Final product photos HA4311 F-86F-40 Pakistan Air Force.

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series HA4311 F-86F-40 Sabre Sqn. Leader Modhammed Mahmood Alam, Pakistan Air Force, 1965.

Pakistan eventually purchased 102 F-86F Sabres and began to receive the Sabres in 1954. On September 1965 during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 Sqn. Leader, Commander No.11 Squadron Modhammed Mahmood Alam became an ace within one minute when he downed five Indian Air Force Hawker Hunter fighters in one minute. 

For this action he was awarded the Sitara-e-Jurat "The star of courage". During the 1965 war he is credited with nine victories of which six were Hawker Hunters. In 1982 Modhammed Mahmood Alam retired as an Air Commodore.

Final product photos HA2712 F-2A "60th Anniversary".

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series HA2712 Mitsubishi F-2A 03-8509 "60th Anniversary" scheme.

Mitsubishi F-2A 03-8509 c/n 1009 code 509 was manufactured in 2000 and delivered for active service on December 22, 2000. In September 2014 while with the JASDF 3rd Squadron at Misawa Air Base this F-2A was given a special paint scheme to honour the 60th Anniversary of the JASDF. 

The design was comprised of a 60th Anniversary badge located on the sides of the air-intake, while the vertical tail displayed the national flag of Japan with cherry blossoms and a diagonal “60th Anniversary” written next to it.

Final product photos HA0304 F6F-5N Hellcat Maj. Bruce Porter.

Hobby Master 1/32 Premium Collection Air Power Series HA0304 Grumman F6F-5N BuNo. 78669, Major Bruce Porter, CO VMF(N)-542 Yonton Airfield, Okinawa, May 1945.

In 1943 while flying with VMF-121 Major Bruce Porter shot down three Zeros. On May 22, 1945 Porter joined VMF(N)-542 on Okinawa as the new CO. His F6F-5N belonged to the former CO and wore a red heart and white “Millie Lou”. 

Porter replaced this with a bottle of Schenley’s whiskey and “Black Death” written in white above it on the lower right cowling. On June 15, 1945 Porter became an Ace when he downed a Kawasaki Ki-45 Nick and a G4M Betty bomber carrying a Baka Flying bomb.

Shuttle comments on Hawker Typhoon Mk IB, 247 No.124 Wing, 2nd TAF, RAF.

Here are some pictures of the production version of the new Corgi Hawker Typhoon. Thankfully all of the feedback has been implemented including the correct colour for the rockets (dark green). 

The 4 bladed prop is great along with the correct colours and well fitting undercarriage. It is a great looking model and better, in my opinion, then the first release with the rockets.

 Shuttle

For more pics see:

https://www.facebook.com/Dora-9-Diecast-117765251636451/

Early stage photos of Hobby Master EA-6B Prowler tooling.

Hawkonevoodoo added some photos of this model in the early stage of tooling:

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series  EA-6B Prowler.

P- 40 Kittyhawk: Guns Armed!

PRESS RELEASE - Visitors to the Warbirds Over Wanaka International Airshow next Easter will be treated to a display which has never been performed at any other airshow in the world.

Auckland-based pilot Liz Needham will be at the controls of a P-40 Kittyhawk aircraft as she strafes the airfield with six x .50 caliber machine guns. The display was first performed at Warbirds Over Wanaka by Garth Hogan in 2008 followed by Frank Parker. 

Liz Needham, who is married to Frank, then performed the display in 2012. The P-40 aircraft was restored some years earlier by Garth Hogan and Charles Darby and the guns were later fitted by Paul McSweeny and his team from Pioneer Aero.

Paul says all they had to do was fit the guns and connect them electrically and they worked, all of the cockpit detail and plumbing and wiring for them was already fitted. “This just shows the lengths that Garth and Charles had gone to, to have the aircraft restored as close as possible to original specification,” says Paul.

Liz says the act is unique to Wanaka. “There is no other airshow in the world to have a P-40 firing guns. From the pilot’s point of view, firing the guns is a separate display to flying the aircraft. Gunner Ashford briefed me on how to fire the guns and the time to hold the trigger down for each burst. 

He also briefed me on the safety aspects of firing on the ground and in the air. We had a special ‘live firing’ of the guns on the ground for the Gold Pass stand for Sir Tim Wallis in 2012 which went down a treat,” says Liz.

http://www.warbirdsnews.com/airshow-news/p-40-kittyhawk-guns-armed.html

The Turkish Air Force has shot down an unidentified drone in Turkish airspace.

Turkish Air Force jets, most probably F-16s flying CAPs (Combat Air Patrols) along the Syria-Turkey border shot down an unidentified drone that had violated the Turkish airspace earlier today.

According to the information made available so far, the Turkish combat planes issued three warnings to the (unmanned) aircraft before shooting it down. The aircraft shot down was a really small model (resembling a Russian-made Orlan 10).

The TuAF F-16s were on a heightened alert status since the violations of the Turkish airspace conducted by Russian Air Force Su-30SM and Su-24 aircraft in the Hatay region on October 3 and 4, and subsequent radar lock by an “unidentified” Mig-29 on October 5.

Following these border skirmishes, the Turkish F-16s began responding to “MiG” radar locks by performing lock-ons on the aircraft “harassing” them. However, it’s quite likely considering the type of target, that the drone shot down today was hit with a gun strafe instead of a missile.

In September 2013, a TuAF F-16 shot down a Syrian Mi-17 that had violated the Turkish airspace.

On March 23, 2014 a SyAAF Mig-23 that violated the Turkish airspace by about 1 km was shot down by the F-16C 91-008 in CAP near the border.

http://theaviationist.com/2015/10/16/unidentified-drone-shot-down-by-tuaf/

Hobby Master releases for December 2015.

December sees HM only releasing fast movers in 1/72. Big news is the 1st S-3B Viking from VS-21 "Fighting Redtails" and a Norm 81 Luftwaffe F-4F Phantom. The MiG-15 makes a comeback with a Soviet Aerobatic Team example along with an RCAF Sabre Mk.6. 

Other jets include a Swiss F/A-18C, 22nd FS SP tailed F-16 CJ, 3rd Wing AK tailed F-22 and a TF-15 Eagle "Bicentennial". In 1/48 there is P-47D Razorback "Fiery Ginger IV".

Collector photos of Corgi AA27501 Sunderland MkIII EJ134, 461 Squadron RAAF, 1943.

My friend Stew from Down Under just shared some pics of his latest acquisition, the new Corgi 1/72 Sunderland flying boat!!!

"Sorry these are only iPhone piccies & the colours are a bit dark but you get the drift! Great model, not yet opened the bomb racks. A good mix of plastic & diecast - all up it weighs just over 4kg.

It's like the good ol' Corgi we remember - hopefully they are back on track with some consistency with the QC.

Cannot rule out a second one in the future despite the size, storing the box is an issue too, about the same volume as two Lancs lol."

Nallsaviation.com Drummondville Sea Harrier demo.

Ride along with Art Nalls during the Sea Harrier XZ439 demo at the Drummondville Airshow.

French Navy Rafale and Super Etendard jets during aircraft carrier ops.

This video filmed with GoPro cameras, shows launches and recoveries aboard the 38,000-ton, nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles De Gaulle.

The footage not only lets you observe blue water operations of French Navy aircraft from the privileged eye of flight deck operators, but also brings you inside the cockpit of a Dassault-Breguet Super Étendard (also shown firing an AS-30 missile) as well as aboard a Dassault Rafale M for a high-speed, ultra low-level flight.

http://theaviationist.com/2015/10/11/french-rafales-etedands-video/

Full video: Spitfire AB910, Guernsey 2015

An RAF fighter pilot recreates classic #BoB75 moves flying vintage Spitfire AB910 over the English Channel.

The display footage was taken on 10 Sep 15 at the Guernsey airshow in RAF BBMF MkV Spitfire AB910. It was piloted by Wg Cdr Justin Helliwell in a display with Hurricane Mk.II PZ865 piloted by Sqn Ldr Dunc Mason. 

The Channel Island displays at Guernsey and Jersey are very special given the Island’s occupation during WWII. The air displays are marked by a public bank holiday, making the events a truly huge and popular occasion for both the Islanders and aircrew alike.

http://theaviationist.com/2015/10/09/spitfire-bob-over-english-channel-video/

Southport Air Show - XH558 with The Red Arrows one last time - 'Feel the...

** Our thanks to The Red Arrows for a superb relationship over the years. A fitting tribute to them from the XH558 team. Thanks to Neil Draper for the excellent editing. 

With due acknowledgement for the covering music to Sir Andrew Davis & BBC Symphony Orchestra. Advert choice allows royalties to the copyright holder for use with their full approval. **

XH558 is the last flying Avro Vulcan and the last flying representative of Britain's famous V-force. She is operated by a charity that must raise around £2 million each year to maintain and operate her.

http://theaviationist.com/2015/10/04/cockpit-video-vulcan-red-arrows/

Final product photos HA8605 Hurricane Mk.I Flg. Off. Z.K. Henneberg.

Hobby Master 1/48 Air Power Series HA8605 Hawker Hurricane Mk.I RF-A, Flg. Off. Z. K. Henneberg 303 "Polish Sqn.", Northholt, September 1940.

No. 303 Polish Squadron was formed in July 1940 and deployed to Northolt on August 2, 1940 where Zdzisław Henneberg joined the unit. No. 303 was equipped with Hawker Hurricanes and began official flights on August 24, 1940. 

During the first 7 days of operations the squadron scored almost 40 enemy aircraft. By October 11, 1940 the unit claimed 126 kills. A ceremony on December 15, 1940 credited Henneberg with 8 kills and awarded him the DFC. On April 12, 1941 Henneberg went MIA.

Final product photos HA8604 Hurricane Mk.I Plt. Off. Tom Neil.

Hobby Master 1/48 Air Power Series HA8604 Hawker Hurricane Mk.I GN-F, Plt. Off. Tom Neil, 249 Sqn., England 1940.

Tom Neil joined the RAF just prior to the start of the BoB. He flew Hurricanes with the No. 249 Squadron stationed at North Weald. In September 1940 Neil scored his first victory shooting down a Me-109.  

On November 7, 1940 Neil had the misfortune of losing his aircraft’s tail when he had a mid-air collision with his Wing Commander. Neil had to bail out but the WC landed safely. Tom Neil flew 141 combat missions and a total of 12 kills and 4 probables and the DFC with a bar.

Final product photos HA7418 Fw190A-7 Oblt. Wilhelm Krebs.

Hobby Master 1/48 Air Power Series HA7418 Fw 190A-7 Stab I/JG 1, Oblt. Wilhelm Krebs, Dortmund Airfield, January 1944.

1/JG 1 was formed in May of 1939 as one of the original Jagdeschwaders. Between 1940 and 1944 the unit was equipped with Messerschmitt Bf-109 and Fw-190s. 

I/JG 1 was the only unit to be equipped with the Heinkel He-162 jet and the first to attempt aerial bombing of the USAAF heavy bomber formations. In 1944 the “Oeseau” was added to JG 1 when Geschwaderkommodore Oberst Walter Oeseau was killed. This aircraft belonged to Oblt. Wilhelm Krebs; Group Technical Officer for Stab 1/JG1 and credited with 4 B-17s.