Preview: Special Hobby, planet & CMK kits for December

Special Hobby, CMK, & Planet Hobby have a bunch of releases in December for your perusal. Kits & 3D-printed resin are in the mix; check them out in our preview...

Preview: Special Hobby, planet & CMK kits for December

This update mentions only two new plastic mould kits. There are also nine resin-cast or 3D-printed kits and sets, including a resin research glider from the Planet Models line. In January, the already announced 1/32 AH-1Q/S Cobra kit and 1/72 the Pembroke C.1, Defiant Mk.II, or the Dornier Do-27 with three-bladed propeller are due for release.

Fiat Br.20 Cicogna ‘Bomber over Two Continents’

From Special Hobby

1/48th scale

Kit No #SH48229

Product Link on @Hobbylink Japan

The Fiat BR.20 Cicogna (Stork in Italian) was the only Italian twin-engined bomber in service with the Regia Aeronautica during World War II. In 1934, the Italian Air Ministry issued specifications for a new heavy twin-engine bomber. The first BR.20 prototype took off for the first time on 10 February 1936 and was put into service in September of the same year. The first production batches had a Breda D.R type dorsal turret with two 7.7 mm machine guns. Later batches received the Breda M.1 dorsal turret with one 12.7 mm machine gun. Compared to the competing SM.79, the Fiat BR.20 had a shorter range but a greater payload and more suitable bomb storage. Due to this, it achieved a much higher bombing accuracy than other Italian bombers. Italy tested its BR.20 Fiats in the deployment of the Aviazione Legionaria on the Frankist side in the Spanish Civil War. A total of thirteen aircraft were deployed in Spain. They took part in raids in the Battle of Elbro and the bombing of Teruel and proved themselves. 

Some obsolescence was already showing at the start of World War II, but the Fiats still fought over southern France in 1940, as well as over the Mediterranean, Albania, Yugoslavia, and Greece. As a reaction to the gradual obsolescence of the Fiat BR.20, a modernised version BR.20M was designed and put into production in 1939. BR.20 Fiats were also exported. The only Fiat purchased by Venezuela is a marginal issue; the second export was much more significant. At the end of 1937, Japan ordered a total of 82 BR.20 machines. Japan had been fighting in China since July 1937 and was in dire need of heavy bombers. From February 1938, BR.20s were used in combat. As the BR.20 operated at long range without fighter protection, they suffered quite significant losses. The Japanese also disliked the complexity and demanding maintenance. In the second half of 1939, BR.20s were gradually withdrawn for training and replaced by new Ki-21s.

The kit offers decals of one machine operating in Spain, one machine of the Italian Regia Aeronautica, and one machine of the Japanese Army Air Force. The machine returned from a raid in Manchuria damaged by fire from Chinese fighters, which is also shown in the box art.

A very interesting and varied colour schemes.

The only available 1/48 scale Fiat Br.20 model.

The kit contains resin-cast parts and etch.

SMB-2 Super Mystere, ‘The First French Supersonic’

From Special Hobby

1/72nd scale

Kit No #SH72523

Product Link on @Hobbylink Japan

The French SMB-2 Super Mystere was the first Western Europe-produced jet fighter to break the speed of sound in level flight. Until the introduction of the Mirage III type, the SMB-2 remained the most powerful French fighter. And when the Mirage came to the service, the Super Mystere were transferred to fighter-bomber units, where they flew for a very long time. 

SMB-2 jets were also successfully exported to Israel, where they proved against the overwhelming Arab superiority. And as in France, when the Israelis finally got their Mirages, the Super Mysteres were re-delegated to the fighter-bomber role. Later in their career, the Israeli SMB-2s had their engine replaced with a US-made unit. When struck off service, the remaining SMB-2s were sold off to Honduras. 

This model kit contains parts for both engine options. The decal sheet originates in our SH72417 release, enabling modellers to build one of two French machines (both with the original Atar 9B jet) or a Honduran option with the longer tail section housing the Pratt and Whitney J52 engine. The kit also contains a resin cast ejection seat for the Honduran Super Mystere

Very high levels of detail overall

Interesting colour schemes included.

V3000S/SSM Maultier Wheels 1/35 for ICM and Revell kits

From CMK

1/35th scale

Kit No #3154

Product Link on @Hobbylink Japan

Finely detailed resin-cast wheels for the front axle of ICM’s V3000S/SSM Maultier half-track vehicle. Also for Revell’s reboxing.

Bloch MB.210 Mainwheels and Tailwheel with Leg

From CMK

1/72nd scale

Kit No #7518

Product Link on @Hobbylink Japan

Resin-cast, weighted wheels of the main undercarriage and the tailwheel of the new Bloch MB 210 model kit. The tailwheel leg is made using a special stiff material.

Wehrmacht Soldiers with Military Bicycles

From CMK

1/48th scale

Kit No #48406

Product Link on @Hobbylink Japan

 A pair of German soldiers with military-type bicycles and armament. One soldier rides his bike; the other one pushes it besides him. The armament carried on the bikes is quite varied, from a rifle to a pair of panzerfausts. All parts are 3D-printed with superb detail levels.

Wehrmacht Soldiers with Military Bicycles

From CMK

1/72nd scale

Kit No #72407

Product Link on @Hobbylink Japan

The same pair of soldiers as in the 1/48 set, now scaled down to 1/72 and 3D printed. A pair of German soldiers with military-type bicycles and armament. One soldier rides his bike; the other one pushes it besides him. The armament carried on the bikes is quite varied, from a rifle to a pair of panzerfausts. All parts are 3D-printed with superb detail levels.

F-15E Strike Eagle ejection seats

From CMK

1/48th scale

Kit No #48019

Product Link on @Hobbylink Japan

3-D printed seats for the F-15 Eagle, printed with harnesses in 48th scale.

British WWII MC 1000lb bomb Mk.I (2pcs.)

From CMK

1/35th scale

Kit No #72031

Product Link on @Hobbylink Japan

Very nicely detailed pair of British 1000 lb bombs from the WW2 period made by direct 3D print in 72nd scale.

MG 15 Machine Gun Magazine (10 pcs.)

From CMK

1/72nd scale

Kit No #P72034

Product Link on @Hobbylink Japan

3D-printed ammunition magazines for the MG 15, of the typical bean-shaped form. These were usually placed in the reach of the gunners, but very often are missing in the model kits or lack much detail. Our printed P72034 set replaces the already not available CMK Q72139 resin cast set. The new one also offers better detail and easier assembly.

Nippon Kōkūki Kōgyō D-1 Research Glider

From Planet Models

1/48th scale

Kit No #PLT284

Product Link on @Hobbylink Japan

One of the really very successful Japanese WW2 aircraft was also the Ki-54 twin-engine transport and trainer. Based on its airframe was the Nippon Kōkūki Kōgyō D-1 glider, meant to be used for verification of aerodynamic calculations. Our resin cast model set of the D-1 glider contains resin parts, a clear plastic injection-moulded canopy (from the SH72270 Ki-54 Special Hobby kit), and a decal sheet for one machine.

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