Hobby Master – Page 23 – The Motor Pool

“Screwtops”: Hobby Master Earns its Day in the Sun

Well, the first pix are in for Hobby Master’s forthcoming E-2C Hawkeye Advanced Early Warning Aircraft. Frankly, we think even the critics will be overcome with emotion, based upon the colorful motif and painstaking detail that has obviously gone into the making of this model.

Their first take on the Hawkeye is based upon a plane that flew with VAW-123 “Screwtops”, then embarked upon the USS Enterprise (CVN-65), as it conducted a tour of duty through the Atlantic Ocean, during October 2005 (#HA4801).

Cleared for takeoff in July, it looks like Air Force 1 will have its hands full trying to top this “screwtop”.

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Hobby Master Super Sizes the Hornet

Ever since Hobby Master came out with their first F/A-18 Hornet, it was long speculated but never confirmed that they would eventually up the ante by producing its larger successor, the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. Earlier today, the Company finally fessed up by indicating that a Super Hornet is indeed in the works and expected some time in early 2016. Their first bird is a US Navy McDonnell Douglas F/A-18E Super Hornet Strike Fighter that was attached to VFA-14 “Tophatters”, and bears their 90th Anniversary commemorative scheme (HA5101). Frankly, if you like modern US warbirds, then this is a no brainer, simply because its the inaugural release. While an operational scheme always seems to do better at retail, its going to be hard to pass this one up.

As an aside, we hope they also decide to produce the Advanced Super Hornet, which is designed to maintain fleet requirements well into the 2030s. More information can be found here

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Hobby Master Spirits Us Away this October

As is customary for Hobby Master, the Company has just announced their lineup for the October time frame. There’s a smattering of aircraft and vehicles that cover virtually every epoch and conflict, which is cause for celebration for a great many folks. We’re still in the process of listing all of these goodies on our site and hope to have everything up for sale by the close of business today. Enjoy!

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Is the “Vigi” in Your Wheel House?

The first pix are up for Hobby Master’s soon-to-be-released US Navy North American RA-5C Vigilante Strike Bomber (HA4701) and boy do they like sweet. Representing a bird that flew with Reconnaissance Attack Squadron Six (Heavy) “Fleurs”, then embarked upon the USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63), during 1971, the “Vigi” will come with a full weapons load out and looks every bit as realistic as the platform it models. Its flight deck landing is slated for August, barring any unforeseen wave offs.

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Hobby Master “Hawks” their Hurricane

We did a wee bit of surfing on the Internet and managed to unearth a couple of photos of Hobby Master’s upcoming Hawker Hurricanes. Produced in 1:48 scale, their first pair of Mk. I Hurris include one flown by Sgt. J. Frantisek of 303 (Polish) Squadron, which was deployed at RAF Northolt, England, during September 1940 (HA8601). The second mount was piloted by Flying Officer W. L. McKnight, who was attached to 242 (Canadian) Squadron, then deployed to RAF Coltishall, England, during December 1940 (HA8602). Look for both warbirds some time in June.

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An Early Warning of Hobby Master’s E-2C

Ordinarily we are loathe to posting prototype images since buyers tend to formulate premature purchasing decisions based on non-representative imagery. In the case of the E-2C, however, we are making an exception largely because there seems to be a race to market between Hobby Master and Air Force 1, two modelmakers intent to get their replicas out-the-door first. Enjoy, and remember, these are early shots aimed at giving the collector an idea as to what they can expect from each company’s mold.

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Hobby Master Puts to Sea with the US Navy

Had they been announced just a scant 24 hours earlier, we might have concluded that Hobby Master’s latest products announcements were simply an April Fool’s joke. Despite the timing, Hobby Master doesn’t seem to be pulling a fast one with their two newest toolings – a Lockheed S-3 Viking Anti-Submarine aircraft and a Northrop Grumman EA-6B Prowler Electronic Warfare Aircraft (HA4901 and HA5001 respectively).

Keep in mind that thus far only line art drawings have been posted, so product shots of both aircraft are likely still months away. Nevertheless, its encouraging to see that Hobby Master is investing the time, energy and resources into producing new toolings instead of sitting on their laurels and pumping out repaint after repaint. We applaud their efforts and recognize that without them, this niche hobby wouldn’t be where it currently is today.

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Hobby Master Hears Ya

Perhaps its growing competition from Air Force 1 or possibly the steady decline in oil prices, but Hobby Master has taken the bold step of reducing the retail prices of several of their forthcoming aircraft. All of their F-15s, including the one we recently received (HA4501), now sell for $99.99, which drops them below the so-called price resistance barrier of $100.

Likewise, all of the F-35s have been lowered to $82.99, down a few bucks that puts them on more equal footing with the Air Force 1 offerings. Hopefully, this may signal the willingness of several diecast manufacturers to begin lowering their prices which will spur sales and gain added collectors.

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Hobby Master Relives the Battle of Britain

Hobby Master is continuing to announce new tooling for early 2015, beefing up its aerial armada with a pair of 1:48 scale Hawker Hurricane Mk. I fighters that saw action in the waning days of 1940 (HA8601 and HA8602).

A number of 1:72 scale jets were also added to the March order of battle, including an all-new A-10 Thunderbolt (HA1321), F-106 Delta Dart (HA3607), F-4 Phantom II (HA1944), F-16 Fighting Falcon (HA3828), and CF-18 Hornet (HA3522).

We have added all of the new introductions to our web site and they are now available for pre-order.

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Hobby Master: Ever Vigilant for the Vigilante

A couple of weeks ago, we reported that speculation was running wild concerning rumors that Hobby Master was planning on building and deploying a fleet of North American A-5 Vigilante strike bombers. Well, we can put those rumors to rest because earlier today our distributor confirmed that the first 1:72 scale look at the Vigilante is slated for a June release (#HA4701). Based upon a RA-5C that served aboard the USS Kitty Hawk, their first look at this short-tenured, Cold War-era strike bomber is being met with eager anticipation, and will no doubt be followed up with other variants and liveries in the months ahead.

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