Hobby Master releases for February 2015.

Hobby Master releases are coming fast and furious! Some good news for February 2015 is that the 1/48 Hurricanes seem back on track and we're seeing a 1/72 Kate after a 3 year absence!

The rest of the catalogue consists of 1/72 scale tail burners. There are two versions of the 474th FDW/31st TFW F-100D from 1958, 492nd TFS F-111F, 60th FIS F-101B as well as USAF and RAAF versions of the awful F-35As.

Corgi AA36709 Ju 88 KG77.

Up on the Corgi Facebook page a photo of the upcoming Ju 88 from KG77 has made its appearance. There's also a link for pics on the Corgi website.

https://www.facebook.com/corgidiecast

http://www.corgi.co.uk/junkers-ju88-a-4-i-kg-77-italy-1942.html

Revised HM releases for January 2015.

Hobby Master has released a revised January 2015 poster. It would appear that the 1/48 Hawker Hurricanes have been replaced by the 1/48 scale P-47D Thunderbolt "Little Chief" and a P-51B of the "Blue Nosed Barstards".

She flies! Bristol Blenheim Mk.I L6739 takes to the skies at IWM Duxford.

Thursday, 20 November 2014 saw the long-anticipated return to flight of the Aircraft Restoration Company’s Bristol Blenheim Mk.I L6739 (G-BPIV) at IWM Duxford following a long-term restoration of more than a decade.  Elliott Marsh writes for GAR.

It would be fair to call the Bristol Blenheim’s first post-restoration flight one of the most eagerly anticipated and important events on the European historic aviation circuit this year.  After taxi trials on Wednesday, 19 November 2014, John Romain (accompanied by John Gilmore) flew the Blenheim from its Duxford base on Thursday, 20 November 2014, carrying out a 20 minute test flight 1520.

http://www.globalaviationresource.com/v2/2014/11/20/aviation-news-she-flies-bristol-blenheim-mk-i-l6739-g-bpiv-takes-to-the-skies-at-iwm-duxford/

Pre-production photos HA8409 P-47D French GCII/5 "Lafayette".

Hobby Master 1/48 Air Power Series, HA8409, P-47D Thunderbolt 419698, French GCII/5 "Lafayette", Amberieu, France 1944.

Pre-production photos HA8408 P-47D Thunderbolt "OK JOHNNIE".

Hobby Master 1/48 Air Power Series, HA8408, P-47D Thunderbolt 226785 "OH JOHNNIE", 1st Lt. Raymond Knight 346th FS/350th FG, Pisa, Italy, 1945.

Pre-production photos HA7727 P-51D Mustang "Passion Wagon".

Hobby Master 1/48 Air Power Series, HA7727, P-51D Mustang 413691 "Passion Wagon", Capt. Charles E "Chuck" Weaver 362nd FS, 357th FG, 1944.

Final product photos HA0208 SBD-1 VMB-1 USMC 1940.

Hobby Master 1/32 Premium Collection Air Power Series HA0208 SBD-1 BuNo. 1616, VMB-1, US Marine Corps, Quantico, 1940.

Originally activated as VB-6M the unit was re-designated VMB-1 in 1937. In late 1940 VMB-1 was the second Marine unit to receive the new Douglas SBD-1 Dauntless. Because mid-1940 was a relatively quiet period for the Marines VMB-1 its 19 SBD-1s were stationed at Quantico, Virginia learning the intricacies of the new aircraft and learning amphibious assault support tactics. 

On July 1, 1942 they were once again re-designated as VMSB-132. SBD-1 BuNo. 1616 at Chula Vista, California on August 10, 1942.

Blenheim Mk.I G-BPIV/L6739 engine and taxi runs.

Yesterday, 19 November 2014 Blenheim (Duxford) Ltd's Blenheim Mk.I reproduction GBPIV/L6739 underwent some engine runs and at 15:30 she taxied for the first time as the sun went down.

The Aviation Forum members Duxman and DCW were on hand with their cameras to capture the moment.

http://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?132789-Blenheim-taxies-at-Duxford
http://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?128152-Duxford-Diary-2014/page68

Pre-production photos Air Commander F-4F Luftwaffe JG71.

Pre-production photos of the Air Commander F-4F Luftwaffe JG71 Richthofen 37+03, 50th Anniversary 2009.

http://www.air-commander.net/f4/F-4F%20JG71/index.htm

EA-6B Prowler Final Combat Mission.

The EA-6B Prowler Completes Its Final Carrier Cruise.

Yesterday, four EA-6B Prowlers belonging to Electronic Attack Squadron VAQ-134 'Garudas' made a triumphant but bittersweet return to NAS Whidbey Island in upstate Washington. The squadron had been deployed aboard the USS George H.W. Bush for the last nine and a half months, and their arrival marked the end of the last EA-6B carrier deployment.

The EA-6B Prowler has been flying for over 46 years. The aircraft it directly descends from, the A-6 Intruder, was first flown some 54 years ago. The Prowler also represents the end of a long line of over-engineered and incredibly capable naval jet aircraft built by the Grumman Aerospace Company located in Bethpage New York. These heavy-duty, seemingly indestructible naval aircraft built by the famous firm are affectionately referred to as "Grumman Iron."

http://foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com/the-navys-ea-6b-prowler-completes-its-final-carrier-cru-1659101419

Messerschmitt Bf109E heading to the UK.

With many warbirds leaving the UK it comes as a pleasant surprise to see one heading to the UK!

This amazing BF-109E has been sold Platinum Fighter Sales by and will soon be heading to the UK where it will be based. Look for it at select air shows next season. 

https://www.facebook.com/platinumfightersales

Hobby Master releases for January 2015.

Hobby Master continues to churn out models month after month but sometimes they surprise us. January 2015 sees the release of a new tooling, the 1/48 scale Hawker Hurricane Mk.1!!! The first two releases are Sgt. J. Frantisek of No. 303 (Polish) Squadron and F.O. W.L. McKnight of No. 242 Sqn. RAF.

1/72 scale is an all jet line-up with the long awaited F-4E Phantom II operating out of Iceland and a colourful CF-18B of the Canadian Armed Forces "AETE". There is also an A-10C Thunderbolt II from the 74th FS "Tiger Shark", a ROCAF F-16A Falcon from the 455th TFW and a USAF F-106 from McChord AFB.

China's tenth annual International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai.

China's tenth annual International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai kicked off this weekend and what an incredible display of China's growing air combat capability it was. Acclaimed aviation photographer and journalist Ivan Voukadinov was there to capture all the action.

http://foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com/amazing-photos-of-chinas-newest-stealth-jet-show-growin-1657003826
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1627365/new-chinese-j-31-stealth-fighter-spotted-zhuhai-ahead-air-show?utm_source=outbrain&utm_medium=outbrain&utm_campaign=OutbrainCampaign-Generic-Desktop%20