Aircraft - New For This Month-2015

Current posts

November
Airfix 1:72 Armstrong Whitworth Whitley Mk.V
Airfix 1:72 Bristol Beaufighter TF.X

September
Kittyhawk 1:32 OV-10 A/C Bronco

July
HK Models 1:32 De Havilland Mosquito Mk. IV

February
Kitty Hawk 1:48 scale Saab JAS-39 B/D Gripen
ICM 1:48 Scale Beechcraft C-45F/UC-45F

October 2014
Tamiya 1:32 Vought F4U-1A Corsair

September 2014
Kinetic 1:48 Grumman EA-6B Prowler
Airfix 1:72 Bristol Blenheim MkI Bomber
Kinetic 1:48 F-21A/Kfir C1

Airfix 1:72 Armstrong Whitworth Whitley Mk.V

The Armstrong Whitworth Whitley was one of three twin engine RAF medium bombers in service at the outbreak of the Second World War. Despite its slow speed, poor service ceiling and small bomb load the Whitley was an important type for the RAF in this period, forming the backbone of the early night bombing offense. Later in the war it was used both by Coastal Command and as a glider tug.

This 1:72 incarnation of the AW Whitley Mk. V is ready to impress thanks to new tooling and a loving attention to detail, inside and out. The interior has a faithful rendering of the crew compartment, even including stations for the navigator, radio operator and bombardier. There is excellent detailing of the twin bomb bays and the undercarriage bays. The fuselage crew access hatch and the bomb bay doors can be modeled open or closed.

There are two options for colours and markings:

• No. 102 Sqn in No 4 Group of Bomber Command, with specific marking for the plane flown by Sqn Ldr John Charles MacDonald in March of 1940 - dark earth/green camo on top with a matte black underside;
• No. 10 Sqn in No 4 Group flown out of RAF Leeming in Yorkshire in December of 1941 - entirely matte black paint job.

Airfix 1:72 Bristol Beaufighter TF.X

The Bristol Beaufighter was a WWII British long range heavy fighter, developed from the earlier Beaufort design. Featuring two powerful Bristol Hercules engines, the aircraft gained a fearsome reputation for being both fast and able to deliver a powerful blow from its four 20mm cannons and a choice of either Torpedo or Rocket projectiles. Although developed to be a fighter, and used successfully as a night fighter, it was the TF.X Coastal Command version that was most successful; its range and power enabling it to take a heavy toll of Axis shipping.

Hailed as one of the best Beaufighter models in a long time, this 1:72 kit has great exterior detail and a nice interior. There are interchangeable parts to make the early and late war variants of the TF.X.

There are two options for colours and markings (which include decals and a stencil):

• No. 144 Sqn Royal Airforce Banff, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, as flown by Flying Officer Maurice Exton DFC on October 9, 1944;
• No. 27 Sqn Royal Airforce South East Asia Command, Burma, as flown between June and August of 1945.

Kittyhawk 1:32 OV-10 A/C Bronco

The North American Rockwell OV-10 Bronco is a turboprop light attack and observation aircraft developed in the 1960s as a special aircraft for counter-insurgency (COIN) combat, and one of its primary missions was as a forward air control (FAC) aircraft. It can carry up to three tons of external munitions, internal loads such as paratroops or stretchers, and can loiter for three or more hours. Kittyhawk's new 1/32 scale kit features:

• Nicely detailed front and rear cockpits
• Ejection seats have photo-etched crew restraints
• Positionable crew entry doors
• Rear compartment is boxed in and has structural details
• Rear compartment door has avionics rack and is positionable
• Nose 'hood' is positionable to reveal FLIR pedestal
• Sponson access doors are positionable
• Sponson gun bays have two M60 machine guns in each bay plus ammo feeds
• Two detailed Garrett T76 engines
• Positionable nacelle access doors
• Detailed landing gear
• Weighted landing gear wheels
• Positionable flaps
• Positionable flaperons
• Positionable spoilers
• Positionable elevator

The external stores options:

• 2 x AIM-9 Sidewinder (choice of AIM-9B or AIM-9L seeker heads)
• 2 x 68 gallon external fuel tanks
• 2 x 34 gallon external fuel tanks
• 2 x four-shot Zuni rocket pods
• 2 x seven-shot rocket pods
• 2 x Mk.82 500lb slicks
• 2 x Mk.82 500lb Snakeye

Choice of 6 markings:

• OV-10A, 155484, VMO-5, UV/28, USMC
• OV-10A, 67-14605, 549 TASG, USAF
• OV-10A, 67-14679, 20 TASS, USAF
• OV-10A, 155397, VMO-2, UU/15, USMC
• OV-10C, 158496, 4111, RTAF
• OV-10A, 67-14679, Philippine AF

HK Models 1:32 De Havilland Mosquito Mk. IV

July brings an embarrassment of Mossie riches. There will be two 1/32 scale Mosquitoes to collect and build. The HK Models kit promises a number of exciting features:
Brand new state of the art tooling.
Wingspan 515mm, length 389mm.
Stunning single piece wing.
Optional bulged bomb bay & 'Cookie' bomb.
Decals for three aircraft by Cartograf:
* DK296 Soviet aircraft (standard bomb bay)
* DZ637 as P3-C (bulged bomb bay)
* DZ637 as AZ-X (bulged bomb bay)

The HK Models kit offers very impressive options and extras:

• 2 Canopy options
• Positional flaps
• Positional ailerons
• Positional rudders
• Positional elevators
• Open or closed bomb bay
• 2 Weapon options in bomb bay

• Optional open or closed crew hatch
• Option to build with or without exhaust covers
• Option to build with or without engine cowlings
• 2 Prop options
• Options for navigation or formation light wing tips
• Landing Gear covers can be built opened or closed
• Option to build with or without external fuel tanks

Kitty Hawk 1:48 scale Saab JAS-39 B/D Gripen

The Saab JAS 39 Gripen (English: Griffin) is a light, two seater, single-engine, multi-role fighter aircraft manufactured by the Swedish aerospace company Saab.

Features:

• Scale: 1:48
• Kit #: KH80118
• Engraved panel lines,
• Fully equipped tandem cockpit,
• Detailed undercarriage and wheel wells,
• Optional position speed brakes,
• Choice of exposed radar package or closed radome,
• F404 engine with intake turbine face and afterburner,
• Optional position control surfaces and speed brakes,
• In-flight refuelling probe,
• 2-piece optional position canopy ,
• Photo-etch detail parts,
• Also includes ample external stores: AGM-65, Python IV, AIM-9M, GBU-12, AIM-120, DWS-39, RBS-15.
• Decals and color painting guide for 6 aircraft:
• Swedish Air Force,
• Thailand Air Force,
• Royal Hungarian Air Force,
• Czech Air Force,
• Brazil Air Force
• South African Air Force SA01 - includes weapons markings.

ICM 1:48 Scale Beechcraft C-45F/UC-45F

The Beechcraft Model 18 (or "Twin Beech", as it is also known) is a six to 11-seat, twin-engined, low-wing, tailwheel light aircraft manufactured by the Beech Aircraft Corporation of Wichita, Kansas. Continuously produced from 1937 to November 1969, (over 32 years, the world record at the time), over 9,000 were produced, making it one of the world's most widely used light aircraft. Sold worldwide as a civilian executive, utility, cargo aircraft, and passenger airliner on tail wheels, nose wheels, skis or floats, it was also used as a military aircraft.

During and after World War II, over 4,500 Beech 18s saw military service -- as light transport, light bomber (for China), aircrew trainer (for bombing, navigation and gunnery), photo-reconnaissance, and "mother ship" for target drones -- including United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) C-45 Expeditor, AT-7 Navigator, AT-11 Kansan; and United States Navy (USN) UC-45J Navigator, SNB-1 Kansan, and others. In World War II, over 90% of USAAF bombardiers and navigators trained in these aircraft.

In the early postwar era, the Beech 18 was the preeminent "business aircraft" and "feeder airliner." Besides carrying passengers, its civilian uses have included aerial spraying, sterile insect release, fish seeding, dry ice cloud seeding, aerial firefighting, air mail delivery, ambulance service, numerous movie productions, skydiving, freight, weapon- and drug-smuggling, engine testbed, skywriting, banner towing, and stunt aircraft. Many are now privately owned, around the world, with over 300 in the U.S. still on the FAA Aircraft Registry in December 2014.

The C-45F, the subject of this kit was a standardized seven seat aircraft based on the C18S. 1,137 of these longer nosed aircraft were eventually ordered. The aircraft was used by the British as the Expeditor II and by the Canadians as the Expeditor III.

Features:

• Scale: 1:48
• Kit #: ICM48181
• Engraved panel lines,
• 2-seat cockpit with interior,
• Cabin with (5) seats,
• Detailed 1-piece radial engines with interior,
• 1-piece propellers with separately molded spinners,
• Detailed wheel wells with interior structure,
• Clear parts for (windshiled, windows and lights),
• Decals and painting guide for 4 aircraft:
• Wright Field September 1944;
• 8th Air Force England July 1944;
• French Air Force Summer 1944 and
• Italian Air Force 1949.

Tamiya 1:32 Vought F4U-1A Corsair

This is a highly detailed model from Tamiya that recreates the F4U-1A variant of the highly popular Corsair. The F4U-1A was a (eventual fighter-bomber) variant of the Corsair which was first deployed in the Summer of 1943 and was to play a significant role in the eventual Allied victory in the skies over the Solomon Islands.

Newly-designed parts are included in the kit to accurately capture the modifications which distinguish it from the original F4U-1. The F4U-1A drew on the experience of Navy and US Marine Corps pilots' experience with the original aircraft, making modifications to further improve the performance of this legendary bird.

One of the most noticeable alterations was the discarding of the “birdcage” cockpit and its extensive frame sections that hampered visibility; a semi-bubble canopy with minimal frame was installed instead, which improved the pilot's view and made it easier to land the F4U-1A. Additional upgrades included raising the pilot's seat 18cm to help with visibility, and later extending tail wheel struts by 16.5cm. A wedge shaped spoiler was added to the starboard wing to correct the tendency of the port wing to stall first and roll out of control.

Such modifications contributed greatly to the F4U-1A's suitability for use from aircraft carriers; although by this time it had been passed over for that duty by the F6F Hellcat. Unlike its predecessor, the F4U-1A would later be used as fighter-bomber, and was given the capability of carrying a drop tank under the fuselage, plus a bomb rack for use on raids supporting ground troops. This combination of fearsome performance in the air and bombing capability made the F4U-1A a vital component as the Allied forces conducted their 'island hopping' strategy progressing through the Solomon Islands.

Features:

• Tamiya Item No: 60325
• Scale: 1:32
• Length: 318mm
• Photo-etch parts
• Decals
• The model captures the upgraded form of the F4U-1A variant with precision, including the semi-bubble canopy and raised pilot seat. This required newly-designed cockpit interior parts. Details such as new instrumentation panel and console designs are also depicted.
• Clear engine cowling parts are included. (Note: Only for the US market)
• Modelers can choose whether to assemble the model with its distinctive inverted gull wings extended or folded away.
• Flaps and elevators can also be depicted in open or closed positions.
• Starboard wing spoiler is recreated.
• Includes 2 types of tail landing gear wheel to enable depiction of elongated strut.
• Comes with parts depicting drop tank and 500lb bomb.
• 2 figures depict pilot in seated or standing position.
• The complex Pratt & Whitney R-2800 engine is faithfully depicted in all its glory, including early variant distributor. Removable 2-piece engine cowl allows the engine to be viewed.
• Includes 3 sets of markings and painting guide. Recreate U.S. Navy or Marine Corps unit aircraft.

Kinetic 1:48 Grumman EA-6B Prowler

Kinetic has released a new 1:48 scale mold of the Grumman EA-6B Prowler with a bonus Skunkmodels 1:48 carrier deck tow tractor model.

The Grumman EA-6B Prowler is a twin-engine, mid-wing electronic warfare aircraft derived from the A-6 Intruder airframe. The Prowler has been in service with the U.S. Armed Forces since 1971 and is still flying radar jamming and radio intelligence gathering sorties to this day. The US Navy plans to fly the EA-6B until 2015 (or later), while the USMC expect to phase out the Prowler in 2019.

This kit updated 1:48 mold of the Grumman EA-6B Prowler, which fixes the problems of the 2010 release, especially the ill fitting wings. This means that you can use the aftermarket cockpits and photo-etch sets released for the original kit.

Features:

• Scale: 1:48
• 11 light gray styrene sprues and 1 clear sprue
• Detailed front and rear cockpits
• GRU-7 ejection seats (without crew restraints)
• Positionable boarding ladders
• Positionable canopies
• Positionable wings (extended or folded)
• Positionable leading edge slats
• Positionable training edge flaps
• Positionable stabilators
• Positionable wingtip speed boards
• Positionable tailhook
• Positionable landing gear

The external stores options:

• 2 x external tanks
• 3 x ECM pods
• 2 x AGM-88 HARM

Paint scheme and water decal options:

• EA-6B, 164402, VAQ-136, NF/500, USS George Washington, CAG, box art subject
• EA-6B, 161120, VAQ-133, NL/530, OEF, 2007
• EA-6B, 161349, VAQ-133, NL/532, OEF, 2007

Airfix 1:72 Bristol Blenheim MkI Bomber

Airfix introduces a new, retooled 1:72 mold of the Bristol Blenheim MkI Bomber with high surface detail.

The Bristol Blenheim was a British light bomber aircraft designed and built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company that was used extensively in the early days of the Second World War. As it encountered heavy losses against newer, advanced fighters like the Me Bf109, it was adapted as an interim long-range and night fighter, pending the availability of the Beaufighter. Later in the war these planes saw action with the air forces of other countries like Finland and Romania.

The Blenheim was one of the first British aircraft to have all-metal stressed-skin construction, to utilise retractable landing gear, flaps, a powered gun turret and variable pitch propellers. It had a crew of three and was powered by two 840 hp (630 kW) Bristol Mercury VIII radial piston engines, armed with a 0.303 in (7.7 mm) machine gun in the port wing, plus a 0.303 in (7.7 mm) Vickers K gun in the dorsal turret, maximum bomb load 1,000 lb (450 kg). 1,552 were built. Company designation Type 142M.

• Scale: 1:72
• Airfix Skill: 2
• Length: 168mm, Width: 237mm
• Number of Parts: 142

Two paint scheme and water slide marking options are provided:

• Bristol Blenheim Mk.1, Aircraft Flown by Squadron Leader Arthur Stewart King Scarf VC, No.62 Squadron, Royal Air Force Station Butterworth, Malaysia, 9th December 1941
• Bristol Blenheim Mk.1, Escardilla 4 Recunoastere, Forcele Aeriene Romane (Romanian Air Force), Brasov, Transylvania, 1939.

Kinetic 1:48 F-21A/Kfir C1

Kinetic Model Kits brings us a 1:48 masterfully detailed scale model of the IAI Kfir (Hebrew for Lion Cub). The Israel Aircraft Industries built this all-weather, multirole combat aircraft based on a modified French Dassault Mirage 5 airframe, with Israeli avionics and an Israeli-built version of the General Electric J79 turbojet engine.

This kit allows you to build your choice of the F-21A Lion or Kfir C1 variants, and has the following marking options:

• F-21A, 999716, VMFT-401, MCAS Yuma, 1985
• Kfir C1, 710, The Valley Squadron, Ramat-David AB, 1980
• Kfir C1, 727, The Valley Squadron, Ramat-David AB, 1983

If you are wondering how an Israeli warplane came to have United States Marine Corps markings, 25 modified Kfir C1s were leased to the United States Navy and the USMC from 1985 to 1989, to act as adversary aircraft in dissimilar air combat training.

Of note, this kit has a nicely detailed cockpit and positionable canopy. The wheel hubs and tires are separately molded for ease of painting. Additionally there are positionable dorsal and ventral speed brakes and elevons. There is a multitude of options to accurately make the Kfir C1 and F-21A/C1 or C2/C7 variants.

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