Saturday, October 22, 2016

1/144 F-84G THUNDER JET / F-84F THUNDER STREAK - Miniwing





1/144 F-84G THUNDER JET  / F-84F THUNDER STREAK - Miniwing
Miniwing has released a brace of early US jets for your delight

The Republic F-84 Thunderjet was an American turbojet fighter-bomber aircraft. Originating as a 1944 United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) proposal for a "day fighter", the F-84 first flew in 1946. Although it entered service in 1947, the Thunderjet was plagued by so many structural and engine problems that a 1948 U.S. Air Force review declared it unable to execute any aspect of its intended mission and considered canceling the program. The aircraft was not considered fully operational until the 1949 F-84D model and the design matured only with the definitive F-84G introduced in 1951. In 1954, the straight-wing Thunderjet was joined by the swept-wing F-84F Thunderstreak fighter and RF-84F Thunderflash photo reconnaissance aircraft.

The Thunderjet became the USAF's primary strike aircraft during the Korean War, flying 86,408 sorties and destroying 60% of all ground targets in the war as well as eight Soviet-built MiG fighters. Over half of the 7,524 F-84s produced served with NATO nations, and it was the first aircraft to fly with the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds demonstration team. The USAF Strategic Air Command had F-84 Thunderjets in service from 1948 through 1957.

The F-84 was the first production fighter aircraft to utilize inflight refueling and the first fighter capable of carrying a nuclear weapon, the Mark 7 nuclear bomb. Modified F-84s were used in several unusual projects, including the FICON and Tom-Tom dockings to the B-29 Superfortress and B-36 bomber motherships, and the experimental XF-84H Thunderscreech turboprop.

The F-84 nomenclature can be somewhat confusing. The straight-wing F-84A to F-84E and F-84G models were called the Thunderjet. The F-84F Thunderstreak and RF-84F Thunderflash were different airplanes with swept wings. The XF-84H Thunderscreech (not its official name) was an experimental turboprop version of the F-84F. The F-84F swept wing version was intended to be a small variation of the normal Thunderjet with only a few different parts, so it kept the basic F-84 number. Production delays on the F-84F resulted in another order of the straight-wing version; this was the F-84G.

In 1949, a swept wing version of the F-84 was created with the hope of bringing performance to the level of the F-86. The last production F-84E was fitted with a swept tail, a new wing with 38.5 degrees of leading edge sweep and 3.5 degrees of anhedral, and a J35-A-25 engine producing 5,300 pound-force (23.58 kN) of thrust.[1] The aircraft was designated XF-96A. It flew on 3 June 1950 with Otto P. Haas at the controls. Although the airplane was capable of 602 knots (693 mph, 1,115 km/h), the performance gain over the F-84E was considered minor.[1] Nonetheless, it was ordered into production in July 1950 as the F-84F Thunderstreak. The F-84 designation was retained because the fighter was expected to be a low-cost improvement of the straight-wing Thunderjet with over 55 percent commonality in tooling.[1]

Thunderbirds Display Team

Thunderbirds Display Team

USAF and Hellenic AF


You will find that these are presented in the same detail and quality of previous releases!

20 resin parts
clear resin canopy
vac-form canopy
screen printed decals
canopy mask

From: http://www.kits-shop.com/ or Usual Stockists


Friday, July 29, 2016

1/144 Star Wars Kits by Dragon




1/144 Star Wars Kits by Dragon
Further images for the previously announced Star Wars kits by Dragon, currently the relationship between these and the Bandai kits is unknown.

T-65 X-Wing
T-70 X-Wing
Millennium Falcon (New Style)

https://www.facebook.com/dragonmodels/
https://www.facebook.com/dragonmodels/photos/pcb.1423297601030055/1423291601030655/?type=3&theater

Saturday, July 02, 2016

1/144 Gloster Gladiator Mk.I 'Last Biplane Fighter - Mark I







1/144 Gloster Gladiator Mk.I 'Last Biplane Fighter - Mark I
 
Gloster Gladiator Mk.I 'Last Biplane Fighter' (decals for RAF, Belgian AF, Chinese Nationalist AF)

The Gloster Gladiator was a British-built biplane fighter developed from the Gauntlet and its prototype, designated SS.37, flew in September 1934. Following testing and minor modifications the first production model, the Mk.I, was delivered from July 1936 and became operational in January 1937.

The Gladiator Mk.I was a single-seat biplane of metal construction with mixed fabric and metal covering. It was fitted with a fixed undercarriage and powered by a Mercury radial engine turning two-blade wooden propeller. Its armament consisted of four guns, of which two were mounted in the fuselage and two under the lower wings.

In total, 378 Gladiator Mk.Is were produced and supplied during 1937-38. Belgian Air Force operated 22 aeroplanes, while China acquired 36 Gladiators.

The Gladiator was the RAF's last biplane fighter aircraft and the first with an enclosed cockpit. Although rendered obsolete by newer monoplane designs, it proved good in initial combats and saw action in almost all theatres during the WWII.

Gladiators (both the Mk.I and Mk.II versions) were successfully exported to many countries and saw service with more than 15 air arms, including those of Belgium, China, Egypt, Finland, Free France, Greece, Iraq, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Portugal and Sweden. They also equipped RAAF and SAAF squadrons in the Middle East and North Africa.

Colour schemes included in the kit:
1) Gloster Gladiator Mk.I, K7957, No.73 Sq., RAF, Digby airfield, 1938
2) Gloster Gladiator Mk.I, K7974, Grey RT-O, No.112 Sq., RAF, Helwan airfield, Egypt, spring 1940
3) Gloster Gladiator Mk.I, White 31, 1er Escadrille du 1er Groupe du 2éme Regiment Aéronautique (Squadron 1/I/2 Aé) - 'La Comète', Force aérienne belge (Belgian Air Force), Schaffen - Diest airfield, late 1939
4) Gloster Gladiator Mk.I, White 2809, 28th Fighter Sq., 5th Fighter Group, Chinese Nationalist Air Force, China, 1938

This injection-moulded kit contains 34 parts, one resin part and one clear part (cockpit canopy). A comprehensive instruction leaflet and a decal sheet are included.

Manufacturer: MARK I Models
Code Number: MKM14452
Scale: 1:144
Item type: Aircraft kits (injection)

Source: https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/MKM14452

1/144 Gloster Gladiator Mk.II 'Gallant Warrior - Mark. I




1/144 Gloster Gladiator Mk.II 'Gallant Warrior - Mark. I
 
Gloster Gladiator Mk.II 'Gallant Warrior' (decals RAF, Portuguese AF, Swedish AF)

The Gloster Gladiator was a British-built biplane fighter developed from the Gauntlet and its prototype, designated SS.37, flew in September 1934. The first production model was the Mk.I, which became operational in January 1937. An improved Mk.II version followed in 1938 and eventually 270 aircraft of this Mark were built.

The Gladiator Mk.II was a single-seat biplane of metal construction with mixed fabric and metal 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.

The Gladiator was the RAF's last biplane fighter aircraft and the first with an enclosed cockpit. Although rendered obsolete by newer monoplane designs, it proved good in initial combats and saw action in almost all theatres during the WWII.

Gladiators (both the Mk.I and Mk.II versions) were successfully exported to many countries and saw service with more than 15 air arms, including those of Belgium, China, Egypt, Finland, Free France, Greece, Iraq, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania and Norway. They also equipped RAAF and SAAF squadrons in the Middle East and North Africa and flew in secondary roles such as Meteorological Flights.
Portugal took delivery of 30 Gladiator Mk.IIs while Sweden flew their 55 planes under military designation J 8 and J 8A.

Colour schemes included in the kit:
1) Gloster Gladiator Mk.II, N5641, Grey HE-G, No.263 Sq., RAF, Norwegian Campaign, June 1940
2) Gloster Gladiator Mk.II (Met), N2309, White B, No.1401 (Met) Flight, RAF, Bircham Newton airfield, 1943
3) Gloster Gladiator Mk.II, Yellow 459, Esquadrilha de Caça Expedicionaria (Expeditionary Fighter Squadron) Nr.2, Portuguese Air Force, Achada airfield, the Azores, 1941
4) J 8A (Gloster Gladiator Mk.II), No.278, Black 8-48, 1. Division, Flygflottilj 8 (Wing F 8), Swedish Air Force, Barkarby airfield, summer 1939

This injection-moulded kit contains 37 parts, one resin part and one clear part (cockpit canopy). A comprehensive instruction leaflet and a decal sheet are included.

Manufacturer: MARK I Models
Code Number: MKM14453
Scale: 1:144
Item type: Aircraft kits (injection)
Price: £12.99

Source: https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/MKM14453

1/144 Gloster Sea Gladiator 'Malta Defender' - Mark. I





Gloster Sea Gladiator 'Malta Defender' (decals RAF, FAA)

The Gloster Gladiator was a British-built biplane fighter developed from the Gauntlet and its prototype, designated SS.37, flew in September 1934. The first production model was the Mk.I, which became operational in January 1937. An improved Mk.II version followed in 1938 and eventually 270 aircraft of this Mark were built. A modified Mk II, the Sea Gladiator, was developed for the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. It was fitted with an arrestor hook, a ventral dinghy fairing and other additional equipment for operations aboard aircraft carriers. Sixty production Sea Gladiators were built, with another 38 early Mk.IIs modified as the Sea Gladiator (Interim).

The Sea Gladiator was a single-seat biplane of metal construction with mixed fabric and metal covering. It was fitted with a fixed undercarriage, catapult spools and an arrester hook and was powered by a Mercury radial engine turning three-blade metal propeller. Its armament consisted of four guns - two in the fuselage and two under the lower wings.

The Gladiator was the RAF's last biplane fighter aircraft and the first with an enclosed cockpit. Although rendered obsolete by newer monoplane designs, it proved good in initial combats and saw action in almost all theatres during the WWII.

Sea Gladiators served with FAA squadrons from early 1939 and were involved in defence of Norway and of Malta, the latter giving birth of a myth of legendary aircraft to be named as Faith, Hope and Charity.

Colour schemes included in the kit:
1) Gloster Sea Gladiator, N5520, Black S, 'Faith' of the Hal Far Fighter Flight, RAF, Hal Far airfield, Malta, June 1940
2) Gloster Sea Gladiator, N5531, 'Hope' of the Hal Far Fighter Flight, RAF, Hal Far airfield, Malta, June 1940
3) Gloster Sea Gladiator, N5519, Black R, 'Charity' of the Hal Far Fighter Flight, RAF, Hal Far airfield, Malta, June 1940
4) Gloster Sea Gladiator, N5525, No.802 NAS, Royal Navy, HMS Glorious, based at Aboukir airfield, Egypt, summer 1939

This injection-moulded kit contains 39 parts and one clear part (cockpit canopy). A comprehensive instruction leaflet and a decal sheet are included.
[-] Less
Manufacturer: MARK I Models
Code Number: MKM14455
Scale: 1:144
Item type: Aircraft kits (injection)
Price: £12.992.99

Kamfgruppe 144 Forum


Hello Everyone

We have had a serious technical problem with the KG144 forum., this problem has resulted in a serious loss of both the data and the forum.

Efforts are being made to set up a new forum, and different options are being explored as to the best approach going forwards.

A forum in which to share and discuss 1/144 scale modelling will return
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vuW6tQ0218&list=RD4vuW6tQ0218#t=35

Though a poor substitute, in the mean time selected information is available here:
http://web.archive.org/web/20160305042557/http://kampfgruppe144.com/phpbb3/index.php

Regards
Bluedonkey99

Friday, April 29, 2016

1/144 "Nell" Interplanetary Fighter from "Battle Beyond the Stars" (1980)




1/144 "Nell" Interplanetary  Fighter from "Battle Beyond the Stars" (1980)

The years immediately following the tsunamic success of George Lucas' "Star Wars" (1977) saw dozens of low-budget sci-fi shoot-'em-ups rushed into neighbourhood multiplexes. One of the most successful of these "Me, Too!" space operas was Roger Corman's "Battle Beyond the Stars" (1980), starring Richard ("The Waltons") Thomas, George ("The A-Team") Peppard, Robert ("The Man from UNCLE") Vaughn,  Marta ("Lost in Space") Kristen and Sam ("Ben Casey") Jaffee. Reportedly ghost-directed by Corman itself, the film was an unapologetic knock-off of Akira Kurosawa's 1954 action classic "Seven Samurai" and its 1960 American adaptation, "The Magnificent 7," all set in a far-future outer space.

Scale: 1:144
Number of Pieces: 12
Pattern: Alfred Wong
Casting: Millennium Models International (MMI)

Price: $110 USD

http://fantastic-plastic.com/nell---catalog.html

Other kits are available: http://fantastic-plastic.com/fantastic-plastic-models-online-catalog.html
Future Releases: http://fantastic-plastic.com/future-releases.html

Sunday, April 24, 2016

1/144 Space Cruiser - by Freightdog


 1/144 Space Cruiser - by Freightdog

This a 1/144 complete resin kit of the projected DARPA Space Cruiser, a proposed deniable weapon developed from the 1970s Early Spring project. Designed to be carried inside the Space Shuttle bay (up to three at a time), this small manned craft would inspect and destroy Soviet spy or weapon satellites that posed a threat to the USA. This kit is very small, measuring less than 6cm, consisting of just five parts. Suggested paint finish is overall black with a gold canopy, no decals (its deniable, so don't put stars and bars on it!). Limited availability.


Available: now

Price: 6.50 GBP

More info:
http://www.scalemodelnews.com/2015/09/smallest-model-kit-ever-made-new.html (inc, built kit)
 http://www.up-ship.com/apr/extras/scruiser1.htm 

Tuesday, April 19, 2016

1/144 Airport Service Sets 6 & 7 - Eastern Express



1/144 Airport Service Sets 6 & 7 - Eastern Express

Eastern Express have released another couple of sets for your Soviet/Eastern European Ground Support Equipment(GSE). They also look like they would be at home in civilian or military settings?

Price is @$30USD on Ebay..

Available: Now


Thursday, April 14, 2016

1/144 "Resurgam" British Submarine - Mikro-Mir


1/144 "Resurgam"  British Submarine - Mikro-Mir
Clearly, someone at Mikro-Mir is a big fan of early and unusual British Submarines!
Here we have an early one from the 19th Century.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resurgam

Source:
https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/MM144-012
http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234999722-victorian-submarines-resurgam-1144/

interestingly, in two colour schemes 'historical' and 'bright yellow!??' this has been released in 1/144 before, as part of Takara's Ships of the World Vol.2

http://images.delcampe.com/img_large/auction/000/156/728/838_001.jpg

Friday, April 08, 2016

1-144 F-Toys Wing Kit Collection Versus 4 by F-Toys




1-144 F-Toys Wing Kit Collection Versus 4 by F-Toys
A new Versus series release this time, Late War Zeros and Corsairs over the pacific.
Expect a lottery(?) version - see inset above, and of course, some bonus items....
Will we see a French Aeronavale (or a captured F4U) ???

Source: http://www.platz-hobby.com/products/5435.html

Mitsubishi A6M5 Type 0 Model 52 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitsubishi_A6M_Zero#A6M5_Type_0_Model_52

Vought F4U Corsair
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vought_F4U_Corsair

1/144 Boeing YC-14, MD YC-25 and Budd RB-1/C-93 Conestoga - Anigrand


1/144 Boeing YC-14, McDonnell  YC-25 and Budd RB-1/C-93 Conestoga - Anigrand

Current planned released for Anigrand this year.

Expect more of the usual formula of large kits, plus bonuses....

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_YC-14
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/c-14.htm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McDonnell_Douglas_YC-15

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Budd_RB_Conestoga


Friday, March 25, 2016

1/144 HMS Holland (class) submarine - MIKRO-MIR



1/44 HMS Holland (class) submarine - MIKRO-MIR
Another in their range of 1/144 submarines, this time an boat from the early days of the evolution of modern submarines.

Expect this to be injected plastic with a photo etched parts.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Holland_1


Its not on the website http://mikro-mir.com/en/ships-1-144.html , but it is appearing on ebay already!

1/144 Grumman F9F Panther - Oz Mods

1/144 Grumman Panther - Oz Mods 
Reissued, with injected plastic kit with vacform and clear canopies. Silk Screen decals for the Blue Angeles and VFA-192 Golden Dragons - aircraft 209 as seen in the movie Bridge at TOKO-Ri.

The Grumman F9F Panther was the manufacturer's first jet fighter and one of the United States Navy's first successful carrier-based jet fighters. A single-engined, straight-winged day fighter, it was fitted with an armament of four 20 mm (0.79 in) cannons and could carry a wide assortment of air-to-ground munitions.

The Panther was used extensively by the U.S. Navy and the United States Marine Corps in the Korean War. It was also the first jet aircraft used by the Blue Angels flight team, being used by them from 1949 through to late 1954. The aircraft was exported to Argentina and was the first jet used by the Argentine Naval Aviation.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grumman_F9F_Panther

Available: March 2016
http://www.ozmods-kits.com/aircraft-kits-1144

1/144 F-Toys WTM Vol.3 (IJA)


1/144 F-Toys WTM Vol.3 (IJA)

Type 2 Ka-Mi amphibious tank
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type_2_Ka-Mi

Type 89 I-Go medium tank
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type_89_I-Go

Type 97 Shinhoto Chi-Ha medium tank - NOT the same Chi-Ha as the one from the OOP F-Toys' Battle Tank Collection Vol.2. This new one represents the improved Type 97 variant with a high velocity 47mm gun replacing the original low velocity 57mm gun.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type_97_ShinHoTo_Chi-Ha


Source: https://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10377928 and Smeg1959