Even in the July, summer time edition of the Special Hobby Newsletter, we simply have to reflect on the Putin aggression against Ukraine and so we are introducing several more anti-tank weapons into our range, namely the 3D-printed, 1/35 scale FGM-148 Javelin Anti-Tank Missile and NLAW Anti-Tank Missile kits. We do believe they will sell like hot cakes, modellers are obviously following the conflict in Ukraine. The Ukrainian NLAW-armed Tank Hunter figure announced a month ago in the June edition sold as fast as no other of our 1/35 figures. 
   Among the July models now you are going to find the delayed 1/72 Junkers Ju 87D-5/N Stuka and 1/48 L-4 Grasshopper as well as the 1/32 Hi-Tech AH-1G Cobra in the US Marines and Navy guise and the quarterscale Reggiane Re.2000GA/Serie III.  The resin sets to get available this month cover the L-4 Grasshopper wheel set (for which model the pre-cut masks are already on the shop shelves and the detail engine set is being prepared), then the 1/48 Beaufighter and B-25 Mitchell wheel sets and the final, fourth set designed for the CL-13 in the same scale, plus a figures set portraying a 1/72 Finnish pilot with a mechanic. 
   Unless something unexpected happens, we believe we are going to meet many of our customers and friends, not just those from the States, at the IPMS Omaha at the end of July. We have not seen them for almost three years now so we are really very much looking forward to meeting with them in person there. In the US, we are going to showcase our upcoming models, too, those which as we believe will hit the market in the second half of 2022. These will be the 1/48 scale SH48219 Bugatti 100 Racer, SH48217 Aero C-3B (the Czechoslovak version of the Siebel Si 204E), SH48200 NC.701 Martinet (which was the French version of the Si 204B with domestic engines and propellers), the improved release of the SH48210 Heinkel He 177 Greif with some new parts. In 1/32 scale, we are most likely going to have just one new model for this Autumn, the SH32083 Fiat G.50B Bicomando. The 1/72 scale will see the release of the long-expected Mirage IIIC, SH72450 AT-6C/D & SNJ-3/3C Texan ‘Training to Win’ – a limited release of the Texan covering USAAF and US/Navy/Marines schemes as flown during WW2 and a few more reeditions of some of our quite successful models. So, what else to say, we believe you have a wonderful Autumn ahead of you filled with plenty of models produced by us for you.

A. Riedel

SPECIAL HOBBY PLASTIC MODEL KITS

L-4 Grasshopper ‘From Africa to Central Europe 1/48

It quite soon became clear to the US military, as well as the British RAF, that the rather large and complicated types such as the O-47 or Lysander which had been designed in the pre-war days for army co-operation, close support, artillery observation and liaison roles were in fact ill-suited for real operations. Lighter types with the ability of very short take offs and landings proved much more successful. And arguably the most famous of all types of this category is the L-4 Grasshopper, developed from the originally civilian J-3 Cub which had done really well during US Army pre-war exercises.
   The first of our boxings captures the Grasshoppers’ combat journey beginning with the Operation Torch, the Allied landing in Africa, through the landing in Italy, Normandy, to the US airfields in western Bohemia, Czechoslovakia, where the Grasshoppers ended their WW2 combat service. 
   Two styrene sprues are joined by one clear parts sprue and a decal sheet with markings for four airframes. 
-    There has been no new and fine L-4 Grasshopper kit for more than five decades.
-    Interesting colour schemes
-    Etches included in the kit
-    Pre-cut masks available separately

AH-1G Cobra ‘Marines/US Navy’ Hi-Tech Kit 1/32

The high-quality ICM AH-1G Cobra release comes now to you joined by a number of resin parts, etches and parts made by direct 3D print. All these extras give both the cockpit and exterior of the kit much more detail, resulting in a really top-notch release which deserves nothing but the Hi-Tech label. The kit also contains a set of pre-cut masks which is designed to be applied on the glazing both on the inside and outside. The decals cater for three Marine options and one flown by the US Navy. Two of the machines took part in the Vietnam War.
-    Superb resin parts, 3D-printed details, masks, photo-etches plus pre-painted etches, all this galore joins the styrene items of the original ICM AH-1G kit
-    Decals for three Marines and one US Navy machines, servicing stencils included
-    Interesting colour schemes.

Reggiane Re 2000GA/Serie III 1/48

The Reggiane Re.2000 took part in the standard Italian fighter type competition which was taking place almost in the eve of the war. Even though the type offered high performance, it was not chosen for military use and was released for export. A few examples did enter a trial service with the Regia Aeronautica though, mainly in dangerous missions against the island of Malta.
Our kit consists of four styrene sprues and one clear parts sprue. The GA/Serie III version featured a non-glazed top rear section behind the cockpit. The decal sheet offers markings for four schemes bearing various colours on their noses. 
-    A Second World War Italian fighter type
-    Three colour schemes wearing interesting Italian mottled camouflage
-    Separately available – resin sets and pre-cut masks.

Junkers Ju 87D-5/N ‘Night Attack Stukas’ 1/72

The high quality plastic parts of Academy’s Juners Ju 87G-2 are now joined by our own styrene, resin and photo-etched conversion parts which give you the possibility to build the Junkers Ju 87 in the rare D-5/N/D-8 versions. And along all that, the conversion parts also take care of the very few issues the original kit has. These D-5/N/D-8 airframes were almost the last ones of the Stuka family to be flown in the bomber role and were operated from 1943 until the end of the war. They saw service not only with the Luftwaffe, a couple of Axis states operated them as well. Due to the air superiority of the Allies though, these Stukas were most often used at night in ground-attack and bombing missions and as the dive brakes were not needed for such actions, these were often removed and night type exhausts with flame dampers were introduced on these versions.
   The marking schemes and decals of this limited-quantity model kit cater for four Luftwaffe options fitted with two styles of night exhausts made of resin.-  
-    attractive version
-    nice-looking decal sheet including set of stencils
-    released in limited quantity

RESIN KITS & SETS

Beufighter Mk.VI/X/21 Mainwheels - Late Wheel Disk / HexagonalTreadPattern 1/48

   Resin cast wheels with weighed tires and late-type hubs. The tires sport hexagonal pattern which was mainly seen in the PTO and India.

Canadair CL-13 Sabre Mk.4 Gun Bays 1/48

   Airfix’s new CL-13 Sabre does have its gun compartments open, but the ammo magazines as well as the guns themselves rather lack crisp surface detail. Our gun bays with etches offer substantially better levels of detail.

B-25 Mitchell Wheels/ Cross Tread Pattern 1/48

   Finely detailed wheels and weighed tires with cross-type pattern. The nose wheel comes in two types, both with and without the hub cover.

L-4 Grasshopper Main Wheels 1/48

   These new resin wheels feature weighted tire with pattern and will nicely accompany our band new L-4 aircraft model.

Finnish WWII Fighter Pilot and Mechanic 1/72

   A Finnish pilot wearing a long coat and a mechanic with a tool box will come handy to any Finnish airplane of the period, from a Fokker 21 to even such type as the Bf 109G.

3D Printed Parts

FGM-148 Javelin Anti-Tank Missile 1/35

   3D-printed to sport superb levels of detail, this set portrays the modern-times anti-tank weapon made famous not only by its use by Ukrainian troops against Russian aggressors. Contains sheet of decals with markings.

NLAW Anti-Tank Missile 1/35

   3D-printed to sport superb levels of detail, this set portrays the modern-times anti-tank weapon made famous not only by its use by Ukrainian troops against Russian aggressors. Contains sheet of decals with markings.