Shuttle's Report: Duxford 28 June 2015.

I was at Duxford to witness (possibly) the last flypast by the mighty Vulcan. The airfield was very busy and the crowds were entertained by the B-17, numerous Spitfires, Tiger Moths and Rapides...

It was very windy so I had to set a high shutter speed to help with camera 'shake'.

The Vulcan cranked the engines on its last run - a beautiful noise.

 Shuttle

Hobby Master releases for August 2015.

For August there's a very jet heavy release schedule with only a single ROCOF B-26 Invader in 1/72. Standouts in the jet line-up is a JG 71 Black Tulip Sabre Mk.6, North Korean MiG 21 and Swiss F-5E and F-5Fs.

From a US perspective there are plenty of options from the RA-5C Vigilante from the USS Nimitz, an F-4B Phantom II from the USS John F. Kennedy. An Edwards AFB F-16C, a VMFA-121 F-35B and Black Sheep F-22 Raptor.

In 1/48 scale there are two No.249 Sqn. Hurricane Mk.Is flown by F/L. J.B. Nicolson and P/O. Tom Neil as well as a JG 1 Fw190A-7 flown by Oblt. Wilhelm Krebs. 

1/200 Scale sees a single 53rd Troop Carrier Squadron Douglas C-47 "Sky King".  

Final product photos HA8410 P-47D Thunderbolt "Eileen".

Hobby Master 1/48 Air Power Series HA8410 P-47D Thunderbolt 228878, 84th FS/78th FG, England, Autumn 1944.

Lt. Frank Oiler served with the 84th FS/78th FG from June 26, 1944 until March 28, 1945. The 84th FG was stationed at RAF Duxford (USAAF Station 357) England between April 1943 – October 1945. 

On February 22,1945 Oiler was made CO of “F” Flight. During his tour of duty Lt. Oiler had two P-47’s, 42-75429 and 42-28878 both wearing his girlfriend’s name “Eileen”. Late in 1944 the 78th FG began receiving P-51D’s with Oiler assigned to P-51D WZ-S “Sherman Was Right” and 42-28878 was transferred to the 56th FG.

Final product photos HA4602 F-35B VX-23, US Marines.

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series HA4602 Lockheed F-35B VX-23, US Marines.

Lockheed F-35B line number BF-05 first flew on January 27, 2011. This aircraft is the fifth development aircraft and was sent to VX-23 in Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland for further testing and training of personnel. 

VX-23 is the Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (AIRTEVRON TWO THREE) and uses the tail code SD “Salty Dogs”. In August 2013 BF-05 landed on USS Wasp to test short takeoffs and vertical landings. When BF-05 has completed JSF testing, it will be assigned to VMFAT-501 “Warlords” Eglin AFB, Florida.

Final product photos HA3830 F-16CJ 55th FS/20th FW Aviano AB Italy.

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series HA3830 Lockheed F-16CJ Fighting Falcon 91-0389, 55th FS/20th FW, Aviano AB, Italy March 2011 "Operation Unified Protector".

“Operation Unified Protector” saw NATO tasked to enforce a UN resolution protecting the citizens of Libya from Dictator Gaddafi during the Libyan civil war in 2011. The 55th FS/20th FW operating from Aviano AB, Italy was one unit assigned to take part. 

The 77th FS mission wasn’t against Libyan ground forces but as “Wild Weasels” they were to locate and destroy Libyan IADs (Integrated Air Defense System). F-16CJ 91-0389 was delivered to the USAF 363rd FW in November 1993 before going to the 78th FS in April 1994 and eventually to the 55th FS in October 2004.

Shuttle reviews AA37906 SPAD XIII, S15123, First Lt Lansing Colton Holden Jr, 95th Aero Squadron.

I received the production version of the latest Corgi 1/48 scale Spad today. First impressions are that it is a very smart model with no quality control problems and all the issues present on the painted prototype (PP) sorted out. 

For example, the PP had a poorly painted propeller with no wood grain effect and the silver 'boss' was not painted. Also the paint finish was uneven in some areas. I am happy to report that all of these problems have been rectified and the prop in particular looks very good. Here are some pictures which hopefully show the nice colour scheme and the well executed rigging.

Hopefully Corgi will now try to increase the frequency of the WWI releases as we get closer to the 100th anniversary of the great air battles of WWI. A new tooling would be most welcome as well......

 Shuttle

Shuttle reviews Corgi AA38407 Blenheim Mk. IV Hughie Idwal Edwards VC.

I received the Blenheim today and it does appear to be a very nice rendition of the famous VC winning mount of Hughie Edwards. The Painted Prototype (PP) had all manner of problems but to Corgis credit they have all been fixed and even the fuel dump pipes have been added (for the first time). 

My biggest worry was the Perspex gun fairing under the nose. It wasn't fixed at all well on the PP but it is very well implemented on the production model. The colours are spot on and Corgi have even appeared to have painted the plastic parts with extra care to avoid the colour variations which have plagued some previous Corgi releases. 

I have added some photos below with my other favourite Blenheim - the CC version.

Many thanks to Sydhuey and DCRanger for assistance and I hope this is another sign of a return to form for Corgi. There is a lot of effort going in to try to get these new releases as good as possible and when models like this come along they just prove that good quality is possible.

 Shuttle

Pre-production photos HA3828 F-16A 21 TFG, 455TFW ROCAF.

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series HA3828 Lockheed F-16A Fighting Falcon 6626, 21st TFG, 455th TFW, ROCAF.

Final product photos HA3824 F-16CJ Wild Weasel

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series HA3824 Lockheed F-16CJ Wild Weasel 90-0825, 14th FS/35th FW, Misawa AB, Japan, February 2013.

Beginning as the 14th Reconnaissance Squadron in 1942 it was deactivated after WWII and fully re-activated in October 1966 as the 14th TRS equipped with RF-4C Phantom II’s based out of Udorn RTAFB, Thailand until it was inactivated again in 1975. 

Twelve years later in January 1987 the 14th TRS “Fightin’ Samurai” was re-activated in Misawa, Japan and equipped with the Lockheed F-16C Fighting Falcon. Late in 1994 the 14th began flying the F-16CJ and in 1996 changed its tail code from MJ to WW. 

In March 2003 the 14th took part in “Operation Iraqi Freedom” and were the first non-stealth aircraft over Baghdad and fired the first HARM of the war.

DC-3 arrives in Luxembourg after epic 12-day journey.

A new aircraft turned heads at Luxembourg's Findel airport on Friday when an immaculately restored DC-3 touched down on the runway. 

The iconic aircraft had reached its final destination after a 12-day journey from South Africa, from where it was flown to its new owner German businessman Peter Adrian. 

The collector and restorer of vintage aircraft purchased the former military aircraft from Springbok Classic Air CEO Captain Flippie Vermeulen, who had lovingly restored it. 

Adrian described the DC-3 (ZS-NTE) as “A beautiful example of a well kept classic”.

It was ferried to Luxembourg by Cargolux pilots Captain Ulrich Spielmann and Captain Noel Flynn. 

The aircraft will be stored at Zweibrücken Airport, Germany, which belongs to the company of the new owner. 

http://www.dc-3.co.za/images/stories/ZS-NTE_11926_Media_Release_Sold.pdf

Corgi AA38407 Bristol Blenheim Mk. IV Hughie Idwal Edwards VC.

Regtheveg on TDHP posted pictures of the new Corgi Bristol Blenheim Mk.IV release, the Hughie Idwal Edwards Victoria Cross winner.

The model is subtly different from other previous releases in that it has twin Brownings in the top turret, a fixed forward firing gun with bead sight and the rearward firing perspex turret. 

In addition it has the standard type exhaust as well as fuel dump pipes under the wings.