Strana 5
really requires the two-seat versions, and the
late versions Zero Model 52 and Zero Model 63.
The subject of the Zero Model 52 is a complex
one. If we do not count the two-seat variant
of this model, it is actually made up of four
development versions, differing primarily in
armament. This looks like a great potential for
the release of several versions, but in reality it
is quite difficult to distinguish these machines
from one another. When you add to this the
famous variety of Japanese WWII naval aircraft
consisting of green camouflage, national
markings and some code marking on the rudder,
then the great potential turns into a dilemma of
what to do. From the modeler's point of view, the
whole thing seems like a mass of green boredom.
From the manufacturer's point of view, it is rather
a small modeler's version of hell. The differences
in the versions are essentially small and not
very noticeable, but for most interested people
unforgettable in the long run. However, as is
known, each type has its experts, for whom the
release of the subject of their lifelong study and,
I dare say, passion, is an opportunity to apply their
knowledge and dominate the show. Thanks to
them, hundreds of modelers, about half of whom
only knew that the Zero Model 52 existed and
the other half not even that, will become experts
who have a completely clear understanding of
what the manufacturer must do to cover the
kit properly, what to represent and definitely
what not to omit. We manufacturers are truly
happy about this. With the Zero Model 52,
the differences, I emphasize once again that in
their individuality are really small differences,
but these have led us to develop seven new
molds for this specific version, three for the
wings, two for the fuselage, and two more molds
for sprues with small detail parts. We will use
three of them in the Kamikaze Tokkôtai kit, since
four of them are for the A6M5 Zero Model 52c,
which will not be in this kit.
So what’s it all mean? As many times before,
we will now go about it through a storyline in
which we will connect the technical history,
describing the evolution of the technical
development of these machines, with the history
of their combat deployment, and above all with
the fates of their crews. Through our line of kits
we will retell one of the great stories of humanity,
the story of the pilots known as Kamikaze.
We will look at the history of the Kamikaze units
a little differently than has been customary in the
West. We will look at it more from a Japanese
perspective, we will try to explain not only the
history of the operational deployment, but also
the motives that led to it, and the Japanese
social view of its participants, the pilots who
gave their lives for their homeland. However,
we will not neglect the perspective of the other
side, without which the explanation of the
circumstances of this epic duel of two cultures
would be complete. Technically, from the point
of view of the composition of the kit, this will of
course not be a comprehensive coverage of this
history. It will be just a snippet, just the part of
history in which the Zero was involved. We will
only write about other types of aircraft and units,
for example military ones, that participated in
the Kamikaze attacks in accompanying texts,
mainly in our newsletter. On the other hand, you
don't have to worry that it will be boring from
the point of view of technical history. From the
kit, which will of course be a Dual Combo with
two complete sets of plastic, it will be possible
to build one of three different versions of the
Zero Model 52, namely the Model 52, 52a and 52b,
and the two-seat A6M2-K Zero Model 11. We are
adding this to the Kamikaze Tokkôtai kit because
training aircraft were often used in operational
deployment by Kamikaze units. And the two-seat
Zero is a famous airplane, which has the chance
to give this kit a stamp of exceptionalism. There
are so many exceptional things about it that
there is neither the time nor space here and now
to explain all of these. Honza Bobek will outline
these in articles on the topic of Kamikaze. For
example, why the two-seat Zero Model 11, when
it was built on the basis of the Zero Model 21?
We made two more new molds for the two-seat
version of the Zero. So in total, there are five new
sprues for this kit. The Kamikaze Tokkôtai kit is
currently scheduled for April, and I think that in
this case we will meet that deadline. Which may
not be the case for many other new products,
planned mainly for the second half of the year.
MiG-21bis, 1:72
Again after a long absence, we return to an
aircraft the previous versions of which were
front and centre quite a while back. The last
introduction of a new release among the 72nd
MiG-21s was five years ago, in January 2020, with
the MiG-21PFM, and in April of that year, with the
MiG-21PF. But I think that in this case a longer
break is not a bad thing. At least no one will write
to us in the comments on Facebook that we only
produce MiGs and that we might want to consider
also releasing something else. In this case, we
are releasing exactly that ‘something else’ right?
Right now there are similar complaints that we
are still releasing only boring Messerschmitts
and Mustangs.
The MiG-21bis is based on previous versions
of the MiG-21 kit, primarily the MiG-21MF,
specifically the version in the Czech Republic
and Slovakia called ‘the Greys’, and as it was
dubbed in our previous kits, the MiG-21MF Fighter
Bomber. The new kit will also use some parts from
the MiG-21MF Fighter Bomber kit, specifically
it will contain sprues with small detail parts
and armament, as well as the original wing.
The new kit will have a sprue with newly designed
parts, primarily the fuselage, the fuselage spine
with the rudder, and a number of optional small
parts. Some of them are engine parts, or rather
exhaust nozzles to be more precise, some are for
the cockpit, and many of them represent various
antennae and sensors, which were mainly found
on the modernized bis in the nineties and were
different for different users. The first higher
standard release will be the Royal Class kit,
followed by the Profipack and later the Weekend
version. In this case, we will probably skip the
Limited Edition release, at least for this year.
Structurally and technologically, we have the
SMT and R versions ready. The most complex
from the point of view of production is the
MiG-21R, which has a new fuselage and wing
sprue, as well as one additional one with weapons
and equipment, on which the most space is taken
up by three versions of reconnaissance pods.
However, we do not expect the release of these
versions this year, and are going with a first
release next year.
MiG-21F-13 1:48
Last year, after the January newsletter was
published, there was great discontent among
Czech modelers over the decision to postpone the
production of kits of purely Czechoslovak aircraft
and give priority to Mustangs and other, from our
point of view, more desirable types, especially
the P-40. We have fulfilled this part of our plan for
this year, and in the second half of last year we
were already working on the production of molds
for the MiG-21F-13. Including the cockpit, there
are eight sprues that will be in the kit, but the
EDITORIAL
INFO Eduard
5
January 2025