Monday, September 23

Preview: Special Hobby & CMK kits for September

Special Hobby & CMK's September releases have some interesting new & adapted kits & 3-D printed accessories from their ranges incoming. We look at the best of them in our preview...


Preview: Special Hobby & CMK kits for September

In Special Hobby's September new kits we see mostly small scale models, plus the larger scale 1/32nd scale Fiat G.50bis that comes in the bomber and navalized versions. All the other model kits are in 1/72 scale, and these are the P-40N fighter that sports very attractive schemes, really very colourful inter-war B-12A bomber as well as the re-issue of our 1/72 scale SMB.2 French jet fighter.

The detail sets for this month contain the third set for our 1/48 SF-260 nice little kit (the two previous sets became available last month), the most interesting of the new sets is the wide variety of new details for ICM's 1/48 scale B-26B Marauder kit. Some more sets for this model are to be announced in October.

Not a long while ago, the Special Hobby range of model kits got a nice addition in the form of the 1/72 SH72505 F-84F Thunderstreak ‘Reborn Luftwaffe’ model. Each one of this kit also contained a real fragment of the F-84F that crash-landed on Czech territory. All one thousand of made kits were sold out almost instantly. The decision came to release this very model once again under a new catalogue number, sans the fragment but with the addition of a pre-cut mask and a 3D-printed set with the quartet of nose machine guns. This release is also accompanied by a re-release of another much-liked kit, the 1/72 SH72388 Mirage F.1C/C-200 ‘Armée de I'Air’ and a new re-boxing of the1/48 scale CAC CA-19 Boomerang.

Among all the new detailing sets and resin or 3D-printed kits to be released soon, let us mention the 3D-printed 1/35 scale MG3 machine gun for the Leopard tank, in 1/72 scale the 3D-printed M29C Weasel kit and some more detailing sets for the 1/48 TBF-3/TBM-3 Avenger kits.

SPECIAL HOBBY PLASTIC MODEL KITS

Fiat G.50bis/G.50bis/N ‘Fighter-Bomber & Navy Fighter’ 1/32
Art.no. 100-SH32089
1/32nd scale
Price: $63 USD from @Hobbylink Japan
The Fiat G.50 fighter was introduced to service with the Regia Aeronautica even before the outbreak of WW2 as the first version of the type had been tested in the late stages of the Spanish civil war. The G.50bis version was a response to earlier Italian fighter types that lacked in their performance compared to modern fighters of their opponents. Some of the Fiat fighters were also fitted with a pair of underwing pylons so that they could be used in the ground attack role too. At the same time it was also planned to deploy the Fiat G.50bis/N fighter with an arrestor hook on the currently being built Aquila and Sparviero aircraft carriers, this however never materialised as the carriers were never finished.
Our model kit comes on four styrene sprues, it also contains a clear plastic canopy, detail 3D-printed and resin parts (among which is also an excellent replica of the Fiat A.74 powerplant) and a fret of etched parts. The fighter bomber or the navalized G.50bis/N type can be built using this kit.
- An interesting version never represented in these schemes before
- Highly detailed model in a large but compact scale




B-12A US Bomber 
1/72nd Scale 
Art.no. 100-SH72446
Price: $42 USD from @Hobbylink Japan
The Martin company started a revolution in aircraft design with its bomber family B-10, B-12 and B-14, the designation varied because of the engines used. In the early 1930s when fabric-skinned biplanes ruled the skies, an all-metal monoplane suddenly appeared, with closed cockpits and engines completely hidden in their cowlings. Not only were these new bomber aeroplanes faster than other bombers of the time, they even outpaced fighter types, which in retrospect caused the need for faster monoplane fighters. The aeroplane design concept required serious changes worldwide.

The B-12 version was powered by R-1690 radials, the early and late varieties differed by the style of the top cowling air intakes. Our model kit brings both of these. The schemes in the kit cover four machines, three in blue and yellow, the fourth in aluminium dope. The aircraft portrayed differ by the bomber unit insignias.
- The B-12 version has never been kitted before
- Pre-war colourful schemes and markings


P-40N Warhawk ‘Island Warriors’ 1/72
Art.no. 100-SH72502
1/72nd Scale 
Price: $21 USD from @Hobbylink Japan
The P-40 US-built fighter aeroplane is one of the very iconic types of the war and was also supplied to the Allies, named the Kittyhawk. The P-40N was the final production version and in US colours it mainly flew over China, India and Pacific battlefields. Serving with various units, the machines wore different style of markings referring to the squadron or group they flew in. Some of the Pacific island-based machines were also painted sand which was better suited to the place of deployment.
Our kit SH72502 brings excellent quality styrene parts along with a decal sheet with markings for four US machines. Two of the chosen schemes are sand & light blue, while the other two wore standard Olive Drab / Neutral Grey scheme. And all four have eye-catching and colourful individual markings.
- Attractive P-40 kit in a small scale
- Very interesting schemes
- Wide variety of Special Hobby accessories available, from pre-cut masks or detail sets to figures.


SMB-2 Super Mystère 'Sa’ar – Israeli Storm in the Sky'
1/72 Scale
Art.no. 100-SH72345
This is a re-release of this kit. A model of a French jet fighter as it saw service with the Israeli air force, modified using US-built J52 jet engine and longer rear fuselage section. The model is made using steel tools, comes on as many as seven styrene sprues plus one with clear parts. 
- superbly detailed and top accurate model
- meticulously detailed and researched decals with markings for three IAF machines wearing different schemes
- wide range of underwing ordnance already included
- separately available are also – resin cast armament, figurine, pre-cut set of masks and 3D-printed pilot's ladder


RESIN MODEL KITS & SETS

SF-260 Cockpit Centre Console and Seats w/Harness 1/48 / for SH kits
1/48th Scale 
Art.no. 129-4481
Price: $17 USD from @Hobbylink Japan
Detail resin cast seats, centre console between the front seats and the rear seat plus a fret of pre-painted etched safety belts. The dark colour of the seats and blue belts contrast nicely in the cockpit and make a real highlight of the model. For the new 1/48 SF-260 by Special Hobby.

B-26B/C Marauder Undercarriage Wheels for ICM kit
1/48th Scale
Art.no. 129-4483 
Price: $11 USD from @Hobbylink Japan
Detail resin cast wheels with weighted tyres, designed for the new 1/48 ICM B-26 Marauder kit.


B-26B/C Marauder Nose Gun, Ammo Boxes and Feed for ICM kit
 1/48th Scale 
Art.no.129-4484
Price: $10 USD from @Hobbylink Japan
Fully 3D-printed set that features a new machine gun, ammunition belt, ammo box and some more details as well that are all missing from the kit or have been quite simplified.


B-26B/C Marauder Correction Propellers for ICM kit
Art.no. 129-4486 
1/48th Scale 
Price: $10 USD from @Hobbylink Japan
The propeller blades of the new ICM B-26 are unfortunately rather wrong shaped as they completely lack the aerodynamic twist. Our set fixes this omission, the new blades are resin cast while the hubs are 3D printed.


B-26 Tail Shell Case Collector for the ICM kit
 1/48th Scale
Art.no. 129-4488 
Price: from @Hobbylink Japan
In field conditions, the B-26 Marauder bombers were fitted with a spent shell collector under the tail gunner position. These collectors were of two main types, the one of our set was used by the 12th Air Army and was also seen on French Marauders.


F9F Panther Wheels Set for Trumpeter kits
1/48 Scale
Art.no.129-4489 
Price: $10 USD from @Hobbylink Japan
New undercarriage wheels with excellent levels of detail for the 1/48 F6F-3/6 Cougar kit. The original kit items have some serious flaws. Our new wheels have the correct brake detail as well as nicely weighted tyres.


B-26B/C/F/G Marauder Wheels set - For Hasegawa kits
1/72nd Scale 
Art.no. 129-7517
Price: $7 USD from @Hobbylink Japan
Detail resin cast wheels with weighted tyres, designed for Hasegawa’s 1/72 B-26 Marauder kit or its re-boxings by other companies.


Wehrmacht Bicycle (2 pcs)
3D printed Parts
Art.no. 129-P72028  
1/72nd Scale 
Price: $16 USD from @Hobbylink Japan
The bicycle was not only a means of transport or sport for civilians. As a bicycle can carry quite a lot and is also rather faster than a pedestrian, many armies introduced the bicycle to their inventory in the early 20th century. The German army was no exception, bicycles were used there even before the Great War. In the 1930s, the new and rebuilt Wehrmacht introduced this invention too and kept using it until the end of the war. Many a photograph illustrates wide use of bicycles in the military, and they often carried even a machine gun or up to two Panzerfaust weapons. These bicycles come 3D-printed in top quality. One of them carries a panzerfaust and on its frame it has an open box for grenades. The other bicycle can carry a machine gun or a rifle.

These new kits are available on Special Hobby's Website or from Hobbylink Japan