Italeri sure has something for everyone in their latest releases set to land by the end of the month. Aircraft, Trucks, Cars, Tanks & Infantry along with a whole battle scene on the American Frontier. These are varied and very promising looking for several builders out there to get into. We see boxart, colours, sprues and everything else in our preview...
Italeri's May 2017 Releases
Lancia Stratos HF
kit no #3654
1/24th scale
Model Dim.: 18,6 cm
Box Dim.: 345 x 240 x 58 mm
The Lancia Stratos HF is, without any doubt, an icon of Italian automotive production. The Italian sports car, produced for a short period of time, has become famous for its innovative design, its technical solutions and, above all, for the success achieved in the many rally competitions the Lancia Stratos won. In 1974, 1975 and 1976 it took out the World Rally Championship and a lot of other Italian and European titles.
In terms of mechanical layout, it adopted the V6 cylinder engine characterised by a displacement of 2,418 ccs and a rear-wheel-drive transmission. Its unique design is, even today, an Iconic design for all fans of the automotive history.
Masks are included in this kit
F-5E Tiger II Patrouille Suisse 50th Anniversary
kit no# 1395
1 /72nd scale
Model Dim.: 20,1 cm
Box Dim.: 290 x 190 x 45 mm
The Northrop F-5 project was born in the '60s to meet the needs of many Countries belonging to NATO nd the US allies that required a multi-role, simple, low-cost and easy to maintain fighter. In the early 70s the improved version, called F-5E Tiger II was developed. It was characterised by the adoption of the new General Electric J85 turbojet engines able to provide much higher thrust and a better performance. The F-5 Tiger II had a lengthened and enlarged fuselage with more fuel on board to guarantee a better operating range, along with an improved avionic system suitable to fulfil the main role of air defence fighter.
Decals for eaxh of the versions in the national acrobatic team “Patrouille Suisse” colours
The main armament is composed by two 20mm. guns installed in the nose, and several hardpoints that are able to carry a combination of air-to-air/ ground missiles, bombs and rockets. The F-5E was a great commercial success that was also produced under license in South Korea, Taiwan and Switzerland who in 1995 was adopted by the national acrobatic team “Patrouille Suisse”.
Hurricane Mk.I Trop
kit no #2768
1/48th scale
Model Dim.: 20,5 cm
Box Dim.: 345 x 240 x 48 mm
The Hawker Hurricane has been the most widely used fighter by the British Royal Air Force at the beginning of World War II. The Hurricane was powered by a Rolls-Royce Merlin 12-cylinders, liquid-cooled, with more than 1,000 HP. The eight 7.7 mm Browning machine guns, which equipped it, guaranteed a good firepower. Although it was slower and more antiquated, for aerodynamic design, then the famous "colleague" with whom it shared the
Decals for 6 versions in RAF & SAAF versions
operational engagement during the Battle of Britain, however, was more robust, cheaper and easier to maintain and repair. On June 1940 the first Hurricane Mk I “Tropical” version, characterised by the adoption of the Vokes air filter, appeared. Several Hurricanes has been deployed in Malta and in North Africa.
Caproni ca.311/311m
kit no# 1390
1/72nd scale
Model Dim.: 16,3 cm
Box Dim.: 345 x 240 x 48 mm
The Ca.311 was designed as reconnaissance aircraft and as a light bomber and ground attack aircraft. The Italian company Officine Caproni realised their Ca. 310, which then evolved into the Ca.311. This aeroplane, with elegant lines, was able to fly at 220 knots and was characterised by an almost entirely clear glazed nose which helped give better ground observation properties. Its armament constituted of three 7,7 mm machine guns, one in the ventral position, one in the Lanciani type revolving turret in the dorsal position and one positioned on the left wing.
The aeroplane was also able to transport up to 400 kilogrammes of bombs in the fuselage. The Ca.311 would have developed his missions from 1940 on all the war fronts: from northern Africa, to the Balkans and to Russia, recording a successful reputation among its crews for manageability and reliability, despite the limited defensive armament and some problems about the reduced engine's power. Several planes would have remained in service for training up to 1945, both with the Regia Aeronautica in the southern Italy and with the Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana in the north.
Carro Armato M14/41 L-Serie With Italian Infantry
kit no# 6543
1/35th scale
M1odel Dim.: 14,0 cm
Box Dim.: 340 x 240 x 45 mm
The Fiat M-14/41 medium tank was used by the Italian Regio Esercito armoured Brigades from 1941 to 1943. It was a slightly improved version of the earlier M-13/40 using the same chassis and the same main armament formed by the 47/32 gun located in the turret. Even the secondary armament was the same and based on four Breda 8 mm machine guns: two combined in the hull, one coaxial to the main gun and the last one on top of the turret for the anti-aircrafts defence.
Decals for 4 versions in Italian service in WWII
The main difference, also recognised in the external design for radiator grilles, was the adoption of the new, and more powerful, 8 V cylinders Fiat SPA-diesel engine The crew was formed by commander, gunner, driver and machine gunner). The M-14/41 was widely used in all military operations in North Africa during World War II.
Scania 164l Top class
kit no# 3922
1/24th scale
Model Dim.: 24,2 cm
Box Dim.: 373 x 241 x 115 mm
Super decals sheet for 2 versions
Adhesive stencil
New tyres
Additional chromed parts and wheel rims
The Scania 164 has been a reference point of heavy commercial vehicles from the latest part of the '90s to the first half of the following decade. It was the spearhead of the “Series 4” and it achieved a significant commercial success in a lot of Countries all over the World. The 16-litre engine was able to guarantee power and reliability minimizing, at the same time, the running costs. The 164L “Top Class” was characterised by the highest level of comfort on board either in running conditions or during the rest and parking.
The design and the development of the vehicle was able to enhance the active and passive safety. Not least the aerodynamic restyling allowed to have an optimisation in fuel consumption even at the high speed. In detail, the cabin design of Series 4 changed completely with a rounded and more modern shape. The new cabin design, thanks to the new shape of the frontal grid, permit to have a step useful to reach easier the windscreen during the cleaning and maintenance activities or during the rest. It was considered ideal to make fantastic “Show Trucks”, the famous decorated trucks, real masterpieces on wheels.
The Last Outpost 1754-1763 French And Indian War - Battle set
kit no# 6180
1/72nd scale
Box Dim.: 440 x 270 x 70 mm
The Seven Years' War took place between 1756 and 1763 and involved all the European military powers of the time. It was considered, by many historians, as the first world war due to the fact that it spanned several Continents, affecting the Colonies owned by the European States. In detail, the French and Indian War comprised the North America theatre where the Royal French troops, flanked by various indigenous forces allied with them, fought against the British Army and the Thirteen British American Colonies troops.
Both armies moved quickly in order to capture and destroy enemy forts and settlements located along the frontiers. The war was very tough due to the severe operational environment and due to the ferocity of the fighting. The war was ended with the signing of the Treaty of Paris, on February 1763, where Britain gained the control of the French Colonies in North America.
All of these new kits are now available from Italeri's Distributors worldwide.