Friday, November 15, 2013 - 08:07 AM UTC
MPM Production have sent us details of this month's Special Hobby releases, with a pair of new 1:48 Firefly kits and a really interesting twist on their 1:72 Junkers W-34:
"SH48145 Fairey Firefly FR Mk.I "The Initial British Missions Over Korea" 1/48

Fairey Firefly Mk.I is a typical example of British naval fighter design. Even before the outbreak of the World War 2, Royal Navy asked for two seater long range aircraft designs. Nevertheless, the second crew member was a burden that deprived the performances of these machines. Firefly replaced its low performance Fairey Fulmar predecessor and even though its design handicap was able to oppose the enemy fighters. FAA begun to receive US naval fighters at the time Firefly was approved for active service. Firefly became the complement of the fighters delivered from USA and British Seafire fighters onboard Royal Navy aircraft carriers. Firefly fighters were deployed in Atlantic Ocean and also against Japan in Indian and Pacific Oceans. These became the first British aircraft to reach Japanese mainland and even Tokyo during World War 2. Fireflies together with Seafire Mk.47s became the first aircraft to participate in the Korean War. In the very beginning of this conflict British Far East Fleet's HMS Triumph joined US Navy fleet and her Fireflies were immediately deployed in attacks against North Korean Communists' ground targets. Mainly thanks to their four cannons and versatility of the external weapons' storage they proved to be more than well suited for this role.

The kit of this version contains four sprues with grey plastic parts, injected clear sprue and resin parts. Decals included offer markings for four machines that operated from HMS Triumph. All of them sport friend or foe black and white ID stripes. Three machines feature typical post war British camouflage; the fourth one is of note due to its wartime camouflage and older type roundels.

SH48151 Fairey Firefly FR Mk.I "Foreign Post War Service" 1/48

FAA was the sole user Fairey Fireflies during the World War 2. Soon after the fighting ceased it became a important export commodity. Fireflies were used by Royal Canadian Navy, major user was Netherlands Naval Aviation Service. Dutch Fireflies operated both from omeland bases as so from overseas, mainly in Dutch East India. Fireflies also strengthened Imperial Etiopean Air Force. In 1950s Thai Navy acquired 12
Firefly Mk.Is.

All of the above mentioned users' marking can be found within the SH48151 decal sheet. The most colourful is the Etiopean machine; not only by its roundels but with its camouflage that comprised sand and earth colours on upper surfaces. The rest of the machines feature sober FAA camouflage pattern and the Thai one sports anchors. The kit of this version contains four sprues with grey plastic parts, injected clear sprue, decals and resin parts.

SH72271 Junkers W-34Hi "RAF Captured Hack Plane" 1/72

In interwar period, the Junkers aircraft with its corrugated sheet design were synonymous for reliable aerial transport. They proved their fame even during World War 2 when Luftwaffe wouldn't exist without its corrugated hacks. We're not speaking of Ju 52 only but also of the single engined W-33/34. Since 1930s up until the war's end these aircraft served in both civilian and military service as trainer and transport aircraft. One Junkers W-34 was seized by RAF No. 93 Squadron at the end of the war. This squadron, based at Klagenfurth airport, eventually assigned “DV” code letters to this plane and from May to September 1945 period used it as an auxiliary transport plane.

We are presenting the kit with this interesting marking in limited series. The kit contains three sprues with grey plastic parts, injected clear wprues, resin parts and decals for the above mentioned aircraft seized by RAF."


Please remember, when contacting retailers or manufacturers, to mention that you saw their products highlighted here - on AEROSCALE.
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Comments

Hello there! Is the Firefly coming with some decent resin for the interior, like the old GrandPhoenix, or is it the same poor furniture as before? Did MPM worked a little bit on the poor fit of the parts, as the previous models were quite snuggly in that field! best regards, jean;
NOV 15, 2013 - 09:37 AM
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