Thursday, February 24

Preview: Three new releases already "on the march" from Trumpeter...

We normally have to wait a while to see the sprues of their latest kits, but Trumpeter's three newest kits for March are already with us in plastic, colours, decals & boxart. See the three very different kits contents in our preview...

Preview: Three new releases launching "on the March" from Trumpeter...

L4500A mit 5cm Flak 41 II 
Model: #09594
1/35th scale
Price: $59 USD from Hobbylink Japan
The German Flak 4 1/1 anti-aircraft gun is a variation on the L4500A self-propelled anti-aircraft gun, made by Bussing. The tires are made of rubber; photo-etched parts and decals are included. 

The decals are included in this kit.
The colour profiles included in this kit
Total Parts 420+ The sprues of the kit
Model Brief Length: 223.2mm Width: 123.5mm
Photo Etched Parts
Total of 14 sprues and tires
Full drive train assembly complete with engine transmission, differential housing and suspension units.
The main tires are hollow rubber with a very good tread pattern
Photo-etched parts included
Flak 41 included


USS Intrepid CVS-11
Model: #06743
1:700th scale
Price: $67 USD from Hobbylink Japan
USS Intrepid (CV/CVA/CVS-11), also known as The Fighting "I", is one of 24 Essex-class aircraft carriers built during World War II for the United States Navy. She is the fourth US Navy ship to bear the name. Commissioned in August 1943, Intrepid participated in several campaigns in the Pacific Theater of Operations, most notably the Battle of Leyte Gulf. Decommissioned shortly after the end of the war, she was modernized and recommissioned in the early 1950s as an attack carrier (CVA), and then eventually became an ant submarine carrier (CVS). 

The decals are included in this kit. 
The colour profiles included in this kit
In her second career, she served mainly in the Atlantic, but also participated in the Vietnam War. Her notable achievements include being the first US aircraft carrier to launch aircraft with steam catapults, and being the recovery ship for a Mercury and a Gemini space mission. Because of her prominent role in battle, she was nicknamed "the Fighting I", while her often ill luck and the time spent in dry dock for repairs earned her the nickname "the Dry I".

Decommissioned in 1974, in 1982 Intrepid became the foundation of the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum in New York City. 

The sprues of this kit
Trumpeter's latest model kit of the U.S. Navy Essex-class aircraft carrier CV-11 Intrepid reproduces her when she was being refurbished with angled deck equipment. The superstructure is precisely reproduced; carrier-based aircraft (A-4, F-8, UH-2B, EA-1F, E-1B) moulded in clear resin are included, as are photo-etched parts and decals.

Model Length: 391mm / Beam: 88mm
Total Parts 280+
Total Sprues 24 sprues , hull and decks
 - Detailed Hull is a one piece part
- Detailed flight deck and hangar deck
-Extensive photo-etched details included
-Aircraft Wing includes: A-4, F-8, UH-2B,EA-1F,E-1B


M984A2 HEMTT Wrecker
Model #01083
1/35th scale
Price: $91 USD from Hobbylink Japan
The HEMTT M984 is a Wrecker, 8 x 8, heavy expanded mobility tactical truck wrecker, heavy duty crane and winch. It provides heavy wheeled recovery and crane recovery tow maintenance lift assistance) to 10-ton and lighter tactical wheeled vehicles. It's lift-and-tow system can recover disabled vehicles in two to three minutes.

The decals are included in this kit.
The colour profiles included in this kit
   The M984 wrecker is the only HEMTT variant to have been produced in A1 configuration, and this resulting in the change of recovery crane and retrieval system between A0 and A1 configurations. The current model is the M984A4. 

Masks are provided for the transparent parts
Standard equipment includes a 27,240 kg capacity two-speed recovery winch, a rear-mounted 11,340 kg capacity vehicle retrieval system, and a 6,350 kg at 2.74 m capacity Grove materials handling crane. A 9,072 kg bare drum capacity self-recovery winch is fitted as standard on the M984. 

The HEMTT heavy-duty tactical truck used by the U.S. Army gets a new model kit from Trumpeter -- this version is the M984A2 heavy wrecker variation! This kit makes use of slide moulds to reproduce the crane and complicated undercarriage in high detail; photo-etched parts are included too. 

The sprues of this kit
Model Length 283mm / Width 103.5mm  
Total Parts 690+
Total of 21 sprues, cab and tires
Full drive train assembly complete with engine transmission, differential housing and suspension units.
  The main tires are hollow rubber with a very good tread pattern included as well as sidewall details consisting of raised section  ribs.