Wednesday, June 14

Preview: Special Hobby & CMK's latest kits & resin in June

We have a look at Special Hobby & CMK's new kits & aftermarket resin, with sprues & some contents for each one today in our preview...


Preview: Special Hobby & CMK's latest kits & resin in June

Every month Special Hobby seem to release a bunch of kits and aftermarket. Most of these pretty interesting. We thought we would show you what's new in a preview.

AH-1Q/S Cobra ‘US & Turkish Army Service’ 
From Special Hobby
1/48th scale
Product Code: 100-SH48232
Price: $54USD from Hobbylink Japan
Bell AH-1Q/S Cobra 'US & Turkish Army' The AH-1G was the initial version of the iconic Cobra helicopter, and had mainly been designed to provide close support to the ground troops. The US military quite quickly realised that what they also need is a weapon system capable of taking on enemy's armoured vehicles and tanks. And most urgent this need was felt in Europe where the danger of Soviet tank forces was almost palatable. To enable the Cobra to operate in this role, the new versions the Q and S were designed and the earlier G airframes were also rebuilt to this new standard. These new machines were armed with TOW anti-tank missiles. The rebuilt ones, however, still featured a few similarities with the earlier G Cobras.
This model has excellent detail throughout and comes on nine grey styrene sprues and one with clear parts. A modeller can construct one of four machines using the markings provided on the decal sheet. Two of these are standard olive-coloured US AH-1S Cobras, one of which has the recognisable bunny emblem on its doghouse and the other of which was used by the Massachusetts National Guard. The other two are a dark green US AH-1Q airframe and a Turkish Cobra with a rather eye-catching three-color camouflage pattern. 
- interesting colour schemes
- model of never before kitted version


Mirage F.1 EQ/ED 
From Special Hobby
1/72nd scale
Product Code: 100-SH72386
The Mirage F.1 EQ/ED is back in production – due to popular demand, but just in limited quantity. This detailed model of the EQ/ED variety of the F.1 Mirage comes with seven grey styrene sprues, one clear plastic sprue with canopy parts, it also contains a fret of photo etches and a resin cast replica of the Exocet missile with its pylon. The decal sheet offers two Iraqi machines in two different schemes, plus one Libyan and one Iranian machines.
Features:
Nicely Detailed Model
Four Interesting-Looking Finish Schemes
Etches And Resin Parts Already In The Kit
Limited Quantity Available


Seafire F/FR Mk.46
From Special Hobby
Product Code: 100-SH72482
Price: $25USD from Hobbylink Japan
 The Mk.46 variety of the Seafire was originally a navalized Spitfire Mk.22, closely following their predecessor the Seafire Mk.45 and so possessing the fixed (not folding) wing with laminar type aerofoil. From the Mk.22, It inherited the low back rear fuselage and naval equipment, sting-type arrestor hook and catapult spools. Only twenty-four were built in the end as the definite Seafire FR.47 type had entered the production. Even the rather small number, two varieties existed, a fighter type and also the fighter-reconnaissance version fitted with cameras behind the cockpit
The kit set comes on five styrene sprues joined by one with clear parts. The fuselage halves come in two styles, too, to depict the differences between the fighter and fighter-recon airframes. The decal sheet caters for two machines as operated by No.1832 NAS RNVR at RNAS Culham. One of them is a fighter, the other one a fighter-recce FR Mk.46 machine.


SAAB J/A-21R ‘First Swedish Made Jet’
From Special Hobby
Product Code: 100-sh72480
The SAAB J-21A was developed and manufactured during WW2 powered by a piston DB605 engine. In the post war years however, the type was redesigned further and was fitted with a jet engine, and so the J-21R variety was created to become the very first jet plane of Swedish design. (the first such powered airfame on Swedish skies though was the Vampire Mk.I, 1/72 scale stavebnici SH72339 DH.100 Vampire Mk.I 'The First Jet Guardians of Neutrality' is recommended here). The SAAB J-21R was in use as a fighter aeroplane while the ground attack version bore the designation A-21R, these airframes being able to carry unguided missile projectiles or a machine gun pod under the belly.
The model kit consists of three styrene sprues, one with clear parts, etches and resin parts. The decals cater for three Swedish machines.
- Very unique looking machine
- Etches and resin parts contained in the box
- External armament parts already in the box too


A6M2 Zero Control Surface Correction Set / for Academy
 kit
by CMK
1/48th scale
Product Code: 129-4464 
Price: $16 USD from Hobbylink Japan
The 1/48 scale A6M2 Zero from Academy is a very nice kit indeed. Its only drawback seems to be fabric on the control surfaces that do not look like the real thing at all. So here you have our correction set which we believe will improve the kit.


B-25 Mitchell Wheels/ Cross Tread Pattern for HK kit
by CMK
1/48th scale
Product Code: 129-4466
Price: $13 USD from Hobbylink Japan
Finely detailed wheels and weighed tyres with cross-type pattern. The nose wheel comes in two types, both with and without the hub cover.


Hurricane Mk.I/II Main Wheels (Four Spoke Hubs) and Tailwheel 
by CMK
1/32nd scale
Product Code: 129-Q32412
Nicely detailed four-spoke hub wheels with weighted tyres directly replacing the styrene ones of Revell’s kit.


PT Boat Weapon Set No.6 - Bofors 40mm AA/AS Gun
by CMK
1/72nd scale
Product Code: 129-N72044 
Price: $15 USD from Hobbylink Japan
The 40mm Bofors gun was a standard and universal anti-tank and anti-vessel armament widely used on US Navy boats as well as with other allied fleets. It was used on many boats, among others on US PT Boats of later production standards, where it was mounted on the stern.

This set mixes several technologies and contains resin cast parts, etched details, as well as 3D printed parts. The parts directly replace the original styrene items of the Revell kit and bring much better levels of detail.


AK-74MN Soviet/Russian Assault Rifle / Folding Stock Type 1/35 (2 pcs.)
by CMK
1/35th scale
129-P35018
Both the Russian aggressors and the units defending Ukraine are armed with the AK-74MN assault rifles now in the war in Ukraine. This weapon, a development of the AK-47, is widely used by many armies and militant groups around the globe. Our set brings two examples of the AK-74MN with the wire type arm rest. Photo-etch straps are also included.


MG 42 German WWII Machine Gun (Early Variant)
by CMK
1/35th scale
Product Code: 129-P35012
Price: $12 USD from Hobbylink Japan
The MG 42 was a German machine gun used in the Second World War and in its early form introduced to the Wehrmacht in 1943 and used for example in the Battle of Stalingrad. Photo-etch straps are also included.


M1 Bazooka
1/35th scale
Product Code: 129-P35014
3D printed American WW2 anti-tank weapon, printed in great detail. Due to the chosen technology, the model offers levels of detail otherwise unthinkable. The Bazooka had been in service use since 1944 on all fronts where both the US Army and US Marines fought, in Europe as well as in the Pacific. Photo-etch straps are also included.


M18 57 mm Recoilless Rifle
by CMK
1/35th scale
Product Code: 129-P35016
Price: $19 USD from Hobbylink Japan
The set offers a nicely detailed 3D printed replica of the US made recoilless cannon that was developed and introduced to service in 1944. A two man team of a loader and a gunner supported their fellow fighters by a „pocket“ artillery fire. The weapon could be operated from shoulder, a tripod or even a M1917 heavy machine gun stand. The M18 saw wide use in the Korea war, and even though it had already been obsolete by then, it was also used by the Vietnamese army and used successfully in jungle battles against the communist PAVN. 
Thanks to this being 3D printed, the set offers many very delicate details unachievable by any other production method. Besides the printed parts, the set also contains etches and offers the various styles of stands used, including that of the M1917 type. Photo-etch straps are also included.

These new kits are available on Special Hobby's Website