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Dear all, Please find below some images of my recently finished Special Hobby Vultee V1A in the colours of American Airlines. The build in itself went pretty smooth, but close to the finish line I wanted to respray the anti-glare panel and with the masking tape pulled off part of the decals... Special Hobby wasn't able to supply a replacement, but Arctic Decals came to the rescue. Of course Mika from Arctic also corrected some of the errors in the decal sheet, so 'kiitos' (thank you in Finnish) to Mika. On to the pictures! Peter

After much wrestling with plastic and filler, and a build that felt, at times, like it was never going to end, I am finally able to post up a few pics of my Barracuda - another Fleet Air Arm favourite of mine with its strange looks and dubious performance. This is the "Hi Tech" boxing of the Special Hobby kit, with some extra bits from the Brengun (formerly Griffon) set. The build followed a fairly typical course for a Special Hobby kit, in that the interior bulkheads were all a little too wide and lots of dry fitting was needed before committing to glue. The biggest difficulty I encountered was the fit of the port wing. From above it was raked forward at more of an angle than the starboard wing, and from ahead it was a mm or two lower. A plasticard shim, lots of filler and round after round of sanding and smoothing eventually resulted in wings that looked symmetrical - to me at least... I didn't like the look of the kit spinner so blunted one from a Seafire XV and used that instead. For the markings I decided to go with a post war scheme as I think it suits the aircraft and I haven't seen this kit in the EDSG over Sky before. The upper surfaces should, I think, be quite liberally festooned with various white stencil markings that I didn't have.... I ran out of steam a bit towards the end of this one - this shows in the wingtip nav lights which are only painted, and let the finished model down a bit; the underside is a bit too clean and the prop should probably be a bit weathered too... The markings are intended to show a machine from 815 NAS at Eglinton. And so to the pictures, and thanks for looking, Nick.

I really shouldn't be doing this....but as I have just finished a big project at work I am hopeful I might get some bench time over the next month or so. If that is correct then I have an outside chance of actually completing a GB. Anyway having looked through the stash this is one of the few kits that qualifies. I have never made a Special Hobby kit before but I am aware of the short run nature of the product. Will see how I get one. As always all comments welcome. Cheers Dave

Special Hobby is to release in 2020 a 1/48th Reggiane Re.2000 Falco kit - ref. ? Source: http://www.specialhobby.info/2019/09/news-from-special-hobby-102019.html?m=1 V.P.

"Czech wars" is not over. After the surprise re-release announcement from the AZmodel 1/72nd SMB2 kit (http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235011686-172-dassault-super-mystère-b2-smb2-by-azmodel-re-release-box-artschemessprues-release-december-2016/ Special Hobby is to release, in cooperation with Azur-FRROM, a new tool 1/72nd Dassault Super Mystère B2 (SMB2) kit - ref. SH? Armements and fuel tanks will be included in the box. Different boxings will offer the opportunity to reproduce the original SMB2 as well as the Israeli re-engined variant. Source: http://www.specialhobby.net/2016/11/super-mystere-172-pripravovany-model.html CADs Special Hobby, do you hear me, true scale modellers need a 1/48th SMB2 kit... V.P.

Special Hobby is to release in 2020 a 1/48th Reggiane Re.2005 Sagittario kit - ref. ? Source: http://www.specialhobby.info/2019/09/news-from-special-hobby-102019.html?m=1 Sword Models is the other company working on a 1/48th Reggiane Re.2005 Sagittario kit: link V.P.

Special Hobby is to release early 2016 a variant from the Azur's Vautour kit (https://www.scalemates.com/products/reviews.php?scale=1%3A72&topic=SNCASO+SO-4050+Vautour), a 1/72nd SNCASO SO.4050 Vautour IIN "Cyrano radar" - ref.SH72333 Source: http://www.mpmkits.net/2015/12/novinky-special-hobby-prvni-mesice-roku.html Box art The same in 1/48th... Sigh. V.P.

Special Hobby is to release in 2018 a family of Armstrong Whitworth Meteor nightfighters kits incl. NF.11/12/13 & 14 - ref. SH72358, 72360, 72363 & 72364 Source: http://www.specialhobby.net/2017/12/sh72358360363364-aw-meteory-nf.html Canopies mould V.P.

source: http://modelforum.cz/viewtopic.php?f=97&t=77712&start=720#p1880503 "Dalšími v pořadí nejbližšími rozpracovanými projekty (ono je toho docela hodně) je moderní dvoumotorák s vrtulemi a druhoválečná stíhačka." next project is a twin-engine modern aircraft with propellers And next is WW2 fighter http://modelforum.cz/viewtopic.php?f=97&t=77712&start=735#p1880919 "ne, nebude to Turbolet, lítá to nebo lítalo na západ od nás (a na jih, sever a možná i na východ)" No, not L-410 Turbolet. It flies or flew to the west of Czech Republic (and to the south, north and maybe to the east) type is still secret

After the 2018 newsletters (link) here are the Special Hobby newsletters 2019  n°1 - January 2019 - http://www.specialhobby.info/2018/12/news-from-special-hobby.html V.P.

I've got myself the new Special Hobby 1/72 Kittyhawk Mk III (P-40K) and I want to check the colours for the RNZAF one on the box art. The instructions say Foliage Green on top and Grey-Green (I think they mean RAF Sky Type S) underneath. Would this be correct? The Special Hobby P-40 kits are brilliant btw, everyone should make one! thanks Mike

This was started in the Trainers GB along with three others including another mixed media target tug. Obviously a bit too ambitious, so once the GB was finished I proceeded with this in a leisurely manner. It was a slightly complex build with resin bits all over the place, a vac form canopy. With loads of panels to mask. And of course the black and yellow stripes on the underside. And a lost aerial! However it's now complete and here it is for inspection. The build can be found here. Special Hobby kit completed as a TT MkIV of 733 NAS based at Trincomalee in 1944. Brush painted with Xtracrylix for the upperworks and Citadel yellow and Revell black for the underside.

My second contribution, the Special Hobby Vultee Vengeance in its target tug version. The plastic parts parts are relatively simple and they're nicely moulded although the detail is soft and the level is quite muted. Everything on a single sprue. A fair bit of resin, including a cockpit pit. Two vac formed canopies provided. Nice transfer sheet.

Special Hobby 1/72 HA-1112 m-1L Buchon, as a hurricane of a polish squadron, battle of britain movie. Lovely little kit, went together really well, the canopy was the worst part of the kit, so i replaced it with one from a airfix kit. thanks for looking

This summer has played h**l with my model building and group build participation. Thank God, the summer in here seems to be over very soon and we're heading towards a season more suitable for this hobby . Nuff said, not to be started before some more urgent builds are done, as their GB:s end sooner, but here's my trio of the quite delicious looking Special Hobby Kittyhawks and a Warhawk: I plan to build them out of the box, decorating each with the North African decal options supplied in the kits. For a while, this is just a placeholder... V-P

Special Hobby 1/72 F8 with homemade decals, bombs and rockets from the spares box and scratchbuilt RATO bottles Steve

Special Hobby is to re-release the MPM 1/72nd Breda Ba.88B Lince kit - ref. SH72397 Release is expected in May 2019. Source: http://www.specialhobby.info/2018/10/standa-hajek-new-paintings-for-sh72384.html Box art V.P.

Hi all, I have been doing this for a while now (whilst taking part in the Frog Squad GB and still doing the house), it is a lovely kit and went together quite well. The model is depicted as an early marque with the Hawk rudder. The scoops and exhaust were hollowed out and the control cables for the rudder were added. The model was brush painted in Humbrol 24 Trainer yellow, yes it drove me mad and took six coats. The Engine cowling was painted in Humbrol metalcote polished aluminium, and buffed with a cotton bud and coated in several coats of Klear. Hope you like Thanks for looking All the best Chris

Special Hobby 1/72 T7 straight from the box With the family..... Steve

Special Hobby is to release a 1/32nd Lockheed T-33 T-Bird kit (rebox Czech Model kit http://www.hyperscale.com/2010/reviews/kits/czech3203reviewbg_1.htm). The first boxing subject will be the T-33 over Europe. The decals are said in design. More details soon. Source: http://translate.google.be/translate?hl=fr&sl=cs&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.modelforum.cz%2Fviewtopic.php%3Ff%3D97%26t%3D77712%26start%3D105 V.P.

Hello folks, Here's my entry into this Group Build and I'm quite excited about it too as I'll explain later! I had planned to make an English Electric Lightning, specifically XR720 which flew a few days before my birthday in 1964. XR720 is an F.3 which would mean converting the Airfix 1/72nd kit using the Alley Cat conversion, then the reality of my situation hit. I am a very slow modeller, mostly because I have lots going on in my life but mainly because I only have a small window of opportunity to do some modelling anyway! Many of you will know that this man in his fifties is studying part time for a degree, fitting it in with work and the aforementioned lots going on in my life, taking on a conversion probably wouldn't be the wisest of things and probably wouldn't get finished before I have to recommence studies. Therefore, something OOB was called for. Fortunately, the long announced CMK/Special Hobby 1/72nd Dassault SMB.2 Super Mystère has finally, after what seems like an incredibly long wait (accompanied by lots of teasing glimpses of progress), has been released! I was very excited when this was announced, the Super Mystère has long been a favourite of mine, really since seeing a picture of the EC.1/12 Tiger Meet aircraft in 1972, it's a classic Cold War jet and as it's French, it has a certain je ne sais quoi. The Airfix kit from the early 70's is a nice kit but isn't up to today's standards, the more recent AZ kit has some shape errors so when this kit was announced I was very pleased indeed! It certainly looks in the box, to be the definitive SMB.2 in this scale! This would be my OOB subject. Although the kit has been manufactured by Special Hobby, French concern Azur got first dibs on the releases, this is the "Early" boxing and features NMF subjects, the "Late" boxing features camouflaged aircraft. AFAIK, the kit contents are the same. Unfortunately, none of the subjects in the box were from the year I was born. Fortunately, I've got plenty of decals from Berna Decals which include some other options. Berna Decal sheet BD72-78 features three aircraft one of which is No.151/12-YN from EC.1/12 at Cambrai in 1967... ...not 1964, curses! Searching through the excellent EM37 book on the Super Mystère, it lists the histories of every single aircraft which shows that No.151 was delivered to EC.1/12 on 01/08/63 after its first Major maintenance at Dassualt, it stayed with the unit 12/09/67 when it went to IAI at Lod for its second Major maintenance. Therefore the aircraft was on the unit strength during 1964! Hurrah!! So to cut a long story short, my subject will be Super Mystère No.151/12-YN, from EC.1/12, based at Cambrai in 1964.

Hello Here are a couple of Special Hobby / Azur FRROM 1/72 Dassault SMB2 I built just in time to bring them at SMW Telford. Actually, those kits are not already available and they are test shots given to me by the manufacturer. They are likely to be produced by the begining of next year. First, here is the SMB2 N° 88 10-RB from Escadron de Chasse 2/10 Seine in natural metal finish in 1962 at Creil AFB. Next is the SMB2 N° 59 10-SD from Escadron de Chasse 1/10 Valois covered by the last camouflage in 1974 at Creil AFB. Both of them are, except the scratch pilot harness, strictly built from the sprues, as the box does not exist. The decals came from two Berna Decals sheets (72-52 & 72-54). They were shown on the Special Hobby space at SMW. The French SMB2 will be produced under the brand Azur FRROM and the Israeli aircraft under Special Hobby. Patrick

Special Hobby working on SAAB VIGGEN scaled down to 1/72 metal mould made with 3D CAD-CAM CNC technology like Vampire, Gnat, Mirage etc.

This Mike (from Two Mikes Resin - http://www.twomikesresin.com/ & http://www.facebook....es/292079953801 ) talk too much... But doesn't say enough. Sources: http://www.britmodel...38 http://s362974870.on...96&qpid=2114224 Wait and see. V.P.

With the remonstrations of a certain Martian - as well the stern-but-fair General M - ringing in my shell-likes, I thought it prudent to put down a mark of intent, less a prolonged silence give rise to dark mutterings of bad-faith and fair-weathering modelling around the mess. So: without further ceremony let me introduce the next offering: Fairey's big-shouldered beast of burden, the new Barracuda from Special Hobby: On first inspection this kit looks highly disappointing as there appears nothing for me to cut off, scribe, or stuff full of filler to be a pleasant change from the company I usually keep. I haven't yet checked it against photos to any degree, but the moulding looks sharp and nicely incised, whilst the plastic itself feels just 'right' to the touch: Even the bit for poking holes in ships has an well-realized set of screws: The box-art I find delightfully-bizarre: a pen-and-watercolour job of the kind you usually find adorning the cover of The People's Friend, or B. Wooster's column in Milady's Boudoir: I'd originally intended to use the Barracuda canopy from the excellent Falcon FAA set, but putting it up against the Special Hobby one that came with the kit, I'm genuinely not sure it's necessary. What do you think? The SH one is the bottom of the two: Being the first time I've ever done an SH kit I was surprised at the quality and detail of the instructions as well - are they always this concise and well-done graphically? I'm not at all sure about those Eduard decals however: Do you see that rather unsightly patina across the surface of the roundels? I wonder will that dissolve-off in the water or do they come pre-weathered for that mucky maritime look.... The kit comes with two sets of badges, one for a Barra from Victorious, the other from Furious, both from the Spring of 1944. Despite the provision of a torpedo in the kit, SH note that both these aircraft were involved in bombing strikes on Tirpitz, so it's a straight choice of whether you want to tool up as a dive-bomber for these raids, or go 'fishing' on other missions. From what I know of the Barra, it was more often used in the bombing role than as a fish-flinger - I still haven't decided yet which route to take. There's a rather handsome Stanley Lewis painting of Barracudas attacking Tirptiz in the FAA museum. (The baldy-heed in the reflection is mine!): That's the opening salvo gentleman. I've still a lot of research to do on the various structures - though as there's not a massive amount published in this baby I'm currently relying on Pilot's Notes and the Warpaint volume, plus whatever images are floating around the interwebs. Any shots of the cockpit pilot/navigator/TAG spaces would be most welcomed. I shall certainly be ducking-in to see how the Yeovilton lads are getting on with their superb restoration work and peering over their shoulders from time-to-time: Yeovilton Barracuda Project I managed to have squint in the windows at the restoration work there back in July: There's even a (relatively) local Barracuda connection I only discovered recently : http://www.csn.ul.ie/~dan/war/md987.htm I love the bit about ' The three British airmen were accomodated a second night locally, this time in a hotel in Rosslare town.' Oh look- there's an emoticon for 'accomodated' - Sorry for the rambling tone of this; new model and all that, tends to make a chap a bit giddy.... Enjoy the rest of your weekends. Tony