Day: August 6, 2017
Hello friends, Production process of 1/72 VJ-101C X-2 is under way. Bellow you could find few pictures of its plastic frames and decals. Photo-etched sheet and adhesive masks shall be added also.
Share/SAVE/PRINT/OR SEND AS EMAIL:
Some US infantrymen in winter uniform… what’s the best way to enjoy a lazy Sunday?
Share/SAVE/PRINT/OR SEND AS EMAIL:
This week’s teaser – Product improvement does not stop after they are released. Following the T-34 sprue update, we turned our attention to the StuG III Ausf G. Upper hull revised with more details and accuracy…
Share/SAVE/PRINT/OR SEND AS EMAIL:
NEW KITS / NEW Releases
-
- The SU-122 (from Samokhodnaya Ustanovka 122) was a Soviet self-propelled howitzer or assault gun used during World War II. The number “122” in the designation represents the caliber of the main armament, the 122mm M-30S howitzer. The chassis was that of the T-34. Initial design work of a prototype U-35 assault gun, armed with the 122mm howitzer and built on the T-34 medium tank, was completed in August 1942. The project emphasized minimizing modifications to the platform and the howitzer. It used the same chassis, superstructure, engine and transmission and was armed with a new 122mm M-30S howitzer. The U-35 entered service with the Red Army as the SU-35 (later renamed SU-122). SU-122 production began in December 1942 with 27 vehicles built that month. The original plan for production beyond that point was to produce 100 SU-122s each month. Production continued until the summer of 1944, by which time a total of about 1,150 SU-122s had been built. The SU-85 (Samokhodnaya Ustanovka 85) was a Soviet casemate-style self-propelled gun used during World War II, based on the chassis of the T-34 medium tank. Earlier Soviet self-propelled guns were meant to serve as either assault guns, such as the SU-122, or as tank destroyers; the SU-85 fell into the latter category. The designation “85” signifies the bore of the vehicle’s armament, the 85mm D-5S gun. Based on the SU-122 chassis, SU-85 entered production in mid-1943, with the first vehicles reaching their units by August. When the up-gunned T-34/85 medium tank entered mass production in the spring of 1944, there was no point in continuing production of a tank destroyer without superior firepower, so SU-85 production was stopped in late 1944 after 2,050 vehicles had been produced. It was replaced on the production lines by the SU-100 tank destroyer, armed with the more powerful 100mm D-10S gun. Product Highlight: – Options to build either a SU-122 or SU-85 – Open hatches & elevating gun – Optional fuel cans Product Code: 280034 Number of Parts: 59 pieces / 3 sprues
-
- The BM series of multiple rocket launchers was employed by the Soviet Union in World War II. They were known to the Soviet troops as “Katyusha” (the Soviet diminutive of ‘Katie’), because of the large ‘K’ that appeared on the rockets (which were manufactured at the Voronezh Komintern Factory). The M-13 rocket was one of the most common types that was fielded. Multiple rocket launchers were intended to saturate a large area with high explosive. They could deliver a barrage more quickly than conventional artillery, but were less accurate and took longer to reload. They were also relatively cheap and easy to produce. However, they were vulnerable to counter-battery fire due to the large amount of smoke and dust generated when they were fired, which gave away their position. The design was relatively simple, consisting of racks of parallel rails on which rockets were mounted, with a folding frame to raise the rails into launch position. The M-13 rocket was 80cm (2ft 7in) long, 13.2cm (5.2in) in diameter and weighed 2 kg (93lb). Katyushas were usually mounted on trucks. Each truck had 14 to 48 launchers, depending on the size of the vehicle. Katyushas mounted on trucks could be redeployed quickly after being fired, and thus avoid the inevitable counter-battery fire. The Soviets tested several Lend-Lease truck types as the standard mount for the M-13 launcher, and chose the Studebaker US6 6×6 due to its robust construction and excellent cross-country capability. The weapon system was then standardised in 1943 as the BM-13N (“N” meaning “normalizovanniy” – ‘normalised’). 1,800 of this version were built. By the end of the war, total Katyusha production had reached about 10,000. The Katyusha was greatly feared by German infantry. A battery of four BM-13 launchers could fire a salvo in 7–10 seconds that delivered 4.35 tons of high explosives over a 400,000-square-metre (4,300,000-sq-ft) impact zone, an effect roughly equivalent to that of 72 conventional guns. Katyusha batteries were often massed in very large numbers, with devastating effect. The distinctive howl of the rockets added to the psychological impact of the weapon. The Germans nicknamed the Katyusha “Stalinorgel” (“Stalin’s organ”), because of the launcher’s supposed resemblance to a church organ. This highly detailed plastic kit depicts a BM-13N Katyusha, comprising a Studebaker US6 6×6 truck with a rotating and elevating rocket launcher. Product Hightlights: – Single piece truck cabin – Rotating & elevating rocket launcher – Truck can be assembled without the launcher – Driver figure included Product Code: 280036 Number of Parts: 49 pieces / 3 sprues
-
- The SdKfz 251 (Sonderkraftfahrzeug 251) half-track was an armoured fighting vehicle designed and first built by the Hanomag Company during World War II. Used by the Wehrmacht, the SdKfz 251 was designed to transport the panzergrenadiers of the German mechanized infantry corps into battle. SdKfz 251s were the most widely produced German half-tracks of the war, with at least 15,252 vehicles and variants produced by various manufacturers, and were commonly referred to simply as “Hanomags” by both German and Allied soldiers. There were four main model modifications (Ausführung A through D), which formed the basis for at least 22 variants. The initial idea was for a vehicle that could be used to transport a single squad of panzergrenadiers to the battlefield protected from enemy small arms fire, and with some protection from artillery fire. In addition, the standard mounting of at least one MG34 or MG42 machine gun allowed the vehicle to provide support by fire for the infantry squad once they had disembarked in battle. Variants were produced for specialized purposes, including with anti-aircraft guns, light howitzers, anti-tank guns and mortars or even large unguided artillery rockets. The C model, which started production in mid-1942, featured a simplified hexagonal-shaped forward armoured plate for the engine. Models A through C had rear doors that bulged out. The C model had a large production run, but was quite complex to build, involving many angled plates that gave reasonable protection from small arms fire. This highly detailed plastic kit depicts an SdKfz 251 Ausf C version. It comes with two machine gun choices; open or close rear access door, and a half open or fully closed canvas top (tarp) option. Product Highlight: – Base kit for all SdKfz 251 expansion sets – MG34 or MG42 machine gun choice – Open or close rear access door – Choice of canvas top in half open or fully closed position – Simplified yet detailed chassis interior – Driver figure included Product Code: 280031 Number of Parts: 58 pieces / 2 sprues
-
- The SdKfz 250 was a light armoured halftrack, very similar in appearance to the larger Hanomag-designed SdKfz 251, and built by DEMAG, for use by Germany in World War II. Most variants were open-topped and had a single access door in the rear. The SdKfz 250 was adopted in 1939 to supplement the standard halftrack. Production delays meant that the first 250 did not appear until mid-1941. The vehicle was used in a wide variety of roles throughout World War II. The basic troop carrier version was used as an armoured personnel carrier for reconnaissance units, carrying scout sections. This basic variant usually mounted one or two MG34 machine guns. Later variants carried 20 mm, 37 mm, and even 75 mm guns to support the more lightly armed versions. The initial design (Alte, the “old version”) had an armoured body made of multi-faceted plates, which gave good protection against small arms fire, but made this design both expensive to manufacture and quite cramped. Production of this early version stopped in October 1943 with some 4,200 built, and a second version (Neu, or “new version”), greatly simplified to speed up manufacture, began replacing it. In both variants, the armour was useful only for stopping small-arms fire and small artillery fragments. Heavy machine gun fire, anti-tank gun fire, or almost any tank gun could penetrate the SdKfz 250 at long range. The SdKfz 253 variant was fully enclosed, and was used by artillery forward observers to accompany tank and mechanized infantry units. Product Highlight: – Base kit for all SdKfz 250 expansion sets – Two headlight options – Various SdKfz 253 hatch options – Simplified yet highly detailed chassis interior – Driver figure included Product Code: 280032 Number of Parts: 62 pieces / 2 sprues
-
- The Studebaker US6 2½ ton 6×6 truck was part of a family of trucks produced in the US during World War II. It is best known for the vital role it played in the Red Army’s victory over the German Wehrmacht. The US6 was intended primarily for export to America’s Allies under the Lend-Lease Act. The 6×6 version was intended to operate off-road, and was produced in both short (148 inch) wheelbase and long (162 inch) wheelbase versions. The 6×6 version was rated to carry up to 2½ tons, while the 6×4 version could carry up to 5 tons but was limited to roads. Most were built with an enclosed metal cabin. A total of 219,882 2½ ton 6×6 and 5 ton 6×4 trucks in thirteen variations were built. Studebaker Corporation was the primary manufacturer, building 197,678, while REO Motor Car Limited was sub-contracted to build 22,204 more. REO trucks are identical to Studebaker’s, but REO only built the long wheelbase model without a winch. Of the total produced, 152,000 (including all of the 6×6 production) were sent to the USSR, where the Studebaker’s reliability and durability made it very popular. It was known as “Studer” to the Soviet troops, and was used for transporting troops and supplies and (due to its off-road capability) as a gun tractor. The Studebaker was instrumental in providing the mobility that the Red Army needed for its successful offensives against the Wehrmacht. This highly detailed plastic kit depicts the long wheelbase version of the Studebaker US6 2½ ton 6×6 truck, either without a winch (model U3) or with a winch (model U4). The kit includes the metal cab (moulded as a single piece) and an optional canvas canopy, as well as a choice of an open or closed rear tarpaulin cover and tailgate. Product Highlights: – Single piece cabin & canvas canopy – Optional canvas canopy & winch – Choice of rear tarpaulin and tailgate in open or closed position – Driver figure included Product Code: 280035 Number of Parts: 34 pieces / 2 sprues
-
- The GMC CCKW-353 was a 2½ ton 6×6 US Army cargo truck that saw extensive service in World War II and afterwards. The original “Deuce and a Half” (a reference to its tonnage), it won fame as the backbone of the famed Red Ball Express that kept the Allied armies supplied as they pushed eastward after the Normandy invasion. The 6×6 M35 began to replace the CCKW in 1950, but it remained in active US service until the mid-1960s. It also saw service with several other nations, many of which continued to use it well into the 1990s. In 1940, the US Army set a requirement for a 6×6 truck with a 12ft (3.7m) cargo area and a 2½ ton (2,268kg) off-road payload. General Motors Corporation’s design was chosen by the Army and went into production as the CCKW. “CCKW” was derived from GMC nomenclature: “C” – designed in 1941, “C” – conventional cab, “K” – all-wheel drive, and “W” – dual rear axles. The CCKW was produced in both short (145 inch) wheelbase and long (164 inch) wheelbase versions. The short wheelbase version was intended for use as an artillery prime mover, while the long wheelbase version was for all other purposes. The standard version could carry 12 men in addition to the driver. There were also numerous specialized models, including a gasoline tanker and radio truck. Initially, the CCKW was built with an enclosed cab, but during production an open cab was introduced to save materials and shipping space. Many vehicles were fitted with a ring mount for a machine gun. A number of CCKWs were also built with a power winch. By the time production ended in 1945, 562,750 CCKWs in all variants had been built, making it the second most numerous US vehicle after the Jeep. This highly detailed plastic kit depicts a GMC CCKW-353 with an open cab (moulded as a single piece) and optional canvas roof. It can be assembled with or without the machine gun ring mount and winch. The kit also includes an optional canvas canopy, with a choice of an open or closed rear tarpaulin cover and tailgate. Product Highlight: – Cabin & canvas canopy are moulded as single pieces – Optional canvas canopy, MG gun ring mount & winch – Choice of rear tarpaulin and tailgate in open or closed position – Driver & gunner figures included Product Code: 280037 Number of Parts: 59 pieces / 2 sprues
-
- Stowage for Allies armoured vehicles. This includes: – 200L fuel drums – spare road wheels & tracks (cargo trucks & M4 Sherman) – ammo boxes – wooden & metal tool boxes – wire noose for tow cables – fuel pump & jerrycans – bucket & funnel – various rolled up tarpaulins Product Highlight: – Stowage for US & Commonwealth vehicles – Oil drums, spare road wheels & tracks – Ammo and tool boxes, tow cables & buckets – Contains 2 identical sprues Product Code: 280033 Number of Parts: 94 pieces / 2 identical sprues
Share/SAVE/PRINT/OR SEND AS EMAIL:
Amusing hobby E100 35A015 and 35A016 release in Shizuoka Hobby show 2017
-
- Manufacturers to provide the test pieces, two models for the general chassis, the turret is different. Tucao down a lot of times the computer post prompts me picture size beyond the limit, how the phone does not have this limit I am really silent … … first a few pieces of the map through the eye, big picture detail tomorrow
Share/SAVE/PRINT/OR SEND AS EMAIL:
32024 – coming soon
Share/SAVE/PRINT/OR SEND AS EMAIL:
32023 – coming soon
Share/SAVE/PRINT/OR SEND AS EMAIL:
Another 1/32 A-6 Intruder release coming, actually two releases. Sheets 32-023 & 32-024 will only cover one squadron – VA-65 Tigers but spans 25 years of their aircraft, starting with their Vietnam War deployments (including the early camo test scheme and the ill-fated 1967 Forrestal cruise), then into the mid 70s period with their more well known schemes, and the beginning of low viz in the early 80s, and ending at Desert Storm. Part 1, 32-023, will cover the six high viz period schemes and includes full stencils for one aircraft (additional stencils are available separately with previous sheet 32-002). Part 2, 32-024, will cover the later four low viz period schemes.
Share/SAVE/PRINT/OR SEND AS EMAIL:
Coming soon
1/32
32006 Rotachute Mk IV
32021 Westland Wessex HAS.1 / HAS.3 / HAS.31
32022 SAAB J-29F
32023 SAAB J-29B
32024 Focke Wulf FW 59 Stosser
———————————————————————
1/48
48012 Ansaldo SVA 5 Float Plane
1/72
72030 Bristol 170 Freighter Mk.31
72033 Bristol 170 Freighter Mk.21
72034 Caproni Ca.100
72035 Ilyushin Il-10 Russian service
72036 Caproni Ca.164
72037 Ilyushin Il-10 Post-war services
72038 Ilyushin Il-10 dating in China, Korea
72039 Fiat G.50 bis
72040 PZL-37A
72041 PZL-37B
1/144
14414 DC 9-40 Scandinavian
14415 DC 9-40 Airborne Express
14416 DC 9-10 East African
14417 DC 9-10 Aeronavest de Mexico
14419 DC 9-20 Thales
14420 DC 9-20 Scandinavian retro
14422 DC 9-30 Aerocaribe
14423 DC 9-40 Finnair
You must be logged in to post a comment.