May 7, 2020

Hobby Master Tackles Another Subject

With most modelmakers struggling to get product out the door in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Hobby Master saw an opportunity to up the ante and add yet another weapon to its aerial armada. According to Hobbymastercollector.com, the Company plans on offering a model of the Boeing F/A-18XT Advanced Super Hornet Strike Fighter, an aircraft that, for all intents and purposes, is still in the nascent stage of development that hasn’t gone into full production or been pegged to join any front line squadron.

Boeing and Northrop Grumman self-funded a prototype of the Advanced Super Hornet in the early 2010s. The prototype features a 50% reduction in frontal radar cross-section (RCS), conformal fuel tanks (CFT), and an enclosed weapons pod. Features could also be integrated onto the EA-18G Growler; using CFTs on the EA-18 fleet was speculated as useful to releasing underwing space and drag margin for the Next Generation Jammer. Flight tests of the Advanced Super Hornet began on August 5th, 2013, and continued for three weeks, testing the performance of CFTs, the enclosed weapons pod (EWP), and signature enhancements. The U.S. Navy was reportedly pleased with the Advanced Super Hornet’s flight test results, and hopes it will provide future procurement options.

In March 2013, the U.S. Navy was considering the widespread adoption of conformal fuel tanks, which would allow the Super Hornet to carry 3,500 lb (1,600 kg) of additional fuel. Budgetary pressures from theF-35C Lightning II and Pacific region operations were cited as reasons supporting the use of CFTs. Flight testing demonstrated CFTs could slightly reduce drag while expanding the combat range by 260 nautical miles (300 mi; 480 km). The prototype CFT weighed 1,500 lb (680 kg), while production CFTs are expected to weigh 870 lb (390 kg). Boeing stated that the CFTs do not add any cruise drag but acknowledged a negative impact imposed on transonic acceleration due to increased wave drag. General Electric’s enhanced performance engine (EPE), increasing the F414-GE-400’s power output from 22,000 to 26,400 lbf (98 to 117 kN) of thrust per engine, was suggested as a mitigating measure. In 2009, development commenced on several engine improvements, including greater resistance to foreign object damage, reduced fuel burn rate, and potentially increased thrust of up to 20%.

In 2014, Boeing revealed a Super Hornet hybrid concept, equipped with the EA-18G Growler’s electronic signal detection capabilities to allow for targets engagement using the receiver; the concept did not include the ALQ-99 jamming pod. Growth capabilities could include the addition of a long-range infrared search and track sensor and new air-to-air tracking modes.

In September 2014, Boeing readied plans to close its St. Louis production lines for the Super Hornet and F-15 in 2017. Chris Chadwick, president of Boeing Defense, Space and Security, told the Wall Street Journal that, although “we’re still solidly behind them,” the company could have decided by April 2015 whether to shut down both assembly lines and close the factory, but chose to keep the Super Hornet line going. Due to various Pentagon contracts, Boeing had enough orders to keep things running into 2017 to give Boeing the opportunity to firm up more international orders.

Early on in the Trump administration, the President liked the idea of bolstering its air defense lineup with cheaper to build F/A-18 aircraft that, while no where near as stealthy as say the F-22 or F-35, could still hold its own against many of today’s front line aircraft. Furthermore, the F/A-18XT is far cheaper to build than the F-35, meaning more aircraft can be added to either the USMC or USN arsenal without breaking the bank.

Product Spotlight: Crouching Tiger

PMA’s 1:72 scale German Mid Production Sd. Kfz. 181 PzKpfw VI Tiger Ausf. E Heavy Tank – ‘111’, schwere Panzerabteilung 501, Orsha, Russia, 1944 [Bonus Maybach HL 230 TRM P45 Engine]

For the men of schwere Panzerabteilung 501, 1944 rapidly devolved into an exhausting year. Originally commanded by Major Erich Lowe, the unit had been reformed in late 1942 from remnants of the old battalion, including several wounded tank crewmen who had been evacuated to Europe for recuperation before the unit’s demise in Tunisia. Rebuilt and re-staffed, by November 12th it comprised some 45 Tiger I tanks (three companies of 14 tanks, plus three tanks for battalion command).

Between December 5th-12th, the battalion was transferred to the Vitebsk region in what is modern-day Belarus. On December 20th, the 501st attacked an enemy tank formation near Losovka, inflicting 21 enemy tanks destroyed and some 28 guns put out of action, all for the loss of two of its own tanks and all three company commanders wounded. Because infantry support was unable to follow up its success, the 501st was forced to withdraw. Three days later, Major Lowe, the battalion commander, went missing after he was forced to change tanks when his own was knocked out. Over the next five days, the battalion destroyed 81 enemy tanks. By the end of December, however, 16 Tigers were operational out of 39 available, two having fallen into Soviet hands.

Major von Legat took command in January 1944 and the battalion carried out missions in the Orsha region. On January 13th, a Tiger was destroyed by an artillery shell plunging through its turret roof. On February 13th, failed attacks led to the loss of a further nine Tigers. By March 1st, only 17 Tigers were available for action out of 29 that fell in for duty due to a lack of spare parts.

On March 12th, the battalion joined the 256.Infanterie division in a counterattack north of Nipinzy; by the next day, the enemy forces were surrounded and destroyed. By April 1st, spare parts had been delivered and 27 tanks were again operational.

In June, nine tanks were transferred to schwere Panzerabteilung 509, leaving 20 operational. On June 23rd, Operation Bagration was launched by the Red Army. Fighting at Orsha resulted in the battalion having to be dispersed, leading to several days of independent tank battles, some against IS-2s. Under the weight of a withdrawing Tiger, the Orsha bridge collapsed, and several others ran out of fuel. The rest retreated towards the Berezina River, where only six could be ferried across, the rest being blown up by their crews on July 1st.

By July 2nd-4th, ad-hoc defenses of dispersed Tigers fell back towards the Minsk area: despite the arrival of five replacement vehicles, which boosted operational forces to seven, two were lost, and another broke down. The next day, several Tigers ran out of fuel while withdrawing near Maladzyechna; another bogged down, and all three immobilized Tigers were blown up. Operational tank strength dropped to zero and the year was only half over.

PMA’s tribute to the men and machines of schwere Panzerabteilung 501 rolls in this April, provided the bridges can hold them and the Red Army falls back to lick their wounds.