Tag: model aircraft

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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.

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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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Eduard Releases Limited Edition P-40N Representing 15,000th Curtiss Fighter

New for October is Eduard’s limited edition “15,000th” P-40N Warhawk model kit in 1/48 scale.

The kit (11193) includes Eduard plastic parts, pre-painted PE parts painting masks and Eduard decals. The livery represents the 15,000th Curtiss fighter, which was received by the USAAF on November 22, 1944 and decorated with the markings of twenty-eight countries that used Curtiss aircraft. As a bonus, the kit also includes a second livery representing the aircraft “O’Riley’s Daughter” flown by Capt. Philip E. Colman, 26th FS, 5th FG.

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MiniArt Releases Renders of Upcoming Fw 190D-13 Model Kit

MiniArt has announced the upcoming release of a new Fw 190D-13 kit in 1/48 scale.

The Focke-Wulf Fw 190D-13 was a rare late-war “Dora” fighter, developed from the long-nosed Fw 190D series and powered by a Junkers Jumo 213 inline engine. Armed with three 20 mm MG 151/20 cannon, including one firing through the propeller spinner, it was intended as a high-performance interceptor but appeared too late and in too few numbers to have significant operational impact.

The model (48050) combines the Dora-series airframe with finely reproduced surface, rivet and panel line detail, detailed cockpit and exterior components and three marking options. As of this writing a final release date has not been announced, although a number of renderings have been released, additional examples of which can be seen below.

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Eduard to Release Absolutely Packed Royal Class, Dual Combo MiG-15

Eduard is gearing up to release a new Royal Class edition, dual combo MiG-15 kit in 1/48 scale.

The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 was developed in the late 1940s as a high-altitude interceptor. First flown in 1947 and entering production in 1949, it combined a powerful Klimov turbojet with swept wings, a pressurized cockpit, and an ejection seat, giving it excellent climb and high-altitude performance for its era. Armed with one 37 mm and two 23 mm cannon, the MiG-15 became internationally famous during the Korean War, where it posed a major threat to UN aircraft and met the North American F-86 Sabre in the conflict’s defining jet-versus-jet battles; it was subsequently built in very large numbers and served widely with Soviet-aligned air forces.

The upcoming release (R0026) will include two complete model kits, a set of pre-painted photo-etched parts, OMASK wheel well plugs, two sets of resin wheels, two sets of 3D-printed seats with seatbelts, pre-cut canopy mask, stencil decal sheets (1 set of Russian stencils and 1 set of Czech stencils) and decals with 10 marking options. A 3D-printed 1/16 scale MiG-15bis instrument panel is also included as a special bonus.

Click below to check out livery profiles and additional details.

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Arma Hobby Releases New Tool Curtiss Hawk 81-A2 “Flying Tigers”

Arma Hobby has released their new tool Curtiss Hawk 81-A2 model kit in 1/72 scale.

As previously reported, the release (70094) is the first in Arma’s new family of 1/72 Curtiss Hawk 81, Tomahawk II and P-40B/C kits. It represents the export version of the Hawk 81-A2 operated by the AVG in China during 1941–1942. These aircraft wore a distinctive camouflage scheme based on British specifications and applied using American-made DuPont paints.

The kit offers three Flying Tigers marking options, 3D printed parts and painting masks.

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MikroMir Releases New 1/48 RAF S.E.1 Model Kit

MikroMir has released a new tool RAF S.E.1 model kit in 1/48 scale.

The Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.1 was a one-off experimental aeroplane built at Farnborough in 1911, conceived by Geoffrey de Havilland and F. M. Green from the remains of a damaged Blériot XII monoplane. Its designation meant “Santos Experimental,” reflecting its unusual canard, or tail-first, configuration, and de Havilland made its first brief flight on 11 June 1911. The machine proved difficult to control; later that year, an inexperienced pilot, Lt. Theodore Ridge, was killed when it stalled and spun during a landing attempt. The S.E.1 was not rebuilt, but it remains historically important as the first aircraft in the Royal Aircraft Factory’s influential S.E. design sequence.

The kit (48-022) includes a 3D-printed engine and photo-etched parts. Check out the product page and box contents below.

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