Preview: Special Hobby & CMK kits for June
Special Hobby’s June offerings bring you one of the legends of aviation in 1/72 scale, a kit of a very widespread modern aircraft in 1/48 scale, and a reissue of one model kit meant for experienced modellers. They include masks and sets to improve them, sold separately. A highlight is the seat for the F-84F of their production and resin wheels with a printed tail leg for the 1/72 Wellington.
In the months to come, a 1/72 P-40E Warhawk with USAAF and RCAF markings as based in the Aleutian Islands, a 1/72 reissue of the American P-70 night fighter, and a 1/48 F-86K Sabre Dog. We are also preparing a 1/32 MS-406 reissue, for which we are also preparing alternative parts for the Swiss-licenced version of D-3801 ‘Guardians of Sion.’ The preparation of the 1/48 Heinkel He 177 A-3 with new parts and the completely new 1/72 DH.94 Moth Minor and Fairey Battle Mk.I kits is also continuing.
DC-2 ‘Transport Revolution’
In August 1932, Trans World Airlines called on five aircraft manufacturers to submit proposals for a new transport aeroplane based on TWA's specifications. Douglas Company accepted that challenge and decided to design a highly advanced twin-engine aircraft. The first prototype, known as the DC-1 (Douglas Commercial No. 1), took to the air for the first time on 1 July 1933. TWA placed an order for 20 production aircraft, which were redesignated the DC-2 and had Wright Cyclone SGR-1820-F3 power plants; their fuselage was a bit longer and accommodated 14 passenger seats. The first of the DC-2s took off on 11 May 1934, and its flying career with the TWA commenced on 18 May.
Regular flight operations of DC-2 began in July. The Douglas factory manufactured about 200 DC-2s, which went to serve both civilian operators and the military. A licence was also bought by Japanese Nakajima, which produced six aircraft for domestic Dai Nippon Koku Kobushiki Kaisha. DC-2s quickly spread not only among airliners operating in the US; the successful type also flew with a wide range of Europe-based airline companies, among which were Swissair, KLM and also the Československá Letecká Společnost/Czechoslovak Air Company. The introduction of the DC-2 brought a revolution in air transport, both in its safety and the economy of operation. The DC-2 was followed by the even more famous DC-3/C-47 Dakota type.
The plastic model kit comes on three styrene sprues, one with clear parts, and also offers a set of nicely detailed 3D-printed parts. The decal sheet brings markings for four DC-2s as flown over four continents. Over America, it was the machine of EAL; Asia is represented by the machine named Tsukuba of the Japanese Dai Nipon Koku Kobushiki Kaisha; over Australia flew the Pengana, which is portrayed both in the ANA and AOA livery. And Europa is represented by Czechoslovak OK-AIC.
- a real beauty among airliners
- machines with interesting history
- large decal sheet
- detailed 3D-printed parts
SIAI-Marchetti SF-260EA/D/EU ‘Late Bulged Canopy Type’
From Special Hobby
1/48th scale
Product Code: 100-SH48215
The Italian SF-260 training, sports and aerobatic aircraft is widely used around the globe. In Europe, it flew with the Italian and Belgian military and was in service with the Irish Air Corps. The type is also used by both military and civilian operators in Asia, Africa and America. In our offer you can find model kit no. SH48207 in its early variety featuring a smaller, flatter canopy hood. Now, we are bringing you this late, taller-type canopy model kit. The kit comes on three styrene sprues one of which offers clear parts of the taller canopy. The schemes featured in the kit portray the SF-260 as flown in Italy, Belgium (a standard military scheme as well as a scheme of an aerobatics special), in Venezuela and Uruguay.
The parts in the kit
- Eye-catching colour schemes
- Finely detailed decals, including meticulously prepared stencils—different for each airframe
- Compared with other SF-260 kits, this offers sharper details and the correct canopy type.
The parts of the kit
Focke-Wulf Fw 187A-0 Falke
From Special Hobby
1/72nd scale
Product Code: 100-VT72002
In the Vintage Treasure edition, we have prepared another very sought-after and rare kit. Focke Wulf Fw 187A-0 Falke 1/72 is a kit from 2004. It originally contained plastic parts, etches and resin cast parts. Now, to make it not so very much retro, you will find two sprues with plastic parts added plus one with clear parts, also an updated fret of etch, redesigned resin parts and brand-new 3D-printed parts
The parts in the kit
The twin-engine Fw 187 was originally designed as a single-seat, later a two-seat, heavy fighter. Its performance was superior to that of the Bf 110, but the Luftwaffe decided not to operate the type mainly due to the absence of rear-firing defensive armament. The already produced machines were tested and then deployed to the Industrie-Schutzstaffel defending the Focke Wulf plant in Bremen.
- Truly interesting type
- The kit also contains fret of etches, resin cast parts and 3d-printed parts
DC-2/C-33/C-39 Mask
From Special Hobby
1/72nd scale
Product Code: 100-M72060
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Pre-cut paint masks for clear parts and wheels of civilian DC-2 model kits as well as those operated in the military as C-33 and C-39.
SF-260EA/D/EU ‘Late Bulged Canopy Type’ MASK
From Special Hobby
1/48th scale
Product Code: 100-M48026
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Pre-cut paint masks for clear parts and wheels of the SF-260 model kit of the tall canopy hood variety.
Aermacchi MB-326 Cockpit
for Italeri kits
From Special Hobby
1/48th scale
Product Code: 129-4493
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A nicely detailed, resin-cast cockpit, much more detailed than in the kit, which has been designed for the Italeri model of the widely used MB-326 trainer aircraft.
Vickers Wellington Mainwheels and Tailwheel w/Leg
for Special Hobby kits
for Italeri kits
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For the re-released Special Hobby Wellington model are prepared these new and better-detailed resin main wheels and tail wheel. The real leg is 3D-printed using special, tougher material.
M60D with Sagami Mount (2 pcs.) for UH-1B Huey
for Trumpeter kit
for Italeri kits
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3D-printed set with a pair of M60D machine guns on the Sagami Mouth mounts in the open cabin doors of the UH-1 Huey helicopter. Such armed UH-1s were operated during the Vietnam War.
F-84F Thunderstreak Seat for Special Hobby Kits
for Italeri kits
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3D-printed ejection seat for Special Hobby's F-84F Thunderstreak model kits. Offers an extreme level of detail.
F-16 Seat for Tamiya kits
for Italeri kits
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3D-printed hot seat designed for Tamiya's F-16 kits.
F-15D/DJ/E/I Seats for Academy kit
for Italeri kits
From Special Hobby
1/72nd scale
Product Code: 129-P72045
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A pair of 3D-printed seats for the two-seat versions of the F-15 Eagle jet.
These new kits are available on Special Hobby's Website or from Hobbylink Japan