Italeri has some crackers for this Easter month’s releases

 

Italeri has a bunch of new kits available – A new impressive Stirling in 72^nd scale as well as an up-gunned and up-armoured Sherman. We duel in the skies in small scale of WWI with a combo kit and we battle to the end in Berlin in WWII – Let’s see what’s new all in today’s preview…

Italeri’s April 2015 new items

STIRLING Mk.I

1/72 scale

Kit# 1335

Skill: 4

Model Dim.: 36,9 cm

Box Dim.: 440 x 270 x 70 mm

Upgraded moulds + colour instructions sheet & also contains photo-etched fret

The Short Stirling was the first four-engined British heavy bomber of the Second World War. The design had high wing, four engines and the cabin elevated over the fuselage. The airframe was completely made in metal. Other features that characterised the bomber was the impressive size of the landing gears. The first bombers went to equip the Royal Air Force Bomber Command Squadrons from the end of 1940. The Operational status was reached on January 1941 and the first war mission was dated February 1941 against logistic installation in Rotterdam. Stirling Mk. I was able to carry a significant offensive load of over 6,000 Kg of bombs and was armed with eight 7.7 mm machine guns for defines. Unfortunately the performance and the reliability of the Stirling was not so impressive and it was replaced in just two years by more modern and efficient bombers such as the Halifax and the Lancaster.

Decals for 6 versions in RAF and a captured German version

Battle of Berlin Diorama Set

1/72 scale

Kit# 6112

Skill: 2

Box Dim.: 373 x 241 x 118 mm

Kit Contents :

Berlin House (51 Pieces) + Berlin House Decals Sheet

- T-34/85 (2x fast assembly models)

- Pz.Kpfw. Panther Auf.G (1x fast assembly model)

- PAK 40 AT gun (with 6 figures)

- German Elite Troops (32 figures)

- Russian Infantry (32 figures)

- Urban Accessories (96 pieces) 

The Battle of Berlin was the last historical military event of the Second World War on the European theatre. From the middle of April 1945 the Red Army launched a massive offensive along the Oder River line with the final goal to capture the German capital. Since April 20th the Russian artillery began shelling Berlin to prepare the way for the infantry divisions and armoured troops. The battle ended on May 2nd, after intense and fierce fighting in the ruins of the capital of the Reich, ended with the surrender of German troops. The urban fighting, however, caused a significant number of soviet tanks and armoured vehicles losses as results of German anti-tank weapons as Pak 40 and “Panzerfaust”.  The Battle of Berlin is historical remembered for the famous photograph, symbol of the end of World War II and of the Soviet victory, “Raising a flag over the Reichstag”.

Berlin House

1/72 scale

Kit # 6173
Skill: 1

Model Dim.: 25,3 cm

Box Dim.: 373 x 241 x 60 mm

Kit Contents :

Berlin House (51 Pieces) + Berlin House Decals Sheet

M4A1 Sherman

1/35 scale

Kit# 225

Skill: 3

Model Dim.: 16,5 cm

Box Dim.: 345 x 242 x 60 mm

After the German attack on Russia In 1941 it became clear to the United States that possibility of an American involvement in the war was becoming more and more inevitable. For this reason, President Roosevelt ordered substantial production increases of the medium tank M4. The tank was not a completely new model, since it derived from the previous model M3 “Grant”. The Sherman had some major improvements on the superstructure and on the armament as well as the welded or cast hull. The “General Sherman”, under which name the new tank was soon to be known, was equipped with a 75 mm gun, which was insufficient against the German Tanks. This necessitated a series of changes, including a completely new turret as well as a 76 mm gun which would be more efficient than the previous one. 

The new prototype was given the designation M4 A1. In January 1944, the new type was introduced. Until the end of the war, about 3400 pieces were produced. Notwithstanding the improvements, there were still many defects, one of them being the lack of protection. Frequently the crew was forced to protect the tank sides and the front with sandbags. In some instances the most exposed track sections were covered and sometimes even cement or steel blocks were attached. Thanks to its numerical superiority, the tank was able to match the German tanks, using its great manoeuvrability and its excellent 76 mm gun. M4 A1 took part in the invasion of Normandy and in all European theatres. 

Decals for 3 versions 

S.E.5a Vs. Albatros D.III Combo box (2 kits)

1/72 scale

1374

COMBO BOX

Skill: 1

Box Dim.: 258 x 162 x 38 mm

The most famous dogfights between biplane fighters on the Western Front, especially during the 1917, were conducted by the German Albatros D III and the British SE 5a. The German Albatros D III was flown by many top German Aces including the “Red Baron” Manfred von Richthofen and Ernst Udet. It was able to reach the top speed of 175 Km/h and was armed with two Spandau machine guns firing through the propeller disc. The rival of Albatros was the Allied fighter S.E. 5a. Although it wasn’t as famous as the Sopwith Camel, it formed the backbone of the British Royal Flying Corp fighter squadrons showing great efficiency. The S.E. 5a was flown by Allied Aces such as Billy Bishop and Edward Mannock. Faster than the Albatros, it was armed with a 7.7 mm Vickers and with the characteristic 7.7 mm Lewis mounted on the upper wing.

Decals for 3 versions 

These kits are now available through Italeri’s distributors worldwide