We are already into the fourth month of releases on schedule from Hasegawa – a lot that is familiar, but the list is long, and those completists among us might just want that odd colour scheme, (we like the MAK Nutcracker personally) we have a list of these in our preview for you to check out.....
UP-3C Orion "51st FS 2016" Limited Edition
1/72nd
#HSGS0234
151 pieces
Length: 20.6 in (523 mm)
Width: 16.6 in (422 mm)
Age 14+
In 2014, three P-3C Orions were crushed when their hangar at Atsugi Air Base collapsed under the weight of heavy snow. Nevertheless, the Pacific's vast stretches of water still have to be monitored. The best way to do that is with the UP-3C Orion. It's equipped with "Airboss" modifications which add an additional sensor on top of the fuselage. This limited edition kit features resin antenna fairing parts, pitot tube parts and full decals.
Decal Option:
JMSDF 51st FS AIRBOSS Experimental Plane Code: 9151 Atsugi A.B. 2016
JMSDF DDG Kongo "Hyper Detail" Limited Edition
1/700th scale
#HSGS0042
159 pieces
Length: 9.1 in (230 mm)
Width: 1.2 in (30 mm)
Age 14+
In active service for close to fifteen years, Kongo is a reliable and powerful asset of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Forces. Its substantial armament of missiles are both offensive and defensive in nature. The can strike air, land, sea, underwater, or even high-flying ballistic missile targets. With continued advancements in technology, Kongo is on target for success for years to come. This capability makes Kongo a far more lethal weapon than its relatively small size would suggest. Limited edition kit features detailed photo-etched parts.
Decal Option:
DDG KONGO Code: 173 2016
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo V 1998 WRC Champion Limited Edition
1/24th scale
#HSGS0293
118 pieces
Length: 7.1 in (181 mm)
Width: 2.9 in (74 mm)
Age 14+
1998's Rally of Great Britain ranks as one of the most edge-of-your-seat races ever. The competition was fierce. Finland's Tommi Makinen was the top contender; however, a lap-six collision with a hay bale took him out of the running. Enter Britain's Richard Burns, who finished first following some nail-biting neck-in-neck racing against Scotland's Colin McRae. This limited edition kit features two marking options.
Decal Options:
1998 Rally of Great Britain, Car No. 1, Driver: Tommi Makinen
1998 Rally of Great Britain, Car No. 2, Driver Richard Burns
Racing Figure Set Limited Edition
1/24th scale
#HSGS0295
58 pieces
Age 14+
You're in the lead. The finish line is near. Fuel is low. Tires are worn. Do you push your car to the limit, or pay a visit to the pit crew? Time's wasting. The fans are on their feet, waiting for your decision. Do you risk it all for that one shot at glory? The choice is up to you. This limited edition figure set features parts for two driver figures and eight mechanic figures in two distinctive styles.
"From A" Porsche 962C Limited Edition
1/24th scale
#HSGS0294
65 pieces
Length: 7.8 in (198 mm)
Width: 3.3 in (83 mm)
After an inauspicious debut in 1984, the Porsche 962 quickly proved its worth on the racetrack. By 1988's All Japan Sports Prototype Car Endurance Championship, the 962C was taking the From A Racing team's Hideki Okada to a show-stopping first-place finish. The popularity of the 962C helped Porsche score 115 points and five wins that season. This limited edition kit features one marking option.
Decal Option:
All Japan Sports Prototype Car Endurance Championship, From A Racing Team, Car No. 27
Mitsubishi J2M3 Raiden (Jack) Type 21 "302nd Flying Group" (2 kits) Limited Edition
1/72nd scale
#HSGS2234
34 / 35 pieces
Length: 5.3 in (134 mm)
Width: 5.9 in (150 mm)
Designed by Jiro Horikoshi, the Mitsubishi J2M could fly faster - and climb even higher - than the celebrated A6M Zero. The J2M3 Type 21 was distinguished by a powerful MK4R-A Kasei 23a engine, two wing-mounted 20 mm Type 99 Model I cannons and two wing-mounted 20 mm Type 99 Model II cannons. All that firepower makes it perfect for the 302nd Flying Group. This limited edition kit combo features metal gun barrel parts plus decals for two 302nd Flying Group aircraft.
Decal Options:
IJN 302nd N.F.G. Code: Yo D-155
IJN 302nd N.F.G. Code: Yo D-1180 w/slanting gun
Eggplane F-16 Fighting Falcon "Taiwan Air Force" Limited Edition
$24.99
#HSGS0514
Skill Level 1
20 pieces
Length: 3.7 in (95 mm)
Width: 3.5 in (90 mm)
If you're going to be a lone nest nation just off the coast of the biggest, baddest roost in the world, you'd better have some pretty fierce raptors watching over your eggs. The F-16 is just such a bird. Its AESA radar sees further than even the sharpest of eagle eyes. Its 20mm cannon and missiles are more devastating than any talon. It's the Grade A bird you want scrambling when things go out of the frying pan and into the fire! Limited edition kit features an eggplane version of the F-16 with full decals.
Decal Option:
Taiwan A.F. 401TFW 5TFG Code; 6820 July 2015
Bell AH-1S Cobra Chopper and Bell UH-1H Iroquois "Winter Camo" (2 kits) Limited Edition
1/72nd scale
#HSGS2239
Skill Level 3
76 / 67 pieces
Length: (AH-1S) 7.5 in (190 mm); (UH-1H) 6.9 in (175.5 mm)
Width: (AH-1S) 7.3 in (186 mm); (UH-1H) 7.9 in (200.5 mm)
The overwhelming firepower that can be brought to bear by the AH-1S Cobra is the perfect complement for the carrying capacity of the Bell UH-1H Iroquois. Together, they provide an effect one-two punch of area clearance and area control. Both aircraft have served since the time of the Vietnam War. Although they have been largely phased out of use with the US Armed Forces, they are still in service with the JGSDF and the armed forces of many other countries. This limited edition kit combo features a Cobra and an Iroquois with JGSDF decals.
Decal Options:
AH-1S: JGSDF
UH-1H: JGSDF
F4F-4 Wildcat "Operation Torch" (2 kits) Limited Edition
1/72nd scale
#HSGS2240
Skill Level 3
34 / 34 pieces
Length: 4.8 in (121 mm)
Width: 6.3 in (160 mm)
Age 14+
The Grumman F-4F Wildcat was the first aircraft the US Navy could bring to bear in large numbers in the early days of WWII. It was neither as fast, nor as manoeuvrable as its chief opponents. Nevertheless, its rugged construction and dependability, coupled with innovative tactics, made it a deadly threat to anything in the sky. US escort carriers brought the Wildcat to the shores of North Africa for Operation Torch. There, the guns of the type helped sweep the skies over the landing beaches. This limited edition kit combo features two aircraft and three sets of decals.
Decal Options:
US Navy USS RANGER VF-9 Code: 9F9 Operation Torch Nov., 1942
US Navy USS SANTEE VGF-29 Code: 29-GF-10 Operation Torch Nov., 1942
US Navy USS RANGER VF-41 Code: 25 Operation Torch Nov., 1942
Shindenkai No Maki F1M2 Type 0 Seaplane "Pete" Limited Edition
1/48th scale
#HSGS4749:
Skill Level 3
124 pieces
Length: 7.8 in (198 mm)
Width: 9 in (229 mm)
Throughout WWII, the IJN used seaplane tenders-early aircraft carriers to discreetly dispatch aeroplanes for long-range recon missions. The float-equipped F1M2 was frequently sent out by the IJN because of its versatility. This seaplane has appeared in "Shindenkai No Maki," a manga which features high school girls dogfighting with iconic WWII aircraft. Whether you're a manga fan or a WWII buff, this unique kit has something for everyone. This limited edition kit features markings for pilot Kamizuki no Rua, a character from Takeshi Nogami's popular Japanese manga, "Shindenkai No Maki."
P.K.H. Nutcracker Maschinen Krieger Limited Edition
1/35th scale
#HSGS4111
Skill Level 3
217 pieces
Length: 12.1 in (308 mm)
Width: 7 in (178 mm)
Age 14+
The sci-fi series Maschinen Krieger was created by artist Kow Yokoyama in the early 1980s, first appearing in the popular magazine Hobby Japan. The series was inspired by armour and aircraft from both World Wars, as well as several iconic science fiction films. Today, Maschinen Krieger continues to have a devoted cult following, thanks to its celebrated return to Hobby Japan magazine in 2009. This limited edition kit features one marking option.
Decal Option:
Strahl Defense Force, Kampgruppe BALCK, s.Pz.Abt.503.
Kawanishi N1K1-Jb Shiden (George) Type 11 Otsu "Rollout" Limited Edition
1/48th scale
#HSGS7449
Skill Level 3
93 pieces
Length: 7.3 in (185 mm)
Width: 9.8 in (250 mm)
Age 14+
Following its 1943 introduction, the Kawanishi N1K quickly earned a reputation for being incredibly resilient and highly manoeuvrable. In combat, the N1K could easily go toe-to-toe against the F6F Hellcat, as well as the P-51 Mustang, and the F4U Corsair. The N1K1-Jb version featured four 20 mm cannons mounted in the wings and could carry two 250kg bombs, but it lacked the frontal 7.7 mm guns of earlier variants. This limited edition kit features markings for aircraft fresh from the Himeji factory.
Decal Options:
IJN Kawanishi Himeji factory Code: 7255
IJN Kawanishi Himeji factory Code: 7250
IJN Kawanishi Himeji factory Code: 7257
F/A-18F Super Hornet "VX-23 Salty Dogs" Limited Edition
1/48th scale
#HSGS7450
Skill Level 3
256 pieces
Length: 15.1 in (383 mm)
Width: 11.3 in (286 mm)
Age 14+
Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 23 (VX-23) was established in 1995 to put cutting-edge aircraft through exhaustive trials. One of the most notable aircraft evaluated by VX-23 is the F/A-18F Super Hornet. In addition to 40 officers and 90 enlisted troops, VX-23 also has hundreds of flight engineers who provide support during the squadron's 2,600 annual tests. This limited edition kit features new nose landing gear door parts, new upper rear fuselage parts and one marking option.
Decal Option:
US Navy VX-23, Code: SD223, Naval Air Station Patuxent River, 2016
Spitfire Mk.IIa "Douglas Bader" with Figure Limited Edition
1/32nd scale
#HSGS8247
Skill Level 3
78 pieces
Length: 11.3 in (288 mm)
Width: 13.7 in (348 mm)
Age 14+
Adversity crushes some men; others, it makes soar. Sir Douglas Bader was of the rarer, latter sort. He lost his father to WWI. He lost both his legs to a flying accident in '31. By 1939, he was back in the cockpit. His actions in the Battle of Britain made him a hero. He was shot down over France in 1941, but still refused to give up. His multiple escape attempts landed him in Nazi Germany's special prison for problem inmates. Limited edition kit features detailed parts and Douglas Bader figure.
Decal Option:
R.A.F. Tangmere Fighter Wing Commander W/Cdr. Douglas Bader Code: D - B March 1941
These kits should be out in April, check out the Hasegawa website for more info on all of their kits.