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Special Hobby & Azur-FRROM are working on a 1/72nd Martin (Glenn L.) B-10/B-12 family Source: https://www.facebook.com/specialhobby/photos/a.579303855843312/747141085726254/ V.P.

After the 1/72nd kits (link) Special Hobby is reported working for 2020 on a 1/48th Bell AH-1G Cobra/Sea Cobra family. Info obtained from a Special Hobby representative at IPMS Belgium National/Plastic & Steel 2019. To be followed. V.P.

Special Hobby is to release new 1/48th WWII aircraft kits: IMAN Ro.43 & Ro.44. - ref.SH48137 - Ro-43 "Red Stripes" - ref.SH48140 - Ro-44 "Italian Float Fighter" - ref.SH48169 - Ro-43 "War Colours" Source: http://www.mpmkits.eu/2015/05/contest-what-is-this-148-wwii-mystery.html V.P.

Hello from the shed. As the model I'm making at the moment is a big one and will take some time to finish, I've decided to show a few of my older builds while I continue with it. I made this Special Hobby CH-37 a few years back. It appealed because of its insect like appearence. The kit does not have any internal detailing other than the cockpit and as I wanted to cut the front doors off to display in the open position I raided the spares box for some troop seats. These constituted a rudimentry cabin interior. I also replaced the moulded grills in the engine cowlings with fine metal mesh. I had read that the tanks provided in the kit were the wrong shape and size so purchased aftermarket items from Rotorcraft. The doors were detailed using plastic card and items from the spares box . The rotor head recieved a bit of detailing as well. The side door was cut in half and displayed in the open position. A thoroughly enjoyable build. Such a shame the cargo doors are not supplied separated from the fuselage sides as the gaping front end is one of the main features of this aircraft. Its finished using Xrtracolor enamals and varnishes, with a little Flory wash to bring out the panel details. Decals from the kit. The CH-37 was in service for ten years and saw active duty in both the Korean and Vietnam wars, It was also one of the last in service piston engined helicopters. Here's a few Pics, Hope you like it Thanks for looking. Pete

Progress on my Paraguayan T-6 has slowed somewhat, so I'm going to start on another Sexy American Single in South American service, this time a P-35: I have not been able to find any photos of what these a/c (something like 2-5, perhaps modified racing machines) looked like, but I found this online and feel it's likely a good approximation. The Hobby Craft 1/48 P-35 includes decals for this, but for mine in 1/72 I'll piece them together from spares. I have these sheets to draw from.

When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbour and Malaya in December 1941, the Royal Australian Air Force was forced to evaluate how poorly it was equipped to counter any Japanese movement towards Australia. Up to this time, under the principle of Imperial Defence, its principal task had been the training of aircrew to fly with the Royal Air Force in the European and Desert theatres of war. The only ‘modern’ single-seat fighter that it operated was the Brewster Buffalo, equipping two squadrons based in Malaya. For home defence, the only ‘fighter’ that it had was the two-seat Wirraway. Under the guidance of Bill Air and aerodynamicist Fred David, the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation, using some Wirraway components, rapidly developed the Boomerang interceptor. This aircraft was powered by the Pratt & Whitney R-1830, then entering licence production in Australia. The first Boomerang flew in May 1942. Its performance was similar to the Buffalo, and although it had the advantage of two 20mm cannon and four Mgs compared to Buff’s puny armament, it was clear that it also would be outclassed by the Japanese fighters, particularly the Zero. By early 1942, reports were coming in from the RAAF and the USAAF that the Japanese fighters were operating at altitudes where the P-39 and P-40 were ineffective. These aircraft, as did the Boomerang, lacked an effective supercharger. A fighter that could meet the Japanese at altitudes of 20,000 plus feet was needed. Spitfires from the UK were still unobtainium as were P-38 or P-47 aircraft from the USA. It was decided to fit a turbo-supercharger to the Boomerang. Thus was born the CA-14, which first flew in January 1943. The original version was a minimal change of the CA-12, being basically a system test bed but, the second iteration, the CA-14A, was refined to a proposed production standard. The performance of the basic CA-12 Boomerang was greatly increased at altitude. The CA-14 was able to reach altitudes in excess of 30,000 feet and at 28,000 feet was able to achieve over 350 mph. These figures were roughly comparable to Republic’s P-43, with the Boomerang having the superior armament. However, by 1943 the RAAF was, at last, starting to receive Spitfire VC aircraft which finally gave the RAAF its desired high-altitude capability. This, plus the refusal of the USA to release turbo-superchargers to Australia, resulted in the cancellation of the project. I plan to use Special Hobby's CA-12 kit as it is the best available in 1/48. Having said that, it has many problems and deficiencies. I will be relying on the 'spares box', plasticard, and copious amounts of filler to complete this project. To the kit, I have added the RedRoo enhancement set, and an Aires R-1830 as the cylinders in SH kit were badly moulded. At the bottom left are some possible candidates for the engine cowling and I have started the basic assembly of the cockpit 'tub'.

Special Hobby is to release a 1/72nd Pfalz E.V kit - ref. SH72514 Source: https://www.specialhobby.net/2024/02/norimberk-den-3-4-trubky-platno.html 3D renders V.P.

For me this is an exciting GB, because I've really come to enjoy building South of the Rio Grande models! I have two projects underway that cover Central and South America (Last Legs Ponies and Sexy American Singles in South American Service), and as my first entry in this GB I will build a 1/72 T-6 using this Special Hobby boxing . . . . . . and decals from Armycast. Roughly this is what she's supposed to look like!

Françoise Hardy was a French classic who came to prominence during the 1960s just like the the super silver delta that is the Mirage IIIC... I was really pleased when Special Hobby announced a Mirage III/5 series in 1/72nd scale, the type deserves such attention. Their first effort was unsurprisingly, the Mirage IIIC in again, rather predictably, the IIICJ boxing for Israeli jets. Many of us were hoping they'd have released the IIIE/5 based airframes by now but sadly not. I've had the IIICJ boxing since its initial release and this will be the third attempt at getting it made, this is no criticism of the kit, rather than my own but hopefully, the mojo will have returned and as the winter draws on (very wise), I shan't be spending as much time in the garden or gadding about in the moho. Here's the kit, references and decals, on a previous start I got as far as painting some of the cockpit components and that's it so it's well within the 25% rule... The kit will be built from the box but using the Berna decals for the EC.2/5 markings. Finger's crossed I can complete this one this time!

After the 2023 newsletters (link), here's the first one from SH for 2024. Newsletter January 2024 Source: https://www.specialhobby.info/2024/01/news-from-special-hobby-12023.html V.P.

All good things or Firefly come in three... DSC_0001 by grimreaper110, auf Flickr DSC_0010 by grimreaper110, auf Flickr

source: czech forum A.R. from Special Hobby confirmed Mosquito project publicly announced some time ago is in progress and people from AZ/KP know it. The next battle in the war.

A new tool 1/72nd Fairey Albacore kit by Special Hobby - ref. SH72152 Source: http://www.specialhobby.net/2020/01/norimberk-2020-priprava-zacatek.html V.P.

Seems my dad grew fond of the Firefly.. After he changed the scheme with his wip Trumpeter kit from Thai to Dutch, he now will do a Thai scheme nevertheless.....and an Ethiopian scheme will follow too... using this kit DSC_0001 by grimreaper110, auf Flickr with decals from this DSC_0001 by grimreaper110, auf Flickr DSC_0009 by grimreaper110, auf Flickr

Special Hobby is to release a family of Allison engined 1/72nd Curtiss P-40 Warhawk kits from P-40E to N. Source: http://www.specialhobby.net/2017/02/info-z-norimberku-no2.html V.P.

Also seen in the Nürnberg Toy Fair 2013 photo reports, at the Special Hobby stand there was what looks like a 1/32nd Fiat G-50 Freccia ("Arrow") prototype. Sources: http://www.ipmsdeutschland.de/Ausstellungen/Nuernberg2013/Bilder_VH/Nuernberg2013_VH_1.htm http://www.ipmsdeutschland.de/Ausstellungen/Nuernberg2013/Bilder_JLF/Nuernberg2013_JLF_1.htm More pics: http://www.ipmsdeutschland.de/Ausstellungen/Nuernberg2013/Bilder_JLF/Nuernberg2013_JLF_037.htm http://www.ipmsdeutschland.de/Ausstellungen/Nuernberg2013/Bilder_JLF/Nuernberg2013_JLF_038.htm http://www.ipmsdeutschland.de/Ausstellungen/Nuernberg2013/Bilder_JLF/Nuernberg2013_JLF_039.htm http://www.ipmsdeutschland.de/Ausstellungen/Nuernberg2013/Bilder_JLF/Nuernberg2013_JLF_040.htm Source: http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234935180-sh32056-fiat-g50bis-in-132-scale/ V.P.

#16/2024 Dad finished the next one. The first of an upcoming Firefly trio. Trumpeter kit wih decals from the Special Hobby Firefly Foreign Post War Users kit. Used seats with molded on seatbelts from Quickboost, which seem slightly undersized. The kit exhaust tubes are angled straight but should look downward, replaced them with pieces from Quickboost too. The kit wheels are rather thick and primitive, replaced them with some from Barracuda Studios. The rear canopy lacks the dorsal frame strut, masked and painted it. The kit comes with no pitot tube, "stirrup", rearview mirror and t-shaped antennas? under the horizontal stabilizers. Used a British pitot tube from the sparesbox, the rest is scratchbuilt. The tailwheel broke off when the model had a maiden flight to the ground...the wheel wasn´t usable anymore afterwards, replaced it with one from the sparesbox. The Dutch Firefly had an antenna? under each wing and one on the left upperwing. Used some plastic pieces to simulate that. They also had four RP-3 rockets under each wing, always two mounted on a base plate. The Special Hobby Firefly kits include two base plates as PE parts. Used the PE stuff as template and did cut out four plates with plastic sheet, rockets came from Special Hobby kits. EZ Line was used for the antenna wires. Used a piece of plastic sprue to simulate the landing light. Could have added some more detail or correct other flaws but put a fork in it. Painted with AK RC Extra Dark Sea Grey and Dark Slate Grey, Tamiya Sky. Build thread here https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235141407-dutch-east-indies148-fairey-firefly-fr1-koninklijke-marine-luchtvaartdienst/page/2/ The Netherlands were the first foreign user of the Firefly FR.1. In January 1946, 860 Squadron received its first Firefly aircraft. They were stationed aboard the carrier Karel Doorman, former HMS Nairana. They soon saw combat action and were used for counter-insurgency and fighting the Indonesian nationalists who didn´t want the Dutch masters to return and who wanted an independent Indonesia. The final ceasefire was in August 1949. An accord was signed on December 22nd 1949 in which the Netherlands ceded independence to the nationalists. The Dutch Firefly Squadron 860 was disbanded in March 1950 and the surviving 11 Fireflies were shipped back to the Netherlands. DSC_0009 by grimreaper110, auf Flickr DSC_0002 by grimreaper110, auf Flickr DSC_0003 by grimreaper110, auf Flickr DSC_0005 by grimreaper110, auf Flickr DSC_0002 by grimreaper110, auf Flickr DSC_0003 by grimreaper110, auf Flickr DSC_0007 by grimreaper110, auf Flickr DSC_0001 by grimreaper110, auf Flickr DSC_0005 by grimreaper110, auf Flickr DSC_0006 by grimreaper110, auf Flickr DSC_0012 by grimreaper110, auf Flickr DSC_0007 by grimreaper110, auf Flickr DSC_0014 by grimreaper110, auf Flickr DSC_0008 by grimreaper110, auf Flickr DSC_0002 by grimreaper110, auf Flickr DSC_0016 by grimreaper110, auf Flickr DSC_0017 by grimreaper110, auf Flickr DSC_0019 by grimreaper110, auf Flickr DSC_0020 by grimreaper110, auf Flickr DSC_0003 by grimreaper110, auf Flickr DSC_0002 by grimreaper110, auf Flickr DSC_0023 by grimreaper110, auf Flickr DSC_0022 by grimreaper110, auf Flickr DSC_0027 by grimreaper110, auf Flickr DSC_0001 by grimreaper110, auf Flickr

Special Hobby is not only working on a 1/72nd Dassault Super Mystère SMB2 kit (link) but also on a 1/48th one! Yesss. The subsidiary question is when as the SH kits development delays are often really slow. Source: http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235011761-we-need-it-in-148th-the-smb2/&do=findComment&comment=2570698 V.P.

My dad´s Thai theme continues, after Spitfire and the soon finished F-86F, here comes a Firefly... DSC_0001 by grimreaper110, auf Flickr DSC_0002 by grimreaper110, auf Flickr DSC_0003 by grimreaper110, auf Flickr

Moving my slow build Special Hobby kit that failed to get completed before the end of the extended STGB: The build report to date is here: Martin

After the 1/72nd kit (link) Special Hobby (SH) is to release 1/48th SIAI-Marchetti SF.260 kits. First boxing - ref. SH48207 Sources: https://www.specialhobby.info/2020/09/siai-marchetti-sf260-new-148-and-172.html https://www.facebook.com/specialhobby/posts/1010336579406702 V.P.

Greetings, Apologies, I am very late to the party, due to various reasons - health issues, unfinished models on the bench, as well as a horrible heatwave in my region that made it very difficult to do any actual modeling for the last month. I might not finish the model on time, but we will see. Mirage F1JA FAE 806 is famous for reportedly shooting down a Peruvian Su-22 during the 1995 Cenepa War. It was flown by Maj. Raul Banderas at the time. This s/n later received special markings (see picture below) for the 30 year anniversary celebration of the type being in service in Ecuador. The artist who made the "cobra" tail art was one "Mr Carlos Perez" and it reportedly took him two weeks to complete. Sometime in 2010 the Mirage F1 fleet was retired in Ecuador and as far as I know, FAE 806 was then placed as a monument in the capital city. The 1/72 scale kit by Special Hobby is not brand new, but a 2016 tooling according to Scalemates. It doesn't compare in quality to todays triple A manufacturers, but I've built a lot worse... The boxing I have is a dual combo pack from 2019, which includes a single seat and a two seat kit kit, was well as some resin add-ons and most importantly - a nice reference book from Duke Hawkins. I chose this boxing because it includes FAE specific Mirage F1JA parts, provided as small resin pieces. I have also purchased more aftermarket goodies - FAE 806 special decal scheme by Syhart, Reskit exhaust and wheels sets, Master pitot, Eduard PE accessories. For armament, I will use centerline drop tank (must have - it was painted yellow as part of the special scheme), 2x Magic IIs and 2x Python IIIs (going to steal those and their respective launch rails from AMK's Kfir kit). Photographed everything on my kitchen floor. I left the two seater sprues in the box, those are not needed (unless I mess something up and will need spare parts, haha). Some detail photos of the parts still on sprues, to highlight minor issues I should take care of before starting anything: - raised flash coming out of some panel lines and inconsistent panel lining in general, as well as ejector pin marks in visible places. - these intake parts look very toy like to me and those are some of the largest sprue gates I have ever seen. Luckily, Quickboost make some resin replacements. - proper horrible flash on the landing gear legs. "No idea where the flash begins and the part ends." - cockpit and wheel bay detail will be improved a lot by Eduard PE. For the airbrakes, I think I am not going to bother with replacements or improvements, I will just have them closed. - a bit of a short shot here on the tip... hopefully this won't be hard to fix - clear parts a bit scuffed, but again, hopefully easy to fix. They are otherwise very clear. Anyway, thanks for looking, I will update once I make some meaningful progress. Just clean up and research work at the moment, while I am waiting for some additional resin to arrive (intakes and FOD covers mainly). I would appreciate it if anyone could link pictures of a F1JA instrument panel (to verify if the Eduard PE parts are correct for this type - they should be the same as regular French F1C ?). Duke Hawkins book has very nice IP pictures, but from what I can tell, none are of Ecuadorian machines...

Big, you say? Well okay. It's almost the biggest model in my stash, the Special Hobby Westland Whirlwind Mk.I. It's big: And it's been unstarted for too long: Did I mention that it's big? While waiting in the stash it has accumulated quite a bit of aftermarket; a set of seatbelts: Some resin wheels and cannons - I'm not that comfortable with the idea of the resin cannons which I think would be more vulnerable to breakage than the kit's plastic ones, but if they look much better I would probably go with them: ... and finally, canopy and camouflage masks. What can I say? I'm lazy and I'm prepared to pay any company that offers to indulge my laziness So I'm set. See you at the start line gents Cheers, Stew P.S. It's big

External Armament for Super Mystère B-2 (SH72495) and Other IAF Aircraft 1:72 Special Hobby The Mystère was the first Supersonic jet in Europe, and it was adopted by other operators as well as France, including Israel, to name but one. It was a capable aircraft for its day, and could carry a wide variety of weapons loads, adapting to also carry indigenous weaponry that were being designed and manufactured by Israeli companies at the time. The Set Arriving in a cardboard box, you might expect this to be a resin set, but it is actually two pairs of sprues from Special Hobby’s 1:72 Super Mystère kit that contain: 2 x 250kg Bomb 2 x Napalm Canister & Pylon 2 x 1300L Fuel Tank & Pylon 2 x 625L Fuel Tank & Pylon 8 x 100kg Bomb on 2 x Quadruple Ejector Rack & Pylon 2 x Rafael Shafrir 2 A2A Missile with pylon & Adapter Rail The 100kg bombs are made from two parts each, attaching to a rack with separate pylon; the 250kg bombs are two parts plus a perpendicular pair of fins that slide into a slot in the rear of the unit; both fuel tanks are two parts each with a separate pylon, as are the napalm canisters, and the Shafrir 2 missiles are a single body with integrated fins, adding perpendicular fins to the rear in a slot, then mounting them on a pylon with adapter rail. The instructions show the weapons being fitted under the wings and belly of a Super Mystère, adding locations for holes for the Shafrir 2 missile pylons in millimetres to the wing roots using scrap diagrams. Many of these weapons were also carried by other Israeli Air Force aircraft of the era, so they could have other uses if you have projects in mind. Markings There are no stencil decals included with the set, which would have been a great idea, but you are given colour call-outs in letter codes throughout the instructions that don’t appear to correspond with any table on either side of the page. It shouldn’t be difficult to figure it out however, especially if you look below at the colour chart that’s included with the SMB-2 kit. Elementary my dear Modeller! Pinched shamelessly from the instruction booklet for the kit. Conclusion If you’re short on weapons for an IAF Super Mystère or another aircraft of a similar era, this set could be very useful, particularly if you’d rather not use resin parts for whatever reason. It’s also a pocket-friendly purchase. Highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of

Sure hope that 'Cannon Fighter' box also gets upgraded.