Its always a pleasure receiving Alley Cats newsletters. This time around Alley Cat is releasing a engine set for the Airfix Valiant including air inlets, two 1/48 Tucano releases and a particular favorite of mine the re release of decals for orange post war Hellcats, yes orange. I believe most of the aircraft took part in 'Operation Crossroads', the testing of nuclear weapons at Bikini Atoll by the United States in 1946. Finally lets not forget the decal set for the Fairey Gannet in 1/72.

1/72 scale: Vickers Valiant Engine Set.
Designed for the Airfix kit
This set will require a little bit of surgery but I have tried to make it is easy as possible. Having seen and watching how modellers have built the kit gave me a few ideas, and decided to added new exhausts to the intakes, to try and make a complete engine upgrade set. The new exhausts have been thinned down to a more scale thickness and I have added small 'U' brackets that will allow the exhaust tubes to be added after final assembly and painting of the model.
Below are some images of the set, you will note that the intakes and the separate 'T' splitter plates are cast in white resin, these will still need to be painted but it should assist, to get good white intakes. As I know that things go wrong and there is that dreaded CARPET MONSTER, I have included 4 extra 'T' splitter plates.
Ref no: AC72015C
Price: £15.00

1/48 Scale: New and Old Lease of Life for the Alley Cat 1/48 Tucano
The Tucano now on pre-release sale for two new boxings, bringing it right up to date with the current display scheme and going back in time to the early red and white schemes.
You will note that the 2011 Display Scheme box is a limited edition, there will only be 75 of this box sold and each will be numbered.
The two new Tucano kits are available for purchasing, however the decals are still at the printers and will only be ready for Scale Model World show, therefore any kits that are purchased now will only be dispatched (mailed) after the show, that being after the 15th of November.
This is a very comprehensive multi-media kit, that contains resin, clear cast resin canopy and lights, white metal parts, photo-etch parts, canopy masks and decals.
The kit allows for the flaps to be positioned closed or extended, and decals include a full set of MDC chord decals to be used on the inside of the canopy (well two sets are provided for any mishaps). The rudder and the elevators are also supplied separately and can also be positioned as desired.
Shorts Tucano T.1 Royal Air Force
There is a full set of markings for five decal schemes that includes four red and white schemes and one overall Oxford blue aircraft.
Ref no: ACRK48-05
Price: £48.00
Shorts Tucano T.1 2011 Display Scheme Limited Edition
Ref no: ACRK48-04
Price: £48.00


Re-Released: Hellcat and Gannet Decals Reprints

Post War Test F6F-5K Hellcats
Due to demand the Hellcat decal has been re-printed in 1/48 scale and limited numbers are still available in 1/72 and 1/32 scale
8 very colourful and exciting Hellcats
The first option is NP45-027495, Point Mugu Training Center, Naval Air Field, USA
The other seven options are some of the colour tails and aircraft used in 'Operation Crossroads' Bikini 1946.
-Blue tail, white tail number 2
-Orange tail, white tail number 4
-Yellow tail, black tail number 11
-Pink tail, black tail number 14, and speculative girls name on the cowl JANE
-Blue tail, black tail number 15
-Green tail, black tail number 17
-Orange tail, black tail number 19
Ref no: ACD72005
Price: £5.00
Ref no: ACD48006
Price: £6.00
Ref no: ACD32001
Price: £7.50

Fairey Gannet AEW 3
The additional set for the very popular AEW 3 Gannet kit in 1/72 scale are also now available again
Seven more additional decal schemes to be used with the Alley cat kit ACRK 72-01 . Markings include:
-XL476 based at RNAS Lossiemouth early 1970's
-XL450 of B flight on HMS Ark Royal 1975
-XL472 of B flight on HMS Ark Royal 1976
-XL454 of A flight on HMS Hermes late 1960's
-XL494 of B flight on HMS Ark Royal 1970
-XL473 based at RNAS Culdrose 1970's
-XL497 based at RNAS Brawdy 1970
Ref no: ACD72007
Price: £9.00


Well that is the news for now, I will announce the new 1/48 scale kit in the next newsletter and hope to have some more interesting news for you all.
Cheers for now Alistair (Ali)

For more information on the product above, please visit a2zeemodels.

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