Category: WW2 Era (1939-45)

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First Look: Test Sprues For Arma Hobby’s Me 262 A-1a

Arma Hobby has released the first images of the test sprues for their upcoming new tool Me 262 A-1a in 1/72 scale.

As previously reported, the upcoming release will reportedly be offered in several boxings including the Me 262 A-1a Schwalbe, Me 262 A-1a with Wfr. Gr. 21 (with 3D printed rocket launchers), and Me 262 A-2a Sturmvogel.

The company reports that the kit is very close to completion and the sprues are currently being reviewed before pre-orders begin.

Click below to check out the newly released images.

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Full-Scale Spitfire Plans For Sale: “Full Set For Flying Replica”

Please Note: This is an archived post. The information presented here may not be current and the associated listing may no longer be active.

A full set of Spitfire plans has been spotted for sale. The listing states (in part):

This is a full set of plans to build a full size flying Supermarine Spitfire replica aircraft. The plans were designed by Marcel Jurca in France. These are large paper plans, some of which are to be used as direct templates attached to aluminum or wood to cut out parts such as compound curves for wing shape, ribs, fuselage sections, etc. The airplane can be powered by the V-1710 Allison V-12 Engine, or the Merlin V-1650 Engines. The early non-high Altitude Merlins (V-1650-1) are available and much cheaper than the later high altitude versions fitted to aircraft like the P-51D. The plans show how to build a strong wood box spar mated to an Steel tube fuselage. The shape of the airplane is identical to a Spitfire Mk.9 with the famous elliptical wing, identical style landing gear, cowling, etc.

The plan set is located in Suwanee, Georgia and is currently available for US $1,200 although offers are also being accepted. Click here to check out the eBay listing, which includes additional photos and details.

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Gardening with Bombs: New Book Reveals RAF’s Secret WWII Campaign

New from Tempest and author Jane Gulliford Lowes is The Invisible Campaign: Bomber Command Gardening Operations 1940-1945 which details the crucial yet little-known aerial minelaying operations by RAF Bomber Command which successfully disrupted Axis shipping between 1940–1945.

The Invisible Campaign, based on Air Ministry and Admiralty archival material, together with squadron records, veteran accounts and logbooks as well as contemporary publications and press releases, provides the most detailed account of Bomber Command’s minelaying operations and their effects ever written.

Historian Jane Gulliford Lowes looks at the aims of the campaign and how it was implemented, together with the measure of its success and how it compared against the mining operations implemented by the Luftwaffe and Kriegsmarine. The role of Arthur ‘Bomber’ Harris in overseeing minelaying operations is assessed and the experiences of the men who delivered the campaign, particularly the hazards they faced, are explored.

Featuring a foreword by renowned historian James Holland, The Invisible Campaign – Bomber Command Gardening Operations 1940-1945 sheds new light on a little-discussed but important and ultimately highly successful aspect of Bomber Command and is a must-read for anyone interested the RAF’s in wartime bombing operations.

The 300 page, hardcover title is currently available for pre-order with release slated for December 30.

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IBG Releases Renderings of Upcoming Gotha Go 242B-2 Glider

IBG has announced the development of a Gotha Go 242B-2 German Medium Cargo Glider in 1/72 scale.

The Gotha Go 242B-2 was a WWII German transport glider variant produced by Gothaer Waggonfabrik, featuring a high-wing, twin-boom design with a central cargo pod for troops, supplies, or light vehicles like the Kübelwagen. It accommodated up to 23 equipped troops or 3,500–4,000 kg of cargo, with wheeled tricycle landing gear enabling landings on rough terrain. Defensive armament included up to four 7.92mm MG 15 machine guns, and it was towed by aircraft such as the Heinkel He 111 or Junkers Ju 52, seeing primary use in Mediterranean and North African operations.

At the moment details on the upcoming kit (72576) are sparse, although it will apparently be released soon. Click below to check out newly released renderings of the model.

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Airfix Releases New Tool 1/24 Messerschmitt Bf109 G-5/6

Airfix has released their new tool Messerschmitt Bf109G-5/6 model kit in an impressive 1/24 scale.

As previously reported, the new kit (A17003) consists of 405 parts and reportedly includes five marking options and extensive build options. The model can be built with or without the fully detailed DB605 engine, and the engine cowlings and oil cooler can be displayed in either the open or closed position. Builders have the choice between two types of engine cowlings — MTT and Erla. The canopy can also be posed open or closed, with two canopy types included. Additional engine and cockpit parts are provided for the G-5 version, which features a pressurized cockpit.

Optional accessories include a 300-liter fuel tank and wing cannon gondolas. Control surfaces such as the ailerons, elevators, and rudder can be offset to add realism and life to the model, while the positions of the radiators and wing flaps are also customizable. Many optional parts are available to suit specific aircraft builds, including rudder pedals, gunsights, trim wheels, instrument panels, undercarriage wheels and tires, and windscreens. The kit features a detailed nose armament with machine guns, gun mounts, and ammunition boxes. Slide molding technology is used to capture fine details on the engine cowlings, fuselage, exhausts, and gun barrels.

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New Book Documents the Fascinating Story of Spitfire R6644 and its Pilots

Air World and Dilip Sarkar (MBE FRHistS FRAeS) will soon introduce their new 328 page book A Spitfire’s Story: The Invisible Thread: Spitfire R6644 and the Pilots Who Flew It

Supermarine Spitfire Mk.IA R6644 was built at Woolston and test-flown by Jeffrey Quill on 30 May 1940 before joining 5 Operational Training Unit at Aston Down, where it trained pilots including likely Richard Hillary and at least two aces among “The Few.” In February 1941, it transferred to 65 Squadron, flown by ace Paddy Finucane, then to 308 (Polish) Squadron in April. On 11 May 1941, Polish pilot Franciszek Surma abandoned R6644 near Malvern due to an engine fire during a radar intercept of a friendly Blenheim, parachuting safely before his later death over Dunkirk.

This book not only explores the men who flew R6674 throughout its wartime service, but also brings the story up to date by detailing the excavation of the Spitfire’s crash site in 1987.

The book is currently available for pre-order with release set for December 31.

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New Renderings Show Detail of Kotare’s Upcoming Hawker Hurricane Mk.I

Kotare has released a new series of renderings for their upcoming new tool Hawker Hurricane Mk.I (Early) in 1/32 scale. The new renderings more clearly show the detailed cockpit interior and intricate surface features including recessed and raised rivets, tightly doped fabric surfaces and at least 3 different styles of rib and stringer stitching.

There is still time to place your pre-order through www.kotare-models.com to be amongst the 1st 500 customers and go into a random draw to be one of 20 lucky modellers to be given the chance to build and critique T2 test shot samples. Additionally, all pre-orders placed through www.kotare-models.com will receive 32P002 Kotare 1/32 Hurricane Mk.I (Early)/Spitfire Mk.I (Early) 3Dprint exhausts (value US$12.99) and an exclusive free beautiful Darryl Legg box art print (artwork is progressing well and will be revealed later) suitable for framing (only while stocks last). Note that these offers are exclusively available for pre-orders placed through www.kotare-models.com and only available while stocks last.

Shipping is expected “later in 2026.” Click below to check out additional images.

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Workhorse Wellingtons: New Polish Wings Volume Showcases Poland’s WWII Bomber Squadrons

Coming soon from MMPBooks and author Grzegorz Korcz is Polish Wings No. 41 Vickers Wellington I & II pt. 1 documenting the aircraft that became “the backbone of all four Polish bomber squadrons as well as the OTU training establishments.”

This volume in the Polish Wings series presents the history of the Vickers Wellington bombers in the Ic and II versions in Polish Air Force service in exile between 1940 and 1942. The first part covers Nos. 300 and 301 Squadrons and 18 OTU, while the second describes the combat operations of Nos. 304 and 305 Squadrons.

The book includes: a detailed history of the Polish Wellington crews in action, numerous archival photographs, many previously unpublished, colour profiles by Andrzej M. Olejniczak, comprehensive listings of operational sorties.

The 68 page title is currently available for pre-order with release slated for January 8.

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First Look: Airscale Hawker Typhoon Mk.Ib Test Build

Airscale has released the first test photos for their new 3D printed Hawker Typhoon Mk.Ib in 1/32 scale.

The new series of images reportedly show the model assembled straight from the sprues without filler, primer or sanding. As of this writing the dates for pre-order and final release have not yet been announced.

Click below to check out a selection of the new test build images.

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1943 C-45H Fuselage For Sale

Please Note: This is an archived post. The information presented here may not be current and the associated listing may no longer be active.

A 1943 C-45H fuselage has been spotted for sale. The listing states (in part):

We saved this Beech 18 from a forest in Norwalk Ohio where it sat for 45 years. This plane was built in 1943 as a AT-7 then converted to a C-45H. We do have the aircraft’s tail as well.

The aircraft is located in Cleveland, Ohio and is currently available for US $4,750 although offers are also being accepted. Click here to check out the eBay listing, which includes several additional photos.

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