MPM Production have informed us that the eagerly awaited new 1:48 Seafire has been delayed slightly to allow an improved windscreen to be moulded, but this month sees the welcome return of a number of Special Hobby's favourite kits - two of them in very interesting new guises:

March releases bring two re-issues of the sold out kits. Since we're still receiving orders for them (SAAB J-21R 1/72 a T-2 Buckeye 1/48) we decided to re-issue them in limited series.

SH72207 SAAB J-21R 1/72 / limited re-issue
Since Sweden was neutral during World War II they faced serious troubles obtaining suitable aircraft for their air force. The efforts for self-sufficiency led, among others to development of SAAB J-21A powered by DB605 engine in twin fuselage boom pusher configuration.

When the info about first jet engines was available SAAB decide to modify the airframe for jet engine. Even though new J-21R had less common parts with J-21A than already presumed it led to the first jet engine powered fighter aircraft produced in neutral country. The prototype took off in March 1947. Since the thirsty jet engine shortened the endurance and optimal performances were achieved in low altitudes the new machines were used as ground attackers. J-21R served with Swedish AF till the end of 1954.

The injected kit of this aircraft was never produces, yet. Special Hobby kit contains two sprues with plastic grey parts, opened injected canopy, resin and photo-etched parts. Decals included offer three markings of Swedish AF's machines specified by numbers on the nose and letters on the fin (Blue “D” has half the wingspan in white color) and red “N” machine as exhibited in Linköping museum.Linköpingu.

SH48119 T-2 Buckeye „Red & White Trainer“ 1/48 / limited re-issue
Legendary T-2 Buckeye was a tireless workhorse that helped several generations of US Navy and Marine pilots to earn their wings. Had it have digitalized cockpit it could have served till today. Even though T-2s still fly as private jets in USA, Greece and Venezuela. The most common paint scheme of T-2 consisted of white overall with red areas. Decals included in this kit contain markings for three machines with this paint job.

This kit was prepared in cooperation with Two Bobs Company. The kit contains six sprues with grey plastic parts, injected canopy, detailed resin and photo-etched parts. Decals also include stencils. Onne machine sports shark teethed nose and other has Irish three leaf painting.

SH72239 Fokker D.XXI "FR-167 with Retractable Landing Gear" limited series
Seven Fokker D.XXIs were delivered to Finland in October 1937. Three years later, Finnish government ordered license production of this type in National Aviation Factory (Valtion Lentokonetehdas). Due to the troubles in getting supplies of the Mercury engines, Finns adapted the airframe to fit Pratt & Whitney Twin Wasp Junior engine. The first machine of this purely Finnish version was test flown in January 1941. The test revealed that this version is slower and less maneuverable than the original Dutch version. Eventually, only 55 machines were built. The last produced machine, FR-167 was in March 1942 equipped with retractable landing gear. Similarly, Fokker D.XXI FR-117 powered by Mercury engine was trialed with retractable landing gear. Even though this modification enhanced the speed a bit the maneuverability and climb rate remained unchanged. FR-167 was tested for considerably long time even with the combat units 2/LLV 30 a 3/T. LLv.35. Nevertheless, its performances were not convincing to start mass production of Fokkers with retractable landing gear. After the crash in May 1944 the aircraft was equipped with standard fixed landing gear. The aircraft remained in this form until it was withdrawn from active duty in 1948.

We prepared limited series of this Fokker for you. The kit contains plastic parts from SH72113/ 116 together with new decals, resin wing parts, cowling and landing gear parts. The new landing gear legs are injected.

SH32045 Heinkel He 100D "Soviet and Japanese Test Plane" 1/32
Heinkel He 100 was competitor to Messerschmitt Bf 109 in the Luftwaffe competition that called for standard fighter. Even though, Heinkel He 100's performances were better than those of Bf 109, it lost this competition. The loss was caused partially by political machinations and also because of the fear of the complex steam cooling system of the modern He 100. Since it was already produced in small series it served for propaganda to create illusion of the new Luftwaffe fighter Heinkel He 113. Also in 1939, it was offered for sale to allied states' delegates. Japan and Soviet Union were highly interested in He 100 (Molotov-Ribbentrop treaty was in 1939 still valid; Germany and the Soviet Union had divided Europe into its influence parts and briskly traded with each other and work together).

Remarkable fact is that Heinkel Company kept the existence of this aircraft in secret between each delegation. Also, thanks to this fact both delegations purchase He 100. Japanese delegation took three pre-production machines and license production rights, Soviet delegation purchase five to seven machines. While there are no available photos on the Japanese machines and the camouflage is reconstruction of its possible scheme, the
Soviet machines were tested in CAGI. Later, one machine was displayed in CAGi depository as a part of the war prize exhibition.

The kit contains three sprues with grey plastic parts, injected canopy and detailed photo-etched parts. Decals included offer reconstruction of the Japanese machine and two appearances of the Soviet machines.

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