The Flying Legends 2012 Poster!!!

HOT OFF THE PRESS!!! The 2012 Flying Legends Poster has just been released.

Final Product photos, SkyMax SM2006 La-5FN

1/72 Flying Heroes Series, SM2006, La-5FN No.76, Major I.A. Vishnakov, Commander of 1st Flight 171, IAP 1944.

The Soviet Lavochkin La-5FN was the definitive version of the La-5 series. This wooden aircraft first saw combat in the Battle of Kursk and was considered as an equal to the German BF-109G6. With the arrival of the La-5's and later the La-7, the era of domination on the eastern front by the Luftwaffe fighters was over.

Shuttle's Report - Duxford, 28 March 2012.

Not much flying today apart from the Harvard, Rapide and the 'Vacher' Hurricane (but what a treat that was - an authentic 'BoB' aircraft). 

SNAFU was testing her undercarriage and I think the first flight can only be a matter of weeks, if not days, away. 

I got up close to the new Harrier and the Vampire T.11 is now parked up in Hanger 3. The Blenheim seems to have had a few more panels added as well......

The OFMC hut is no more and the 'Boys from the Blackstuff' were hard at work.

 Shuttle

On the Collectors Front!!!

The Corgi Stirling, "The Forgotten Bomber", has eventually reached deepest darkest Africa!!! In fact it feels like we've been forgotten down south!!!

It's been a long tedious wait but I'm very happy to report that ours are being shipped down to Cape Town shortly.

The models are spoken for as they were pre-ordered so none are available for sale.

Tiger Hobbies Notice to UK Collectors.

TIGER HOBBIES LIMITED NOTICE TO OUR UK COLLECTORS

Tiger hobbies would like to inform our UK collectors of important changes to the way we import HM products. The first the major change is the sub-contracting of the distribution of 1/200 Airliners to S.R.F. Trading a well know importer and distributor of 1/200 Airliners, this will happen from July UK deliveries.

There has been much discussion on various forums about the amount of models HM issue each month, and this has been growing for some time, our main problem in the UK is some HM model which are not for the UK market are mudding up the waters for other HM models which sell very well through our distribution network.

It was planned to re-organise our imports sometime this year, but as a result of our recent break in we decided to bring forward our re-organisation. We have overall done very well over the last six years or so, but we have made some mistakes (remember we have been at the importing game for only 6 years).

It is now time to consolidate our position and take a really hard look at HM in the UK making sure Tiger Hobbies concentrate on the lines we have done very well on and drive the best deal for the collector, but this will be only on certain items i.e. the Core Range.

The rest of the range will have to look after its self and keen collectors of some items will need to plan their collecting strategy as it is impossible to maintain 25 to 30 lines a month. If you feel the need to save some money on some items by buying overseas then that’s fine, but you will not beat our core range prices in the UK and that is what I am interested in, and if you do jump and shout about saving some money on a ROCAF FC-IK that you have bought from Timbuktu whoopee do for you.

The main aspect of the re-organisation is the HM range will be split into three sections:

1. Core UK Range: This will include model of direct UK interest like the new Sea Harrier FA.2, and strong UK Based US Subjects like a Lakenheath F15E, and Tiger Hobbies will hold good levels and will have driven a better deal with HM. It will be these ranges we will encourage new trade customers to stock. These will be identified by the letter CR after the HM number.

2. 2nd Level Range: The range will include all other US Subjects, Luftwaffe, and some commonwealth Subjects and we will hold some stock and both trade and collectors will have to do some planning but in most case we will be able to supply even if orders are a little late.

3. Specialist items: This range will include the likes of the Turkish Beaufighter and FC-K1 and items which are not really aimed at the UK market, also items on their higher subsequent release numbers. It is these items we will not be stocking not the whole range as some on this forum are spouting about.

This year’s Core UK range will include the following Sea Harrier FA.2, Matador RAF Bowser, 1/48 Spitfire MKV, MK IX and MK VIII, Hurricane late 2012 or early 2013, Lakenheath F15E, these will join the following items, 1.48 Fury, Harrier GR9 disbandment set, British Bedford QLD, GS and QLT, F4J UK Phantom, F111 Lakenheath, Jet Provost RAF Finningley, Jet Provost display Teams, 1/48 Spitfire MK II Garfield Weston, 1/48 Spitfire MK XIV JEJ.

Tiger Hobbies will provide full promotion for these items in the way of catalogues and adverts, and no dumping. If we buy good numbers at the right price it is worth hanging on to these, as to replace would cost more, so once you have dragged them half way round the world, let us make the best of them.

BARGINS AND GOOD VALUE MODELS

If it is not in our current Core range there will be value models about for the next few months as we are in the process of clearing out all our non core ranges, but these are not in vast numbers as some would believe, but they will be about so take advantage. Also if some overseas distributors ask for some odd models and cock up, that is when I will import them in any number, when I can get them cheap. Tiger Hobbies will no longer support other overseas distributors on odd items.

1/48 MODELS

1/48 is not the sales disaster that some make out, yes HM have over produce in some area like the P51D, but most of our Spitfires have sold very well and in fact the first to sell out of the early marks was HA7803 the one with the Big Nose. I totally agree 1/72 is still king of the Castle in the UK but every man and his dog is releasing 1/72 models of all kinds and it is coming in floods especially when backed up by cheap models on Magazines which are coming into the UK in their thousands.

Tiger Hobbies have 1/48 almost totally to ourselves, so it is a nice market to be in, not huge but not a disaster either. So I need to look at some good subjects with broad market appeal, you will not find me asking for rarer subjects in 1/48. The main buyer of these model is not your die in the wood core collector but a casual buyer who sees better presence than tiny 1/72 but not bulky like 1/32.

Future

Overall 2011/2012 has been our best trading year to date only soured by the burglary in early Feb, but all members of the Tiger Team pulled together to make sure disruption of our deliveries was kept to a minimum.

Just because we have done great over the last 6 years we need to look at the future and make sure we are in a strong position to ride out what’s coming down the line. Tiger Hobbies is also moving into Plastic Kits, RC and Collectable 1/24 tanks 1/18 aircraft (very small market) and Figures and new ranges of plastic soldiers, plus our Logistics are now been sold to none model related companies.

Finally we would like to thank all our collectors for your support since we starting importing in 2006, making Tiger Hobbies one of the leading importers of diecast model aircraft.

PS

BEAUFIGHTER

Tiger Hobbies have been moving on all remaining Beaufighter models (Not the Turkish one). HA2301, 2, and 6 all sold in great numbers with very few now about, but some overseas distributors bit of more than they could chew and some releases HA2309 and HA2310 were over produced. Once all the Beaufighter are gone and the casting given a rest I will ask for a Late mark Beaufighter in markings similar to the old Matchbox kit and a late BoB one, but I will not ask until 2013.

Corgi Albatross DVa Ltn. Helmut Dilthey Jasta 40, Mid-1918

Not much in the way of Corgi releases of late but 

Corgi AA37806, Albatross DVa Ltn. Helmut Dilthey Jasta 40, Mid-1918 has started hitting the shelves in the UK. An attractive scheme that should fit in nicely with WWI collections.

Born in Rheydt, Germany on the 9th of February 1894, Helmut Dilthey first flew two-seat reconnaissance bi-planes on the Eastern Front but rose to prominence flying this Albatross DVa during the latter half of 1917 and the early part of 1918 on the Western Front. 

His seven aerial victories included a trio of Spad fighters, as well as a Sopwith Triplane, a Sopwith Camel and a Nieuport Scout. He painted his machine in a garish white and green striped livery, the colours of Saxony, while leading Jasta 40 in the opening months of 1918. 

It was while flying this machine that Dilthey was killed in July 1918 by German ground fire, while attacking an RAF DH9 bomber of 107 Squadron over the frontline in the region of Lille, France.

Shuttle's Report - Duxford, 23 March 2012.

A very quick photo from Friday (from my phone). I will try to get better ones on Wednesday. All the 'bits' are there plus some 'stores'.......


 Shuttle 

The recently acquired Harrier GR.9A ZD461 at Duxford. This aircraft was modeled by Hobby Master as HA2604.

Pre-production photos, HA7807 Spitfire Mk.Va.

Hobby Master 1/48 Air Power Series, HA7807, Spitfire Mk.Va flown by Wing Commander Douglas Bader, No.616 Sqn., Tangmere Wing RAF Tangmere, England March-August 1941.

In my view Hobby Master should either decide what nose art to put on the model or do both in limited runs. This should be tampo printed as opposed to supplying a decal.

On the Collector's Front.

Yesterday I collected some packages at the post office I wasn't expecting. Much to my surprise they contained the 1/200 scale Boeing 747 SP in SAA colours. I'd pre-ordered the Inflight200 South African Airways Boeing 747SP in December 2010 and all subsequent enquiries yielded nothing other than the model was delayed and should be available soon.

I pleased that I can say that the model has been well worth the wait. My initial impression it that it is surprisingly small compared to the SAA Boeing 747-300, Ndizani, I have to hand.  

This model is a very welcome addition to the 1/200 SAA orange tail collector. Its compact dimensions really illustrate just how much the Boeing 747 has grown. For those of us that missed the first Inflight200 SAA orange tail Boeing 747-200, ZS-SAM, this model offers a great alternative.

New Hobby Master releases for May 2012.

It feels like ages since the last monthly release notice... things must be pretty slow in Diecast Land!!!

Some interesting news in 1/48, a new Spitfire Mk.IX, in the colours of Wing Commander Johnnie Johnson and a birdcage F4U-1 Corsair, "Marines Dream", flow by 1st Lt. Edwin L. Olander. Both highly desirable.
 
Hobby Master is really working hard releasing several marks of Spitfire in 1/48 with the Mk.V and now Mk.IX joining the ranks following after the Mk.XIV, PR.XIX, Mk.XVIII and the Mk.I and Mk.II.
 
In 1/72 there are only fast jets,  an F-4C, the first USAF MiG killer in Vietnam, two F-16s, one Polish and the other South Korean, Hawk One, the CAF CF-101 Voodoo, a Japanese T-2 Aggressor, Moonlighters F/A-18D, Patrouille Suisse F-5E and ROCAF RF-104G .

Hobby Master Sea Harrier FA.2

Hobby Master has confirmed that HA4101, Sea Harrier FA.2, ZD613/122 No.800 Sqn. "SATAN 1" decommissioning scheme will be released around September or October 2012.

Final product photos, HA7112, Spitfire XIV MV293 as MV268.

Hobby Master 1/48 Air Power Series, HA7112, Spitfire XIV MV293 as MV268 Duxford Flying Legends Air Show 2006. 

Built by Vickers-Armstrong and delivered on February 27, 1945. In August 1945 the aircraft was shipped to the Indian Air Force as No. 48 and later it went to the IAF Technical College as T20.

Later it was returned to the UK, restored and registered as G-GBHB and then G-SPIT in 1979. The first flight after restoration took place on August 14, 1992. In May 1998 it was painted as MV293, in June 2000 it was painted MV268 JE-J.

The aircraft made numerous appearances the years including the “Flying Legends” Airshow at Duxford on July 9, 2006. On May 5, 2007 Duxford was the first site to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight but unfortunately MV268 didn’t participate because it was in the hangar undergoing maintenance.

Final product photos, HA2113, F-100C 1958 "Gunnery Meet"

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series, HA2113, F-100C Super Sabre 54-1800, 333 Fighter Day Sqn., 4th FDW, Seymour Johnson AFB, 1958 "Gunnery Meet". 

The first USAF Worldwide Gunnery Competition “Gunsmoke” was initiated in 1949 with the goal of improving flight crew expertise with their aircraft and weapons. 

The meet was held biennially at Yuma and then moved to Nellis AFB, Las Vegas, Nevada. The meet wasn’t held from 1963-1980 and the last ever meet took place in 1995. The 4th FDW replaced the 83^rd FDW at Seymour Johnson AFB in 1957 until 1960.

With the realignment the 333rd FDS “Lancers” was formed on November 13, 1957 and activated December 8, 1957.On July 1st, 1958 the 333rd was re-designated the 333rd TFS.

F-100C 54-1800 was one of the aircraft sent to represent the 9th Air Force. This aircraft was later sold to the Turkish Air Force and arrived on October 24, 1974. The last Turkish F-100D was retired in 1982.

Final product photos, HA3703, RF-101B "Recon Voodoo".

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series, HA3703, McDonnell RF-101B "Recon Voodoo" 59-0397, 192 TRS, Nevada ANG.

From 1970 to 1972 fifty six of Canada’s original CF-101s were sent back to the USAF to be replaced by sixty six Voodoos with lower air time. Most of the aircraft were scrapped but twenty two were converted to RF-101Bs reconnaissance variants.

The modification consisted of removing most of the rear cockpit controls, removing the armament and fire control systems in the nose and replacing them with special photography cameras and tv cameras in a new modified nose. The weapons bay was also emptied and filled with more cameras.

Some aircraft received an enclosed in-flight refueling probe in front of the cockpit as well as an air-refueling receptacle behind the rear cockpit. When the modifications were completed the aircraft were sent to the Nevada ANG 192 TRS in Reno, Nevada.

These aircraft were found to be too expensive to operate and replaced by RF-4Cs in 1975. This particular aircraft ended up going to the scrap yard in January 1980.