Saturday, June 02, 2018

1/144 Gloster Gladiator Mk.II & Bristol Beaufighter 'North Africa' (double kit) - MARK I



1/144 Gloster Gladiator Mk.II & Bristol Beaufighter 'North Africa' (double kit) - MARK I

Gloster Gladiator Mk.II & Bristol Beaufighter 'North Africa' (double kit) The North African Campaign of WWII took place from June 1940 to May 1943. It included campaigns fought in the Libyan and Egyptian deserts, in Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia.

Both the Gladiator and Beaufighter aeroplanes were engaged in aerial battles over these territories.
The Bristol Beaufighter was a British heavy fighter, whose first prototype flew in July 1939. It was a two-seat, twin engine, all-metal mid-wing cantilever monoplane, fitted with a retractable undercarriage. It was powered by two Hercules radial engines and the armament consisted of four cannons in the nose, four guns in the starboard wing and another two guns in the port wing. The Mk.IC became an efficient night-fighter used by the Coastal Command and employing the then novel AI radar. The Beaufighter Mk.VIF, introduced in 1942 to Fighter Command, was fitted with more powerful engines and its wing mounted guns could be replaced by additional fuel tanks to extend the aircraft’s range.

The Gloster Gladiator was a British-built biplane fighter and its prototype took off in September 1934. The first production model was the Mk.I, while an improved Mk.II version appeared in 1938. The Gladiator Mk.II was a single-seat biplane of metal construction with mixed metal and fabric covering. It was fitted with a fixed undercarriage and powered by a Mercury radial engine turning three-blade metal propeller. Its armament consisted of four guns, of which two were mounted in the fuselage and two under the lower wings. Although rendered obsolete by newer monoplane designs, it proved good in initial combats and saw action in almost all theatres of war.

Colour schemes included in the kit:
1) Gloster Gladiator Mk.II, N5768, No.3 Sq., RAAF, Helwan airfield (LG-221), Egypt, autumn 1940
2) Gloster Gladiator Mk.II, L9041 (ex-N5886), No.5 (Fighter) Sq., Royal Egyptian Air Force, Egypt, summer 1940
3) Bristol Beaufighter Mk.IC, T3301, No.2 PRU, RAF, Heliopolis, Egypt, taken on charge by No.69 Sq. and operating from Luqa airfield, Malta, early 1942
4) Bristol Beaufighter Mk.VIF, X8166, Grey E, No.89 Sq., RAF, Castel Benito airfield, Libya, summer 1943

Two injection-moulded kits (the Gladiator and Beaufighter) are supplied in this box, containing 38 and 51 parts, respectively. Clear parts (cockpit canopies, position lights etc.) are also included (1 and 5, respectively). A comprehensive decal sheet is included.

https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/MKM14457
Price: £24.99  GBP
Available: June 2018




1/144 Dornier Do-17Z-2/3 'In Finland' - Mark I



1/144 Dornier Do-17Z-2/3 'In Finland' - Mark I

Dornier Do-17Z-2/3 'In Finland' The Do-17 was a German light bomber, designed in the early 1930s. It was originally intended as a fast six-passenger mail plane and its V1 prototype flew in November 1934. Following tests and design improvements in-line and radial engine powered aircraft were
evolved, represented by the Do-17E/F and Do-17K/M/P, respectively. The most recognised and mass-produced variant was the Do 17Z series, with the Z-2 bombers and Z-3 long-range reconnaissance planes. Due to its fuselage outline it was dubbed the ‘Flying Pencil’.

The Do 17 was a four-seat, all-metal monoplane powered by two Bramo Fafnir radial engines. It had a shoulder wing configuration and twin tail fins. Its long thin fuselage was fitted with a stepped cockpit and a glazed nose. Its bombload was 1,000 kg and it was fitted with six machine guns. The Z-3 variant had reduced bombload, while carrying two recce cameras.

Do 17Zs were produced by four factories and in total some 880 aircraft were built.
The Do 17 was used throughout the war, and saw action in significant numbers in every major campaign theatre as a front line aircraft until the end of 1941.

The Finnish Air Force received 15 Do 17Z aircraft (a mix of Z-1/2/3 variants) in January 1942 which equipped their No.46 Squadron. The last airworthy operated aircraft were eventually scrapped in late1952.

Colour schemes included in the kit:
1) Dornier Do 17Z-2, CQ+HG (W.Nr. 4187), Luftwaffe, Tampere airfield, Finland, February 1942
2) Dornier Do 17Z-3, White DN-60 (W.Nr. 2818), 1/LeLv 46 (Squadron), Finnish Air Force (Ilmavoimat), Pyhäselkä airfield, summer 1942
3) Dornier Do 17Z-3, White DN-64 ‘Ace of Spades’ (W.Nr. 2822), LeLv 46 (Squadron), Finnish Air Force (Ilmavoimat), Helsinki-Malmi airport, April 1943
4) Dornier Do 17Z-3, White DN-52 (W.Nr. 2608), PLeLv 43 (Bomber Sq.), LeR 4 (Flying Regt.), Finnish Air Force (Ilmavoimat), Luonetjärvi airfield, summer 1947

This injection-moulded kit contains 63 parts and eleven clear parts (the cockpit canopies, rear ventral gunner’s window etc.). A comprehensive decal sheet is included.


https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/MKM14471
Available June 2018
Price: £22.70 GBP




1/144 Curtiss Hawk 75A ‘Ilmavoimat’ (Finnish AF) - MARK I



1/144 Curtiss Hawk 75A ‘Ilmavoimat’ (Finnish AF) - MARK I

Curtiss H-75A 'Ilmavoimat' Curtiss Hawk 75A ‘Ilmavoimat’ (Finnish AF). The Curtiss H-75 was the export version of the American P-36 Hawk (Curtiss Model 75) fighter of the mid-1930s. Several subtypes were produced and designated the H-75A-1 to A-9, which differed in engine, equipment and armament installations.

The first foreign order was received from France which took delivery of more than 400 aircraft of different variants (H-75A-1, A-2, A-3 and A-4/H-751s).

After the fall of France, Germany sold the captured Curtiss fighters to Finland which extensively and successfully used them against Soviet forces. In total, 44 aircraft of various variants were delivered in 1941-44 comprising both ex-French and ex-Norwegian supplies.

In Finnish service, the Curtiss 75s were well liked and affectionately called “Sussu" (Sweetheart). They remained in service until August 1948 and the last were eventually scapped in 1953.

The H-75 was a single-seat, all-metal low-wing monoplane with fabric-covered control surfaces. It had a retractable undercarriage with the main landing gear rotated 90° to fold flat into the wing.

Powered by a Pratt & Whitney R-1830 Twin Wasp two-row radial engine, it was fitted with Curtiss Electric propeller. The H-75’s armament consisted of two machine guns in the nose, and another one (all H-75A-1s, 40 early H-75A-2s and some H-75A-6s) or two guns in each wing (H-75A-3, A-6). A small bomb carrier was also mounted under each outer part of the wing.

Colour schemes included in the kit:
1) Curtiss H-75A-6, CUw-560 (ex-Norwegian No.439), Yellow/White 0, LeLv 32 (Fighter Sq.), Finnish Air Force (Ilmavoimat), Lappeenranta airfield, autumn 1941
2) Curtiss H-75A-2, CUw-556 (ex-French No.107), White 6, LeLv 32 (Fighter Sq.), Finnish Air Force (Ilmavoimat), Nurmoila airfield, June 1942
3) Curtiss H-75A-2, CU-581 (ex-French No.170), Blue 1, 3/HLeLv 32 (Fighter Sq.), Finnish Air Force (Ilmavoimat), Nurmoila airfield, early spring 1944
4) Curtiss H-75A-1, CU-577 (ex-French No.23), Yellow 7, LeLv 32 (Fighter Sq.), Finnish Air Force (Ilmavoimat), Nurmoila airfield, autumn 1943
Curtiss H-75A-1, CU-577 (ex-French No.23), HLeLv 11 (Fighter Sq.), LeR1 (Fighter Regt.), Finnish Air Force (Ilmavoimat), Pori airfield, 1945-47

This injection-moulded kit (one model is included) contains 30 parts and four clear parts (the cockpit canopy, rear windows and a landing light). A comprehensive decal sheet is included.

https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/MKM14475

Available: June 2018
Price : £14 GBP




1/144 North American T-6 Texan - by Valom


1/144 North American T-6 Texan - by Valom

Reissue of previous kit, in Israeli decal schme


  • VAL14410 - North American T-6 Texan

Release date - TBC

Source: https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/VAL14410

Its not clear if this will be a single or double kit?
http://www.valom.net/?page_id=12

1/144 ZIL-131 Trucks by Armory




1/144 ZIL-131 Trucks by Armory


Armory's range of Soviet/Ukrainian  ZIL Trucks has been expanded !
https://www.facebook.com/armorymodelsgroup/

AR14802 - 1/144 ZiL-131 KUNG shelter - plastic injected kit w/ resin & PE parts
AR14803 - 1/144 ATZ-4-131 fuel refueler - plastic injected kit w/ resin & PE parts

See also, last years release of the ZIL-131  : https://kampfgruppe144.blogspot.com



1/144 Supermarine Spitfire XIV by Mark I



1/144 Supermarine Spitfire XIV by Mark I

Griffon powered spitfires!

  • MKM14489 Spitfire F.XIVE ‚RAF in Europe‘
  • MKM14490 Spitfire F/FR.XIVE ‚India & Far East‘
  • MKM14491 Spitfire FR.XVIIIE ‚Overseas Service‘

Further details to be confirmed.

Sources: