Monday, May 6

Colours, box art and finally sprues for Trumpeter's five May releases in our preview...

It has taken aaaaagggeess recently for Trumpeter to release the sprues from their latest kits - and we wait diligently for them to do this before we show them in our preview - This month of May's new kits are five in total - and we have our eyes on at least one - See what you think about them in our new item preview...


Trumpeter's Sprues, colours and art for April...

Russian MIG-29SMT Fulcrum 
Model No# 03225
1:32nd scale
The MiG-29SMT is an upgrade package for first-generation MiG-29s (9.12 to 9.13) containing enhancements intended for the MiG-29M variant. Additional fuel tanks in a further enlarged spine provide a maximum flight range of 2,100 km on internal fuel. The cockpit has an enhanced HOTAS design, two 152 × 203 mm (6 × 8-inch) colour liquid crystal MFDs and two smaller monochrome LCDs. 
The MiG-29A was not designed for an advanced air-to-ground capability, this is substantially improved by the SMT upgrade; features include air-to-ground radar detection and integrated air-to-ground guided weapons.[150] The upgraded Zhuk-ME radar provides similar features to the MiG-29M. The power plants are two upgraded RD-33 ser.3 engines with afterburning thrust rated at 8,300 kgf (81.4 kN) each. 
The weapons load was increased to 4,500 kg on six underwing and one ventral hardpoints, with similar weapon choices as for the MiG-29M. The upgraded aircraft can also accommodate non-Russian origin avionics and weapons
Model Length: 536.2mm  / Wingspan: 356.5mm 
Total Parts 670+
Metal gear strut Parts
Photo-Etched Parts
 28 sprues, upper hull, lower hull and tires
 - Highly detailed  Engines
- The finely detailed cockpit, gear cabin,
- Grooved rubber tires


HMS York
Model:05351
1/350th scale
Heavy cruiser HMS York is the British Royal Navy during World War II York class heavy cruiser of the first ship. In September 1939 after the outbreak of war as a cover transportation fleet tasks, October attacked the ship began to hunt for Germany, in April 1940 to participate in the transport army troops to Norway Norway campaign. 
March 1941 cover transportation Army's fleet arrived in Crete Suda Bay, on the 25th night in Suda Bay, two Italian navy blasting boats were hit led to its loss of combat effectiveness. To avoid sinking, the British Navy drag stranded on the sandbar. Because still cannot be repaired, only when using air defence fort, after the Luftwaffe bombed wreckage until after the war between Britain and Greece negotiated only in Greece demolished.
Model Length: 500.8mm   Beam: 49.7mm   
Metal anchor chain Parts     
17 sprues, hull and decks
The kit contains over 330 parts
-  the hull made from two-directional slide moulds
-  Deck wood pattern finely rendered
-  Contains display stand
- photo-etched parts included

Russian 9P157-2 Khrizantema-S Anti-tank system 
Model Kit No# 09551
1/35th scale
9P157-2 "Khrizantema-S" - Anti-tank version with Khrizantema (AT-15) system with radar and laser guidance. The 9P157-2 carries two 9M123 missiles on launch rails which are extended from a stowed position, the radar is also stowed during transit. The missiles are re-loaded automatically by the tank destroyer from an internal magazine with 15 rounds (missiles are stored and transported in sealed canisters) and can also accept munitions manually loaded from outside the vehicle. 
The manufacturer claims that three 9P157-2 tank destroyers are able to engage 14 attacking tanks and destroy at least sixty percent of the attacking force. The dual guidance system ensures protection against electronic countermeasures and operation in all climatic conditions, day or night. The 9M123 missile itself is supersonic, flying at an average speed of 400 m/s or Mach 1.2 and a range of between 400 and 6000 meters.
Model Length: 201.6mm / Width: 107.7mm  
14 sprues, upper hull, lower hull and tracks
The kit consists of over 830 parts
>multi-slide moulded  upper hull and lower hull
>180 individual tracks links
>Etched Photo parts included


Tu-128UT Fiddler 01688
Model Kit #01688
1:72nd scale
The Tupolev Tu-28 (NATO reporting name Fiddler) was a long-range interceptor aircraft introduced by the Soviet Union in the 1960s. The official designation was Tu-128, but this designation was less commonly used in the West. It was the largest and heaviest fighter ever in service. Tu-128UT (also known as Tu-28UT) was built - it was a training version with an additional cockpit forward of the normal one, in place of radar. ten built and four converted from standard interceptors.
The Tu-128, with its maximum weight of 43 tonnes, was the heaviest fighter to enter service. It was a bomber-interceptor with high wing loading, unsophisticated but reliable avionics and poor visibility. It was not an agile aircraft. It was intended to combat only NATO bombers like the B-52, not engage in dogfights with smaller aircraft. The interceptor made its initial public appearance in the 1961 Tushino air parade. Western experts, unaware that the bulge on the belly carried testing instruments, mistook it for a large ventral radar for a mixed interceptor/AWACS role. The production version lacked the bulge and had a large nose radome housing a radar, known as RP-S Smerch, having a detection range of about 50 km (31 mi) and a lock-on range of about 40 km. The Tu-128's only publicly reported combat operation was the destruction of NATO reconnaissance balloons. The aircraft remained in service until 1990. Through the 1980s, units armed with the Tu-128 converted to the Mikoyan MiG-31, which features much more advanced sensors and weapons.
Model  Length: 439mm / Wingspan: 250mm   
Photo-Etched Parts Included
Total of 11 sprues
The kit consists of  over 130 parts, clear parts for canopy
- fuselage&wing with finely engraved panel lines


Soviet 2B7R Multiple Rocket Launcher BM-13 HMM
Model Kit No #01062
1/35th scale
Katyusha multiple rocket launchers are a type of rocket artillery first built and fielded by the Soviet Union in World War II. Multiple rocket launchers such as these deliver explosives to a target area more quickly than conventional artillery, but with lower accuracy and requiring a longer time to reload. They are fragile compared to artillery guns but are inexpensive and easy to produce.
Katyushas of World War II were usually mounted on trucks. This mobility gave the Katyusha another advantage: being able to deliver a large blow all at once, and then move before being located and attacked with counter-battery fire. This variant BM-13HMM uses postwar chassis ZIL-131.
Model Length: 215mm   Width: 76.4mm   
Total Parts 510+
12 sprues and tires 
>  Full drive train assembly complete with engine transmission, differential housing and suspension units.
>  The main tires are hollow rubber with very good tread pattern 
>  The windshield and side windows are made of clear parts.
>  Photo-etched parts included
These new kits should be available from your LHS or Trumpeter's Distributors this month...