded driver´s cab and consists of three frames of plastic parts, set of resin parts and photo-etches. The decals offer marking for two vehicles, one of them in white and the other in typical German late war camouflage.    Model sanitní verze Steyeru 1500 je, jak už dáno jeho názvem, vybaven klasickou kulatou kabinou řidiče. Obsahuje tři rámečky plastových dílů, pur díl a lepty. Obtisky nabízí dva stroje, jeden je nastříkán bílou barvou, druhý nese klasickou německou kamufláž z druhé poloviny války. Read more

MASKY

AF-2 Guardian MASK 1/48 Art.no. Scale Barcode 100-M48014 1/48 8594071089153    Pre-cut painting masks designed for the clear parts and undercarriage wheels of the AF-2 Guardian bomber model kits SH48135, SH48158, SH48194 a SH48225. Read more

CH-37 Mohave / Deuce 1/72 Art.no. Scale Barcode 100-M72046 1/72 8594071089238    Pre-cut spray masks for the clear parts and undercarriage wheels of Special Hobby’s CH-37 Mojave / Deuce helicopter model kit. Read more

RESIN KITS & SETS

PT Boat Weapon Set No.5 - 37 mm M4 Autocannon 1/72 / for Revell kits Art.no. Scale Barcode 129-N72042 1/72 8595593130200     The later batches of the PT boats had the 37mm M4 automatic cannon mounted on their bows, which was the very same armament as used on the P-39 fighter aeroplanes. Our resin replica is much better detailed that that of the original kit’s styrene item. Read more

HESA Shahed 136 / Geran-2 1/48 Art.no. Scale Barcode 129-PLT279 1/48 8595593130231    The Iran-made HESA Shahed 136 / Geran-2 drone is used by the Russian military to terrorize Ukraine and to attack its civil infrastructure. Our model is resin cast and comes with a few 3D-printed parts and is available in the Planet Model range. It also has a sheet of decals. Read more

B-25 Mitchell Wheels/Circumferential Tread Pattern 1/48 / for Acc. Miniatures, Academy and Revell kits Art.no. Scale Barcode 129-4461 1/48 8595593130248    Resin cast and nicely detailed wheels with circumferential tread tyres. The nose wheel can have the hub exposed or with a cover fitted. Read more

F4F-4 Wildcat Open Gun Bays 1/72 / for Arma Hobby kit Art.no. Scale Barcode 129-7512 1/72 8595593130255    Open armament bays for Arma Hobby’s F4F-4 model kit.    Read more

F4F-4 Wildcat Dinghy 1/72 / for Arma Hobby kit Art.no. Scale Barcode 129-7513 1/72 8595593130262    This set has been designed for the Arma Hobby kit and contains the open dorsal dinghy compartment. While the assembly is fairly easy and straightforward, in the end you get an eye-catching improvement to your model.  Read more

3D printed Parts PT-109 Boat Weapon Set No.3 - 37 mm Gun M3 1/72 / for Revell kits Art.no. Scale Barcode 129-N72032 1/72 8595593130194    The main fire armament of the PT-109 boats was the US-made 37mm M3 anti-tank cannon carried on supporting arms and was mounted on the bow behind a shield. The kit’s styrene barrel can be replaced with a new one that is 3D-printed and which also offers much more detail and comes with etches. Read more

3D printed Parts Towbar for Mig 15/17 and other jets 1/48 Art.no. Scale Barcode 129-P48006 1/48 8595593130293 Tow Bar made by direct 3D print with photo-etched hooks. This type of tow bars was used to tow MiG 15 and 17 jets. Read more