Hobby Master – Page 25 – The Motor Pool

Hobby Master Strikes Out in 2014

Long rumored but only just confirmed, Hobby Master has announced development of a 1:72 scale replica of the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (HA4401). Scheduled to join its burgeoning air armada in February 2014, their first effort will be based upon the US Air Force’s “A” Model, and will no doubt be followed up with versions for both the US Navy and US Marine Corps, as well as several export versions.

Several other new items were announced in conjunction with the announcement, all of which can be found in our October 2013 Additions section. Enjoy!

Share This:

Hobby Master Puts the Hellcat Through its Paces

Its been a very long time since Hobby Master announced anything new in their massive 1:32 scale aircraft line, so it came as a pleasant surprise last week when they shared the news on their forthcoming Grumman F6F Hellcat. Scheduled for a January ship, their inaugural over-sized, piston-engine fighter is based on the mount flown by David McCampbell off the deck of the USS Essex in 1944 (#HA0301). “Minsi II”, as he dubbed it, will sport all the hallmark detail that went into their previous SBD Dauntless range, and will likely be followed up with several other noteworthy Hellcat replicas. A display stand will be sold separately for those collectors inclined to display their aircraft in flight mode.

Share This:

Hobby Master Cracks Open its August Cache

It appears as if Hobby Master is back on track with their monthly shipping schedule. Our distributor reports that their August shipment has arrived and is being parceled out to their dealer network. We expect to receive our cache of goodies by the end of next week.

Share This:

Hobby Master Places its Wares Beneath the Christmas Tree

As is customary with Hobby Master, the Company has announced its next batch of upcoming products, all of which are intended to ship before the holiday season ends. Several interesting entries are among the mix, including this Israeli M48 A2 Patton main battle tank which took part in the fighting for the Egyptian-held Sinai desert during the 1967 Six-Day War (#HG5503). We’ve posted the entire list of new vehicles and aircraft in our August 2013 New Additions section so pre-order to your hearts content.

Share This:

Hobby Master Trots Out Their November Wares

In keeping with their monthly new product announcements schedule, Hobby Master unveiled their latest assortment of military aircraft and vehicles due out in November. While no new toolings were shown, the grouping did contain a couple of perennial favorites that have been out-of-stock for some time: a SBC Helldiver (HA2209) and SBD-5 Dauntless dive-bomber (HA0170).

Feel free to check out these and other notable new entrants in our July New Additions section located within the Product Round Up link.

Share This:

Hobby Master Makes a Pass at the Pyramids

Every so often, even a died-in-the-wool military historian such as myself learns a thing or two about the world we live in. For instance, Hobby Master’s latest product announcement concerns an Egyptian-liveried McDonnell F-4E Phantom II fighter-bomber, which apparently arose as a byproduct from the Camp David Peace Accord in the late 70s. Flown by the Egyptian Air Force in the 1980s, this interesting if intriguing replica is painted in a startling desert camouflage pattern with day-glow orange sections adorning the top of the fuselage, wingtips and tail fin (HA1936). Look for this wonderful new entrant some time in August.

Share This:

Hobby Master Proves its Listening

Ordinarily, we take a pass when it comes to listing civil airliners on our web site, largely because this isn’t our core competency. Add to that the fact that we generally sidestep the smallish 1:200 scale sector, and you can readily see why we prefer to go with larger scale replicas with military overtones. However, when Hobby Master announced that it planned to offer a 1:200 scale Lockheed EC-121D Warning Star Aircraft (#HL9012), we were all ears, figuratively as well as literally. Measuring approximately 7 inches in length by about 7-1/2 inches across, a 1:200 scale representation of this iconic early warning flier seemed to fit the bill, offering unrivaled fidelity and decent scale at a price most collectors can afford. Expected some time in September, we believe aviation enthusiasts will enjoy adding this important aircraft to their diecast collection.

Share This:

Hobby Master Returns to MiG Alley

Even though tension on the Korean Peninsula seems to have subsided of late, that doesn’t mean diecast modelmakers can’t take an interest in the decades long hot spot. Hobby Master, for one, plans to reopen old wounds with their first ever 1:72 scale replica of the North American F-86 Sabre jet — the very jet that wrested control away from the North Korean Air Force during the early stages of the Korean Conflict. Other new aircraft and combat vehicles were also announced, all part of their September 2013 arsenal. We hope to have all of their latest product announcements up on our web site shortly.

Share This:

Hobby Master Avoids Any FAA Entanglements

Sidestepping the government-enforced furloughs currently affecting the FAA, Hobby Master has managed to land several new aircraft as part of their April release schedule. Two sharp-looking 1:72 scale jets taxied up to The Motor Pool’s arrivals gate, including a USAF Republic F-105D Thunderchief, nicknamed “The Polish Glider” (HA2510), which was attached to the 44th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 355th Tactical Fighter Wing, then deployed to Takhli, Thailand, during 1970, and a Royal Australian Air Force F/A-18B Hornet strike fighter (HA3531), attached to the Aussie’s 3 Squadron, then deployed to RAAF Base Williamtown, during 2006.

Also disembarking its passengers is a 1:48 scale rendition of a USMC Chance-Vought F4U-1A Corsair Fighter that was attached to VMF-111 “Devil Dogs,” then deployed to the Gilbert Islands during 1944. More new warbirds are expected later this month.

Share This:

Hobby Master Pays Tribute to Boston

In a roundabout fashion, Hobby Master is paying tribute to the city of Boston with its upcoming Douglas Boston Mk. IV light attack bomber (HA4202). Portraying a bomber that was attached to the RAF’s 18th Squadron deployed to Italy during late 1944-early 1945, the Boston is actually a derivative of the Douglas A-20 Havoc, which was originally built and intended for use with the French Air Force prior to their capitulation in 1940. The RAF agreed to take up the balance of the now-frustrated French order which was diverted to the UK, and the bombers were given the service name “Boston” with the further designation of “Mark I” or “Mark II” according to the earlier or later engine type. Look for the Boston to fly into history some time in August.

Share This: