Kit Previews
Hangar 47 strives to provide historical information along with the details of the kit…enjoy.
Sukhoi Su-24M Fencer
The Sukhoi Su-24 is a tactical bomber and strike aircraft developed to replace the Ilyushin Il-28 and Yak-28 medium bombers. Fast with long-range and the ability to deliver ordnance with pinpoint precision, like the American F-111 its avionics feature integrated navigation, bombsight and weapons control linked to a central computer. Entering service in 1975 at forward air bases within Warsaw Pact countries, it soon became a source of concern for NATO.
Sukhoi Su-30 MKK Flanker G
The Sukhoi Su-30MKK (NATO reporting name, Flanker-G) is a twin-seat, twin-engine high-performance strike fighter developed by Sukhoi in 1997 from the Su-30 (Flanker-C/G/H), which was itself an evolution of the original Cold War era Su-27 “Flanker” series. It was manufactured in Russia specifically for the Chinese.
Dassault Super Mystere B.2
Piloted by Gérard Muselli, the Super Mystère B.2 went supersonic in level flight during its maiden flight at Melun-Villaroche, France on May 15, 1956 — without using its afterburner. It was the first jet fighter in Western Europe to achieve Mach 1.
Dassault-Breguet Super Etendard
The Dassault-Breguet Super Etendard was the premiere shipboard fighter of the French Navy from its introduction in 1978 until its retirement in 2016. It brought a fearsome new dimension to naval air power during the Falklands War as the designated airborne launch platform for the Exocet anti-ship missile. For a few brief weeks in 1982, it posed a serious threat to the Royal Navy in the South Atlantic, until the British were able to force the war to a quick end.
Supermarine S.6B
Supermarine S.6B Racer by Testors 1/48 scale Kit No. 910 Cost: $10.00 - $12.00 Decals: One version - (S1595) Comments: Re-issue of Hawk kit; raised and engraved panel lines; simple construction with relatively few parts; instructions include two good reference photos;...
Supermarine Seafire Mk XV
Vickers Supermarine Seafire Mk. XV by Hobbycraft 1/48 scaleKit No. HC1584Cost: $12.00Decals: Two versions - Royal Navy and Royal Canadian NavyComments: Engraved panel lines; individually mounted propeller blades; gunsight and one-piece canopy History The Supermarine...
Supermarine Seafire Mk. 47
The last of the Supermarine Seafire line, and the end of a superlative breed of fighter, the Seafire F and FR Mk 47 saw action with 800 Squadron on board HMS Triumph during the Malayan Emergency of 1949 and the Korean War in 1950. In light of the sterling service they provided the Royal Navy, it is ironic that at the outset some British leaders, including Winston Churchill, were initially opposed to modifying the Spitfire for operation from aircraft carriers.
Supermarine Spitfire Mk. II LR
Spitfire Mk. IIa LR by AZ Models 1/72 scale Kit No. AZ 7290 Cost: $28.00 Decals: Two versions - both RAF Comments: Engraved panel lines, detailed cockpit, single-piece canopy, resin slipper tank History The Supermarine Spitfire, the first all-metal monoplane in the...
Supermarine Spitfire Mk IIa
The Mk II Spitfire arrived at the height of the Battle of Britain, equipping two squadrons of RAF Fighter Command by September 1940. It was externally identical to the Mk I but slightly faster…
Supermarine Swift FR.5
The Supermarine Swift flew for the first time on August 1, 1951. It was the first swept-wing fighter to enter service with the Royal Air Force. Assigned the role of interceptor, it was a disappointment because it lacked the performance required at altitude, even after its engine was fitted with an afterburner. But, once it set an absolute world speed record at low altitude in September 1954, the Swift excelled as a low level reconnaissance platform.
Sukhoi Su-34
Sukhoi Su-34 by Italeri 1/72 scale Kit No. 59 Cost: $22.00 Decals: Two versions, both for demonstration aircraft, one of which performed at the 1995 Paris Air Show Comments: Engraved panel lines, detailed cockpit, ample underwing stores History The Sukhoi Su-34...
Sukhoi T-50
The Sukhoi T-50 is a Russian fifth generation jet fighter developed by Sukhoi Aviation. Development work on the T-50 began in 2007, and after extensive modifications it entered service with the Russian Air Force under the designation Su-57 on December 25, 2020. The plan is for it to replace the MIG-29 Fulcrum and the Su-27 Flanker. Incorporating aspects of Lockheed’s F-22 and Northrop’s YF-23 designs, it is the first true Russian stealth fighter.
T-2 Buckeye
Rockwell T-2C Buckeye by Wolfpack Designs 1/72 scale Kit No. WP10005 Cost: $25.00 Decals: Three versions - all U.S. Navy Comments: Engraved panel lines, optional position canopy, highly detailed cockpit, landing gear, and wheel wells History The North American (later...
Beech T-34B Mentor
The T-34B was a militarized version of the Beech Model 35 Bonanza, chosen for its rugged efficiency as much as the fact that it was more cost-effective to go with a proven design during the increasing austerity of U.S defense budgets in the decade following WWII. The T-34B trained a generation of Navy pilots from the mid-1950’s until it was phased out in favor of its turboprop successor, the Beech T-34C.
T-34C Turbo Mentor
T-34C Turbo Mentor by Czech Model 1/48 scale Kit No. 4809 Cost: $35.00 Decals: 2 versions - both U.S. Navy Comments: Engraved panel lines; resin cockpit tub, seats, engine exhausts, wheels and nose wheel well; two vacuform canopies History The Beech T-34 Mentor was...
T-38 Talon
Hasegawa’s T-38 Talon is an older kit, not too detailed, but reasonably accurate and a good weekend build. It can be built as an F-5A with wingtip fuel pods and includes two pilot figures.
TBM-3 Avenger
Grumman TBM-3 Avenger by Accurate Miniatures 1/48 scale Kit No. 480121 Cost: $30.00 Decals: Two versions -- both U.S. Navy; one for Night Torpedo Bomber Squadron VT(N)-90, the "Batmen" of USS Enterprise (CV-6), March 1945; the other for the Flight Leader's aircraft of...
Grumman TF-9J Cougar
The Grumman F9F/ F-9 Cougar was a swept wing version of Grumman’s straight winged F9F Panther, and entered service in December 1952, too late to see action in Korea. The U.S. Navy employed them for advanced training, weapons training, and carrier qualifications until 1974. A few of these trainers saw operational use in Vietnam with the Marines as a forward air controller.
Panavia Tornado GR.1
The Panavia Tornado GR. 1, a sophisticated low-level supersonic strike aircraft, entered service with the RAF, the Aeronautica Militaire Italiana and the Luftwaffe in 1982, equipped with state-of-the-art terrain following and ground mapping radar, two 27mm cannon and able to carry a variety of ordnance. It was deployed to Saudi Arabia during the Gulf War as part of Operation Granby, providing combat air patrols during Desert Shield and fighter cover for other strike aircraft during Desert Storm. With periodic upgrades, it is still the most capable strike aircraft in Western Europe.
Travel Air Mystery Ship
The Travel Air Mystery Ship was one of the most iconic racing planes of the 1920’s, designed and built in secret to take on the military-sponsored racing planes which dominated the National Air Races during the decade following World War I. With its stunning victory over the Army and Navy at the 1929 National Air Races, the Mystery Ship jolted the U.S. military into dropping biplanes in favor of low-wing monoplane designs.