Final product photos HA8215 F4U-1 Corsair James N. Cupp.

Hobby Master 1/48 Air Power Series HA8215 F4U-1 Corsair No. 15 James N. Cupp, VMF-213, 1943.

In September 1942 James Cupp joined VMF-213 “Hellhawks” based in Hawaii and transferred to Espiritu Santo arriving on March 1, 1943. Their Grumman F4F-3 Wildcats were replaced with Chance Vought F4U Corsairs. 

July 15, 1943 Cupp scored two victories and three days later became an Ace. His official total is 12 confirmed kills. Cupp had his wife’s name “Daphne C” painted on the aircraft. On September 20, 1943 Cupp was shot down and severely burned spending a year and a half in hospital. Cupp retired from the USMC in 1968.

Pre-production photos HA5005 EA-6B Prowler "Operation Iraqi Freedom".

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series HA5005 Grumman EA-6B Prowler VMAQ-2, "Operation Iraqi Freedom" Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, 2008.

Pre-production photos HA4570 F-15C "Demo Eagle".

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series HA4570 McDonnell Douglas F-15C "Demo Eagle" AF84-025, 71st FS, May 2004 to June 2005.

Final product photos HA2816 F-22 Raptor 95th FS.

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series HA2816 Lockheed F-22 Raptor 05-4098, 95th FS, August 2015.

Lockheed F-22 Raptor 05-4098 was delivered July 20, 2007 and is currently allocated to the 95th FS. On August 28, 2015 F-22 05-4098 and three other F-22s of the 95th FS/325th FW from Tyndall AFB arrived at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany as part of the first F-22 European training program “Operation Atlantic Resolve”. 

Included in the arrival was a McDonnell Douglas C-17 Globemaster III with 50+ support airmen. This also tested the ability to F-22s, men and materiel to Europe in case it ever became necessary.

Final product photos HA0188 MiG-21FL "1411" SyAAF, early 1970s.

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series HA0188 MiG-21FL "1411" SyAAF, early 1970s.

The Syrian Arab Air Force was established in early 1950’s. In 1962-63 the first F-13 MiG-21’s began to arrive. By 1973 Syria had an air force with over 100 MiG-21 aircraft equipping 10 squadrons. 

On October 6, 1973, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar Syria and Egypt launched a surprise attack against Israel with the hopes of taking back the territory they lost to Israel in 1967 during the 6-Day War. This conflict lasted until October 25, 1973 when a truce was reached.

The MiG-21FL is a downgraded variant of the MiG-21PF and meant for the Third World market. It is has the lesser powerful R11F-300 engine. This variant also lacks the ability to carry RS-2US beam-riding missiles and has the basic version of the RP-21 radar. The FL has a wide chord fin as well as a brake chute fairing.

Shuttle shared some pics of his Oxford Walrus and shared some insights...

Here are some pictures of my Walrus. Overall a great release but a couple of small issues:

1: Some smeared paint on the upper port wing

2: One of the fuselage windows could have been installed better

3: The 'down' undercarriage is loose once installed

4: The main cockpit glass canopy could have done with two coats of paint.

However, these are minor points in the grand scheme of things as for around £30 it is a great release. The rigging is good, the details well done and it just looks 'right'. Well done Oxford. One of the Diecast highlights of the year. 

First some photos of the real thing and a final group shot with some Corgi favourites...

 Shuttle

Oxford 72SW001 1/72 Supermarine Seagull MKV (Walrus) A2-4/VH-ALB.

Regtheveg on MHIII posted some pictures of the new Oxford, Blue Box, History of Flight range 72SW001 1:72 Supermarine Seagull MKV (Walrus) A2-4/VH-ALB. The mode comes with U/C up/down options and a stand.

Classic Fighters of America’s TA-4J Skyhawk Airborne!

Doug Matthews has successfully flown his recently refurbished Douglas TA-4J Skyhawk for the first time! We have been following this exciting project for several months, and have posted a few earlier pieces on the project, and its history. The aircraft, Bu.156925, now wears the markings of VF-126, but had originally served in VT-86.

A former US Navy pilot, Doug Matthews acquired the aircraft in late 2015 with just five hours on the clock following a ten-year restoration. The Skyhawk has since undergone a significant upgrade, which included a complete cockpit rebuild, at Matthews’ facility, Classic Fighters of America. 

He and co-owner, Al Armstrong, have just completed the first post-restoration flight. (Al Armstrong is a former US Navy F/A-18 Hornet instructor and regular pilot of the Commemorative Air Force Dixie Wing‘s FG-1D Corsair, SBD Dauntless and P-51D Mustang.)

For many more photos please follow the link:

http://www.warbirdsnews.com/warbird-restorations/doug-matthews-a-4-skyhawk-airborne.html

Australian Government Brings in New Regulations for Warbirds.

As reported by Australian Aviation.com.au on Friday, Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Darren Chester announced ex-military, replica ex-military and certain historic aircraft would be covered under a new Part 132 of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations (CASR). 

Part 132 will commence on January 28 2017, with transition to the new regulation required by July 28 2017, and replaces the current arrangements, where ex-military, replica and historic aircraft operate under a special certificate of airworthiness in the limited category, or as experimental aircraft, under a special set of conditions.

Under the new regulations, operators of warbirds would have to be registered with an approved “oversight organisation” such as the Australian Warbirds Association, which Chester said would act as the “administrator and oversight body conducting compliance on aircraft under this category”.

http://www.warbirdsnews.com/warbirds-news/australian-government-brings-regulations-warbirds.html

Two New Aircraft Wing Their Way to RAF Museum at Cosford.

A Messerschmitt BF109G-2 and a de Havilland Tiger Moth II, are the first of six new aircraft to arrive at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford, having been transported by road from the museum’s sister site in London.  

Visitors can now view the brand new arrivals on display in the museum’s hangars with four more aircraft due to arrive before Christmas.

http://www.warbirdsnews.com/aviation-museum-news/aircraft-wing-raf-museum-cosford.html