December 2021 Updates.

1/72 Scale Aircraft

2021/12/02

The Honour of be the first entry of the month belongs to the long waited Clear Prop – CP72016 – OV-1A / JOV-1A Mohawk by Clear Prop Models which is officially released and available for preorder.

This month, sadly, Eduard, who usually holds the first entry of the month, has devoted the month to the 1/48 scale and in 1/72 we can only find a restock of the nice Eduard – 2137 – DESERT BABES.

Hasegawa starts to unveil their 2022 plans and three new aircrafts has been scheduled for February, Hasegawa – 02395 – SR-71 BLACKBIRD (A TYPE) W/GTD-21B, Hasegawa – 02396 – F-4EJ Kai PHANTOM “302SQ 20TH ANNIVERSARY” and Hasegawa – 02394 – SOC-3 SEAPLANE SEAPLANE BATTLESHIP PENNSYLVANIA-EQUIPPED AIRCRAFT , this last one if to us, the most interesting of the batch, and is also a double kit with two models.

2021/12/03

Added a box content image to the new Clear Prop – CP72016 – OV-1A / JOV-1A Mohawk

2021/12/05

The next two Phantoms in the Fine Molds catalogue are close to release (Late December and January), they are Fine Molds – 72738 – F-4EJ Kai 301st Squadron, TAC MEET 95 and Fine Molds – 72737 – F-4EJ 306th Squadron, A.C.M. MEET 82. These two kits are clearly oriented just to Japanese Internal market. Considering also all the Hasegawa special markings for the Japanese Phantoms , it’s probably one of the best covered subjects in our hobby.

2021/12/06

Mikro Mir may be very close to release Mikro-Mir – 72023 – Mitsubishi J4M “Senden”, the last 1/72 by the brand this year, and really close to previous launch.Ukrainian sellers are already offering the kit.

2021/12/08

Added today a batch of Military Helicopters by Mistercraft, MisterCraft – F-46 – Mi-24W/D Pt.1 “Polski Husarz/Polish Husar”, MisterCraft – F-23 – S-70i “Polish Army”, MisterCraft – F-22 – UH-60A “Black Hawk” and MisterCraft – F-44 – Mil Mi-24D “Hind”. All these kits comes from Italeri moulds, which means they are good kits with an interesting not common decal options.

2021/12/09

Dora Wings is very close to release a variant of their Savoia-Marchetti S.55 kit with a different engine, Dora Wings – DW72018 – Savoia-Marchetti S.55A.

The re-issue (with new decals and code number) of Academy – 12448 – SR-71 Blackbird (originally a Mastercraft Academy of mid 80s) is almost ready. It’s a limited edition of 2000 pieces, so hurry up if you want it.

The large batch of KP (Kovozávody Prostějov) and AZ Model, is officially released and available from their store and other sellers, a total of 14 new releases for almost all the tastes.

Starting to add Akkura Models to our listings, the small Polish manufacturer which usually re-decals other kits, but also with original kits in catalogue and large number of detail/aftermarket kits. The first two kits added are Akkura – 72203 – MIL Mi-8T Live Aid and Akkura – 72204 – MIL Mi-8 T INTERFLUG. Both are using Zvezda plastic parts with new decals.

2021/12/10

Arma Hobby shared images of the box content for Arma Hobby – 70038 – P-51 B/C Mustang Expert Set, we have added them, replacing the initial parts schemes pictures by the real thing.

2021/12/11

Special Hobby made the last release of the year, offering two new kits in 1/72 scale. Special Hobby – 72437 – A.W. Meteor NF Mk.11 “RAF Squadrons”, which comes from a long list of Meteor kits released by Special Hobby, MPM Productions or Azzur, another member of the family. The second release, Special Hobby – 72294 – Mirage F.1 CG, is a re-release of a past kit, as the brand already did this year for Mirage related kits, since they restored molds this year.

2021/12/20

Mach 2 is about to release new decal options for their DC-8 kit, but prior to add the coming new ones, we are adding some of their past catalogue, starting for the recent DC-8 versions. Today we added Mach 2 – GP110SWA – DC-8/30 SWA (SwissAir), Mach 2 – GP110USN – Douglas EC-24 U.S. NAVY COMMAND AND CONTROL and Mach 2 – GP110UTA – DC-8/50 UTA (Union de Transports Aériens).

Added a couple more of DC-8 by Mach 2. Mach 2 – GP110IBA – DC-8/50 IBA (Iberia airline) and Mach 2 – GP110KLM – DC-8/30 KLM (Dutch KLM airline)

And if you want to see how these kits looks, their problems and their good points, you should take a look to Thomas Probert build at ARC Forums.

2021/12/21

Added one more DC-8 by Mach 2. Mach 2 – GP110SAS – DC-8/30 SAS. Still 5 more to add, including the three not released yet.

Airfix is bringing back the old Aichi kit, Airfix – A02014V – AICHI D3A1 “VAL”. It’s possible exclude all the old kits results from Ebay, so be aware on the marketplace section, since these old kits maybe not have usable decals.

IBG will do one of the best releases of the 2022 year for sure, their announced Focke-Wulf Fw 190D series will arrive close after Christmas, and we wanted to introduce the series through a separate news, IBG New Focke-Wulf Fw 190D Series, as well as add the first announced variant IBG – 72531 – Focke-Wulf FW 190D-9 Cottbus (Early Production) which can be already pre-ordered in some of our usual stores. Kit features are excellent, and mould and engineering capabilities of the Polish brand are out of doubt long ago. As soon as more material is available to extend the series news and add more kits, we’ll do.

2021/12/22

Added what will be the second release in the IBG FW 190-D series, IBG – 72540 – Focke-Wulf FW 190D-15 Torpedo Bomber.

2021/12/23

Updated the yesterday added IBG – 72540 – Focke-Wulf FW 190D-15 Torpedo Bomber with details about the markings included in the decal sheet, one for the prototype build and two “what-if” markings.

2021/12/25

As advanced, we added today the three next DC-8 kits by Mach 2, Mach 2 – GP110LH – DC-8/50 LUFTHANSA, Mach 2 – GP110DEL – DC-8/50 DAL and Mach 2 – GP110UAL – DC-8/50 UAL.

Remember that while these kits are exclusive and great, they are not recommended for non experienced modellers.

2021/12/26

Updated Hasegawa – 02393 – P1Y1 Ginga TYPE 11 763rd Air Corps with definitive box art.

2021/12/27

Added sprue images, PE parts image and decal sheet to Clear Prop – CP72016 – OV-1A / JOV-1A Mohawk. They all looking excellent.

Added fuselage covers options for the IBG New Focke-Wulf Fw 190D Series.

2021/12/28

Amodel has re-released a past 2005 kit, the Amodel – 72011 – Ilyushin Il-18, which also was the base kit later upgraded for the Il-20 and Il-22 releases by the brand. A big kit of one of the most successful airliner aircrafts of its time.

2021/12/30

IBG shared information about the markings included in IBG – 72531 – Focke-Wulf FW 190D-9 Cottbus (Early Production) and so we added them, three markings for the last months of the war, from December 1944 to May 1945.

1/72 Scale Vehicles

2021/12/02

The first entry on the vehicles sections goes to Trumpeter – 07176 – Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD), Trumpeter keeps taking advance of their tooled M1120 HEMTT and will do again with a second Patriot launcher kit announced. Kit will be available soon, with some already pre-order option.

2021/12/04

First to Fight is about to release a new First to Fight – 087 – R-35 Light Tank (Late).

2021/12/06

Updated the newly released by Zvezda Zvezda – 5063 – M4A2 “Sherman” 75mm with detail pictures of the parts. Also added details from the markings included.

Also updated with markings pictures IBG – 72092 – Chevrolet C60S Petrol Tank as well as kit information, since it contains parts for both Cab. No. 11 or Cab. No. 13 type, while we stated initially it only contained Cab. No. 13 type.

2021/12/09

A new French armoured car has been released by ACE. It’s the time for ACE – 72460 – EBR-ETT French wheeled Arm. Personnel Carrier, a personnel carrier based on the EBR-75 (ACE – 72459 – EBR-75 mod.1951 w/FL-11 Turret Wheeled tank) which was produced for export market but only purchased by Portugal, who used it in the colonial wars of the 70s. The Ukrainian brand also announced that ACE – 72530 – 105mm US field howitzer M2A1, early type is now out of production.

2021/12/10

The waited new Vespid releases, Vespid – 720010 – JagdPanther Sdkfz.173 G1 Late Production and Vespid – 720009 – Pz.Kpfw.V Ausf.G (w/Steel road wheels & AA Armor) are getting close and from today you can start pre-orders in some store such Hobby Link Japan. The kits are expected for next month.

2021/12/18

Italeri revives the old ESCI T-62 one more time, re-boxing and re-decaling the 7006 Italeri reference. Italeri – 7006 – T-62

ACE still had time for a new release before the end of the year, the widely used ACE – 72563 – Ordnance QF 6-pounder Mk.II/Mk.IV. In the bad news side, they put ACE – 72514 – Sd.Kfz.250/8 Stummel out of production, hurry up.

2021/12/25

UMMT will release next month a SU-1 self propelled gun based on a T-26 chassis, a single prototype was built and tested in 1931. As in previous releases the brand has two kits, one for rubber single piece tracks, UMMT (Ukrainian Models Military Technics) – 694 – Self-Propelled Gun SU-1 (T-26 Chassis) (Rubber Tracks) and one for link-and-length UMMT (Ukrainian Models Military Technics) – 694-01 – Self-Propelled Gun SU-1 (T-26 Chassis) (Plastic Tracks).

Dragon will launch two “novelties” early next year. First a new variant of the Bushmaster kit, tooled in 2021, Dragon – 7700 – JGSDF BUSHMASTER, and second a new upgrade of the M2A3 Bradley with 3D printed interior parts, Dragon – 7610 – M2A3 Bradley w/Interior. They are also reissuing Dragon – 7369 – SdKfz. 251/1 Ausf D with Pak 40 (great news since this kit wass very hard to find) and also Dragon – 7605 – Sd.Kfz.251/7 Ausf.D Pionierpanzerwagen (2 in 1).

In previous weeks, there has been also an important stock or re-stock of Dragon kits around world, to include at least the following references:

Dragon – 7645 – Pz.Kpfw.III Ausf.L Late Production w/Neo Track
Dragon – 7636 – Sd.Kfz. 142 StuG.III Ausf.B
Dragon – 7634 – Pz.Kpfw.III Ausf.N DAK w/Neo Track
Dragon – 7628 – Sd.Kfz.165 Hummel (Late Production)
Dragon – 7625 – Sd.Kfz.164 Hornisse
Dragon – 7375 – StuG.III Ausf.G Early Production w/Neo Track

And previously:
Dragon – 7699 – Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicle
Dragon – 7701 – SAS Bushmaster
Dragon – 7684 – PLA ZSL-10 APC
Dragon – 7683 – PLA ZTL-11 Assault Vehicle
Dragon – 7413 – M3A2 ODS Bradley
Dragon – 7368 – Gruppe Fuhrmann Tiger I (Sd.Kfz.181 Pz.Kpfw.VI Ausf.E)
Dragon – 7331 – M2A2 ODS Bradley

Let’s hope 2022 stabilises the distribution of gods problems and we really start to see the end of this pandemic.

2021/12/29

Confirmed that Dragon will also re-release early next year Dragon – 7280 – sdKfz. 251/10 Ausf. D with 3.7 pak.

Together with the now largely expected and promising IBG New Focke-Wulf Fw 190D Series the Polish brand (IBG) will also release four new kits in 1/72 scale just after holidays (they promised). The four releases are paired, by one side Italian army in African campaign gets a nice boost in the shape of IBG – 72093 – 3Ro Italian Truck and IBG – 72098 – 3Ro Italian Truck with 100/17 100mm Howitzer (obviously based in the previous one). By other side, “British” (Canadian and Polish more likely) during Normandy campaign get another boost in the shape of IBG – 72108 – Centaur Mk.IV British Tank and IBG – 72102 – Cromwell Mk.IV British Tank (Hull Type C). Is well know that both Cromwell and Centaurs are related and visually similar develops, but in this case, the Mk.IV Hull type C Cromwell, directly refers to a Centaur hull refitted with the Rolls Royce Merlin engine. Furthermore, both kits are also related in the markings offered, sharing the 6th Airborne Reconnaissance Regiment in their options.

The four IBG kits looks to us like great kits, with the usual great engineering level by IBG, valid for both novices or more experienced modellers. For sure they will be a commercial success, together with the FW 190D, IBG will start the year at the highest level, and in 1/72 scale.

1/72 Figures

2021/12/17

After several days of silence and several days of technical problems not fully solved yet, we have great news while we walk towards the end of the year. Strelets is about to release the last large batch of the year, with over 14 new sets on it and some reputed stores claiming to have them already. We have started wby add the new 4 references for the Spanish War of Succession, all of them devoted to cavalry, and mainly French Dragoons.

Strelets – 255 – British Regiment of Horse (Late War)
Strelets – 251 – French Dragoons on the March
Strelets – 252 – French Late War Dragoons in Reserve
Strelets – 253 – French Dragoons in Attack

We expect that all the batch will be available moore widely during next days.

2021/12/18

Continuing with the Strelets update, we have three Napoleonic sets, two of them looks like devoted to the Waterloo 1815 battle, Strelets – 287 – Highlanders in Square and Strelets – 279 – Highlanders’ Firing Line, while the third depicts the well reputed Russian Jaegers as Strelets – 288 – Russian Jaegers in Summer Dress.

The last part of the batch, is devoted to the African Campaign during WWII, with the Italian (Africa) army as the main beneficiary followed by Australians.

Strelets – 282 – Obice da 75/18 Mod35 Howitzer & Italian Crew
Strelets – M155 – 8th Army Australian Infantry in Attack
Strelets – M156 – 8th Army Australian Heavy Weapons Squad
Strelets – M153 – Italian Infantry in Defence
Strelets – M154 – Italian Desert Patrol
Strelets – M152 – WWII French Foreign Legion Heavy Weapons
Strelets – M158 – PzB41 AT Gun with DAK Crew

We don’t discard see more releases as part of the batch yet, and hopefully during next week they will be available.

2021/12/28

Updated box cover image for Strelets – 251 – French Dragoons on the March and Strelets – 252 – French Late War Dragoons in Reserve.

1/72 Scale Anime

2021/12/02

Excellent news for the Super Dimension Fortress Macross fans. After the recently released Hasegawa – 30 – VF-1J Armored Battroid, Hasegawa is tooling a new Tactical Pod Regult Hasegawa – 31 – REGULT (STANDARD MASS PRODUCTION TYPE). Note that this model, till now, was a license from IMAI and later Bandai. We guess the licenses are expired and Hasegawa took over them and is starting to produce new moulds and kits for them. We hope to see more coming during 2022. The kit is expected for February 2022.

2021/12/25

Bandai has released two more kits for the kyoukai Senki (AMAIM Warrior at the Borderline) series during December, Bandai – 62950 – MAILES REIKI and Bandai – 62157 – AMAIM GHOST.

Miscellaneous

2021/12/01

Don’t miss our special selection for your own Christmas gift, Christmas 2021 1/72 Scale Plastic Models Gift Guide.

2021/12/11

Apologies to all our customers from EU and UK who have been seeing very different prices in between our Ebay prices and prices shown in their respectives Ebay sites, since we haven’t been showing prices with VAT taxes as Ebay and sellers show them due the new regulations. We have fixed our technical problems and this situation is resolved. We had to empty all our cached results from Ebay products, they will populate again in the first visit to each product, you need to be patient till the “refreshing marketplace” operation finish in each product in order to see the new and more accurate offers. Our since apologies.