New Hobby Master Releases for January 2011

New HM releases for January 2011 have been announced! Big news is the new F-5 Tiger II in 1/72. A really good looking fighter aircraft, the first release is an F-5N in US Navy Reserve Sundowners colours.

The standout for me is another RAAF PIG!!!! An F-111G in dark overall grey celebrating 60 years of the RAAF. There's a couple of WWII era Dauntless dive bombers as well another F-4 Phantom and AV-8B Harrier all in 1/72.

In 1/48 we see another Fw 190 but this time an unusual model with streamlined tanks on top of the wings. Only 80 aircraft were produced and it was an attempt to improve speed without the drag caused by the centre line drop tank.

In 1/144 we see the second Ju-52 release, this time in the livery celebrating the 1936 Olympics. 

Hobby Master has also introduced two new weapons sets for the A-10 Warthog. This is an interesting development since collectors have been calling for more accurate weapons loads. HM has improved the load outs on their latest A-10 releases and now those with earlier releases can update their ordinance!

New Models due in at Dora 9 Diecast shortly.

We're expecting an example of each of the new Hobby Master F-111 Aadvark 1/72 swing wing strike aircraft. They inlcude a USAF Vietnam example, a RAAF F-111C with longer wings and strengthened under carriage. Lastly there's the EF-111 Raven, electronic warfare aircraft.

In addition there's a Stanford Tuck Spitfire by Hobby Master in 1/48. Three models have recently been releases but the Tuck Spitfire is the pick of the bunch. The underside features the black and white undersides. 

We also have a few Armour 1/100 Mirage IIIs and an F-100 all in French colours. The F-100 also comes with a flying helmet. The Armour range is no longer available but it is one of the few companies that produced the Mirage III in diecast in any scale.



December Hobby Master Releases.

For December we have a new 1/72 Douglas A-26 Invader!!!! This is a new for diecast collectors. Next we have to celebrate the Blue Nosed Bastards of Bodney in the form of a P-51D Cripes a Mighty in 1/48 and in 1/72 an F-22 with a dash of colour also called Cripes a Mighty.

The pilot of Cripes, Major George Preddy, was a leading US ace prior to being shot down and killed of the 25th December 1944 while he was on the tail of an Fw-190 (if I recall correctly). He was a victim of friendly fire, being shot down by American quad .50s.

There's also a Greek F-102, two MiG 15 in two different Chinese / Taiwanese schemes and an Australian A-4.

November Hobby Master Releases.

Hobby Master have announced a new tooling in the form of the DC-2 in 1/200. This 1930s airliner was the predecessor to the DC-3. Also of interest in 1/200 is the KC-97G inflight refueling tanker.

In 1/72 there's a Romanian Stuka, a Vietnam A-4 Skyhawk, the pilot of which is still MIA but is a US Medal of Honour winner. There's also a Canadian Beaufighter, US Marines SNJ-3 (Harvard) and another Avenger. 

In 1/48 there's couple of new Mustangs, P-12 and P-26. Interestingly Hobby Master is creating new models with broader appeal by doing representions from different countries across the range of scales.



Updates on new arrivals and listings.

Time for an update after some packages eventually turned up. We've been having a torrid time with multiple packages from the UK and Europe going missing. Happily some models have turned up from the US and Hong Kong.

Firstly, we have the South African Airways DC-3 arriving. These models have long been sold out but we have managed to secure a very limited number of these models.

Next up are two Corgi Vampires procured after a client expressed some interest in these. Two models are available, the FB Mk.5 and the T Mk.11.

For the collectors we have secured the discontinued Hobby Master IDF F-4E Phantom II as well as the absolutely stunning Inflight 200 Boeing 747 ZS-SAJ, Ndizani!!!!