Hobby Master February 2013 releases.

Once again a small number of new releases for February 2013. This time in 1/72 we have a "Black Widows" F-16C in Iraq, Japanese T-2 special scheme,    F-105D Thunderchief "Polish Glider" and Korean War era A-26B. In 1/48 there is a flaps down version of Pappy Boyington's F4U-1A Corsair.

Historic A-26 unveiled at NEAM.

Following a nine-year restoration, combat-veteran Douglas A-26C Invader 43-22499 Reida Rae was unveiled on October 6 at the New England Air Museum, Windsor Locks, Connecticut, USA. 

The machine flew operations with the 416th Bombardment Group, 9th Air Force in Europe from December 1944 to August 1945, and will now form part of an official memorial to the 416th at the museum.

The beautifully polished A-26C Invader, Reida Rae, at the New England Air Museum on October 6. Note the early style A-26 canopy with upward-lifting hatch.

http://www.aeroplanemonthly.com/news/latest-news/479-historic-a-26-unveiled-at-neam-

Hawker Tempest Mk II under restoration in Ardmore.

Another exciting project has gotten under way in Ardmore, New Zealand, this time by Pioneer Aero:

Our latest project is a Hawker Tempest Mk.II which is a total rebuild to flying condition.

We will update this page as we go along, details of this particular aircraft can be found on the excellent website The Hawker Tempest page.

When finished it will be based here at Ardmore and will be painted to honour those who flew the mighty Typhoon and Tempest during WWII.

http://www.pioneeraero.co.nz/project/hawker-tempest-mkii/

Pre-production photos, HA315, F-5E Tiger II "Red 23" Desert Bogeys.

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series, HA3315, F-5E Tiger II "Red 23" BuNo 160792 VFA-127 "Desert Bogeys", Nevada.

Pre-production photos, HA2616, AV-8B Harrier II Plus VMA-513.

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series, HA2616, AV-8B Harrier II Plus BuNo. 165006, VMA-513 NAS El Centro, California, November 2010.

Pre-production photos, HA1420, A-4E Skyhawk VMA-121.

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series, HA1420, A-4E Skyhawk BuNo. 150092, VMA-121, MCAS, Chu Lai, Vietnam 1960s.

Hobby Master F-16B, HA3812, ROCAF Major General Zhuang.

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series, HA3812, F-16B "6816" 455th TFW ROCAF, Major General Zhuang, Zhong-Yi (retired) signature plate on stand limited to 450 units. It is an exclusive for Taiwan but a very limited number will be allowed for sale outside Taiwan.

F-22 crashes at Florida Air Force base.

An F-22 jet crashed at Tyndall Air Force Base near Panama City, Fla., on Thursday. The pilot ejected safely before the crash and is currently under medical supervision, according to statement released by the base. 

The incident forced Highway 98 to close temporarily. There is no immediate indication of what caused the crash, but the incident is being investigated.

http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123326607

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/16/us-usa-f22-crash-idUSBRE8AF04R20121116

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/11/15/f-22-crashes-at-florida-air-force-base/?test=latestnews

Pre-production photos, HA3806, F-16B ROCAF.

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series, HA3806, F-16B Block 20, ROCAF "6822".

Hobby Master January 2013 releases.

Hhmmm... seems we're in for a rather meagre start to the new year with the HM January 2013 releases. All we have in 1/72 is an F-16DG "Foxbat Killer", a Canadian CF-188B, a RAAF F/A-18B and Taiwanese F-104A. In 1/48 a F3F-3 from the USS Yorktown.

Tin toy plane sells for nearly $16000!!!

A toy aeroplane was bought for a child during World War Two, but was never unwrapped and played with because he was killed in the Blitz. 

The tin monoplane was given to a youngster in 1941, but recently found wrapped in newspaper in a loft in Bristol where it had sat untouched for 70 years. The newspaper included a story about how Bristol had been bombed heavily two nights before - the first time the city was hit by the Blitz. 

The mint condition plane was bought for £10,000 by an American collector at auctioneers Vectis in Thornaby, Yorkshire.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2229091/Beautiful-toy-aeroplane-bought-child-played-killed-Blitz.html

Corgi Stirling AA39502 Short Stirling B.Mk.I, Rawdon Middleton.

SniperUK on DAF posted some photos of the new Corgi Aviation Archive Collector Series AA39502 Short Stirling B.Mk I RAF No.149 Sqn, Rawdon Middleton, 1942. 

Monk Bar Model Shop Corgi Open Day

A teaser from Corgi with only one pic of upcoming Aviation Archive models. Some tasty looking models in that cabinet! 

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.377180305698867.91419.177856645631235&type=1

Corgi Lancaster "Getting Younger Every Day", AA32618.

Dilli from DAF has been at it again with a cracking set of photos of the latest Corgi 1/72 scale Lancaster release, AA32618, "Getting Younger Every Day". 

I have to say that after some initial negative comments the overwhelming response seems to be positive as more collectors receive them. These photos should help anyone having second thoughts on getting this one.

Thanks Dilli, great pics. 

Sandy exposes space shuttle Enterprise.

In the midst of flooding, power outages and significant damages in New York City as a result of Hurricane Sandy, the space shuttle Enterprise appears to have been uncovered. 

Normally, the shuttle is shielded by a dome-like tent at the Intrepid Air, Sea and Space Museum. This tent, which Shapiro described as a "giant gray bubble," appears to have collapsed, with the fabric draped over the shuttle.

http://lightyears.blogs.cnn.com/2012/10/30/sandy-exposes-space-shuttle-enterprise/

Final product photos, FA722015, T-33 "Spirit of Seventy-Six".

Falcon Models, FA722015, 1/72 Scale Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star, U.S. Bicentennial 1976 “Spirit of Seventy-Six”5041st Tactical Operations Squadron (TOS), Elmendorf AFB Alaska, 1976.

Final product photos, FA726003, Spanish exclusive Mirage F1CE.

Falcon Models, FA726003 (Exclusive to Spain), 1/72 Scale Mirage F1CE Ejercito Del Aire, Escuardon 141 " PATANES" Ala de Caza 14, Albacete, Spain.

The  undercarriage is not visible in the pics so no idea as yet whether it has been addressed.

Final product photos, HA7717/B, Tuskegee P-51D "Bunnie".

Hobby Master 1/48 Air Power Series, HA7717/B, P-51D Mustang "Bunnie" flown by Captain Roscoe C. Brown, Jr. 100th FS, 332nd FG Ramitelli, Italy, March 1945. The model is available in two versions, standard and a containing stand with the pilot's signature.

Roscoe Brown received his pilot wings at Tuskegee Army Air Base and went for his fighter training in Michigan and South Carolina before being shipped off to join the other Tuskegee Airmen already in Italy.

Lt. Brown arrived in Italy in July 1944 and assigned to the 100th FS of the 332nd FG. After 8 months and 60 missions Lt. Brown was Squadron Leader for a bomber escort on March 24, 1945.

During this sortie he is credited with downing a Me-262 jet. In April 1945 he was promoted to Captain and made Commander of the 100th FS. By the end of the war he was credited with 2 aerial victories, 3 aircraft destroyed on the ground and 13 locomotives. He received the DFC and other metals and citations.