Special Hobby EN

 This June, we have re-issued our SH72345  SMB-2 Super Mystère 'Sa’ar – Israeli Storm in th e Sky’  1/72 scale kit..The content of the kit can be seen in these images below now, the marking schemes and decals are on our e-shop, see the link.

Our latest release no. SH72417 is in fact a pair of kits depicting the French Super Mystere SMB2 jet in its two variations, the first of which was fitted with an indigenous jet power plant and the other one as later in the career of the airframes when fitted with a US-made jet and long tail pipe. These latter machines also offer the option of a different hot seat in the pilot's office which was of a Martin Baker brand. The duo kit is going to bring you these six marking options:

The first of Special Hobby's incarnations of the famous French Super Mystere jet is dubbed ‘Sa'ar - Israeli Storm in the Sky’ and will offer the modeller a selection of three SMB2 airframes as rebuilt and flown with the IAF, powered by a J52 turbofan engine of US origin. The kit should be available for the first time at the 2019 Eday over next week. Now we have for you this rather atmospheric boxart, as usual created by our friend Standa Hajek.

   Due for May release are two initial boxings of the French SMB-2 Super Mystere, a kit Special Hobby have prepared for Azur-Frrom partner.  Both these kits contain various and highly colourful French marking options, now we are happy to share with you the image of the sheets which are currently being printed in Italy. Almost finished is the last of all the project’s moulding blocks, the one containing various underwing stores, both for the original French machines and for those flown and operated by the Israeli Air Force – the latter to be released by Special Hobby towards the end of this year.    Czech modellers will have the oportunity to get their hands on these Azur-Frrom models via our on-line store www.specialhobby.eu (A.R.)    

   The photos in today’s edition of SH blog show you the latest development with the 1/72 Super Mystere and 1/48 AF-3S Guardian (colour profiles here ) projects. Slowly taking shape and emerging from two aluminium blocks fastened to our milling cutter, the Super Mystere canopy parts and Guardian wheels plus the magnetic anomaly detector boom are already clearly recognizable.

Our milling cutters are kept busy all the time. Let us take you today on a kind of short behind-the-scenes visit to our toolshop where some of the latest moulding blocks are being slowly prepared for the production. In the pictures, you can see for example the 1/72 Super Mystere clear parts mould and some until now undisclosed 1/32 projects too. And the final photo shows the 1/72 Night Meteor moulding block where the runner (or sprue) cavities are just taking shape.

   Our French partner at Azur-Frrom have shown an interest in the Super Mystere project we are currently working on, placing an order for a batch of the kit to be released in their own reboxing. This Azur-Frrom model is to appear on the hobby shop shelves sometimes this Autumn, the boxart which will adorn it, however, has already been finished by Czech computer graphics artist Mr.Reinis.    If you find it a bit weird to see a French fighter with Bangkok tempes in the backdrop, well do not, as the Super Mysteres of this unit were operated in Thailand within the SEATO / OTASE forces (SEATO being an Asian equivalent of NATO).

   Last week, we received the very first test shot samples of the most recent addition to our production plans, the 1/72 Super Mystere SMB.2 / Sa'ar fighter plane. You have already been able to examine closely not only the testshots themselves, but also the partial build illustrating the internal components of the fuselage. It indeed is rather obvious that the interior is quite busy, besides the obligatory pilot's office also the jet engine trunking and afterburner chamber were meticulously portrayed by our skilful 3D design team.    Today, we are thrilled to be able to share with you yet another batch of build photos, now presenting the overal shape of the SMB.2 airframe, which to be precise has been built into the Sa'ar version (an Israeli-modified version incorporating a US ex-Skyhawk engine) with much more rearward protruding jet engine nozzle.    Given the fact that these testshots are of the first batch, the outcome is not that bad and the...