Newsletter MPM Production Ltd., Mezilesí 718, 193 00, Praha 9, Czech Republic tel.:+420 281923 910, fax:+420 281 923 892, e-mail: export@mpm.cz official website and e-shop: www. cmkkits.com 05/2013 I mentioned the kits in progress in the beginning of the last newsletter. You will have a chance to read about many of them in this newsletter. This really makes me happy. Let's stay with the kits in progress for a while. We will reveal the markings for 1/32 scale Fiat G.50 and 1/48 scale Firefly family. Moreover, we decided to declassify two of the projects already in process. Together with Tarangus Co. we prepare new J/A-37 Viggen kit in 1/48 scale. In our boxes MPM Production will offer A-37 and SK-37 versions. The whole kit is being designed in 3D and will be injected from metal moulds respectively. The quality will be comparable with our new A4/V2 rockets and SS-100 that were produced under Special Armour brand (catalogue numbers are SA72003 and SA72014 for rockets and SA72001 for SS-100). When mentioning A4/V2 rockets I'd like to announce that the first series is already sold out but when we receive new decal batch we will be able to re-stock and offer them again. Therefore you can order them in advance. Perhaps in July we will be able to offer the already announced rocket transporter Meilerwaggen, also produced within Special Armour brand. The other project that was classified were early versions of AH-1 Cobra AH-1G early, AH-1G late and AH-1Q/S. These kits will also be produced from metal moulds of the highest quality. The kits will be highly detailed for 1/72 scale and will offer variety of the carried weapons. The moulds for these kits are already in process of preparation and the release date should be due in summer months. That's all for the kits in progress.
May new releases: US Navy realized that the biplanes era is over in the 1930s. That time phenomenon, the cantilever monoplane with retractable undercarriage offered much higher performances compared to the conventional biplanes. This convinced the officials to issue new SB category (Scout Bomber) competition. The bomber role was in this case the dive bombing role. The competition winner was Vought Company prototype designated XSB2U named Vindicator. It was accepted for production and subsequently produced for US Navy and Marines in versions SB2U-1, -2 and -3. While versions -1 and -2 can be considered similar, version -3 featured new wing and enlarged tail planes. France ordered modified version designated V-156F that featured speed brakes similar to the ones that appeared on the first prototype and later deployed these machines during the defence of its territory in 1940. According to British specifications were modified Vindicators delivered to Great Britain under designation V-156B Chesapeake Mk.I. SH72257 SB2U-2 Vindicator Dive Bomber Star 1/72 The second production version of Vindicator was delivered in the pre-war period and therefore it registered all the camouflage colour changes of US Navy and Marines in the pre-war period. Vindicators also featured in the famous aviation movie of that time, the Dive Bomber. But even in 1942 these machines were part of the combat units aboard aircraft carriers USS Ranger and USS Wasp. The kit of this version contains two sprues with plastic parts, injected clear parts and decals. While the fuselage and wing parts are produced using short-run technology, the small parts were 3D designed and their mould was produced directly by milling. This ensures much higher quality and pushes this kit into better level kits. The sprues from metal mould contains parts not only for cockpit and undercarriage but also variation of bomb armament and external fuel tanks. Decals included offer markings for 4 machines. VS-72 Vindicator features black tail and green stripes and sports Battle E, the decoration for combat readiness. Another machine is the star of the Dive Bomber movie, VB-3 Vindicator with red stripes. The third machine with war camouflage is from VS-41 High Hats and it served aboard USS Ranger in Atlantic Ocean during 1942. The last machine features the last pre-war overall grey camouflage pattern. Thins machine served with TU-1 under the command of Admiral Halsey.
3D Parts
SH72272 SB2U-1 Vindicator Commanders Planes 1/72 The plastic parts are the same as of the previous kit, what differs are the decals. The Vindicator's first production version offers variety of colourful machines but also variety of great men that sat in the cockpits of these machines. The first machine sports commander's green stripes operated from USS Ranger and was used by Commander Lt Cdr. O. A. Weller, the later Commander in Chief of CVE66 White Plains and CV-18 Wasp aircraft carriers, decorated with Navy Cross and Gold Star. The second machine was used by Lt Cdr. H.D. Felt from VB-2. This pilot gain fame during World War 2. He led the Air Group 3 from USS Saratoga against IJN aircraft carrier Ryujo in the Battle of the Solomon Sea. Thanks to his lucky strike with 1000 lb bomb the aircraft carrier eventually sunk. In post war years Admiral Felt served as Commander in Chief Pacific (CINCPAC). The third machine served with the famous VB-3 Top Hats aboard USS Saratoga. The fourth and last machine is Marine's one from VMF-1 unit..
Caproni Ca.310 was designed as light bomber and reconnaissance aircraft in 1937. Except its deployment by Regia Aeronautica it was widely exported to several European countries and even to South America. We are already selling kits of cat. nos. A065 Caproni Ca.310 In Peru and A103 Caproni Ca.310 Norwegian Service. We are releasing the kit of this interesting machine in another two versions. These new two versions differ not only by decals but also by late type engines' cowlings due to the different production versions used. A088 Caproni Ca.310 Libeccio Yugoslavian, Croat & Hungarian Marking 1/72 This kit's decals offer three different markings. Machines exported to Yugoslavia served overall painted by aluminium colour. The Croatian machines featured green on upper surfaces with light blue on the lower ones with yellow wingtips and fuselage band. Royal Hungarian machines sported two tone camouflage pattern on upper surfaces with light blue on the lower ones.
A106 Caproni Ca.310 Libeccio Italian & Spanish 1/72 This kit's decals offer two markings for Spanish Frankist's Air Force machines and two for Regia Aeronautica's machines. Both Spanish machines feature green colour with sand blotches on upper surfaces with grey colour on the lower ones. Both sport Frankists' black circular national insignias, white horizontal stabilizer and rudder with black cross, black stripes on the wings and white wingtips. Moreover, machine 18o14 sports commemoration sign for the fallen Lt. Valles. The Italian machines also feature two tone camouflage on upper surfaces with the exception that one of them features two tones of green on the upper surfaces. The same sports the later national machine sports Italian tri-colour insignia on the tail. The other Italian machine insignia on the tail..
SH72243 Vickers Vildebeest Mk.IV Perseus Engine Version 1/72 The prototype of the biplane torpedo bomber Vildebeest took off for the first time in 1928. Even though, it was used by RAF even at the beginning of the World War 2. The last production version was powered by Perseus engine, inside the aerodynamically shaped cowling, driving two or three bladed propeller. This version was designated Vildebeest Mk.IV and it was used not only by RAF but also by RNZAF. Even in 1940 these machines were still used for ship convoy escorts off coast East England. New Zealand used them for anti-submarine patrols in 1941 and only in 1942 these machines were transferred to training units. When the up to date Harvards were delivered the Vildebeests days were over, and eventually struck off charge in 1943. The kit contains plastic parts, photo-etched and resin parts (engine, radiator ). The clear parts are injected. Decals included offer markings for two RAF machines in overall Silver Dope and one camouflaged RNZAF machine. One of the RAF machines in the Vildebeest Mk.IV prototype equipped with wooden twobladed propeller, the other two machines feature three-bladed metal propellers.
SH48041 Fairey Firefly Mk.4/5/6 Foreign Service 1/48 Fairey Firefly Mk.4/5/6 is the typical representative of British naval fighter concept. Even before World War 2 Royal Navy demanded two-seater long range aircraft for its use. The second crew member was a dead weight that declassified the performances of these aircraft. Firefly Mk.I (we produce a kit of this aircraft under cat. no. SH48127 and we are also preparing another box with Pacific markings under cat. no. SH48131) became the successor to the out powered Fairey Fulmar. Despite the handicap of its design it was able to outfight the enemy fighter aircraft. The development of new and more powerful versions had been started during the war. While Mk.III version was a disappointment both in performances and handling characteristics, Mk.IV version (later redesignated to Mk.4) was accepted for production. The first machines reached the combat units after the war, though. Main purpose of this version was day and nigh fighter role but it should have been also deployed as fighter bomber. Externally same subsequent version served for same purposes and thanks to its internal equipment it was capable of anti-submarine warfare. The need of the anti-submarine warfare led to the development of special version, designated AS.6 (Mk.6). Fireflies were widely used by Royal Navy but were also exported. They were used by aviation sections within Royal Canadian, Australian and Dutch navies. This is the topic of this kit. The kit contains four sprues with grey plastic parts, clear sprue and detailed resin parts. Decals included offer markings for Royal Canadian Navy (RCN), Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and Royal Dutch Navy.
Next month new releases: A075 Morane-Saulnier MS-410C.1 1/72 SH48110 Heinkel He 115 1/48 Forthcoming new releases: SH32044 Fiat G.50-II Finnish Service 1/32 SH32056 Fiat G.50bis Regia Aeronautica 1/32 AH-1G Cobra late 1/72
AH-1G Cobra early 1/72 AH-1Q/S Cobra 1/72
AJ-37 Viggen 1/48 SK-37 Viggen 1/48
Fiat G.50-II Finnish Aces SH32044 1/32
Fiat G.50bis Regia Aeronautica SH32056 A. Riedel 1/32