Tag: model aircraft

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Arma Hobby Releases PZL P.11c Kit With 3D Printed Details, Four Liveries

Arma Hobby has released a new PZL P.11c “Pursuit Brigade” model kit in 1/72 scale.

The PZL P.11c was a Polish single-seat fighter of the mid-1930s, distinguished by its all-metal construction, high-mounted gull wings, open cockpit, and fixed landing gear. Powered by a Bristol Mercury radial engine, it reached about 375 km/h (233 mph) and carried two or four 7.92 mm machine guns. An advanced design when introduced, it had become obsolete as faster fighters entered service, yet remained Poland’s principal fighter when Germany invaded in September 1939, bearing much of the country’s air-defense effort against the Luftwaffe.

The kit (70018) includes includes fine 3D-printed details replacing the photo-etched parts from the earlier edition, and Cartograf decals with marking options for four aircraft representing all four squadrons of the Polish Pursuit Brigade: 111, 112, 113 and 114.

The kit is now available (Buy on eBay). Check out livery profiles and kit contents below.

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Sword Models to Release New Tool Fairey Firefly Mk.5 / FR.Mk.5 Kits

Sword Models has announced the upcoming release of a new tool, 1/72 Fairey Firefly that will be available in to boxings: Firefly FR.Mk.5 (SW72164 / FAA, RCAF, Kon. Marine) and Firefly Mk.5 over Korea (SW72165).

The Firefly Mk.5 was a postwar development of the British two-seat carrier aircraft, combining a Rolls-Royce Griffon 74 engine with power-folding wings and equipment suited to tropical operations. Introduced in 1948, it formed the basis of fighter-reconnaissance (FR), night-fighter (NF), and anti-submarine (AS) versions; the FR.Mk.5 was a specific variant of the Mk.5 armed with four 20 mm cannon and able to carry bombs or rockets. The FR.Mk.5 undertook reconnaissance and strike missions, notably flying ground-attack sorties from Royal Navy carriers during the Korean War.

Both boxings will be available some time in November. Additional details are scarce, although Sword did release box art, livery profiles and a few sprue photos which can be seen below.

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LukGraph Shares First Test Prints For Ambitious, Entirely New DH.89 Dragon Rapide Kit

LukGraph has shared the first test print photo for their “entirely new,” fully printed de Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide project.

The DH.89 was a British twin-engine biplane airliner that first flew on 17 April 1934. Designed to carry six to eight passengers, it combined lightweight wooden construction with two 200 hp Gipsy Six engines, becoming one of the most successful British short-haul transports of the 1930s. During the Second World War, military versions served as the Dominie, principally in navigation training and communications roles. A total of 728 Rapides and Dominies were built, and many continued flying commercially after the war, notably on regional and island routes.

This is a complete redesign from the 1/32 Dragon Rapide LukGraph developed back in 2020, with “every curve, panel, surface and rivet carefully reconsidered.” Plans are to release the new kit in 1:72, 1:48, 1:32, and 1:24 scales. The 1/32 offering is especially ambitious, and will include four different boxings featuring around 15 different paint schemes in total. They note that the project is progressing very well with ongoing testing, printing and refining underway.

Click below to check out test print photo, as well as renderings.

Continue reading LukGraph Shares First Test Prints For Ambitious, Entirely New DH.89 Dragon Rapide Kit

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First Look: LukGraph’s Upcoming 1/32 Hansa-Brandenburg CC Test Build

LukGraph has revealed the first test build photo for their upcoming Hansa-Brandenburg CC, which will be offered in 1/32, 1/48 and 1/24 scales.

The Hansa-Brandenburg CC was a single-seat fighter flying boat developed by the Austro-Hungarian aircraft manufacturer Hansa-Brandenburg during World War I. Designed for coastal defense and maritime patrol duties, it became one of the most successful seaplane fighters operated by the Austro-Hungarian Navy.

As previously reported, the new offerings will represent both early and late production versions: the early version equipped with a single machine gun / original engine cooling arrangement and the late variant fitted with two machine guns mounted on the fuselage.

As of this writing a final release date has yet to be announced, although pre-orders will reportedly begin “soon.” Click below to check out box art for both the early and late versions.

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First Look: Liveries, Box Contents For Italeri’s Upcoming Macchi MC.202 (Early Series)

In November, Italeri will release a new Macchi MC.202 (Early Series) model kit in 1/32 scale.

The MC.202 Folgore (“Lightning”) was one of Italy’s most capable Second World War fighters, entering service with the Regia Aeronautica in 1941. Designed by Mario Castoldi, it combined the basic airframe of the radial-engined MC.200 with a streamlined fuselage and a Daimler-Benz DB 601 liquid-cooled engine, also manufactured under license by Alfa Romeo. This combination delivered excellent handling and a maximum speed of approximately 600 km/h (373 mph). Early production aircraft carried just two synchronized 12.7 mm Breda-SAFAT machine guns above the engine, lacking the supplementary wing guns introduced later. Fast and maneuverable, the early-series MC.202 represented a major improvement in Italian fighter performance, although its light armament limited its combat effectiveness.

The upcoming release (2524) will include new parts, 3D decals for the “highest level” of cockpit detail, photo-etched parts for enhanced realism, and decals with six marking options. It is based on the new tool MC.202 released in 2023 (2518 / Buy on eBay).

Check out livery profiles and box contents below.

Continue reading First Look: Liveries, Box Contents For Italeri’s Upcoming Macchi MC.202 (Early Series)

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Surface Details Progressing on Airscale’s 1/32 Bristol Blenheim Mk IV

Airscale has provided a new update on the development of their 1/32 Bristol Blenheim Mk IV kit focusing on surface details.

As previously reported, the Mk IV was the principal later version of the Blenheim light bomber, entering production in 1938 with a longer, redesigned glazed nose that gave the bombardier more room and visibility, plus added armor and more powerful 920-hp Bristol Mercury XV radial engines. Flown by a crew of three, it could carry roughly 1,000 lb of bombs and served widely with the RAF during WW2 in Europe, the Mediterranean, North Africa, and the Far East. Although fast by mid-1930s standards, it was increasingly vulnerable to modern fighters and anti-aircraft fire as the war progressed.

There will reportedly be an early version with the single VGO drum fed gun and no canopy blisters, and the later one with twin Brownings and blisters. The October update states that completion of the plastic parts is “getting closer.” Click below to check out the latest renderings.

Continue reading Surface Details Progressing on Airscale’s 1/32 Bristol Blenheim Mk IV

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MiniArt Releases New “Duxford Eagles” P-47D-22-RE Thunderbolt Basic Kit

MiniArt has released a new P-47D-22RE Thunderbolt basic kit in 1/48 scale.

The P-47D-22-RE was a late-production “razorback” fighter built at Farmingdale, New York, retaining the raised rear fuselage and framed canopy of earlier Thunderbolts. Its principal improvement was a large Hamilton Standard paddle-blade propeller, which made better use of the aircraft’s power and improved climb performance. Powered by a turbo-supercharged Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp radial engine with water injection for additional combat power, it carried eight .50-caliber machine guns and could carry bombs or external fuel tanks, making it effective in both fighter-escort and ground-attack roles during World War II.

The new kit (48049) is described as “highly detailed” and includes realistic metal surfaces with fine rivet and panel details. It includes four marking options representing aircraft serving with the famous “Duxford Eagles” of the 78th Fighter Group, Eighth Air Force based at RAF Duxford.

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Airfix Releases New Tool Phantom FG.1 With Comprehensive Weapons Fit

Airfix has released their new tool McDonnell Douglas Phantom FG.1 model kit in 1/48 scale.

The FG.1, designated F-4K by its manufacturer, was a British version of the American F-4 Phantom II developed for the Royal Navy as a carrier-based fleet-defense fighter with a secondary strike role. Powered by Rolls-Royce Spey engines, it featured enlarged air intakes, a modified fuselage and an extending nosewheel leg to assist launches from Britain’s smaller aircraft carriers. Delivered from 1968, it served aboard HMS Ark Royal and with the RAF; following the carrier’s retirement in 1978, the remaining naval aircraft transferred to the RAF, where FG.1s continued in the air-defence role until 1989.

The new kit (A12015) boasts over 270 parts, including slide molded jet intakes to capture detail on all sides; a comprehensive weapons fit with Skyflash missiles, RN 2-inch rocket pods, Sidewinder missiles, 1000lb bombs as well as external fuel tanks; an extended nose undercarriage leg option and a detailed cockpit / ejector seats. Additional features include modeler aids such as molded paint marks for undercarriage apertures and integral flat tabs on fuselage parts for clamp location to enhance the build experience. Three marking options are also included representing the Royal Navy dark blue scheme of the period.

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First Look: Hobby Boss’ New F4U-5N Corsair [Late] Night Fighter

Hobby Boss has released test build photos and renderings for their soon to be released F4U-5N Corsair [Late] Night Fighter model kit in 1/48 scale.

The F4U-5N Corsair [Late] is a radar-equipped night-fighter version of the ultimate piston-engine Corsair, the F4U-5, featuring a longer nose, all-metal wings, a raised cockpit, and a 2,450 hp Pratt & Whitney R-2800-32W engine that made it the fastest carrier-based piston fighter (about 462 mph). Carrying an AN/APS-19 radar pod on the right wing, flame-dampened exhausts, and four 20 mm cannons, it traded a bit of performance for night operations but retained a heavy bomb and rocket load for night intruder and close-support missions. In the Korean War, F4U-5Ns with VMF(N)-513 and Navy detachments hunted “Bedcheck Charlie” Po-2s, attacked supply convoys and trains, and even produced the conflict’s only Navy ace, Guy Bordelon, who scored all five of his kills at night in an F4U-5N.

The new release (80391) consists of 11 plastic sprues with over 200 parts, decals with one livery option and painting masks. It boasts accurate design, finely detailed engine and detailed gear cabin. Check out additional images below.

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First Look: Sprues / Box Contents for A&A Models’ New Tool Hughes XF-11 Kits

A&A Models have shared the first sprue test shots for their upcoming, new tool Hughes XF-11 model kits in 1/72 scale.

The XF-11 was a prototype high-altitude photo-reconnaissance aircraft; only two were built. The first prototype (44-70155) flew on 7 July 1946 with eight-blade contra-rotating propellers (two four-blade units per engine), but crashed in Beverly Hills when a hydraulic leak caused the right rear propeller to reverse pitch. The second prototype (44-70156), flown on 5 April 1947, replaced the troublesome contra-rotating props with conventional single four-blade propellers and otherwise retained the twin-boom, pressurized-nacelle layout; it flew without incident but the program was canceled soon after.

As previously reported A&A will release two boxings representing the first and second prototypes. The kits (7250 / 7258) will offer 235 /241 parts with decal sheets and painting masks. Ordering is expected to begin in mid-October. Check out the newly released images below.

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