Eduard has released a new tool, 1/48 scale kit of the Avia S-199, a Czechoslovak version of the Bf109G-10. This is reportedly the first in a new series of HYBRID kits combining injected plastic and 3D printing technologies.

The offering (948011) includes Eduard plastic parts and decals, resin parts (cockpit, wheel wells, exhausts, barrels, antennas, air intake) painting mask and marking options for six aircraft. It also includes a “special material” for landing gear legs which are described as “high durability” and “long lifespan.”

Product Page

MMPBooks will soon release a new publication profiling the Messerschmitt Bf 109 E. The 16 page publication includes detailed scale plans in 1/72 scale as well as 14 color profiles, providing a visual guide to various markings. It will no doubt be a valuable resource for modelers, artists, flight sim creators, and anyone else interested in the type and its colors / markings.

The new profile is slated for release in December.

Product Page

Italeri has released a series of renderings detailing their upcoming new tool Macchi MC.200 in 1/32 scale.

The Macchi MC.200 Saetta, designed by Mario Castoldi, first flew in December 1937 and became Italy’s primary frontline fighter at the beginning of World War II. Known for its excellent maneuverability and robust construction, it featured a distinctive combination of a radial engine and streamlined fuselage, with early models even reaching dive speeds of up to 800 km/h. Although it was eventually outpaced by newer aircraft, the MC.200 stood out for its stability, agility in combat, and innovative design elements like interconnected ailerons and flaps that improved takeoff and landing performance.​

The upcoming release (2516) will be made from 100% new molds. At the moment additional details have not yet been released. Click below to check out the newly released renders.

[continue reading…]

A Cessna 165 airframe project is currently available for sale by the Air Combat Museum of Illinois. The listing states (in part):

Does not come with an engine or a prop. Comes with new spar blanks and comes with 2nd fuselage on wheels + extra cowling.

Th project is currently available for US $14,000, although offers are also being accepted. All proceeds will support the museum. Click here to check out the eBay listing, which includes a number of additional photos.

A major piece of aviation history is currently for sale with the offering of de Havilland DH.9 E8894/G-CDLI.

E-8894, now registered G-CDLI, was restored to flying condition with an original engine, making it the only First World War bomber currently capable of flight and the sole flying example from the Imperial Gift Scheme. Its counterpart, D-5649, was restored to a non-flying, conserved condition and is now displayed in the Imperial War Museum’s Airspace hangar. Both restorations were completed to the highest standards in the Retrotec workshops in East Sussex. The restoration of E-8894, completed in late 2018, ensures this remarkable aircraft’s place in aviation history as a genuine flying relic of the First World War and a testament to Aero Vintage’s dedication to preserving aviation heritage.

The airframe and Siddeley-Deasy Puma 200 BHP engine each have 25.0 Hrs SMOH by Aero Vintage Ltd. The aircraft is currently being offered for GBP£1,600,000. Click here to check out the full listing, which includes additional photos and details.

(Photo: Alan Wilson via Wikimedia Commons)

The FIAT G.55 Centauro will be the focus of Scale Planes No. 80 from MMPBooks and Dariusz Karnas.

The Fiat G.55 Centauro was designed by Giuseppe Gabrielli and featured an aerodynamic, all-metal structure powered by a German Daimler-Benz DB 605 inline engine, which marked a significant shift from earlier Italian fighters that favored radial engines. Its streamlined fuselage and robust build allowed for high-altitude performance and exceptional durability in combat. First flown in April 1942, the G.55 entered service in 1943 and became one of Italy’s most effective fighters during World War II, especially valued for its reliability and advanced design features.

The upcoming release provides 12 A3 size plans for G.55 in 1/32, 1/48 and 1/72 scale. The title is currently available for pre-order and is slated for release on December 30.

Product Page

DBMK Model Kits is developing a new tool Spitfire F.21 in 1/32 scale.

The SF.21 was uniquely advanced due to its new laminar flow wing, which was much stiffer than those of earlier Spitfires and allowed for higher speeds and improved handling at all altitudes. Its standardized armament of four 20mm Hispano cannons gave it unprecedented firepower for the Spitfire series, and revised undercarriage geometry enhanced ground stability. As a late / post-war fighter, the F.21 was the pinnacle of piston-engine Spitfire development and bridged the transition to the next generation of British fighters.

Additional details about the upcoming kit have not yet been released, although it will apparently include the standard 5 blade propeller as well as the contra prop seen above. Click below to check out additional renderings.

[continue reading…]

A 1975 Beechcraft F33A Bonanza has been spotted for sale. The listing states (in part):

TTAF: 4888; Engine TSMO: 890; Prop is new. Lots of extras, EAM life raft (expired), artic cat swamp cooler, spare interior parts, etc. MAKE AN OFFER.

The aircraft is located in Palm City, Florida. Click here to check out eBay listing, which includes a number of additional photos.

A North American Navion airframe has been spotted for sale. The listing states:

L17 North American Navion painted in military colors for static display only. No engine. No interior. Many many additional parts come with it. Easily dismantled for transport on 2 16ft trailers. Front windshields included. Delivery available.

The airframe is located in Florala, Alabama and is currently available for US $9,000. Click here to check out the eBay listing.

Fonthill Media will soon release The Consolidated B-24 Liberator: Reuben Fleet, the Factories, and the Product – the first of a “massive two volume B-24 Liberator set” by Dr. William Wolf, which is described as “a meticulously researched, truly ultimate look at the B-17’s stablemate from the drawing board to its emergence as America’s preeminent blue-collar bomber.”

In addition to his personal 25,000-book library and microfilm collection, the author made extensive use of the massive document and photo collections at the NMUSAF, the Pima Aerospace Museum; and Consolidated and Ford Company design and production information. Described is the role of aviation icon, Reuben Fleet, for his and Consolidated’s contribution to the development of Liberator in context of American military and commercial aviation industry. The design evolution of the Liberator and the Davis Wing are highlighted. Since the B-24 was ultimately manufactured by five different factories, primarily Consolidated and Ford, using different manufacturing technics, these are described, contrasted, and pictured in detail. The Ford Knock Down Kits, their manufacture and transport are detailed for the first time. The final section of the book describes the various B-24 models and variants along with detailing today’s surviving B-24s. This book and Volume 2 intends to be the definitive look at the Liberator detailing every facet for the air enthusiast, historian, and modeler.

The 624 page first volume is currently available for pre-order with release set for December 23.

Product Page