Wishes for Hobby Master - but this time in 1:48 !
 

I have seen the very interesting related thread on wished for HM. But they all seem to be related to the 1:72 scale, and I would like to know the feeling out there for the 1:48 scale, and mostly for pre-WW2, WW2 and early post-war aircraft, to keep the size down.

I guess we can divide this into three broad categories :

1 - What issues we would like to see of tooling that they already have
2 - Issues we would like to models they already have, but that would require modified tooling
3 - Brand new models

Let me know, I would be interested to hear the Whats and Whys !

Regards from NL
Saeta

Re: Wishes for Hobby Master - but this time in 1:4
 

All these are quite broad spectrums, but since the only 1/48 scale aircraft i collect are WWII Japanese types, i`ll list what i think the issues are with the HM Zero`s.

1- I would like HM to modify the tail wheel so it is better supported and doesn`t flop when sat on the ground! I would also like to see them supplied in the more robust and protective polystyrene inner boxes, as i have had to return the odd one due to the plastic retainers damaging the paint on the wing leading edge. Whether this is an issue with the paint/primer though? Maybe. These are the only issues i have with them. All in all i am very happy with them all being told.

2- Hmm.. Modification wise i would like removable engine cowlings with detailed engines. I would expect this to be standard in this scale. I presume HM will produce different versions in the future(A6M3`s, A6M5`s). So i`m expecting them to modify tooling for these at sometime. Weathered paintwork would be nice, but looking at their history i`m not holding my breath HM will change and ever do this. Some ground crew accessories would be a welcome addition, though Tamiya produce some excellent items.

3- Brand new models. Wow. The list is endless as far Jap planes are concerned. They could start where Marushin last left off and produce Ki-44`s, Ki-43`s, Ki-84`s, 61`s...............etc! :D

I do prefer 1/48 scale for smaller aircraft. 1/72 scale fighters look tiny when displayed on the shelf. 1/48 aircraft are just the right size i believe for displaying one or two aircraft on my mantlepiece. Not too big/Not to small.

Re: Wishes for Hobby Master - but this time in 1:4
 

Blue-Tac.

No, no, no, no, no, and no. HM isn't at the stage of making hollowed exhausts or even a half-decent engine where they are very visible, like the stearman. Sorry, but this idea is utterly batty. Even the engines on their 1/32 clear cowls are not worth displaying. Sorry, carlo, but i think this is an absolutely terrible idea.

Carlo, in (CURRENT YEAR) the general consensus is that the use of that term for "Japanese" is socially unacceptable. Maybe it's ok in your language, but it's not ok in English. Please do not use it.

I think the idea to make additional Japanese WW2 moulds is not a bad one. However, there's no need to "pick up where Marushin left off." Most of the marushing moulds at this point are obsolete and/or at best marginally obtainable. If there's an aircraft to be done, there's no need for HM to worry whether marushin made it before or not, just like they didn't worry that there were plenty of franklin mint aircraft out there for the usual suspects, even if in some cases the FM models hold up their own to HM efforts.

I think HM can do well with 1/48. Its not a blockbuster business like certain jets are, but it's consistent and I think many people after some grumbling eventually look at what relative toys 1/72 single-engine WW2 aircraft are and decide that 1/48 is the way to go. Doubly so as the average collector ages and loses eyesight.

On the Japanese front, I think HM will do an A6M5 first, just like they did the later spitfires. I think HM will do this since they consider it "safe." From there, I think they can achieve the most profitability by sticking to navy aircraft: i think they'd be be wise to do a Val as its relatively simple. I think they can also do a claude as this has never been done in diecast and will look great in natural metal in diecast, especially if they copy the great wingsy kits mould that my friend created. If they do IJA aircraft, I suggest a tony makes a lot of sense as there are plenty of interesting liveries to do.

It is unfortunate that HM did the P-40N in 1/72. I think it is unlikely they will do it in the scale they should have all along, 1/48.

New Moulds:

I think the most likely new releases for HM in 1/48 are:

Hellcat and Dauntless. Even though they have this in 1/72 and 1/32, they could just keep cranking these out in 1/48 until the end of time. Both aircraft look great in 1/48.

Me262. HM's german aircraft have so far been disappointing due to crap painting, and this wont be any different, but it's saleable in plenty of liveries. I'll stick with my flawed but better painted FM's though.

Liveries on existing moulds:
- More pacfic/okinawa and korean war P-51s please. hell, just more P51s. Sorry, I just can't get enough. I was never that huge of a P-51 fan before HM's releases, but I just think these are superb models, warts and all. I have been superdetailing these a bit.
- sea hurricanes, please.


Modifications to existing moulds:
There are some modifications that would be great, but I'm not sure how likely they are:

- Non fillet-tail P-51D. Would allow for several popular liveries.
- F4U-5 - funky cheek intakes

Re: Wishes for Hobby Master - but this time in 1:4
 

Maybe A-7 Corsair? MiG 17?

Re: Wishes for Hobby Master - but this time in 1:4
 

https://www.hobbymastercollector.com/1-72MiG17.html

Re: Wishes for Hobby Master - but this time in 1:4
 

I forgot... I guess I should start by putting forward my own ideas...

1 - Already existing moulds : I guess this is the easiest, and we can go all over the place. But to propose win-win options ( good for collectors, in that we would want to have them, and good for HM in that they would sell well ) I would first propose a more interesting version of their green P-47 razorback. So far the models thy have released were a bit plain. How about a nice looking one like the well known BIG STUD of Lt. Col. Robert Baseler ( or a similar one ) of a P-47 from the Italian theatre of Operations, with their recognisable black & Yellow checkered tails ? They would be nice and different to what they have issued so far.

Or how about the SNAFU P-47 ? In my opinion, preferably the one with "less" D-Day bands all over ?

Re: Wishes for Hobby Master - but this time in 1:4
 

Good call on snafu. Would have been better when it was still at duxford (i think it's gone, right?) i remmeber getting the corgi model, thinking it was just ok, but then reselling it for a mint when it got rare. Like the "passion wagon" P-51 that I had a large role in making sure HM did and which turned out to be very popular, I think this livery will be quite popular. I'd get one.

Re: Wishes for Hobby Master - but this time in 1:4
 

and since the tooling exists already, how about an all-black Hurricane IIb night intruder ?

Re: Wishes for Hobby Master - but this time in 1:4
 

Regarding modifications to the existing tooling, my favourite would be the seaplane version of the Zero, the Nakajima A6M2 Rufe. I think it would be spectacular development of their current Zero mould, and it can come in a number of cammo schemes, so there is plenty of room for more than one issue once the modifications are made...

Re: Wishes for Hobby Master - but this time in 1:4
 

Sorry for offending you. :rolleyes: Oh dear. I didn`t realise you were so easily offended when no offence was intended.


The cowlings on Aoshima`s A6M5`s are removable with detailed engines, and they are very, very good. You may want to have a look at one. I`m sure HM can produce one to a similar standard.

I believe HM will produce an A6M2-N sometime in the future. Not much of a modification required, and there are some interesting schemes too. I believe HM will do the A6M3 tooling first as this will be simpler to produce.The wings are the same size as the A6M2. (Not withstanding the Type32 model) Only the cowl and armament is different. The A6M5 has shorter wings.

Re: Wishes for Hobby Master - but this time in 1:4
 

It's not me you're offending. You're embarrassing yourself and making this an unwelcome place with racist language. And, instead of doing the slightest bit of research or having the humility that you realize that you made a rather significant no-no, you brush it off. I'll respond to your comment below and then you're on my banned list.

I have one right here. Literally 1m away from me when I read your post. Hardly worth the effort.

buh bye.

The F16 and F4 would be the obvious choices in my view. If rendered with some fine detail and not the usual HM method.

With regards to WW2,.......to be quite honest the only thing I am that keen on is more RAAF Mustangs, P40s and Spits.

Hopefully with the RAAF Centenary we will see more.

Re: Wishes for Hobby Master - but this time in 1:4
 

Well, if they did a 1/48 P-40N there'd be quite a few nice RAAF P40 liveries to do. i just cant bring myself to spend good money on the 1/72 ones (though i got some on deep discount before).

I have a pretty good collection of expert built 1/48 WW2 built models, including a RAAF boomerang on the shelf and a wirraway in the builder's queue of a friend. I also have a vultee vengeance based on the old and difficult az models kit - it also has the horrendously expensive OZmods fuselage correction built in - but even with that it's not that great. That vengeance is in USAAF livery. however, just recently a ukrainian maker (forget who - roden?) announced a much improved 1/48 vengeance tooling. Maybe that's a good reason to get an RAAF one, possibly to match the great one in the museum in Australia. They're also coming out with a P-66 which i have a great one from the ... vacuum kit.

there's one more aircraft that i forgot to mention that HM might do in 1/48 - P-38... probably a J. but, maybe they might do an F on the back of the strong recent.. tamiya? i forget. kit. if so, a lot of RAAF liveries to be done. THat said, there are reasons why HM might not do a P-38, including packaging size. Still, it's not inconceivable that they will announce a lightning of some sort in 48 (ideally in their new premium range with a proper cockpit .. wishful thinking)

Re: Wishes for Hobby Master - but this time in 1:4
 

Bless. :cry:

Yes. Those would be ideal choices, I would like to see the Folland Gnat in this scale. I`ve recently purchased a couple of the Aviation72 1/72 one`s, and forgot how wonderful these little aircraft are.

Re: Wishes for Hobby Master - but this time in 1:4
 

A-1 Skyraider.

Re: Wishes for Hobby Master - but this time in 1:4
 

Part of me would like to see some Russian WWII aircraft in 1/48 scale. I love the diminutive polikarpov i-16 for some reason. The 1/72 one`s i have are tiny.
The other part of me wouldn`t, as i am running out of space!
Attachment 353530

Re: Wishes for Hobby Master - but this time in 1:4
 

Great minds think alike, Shawn507 & Carlo4... the Skyraider and the I-16 were two of the five "new tooling" models I was going to propose.

The I-16 trully would be diminutive, but no different than the tiny P-26 I have in 1:48 from HM. But it is a very emblematic aircraft that I think would sell well ( many CCCP schemes, also many Chinese ones, Spanish Civil War, etc )

Re: Wishes for Hobby Master - but this time in 1:4
 

And the Skyraider would be impressive at the other end of the 1:48 size spectrum... and so many different possibilities, in terms of colours and airframe combinations.

I always try to buy just one, max two models of each diecast aeroplane, but in the case of the A-1 I doubt I could stop at any less than three versions, from the Korean and Vietnam wards, and from both USN and USAF.

Re: Wishes for Hobby Master - but this time in 1:4
 

While I'd certainly wouldn't object to a 1/48 skyraider, more reaslistically if you are after one, look for a well built plastic kit. these can be readily obtained from various sources with a little patience and looking.

Realistically for any number of reasons I can't see HM doing a 1/48 skyraider. However, it is also well past time for them to do another USN early dark blue one.

Or, really, any one of these would be great for HM to do:

https://www.scalemates.com/products/...0-pristine.jpg

it would also be nice if HM Did an A1-E in 1/72 ("big canopy"). I'd buy every one they made in every livery.

or, making this discussion even more generic, I'd like HM to do any and all US aircraft from the 50s-60s-70s that used "international orange" as a color. This can be everything from protoype F-111 to various operational aircraft that used this for safety reasons to even things like the late 1940s atomic bomb / drone hellcats. Yes, I understand that "international orange" was not standard on all of these - ranging from a dull orange on some of the hellcats through a rich red on some aircraft. but, still, the idea is a good one. Unfortunately, the one recent model I have in such a scheme is a bit of a dud - the oxford twin beech. but still.

Re: Wishes for Hobby Master - but this time in 1:4
 

Ha! Nice one! Telepathy perhaps! :D


Yes i agree. Plenty of schemes and markings to keep it in production for a while. And... plenty of scope for weathering! :D

PS. Are they your I-16`s? They are really, really good!!:envy:

Re: Wishes for Hobby Master - but this time in 1:4
 

P-38 Lightning (L or even J models)
F6F Hellcat
F8F Bearcat
P-40 (later models than what's been released)
Japanese WWII fighters (other than Zeros, e.g., Ki-84, Hayate, Hayabusa)
Russian WWII fighters (e.g., Yak 9, LA-5, I-16)

And I love the Curtiss Hawk P-6E. Not many were built, but HM could do several really colorful examples, as they did for the other 1930s USA offerings.

Re: Wishes for Hobby Master - but this time in 1:4
 

PS. Are they your I-16`s? They are really, really good!!:envy:[/QUOTE]


No,,, I wish ! I stopped making plastic models many years ago. These are photos from internet, to give us some ideas....

Re: Wishes for Hobby Master - but this time in 1:4
 

Aw.. shucks! :sad: Anyhow. How about one of these M6A1`s to go along with our floatplanes!! ;)

Attachment 353676

and why not one of these N1K1 Kyofu Shiden Predecessors.... (in the correct IJN blue/green as seen here).

Attachment 353678

In fact, i would love to see all IJN floatplanes for that matter!!! :p:D:D:D

Re: Wishes for Hobby Master - but this time in 1:4
 

Two of the Japanese planes noted, in photos I took at the Smithsonian:

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw...-no?authuser=0

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw...-no?authuser=0

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw...-no?authuser=0

Re: Wishes for Hobby Master - but this time in 1:4
 

I could also go for a Curtiss P-36, too. Plenty of great US and other liveries available.

https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca88...kJGysQ1v2zAIdc

Re: Wishes for Hobby Master - but this time in 1:4
 

Very, Very nice indeed. Is that a Kikka in the background i can see?
I see the Ki-45, Gekko and the nose of the Shinden, which i have noted in another thread. Extremely nice pics!!! :D

Yes, any of those would be gladly accepted in 1/48 scale.

Re: Wishes for Hobby Master - but this time in 1:4
 

You're right, Carlo4. Check your PM for a message.

I'd also like to see a 1/48 SBD Dauntless. HM has it in their other scales, but it would go well with the Wildcat (and, hopefully, Hellcats).

Re: Wishes for Hobby Master - but this time in 1:4
 

Cheers! Very interesting, and super photo`s by the way.

Yes. I think we`ll see some Hellcats and SBD`s in the near future, i`m sure.
Let`s face it, there`s plenty for the likes of HM to go at.

Re: Wishes for Hobby Master - but this time in 1:4
 

Indeed, JKM54, the P-36 would be another nice idea.
You might be aware of it already, but something like 10 years ago a diecast company existed, called Carousel 1, that made very high-end, quality 1:48 WW2 aeroplanes. They only issued, to the best of my recollection, 5 different planes ( Fw-190D, P-51B, P-40B and P-36, and at the end a T-6 ). I have some of their models and they are very good. I do not know what happened to them, I think they were a small company and this was at the time then Hobby Master unleashed itself onto the diecast market.

Anyway , I have one of their P-36, the one of Lt. Rasmussen at Pearl harbour. It is anice model but maybe the chrome a bit too shiny, when compared to other chrome aircraft I have by HM for example. it is nice but I always wished they had issued far more attractive schemes like the Franch ones, and also the Finnish. This is the model I bought, I woner, if you really want them, if you can get them via eBay, etc

Re: Wishes for Hobby Master - but this time in 1:4
 

I vaguely remember them. It`s a shame companies such as this dis-appeared when they did some cracking aircraft types. The Curtiss is a very attractive aircraft.

Re: Wishes for Hobby Master - but this time in 1:4
 

I've seen the Carousel models; there are actually a few on eBay right now. One problem with the P-36A you pictured is that Carousel was trying to do the same thing with the wing guns as HM did when they ruined the P-51 molds. The P-36A had only cowl-mounted guns, but the model has wings that appear to have been made to cover later models with added guns on the wings. There are two Carousel P-36 models; one is the Pearl Harbor fighter and the other is a one-off pre-War camo version that's colorful. HM could copy the 1/48 kit from Academy, based on the earlier HobbyCraft kit.

Re: Wishes for Hobby Master - but this time in 1:4
 

There are three Carousel1 P-36s:

1. Rasmussen "pearl harbor." This is the silver one with #86 on it if i recall. This livery is a bit speculative since, amazingly, there is no consensus (including from rasmussen himself, when he was still alive!) as to whether his airplane was OD or NMF. I have this model 'stock' and also an OD code 3

2. a cleveland air races 'experimental camouflage' model. this is one that you are likely to find on ebay and such. but its an interesting subject, but as a model its a little less good as the scheme shows off the cowl-fuselage area seam.

3. the 'gold stripes' one. basically simlar to rasmussen's but with a lot of bling. spectacular finish and the shininess of the model is appropriate for this. this was (sorry, i could google this but just doing it from memory) a squadron leader's aircraft. absolutely beautiful model, whatever its nominal faults.

https://media.karousell.com/media/ph...rogressive.jpg

i think any serious collectors would be wise to snap these up rather than counting on HM to make one. it is worth noting that, amazingly, the p-36 has never been done by anybody else in diecast, even not in 1/72 from .. anybody really as far as i can tell. given some of the really, really marginal stuff that has been made in 1/72 diecast if only from magazine producers, that's actually incredible.

Re: Wishes for Hobby Master - but this time in 1:4
 

Thanks. I'd love to find #6123. The P-36 was one of my favorite airplanes from my model-building years. I'd also love a P-6E, but with so few liveries other than this one it'll never see the diecast light of day.

https://media.defense.gov/2020/Nov/0...-IO108-006.JPG

Re: Wishes for Hobby Master - but this time in 1:4
 

Indeed, the isssue is that what you posted is for all practical purposes the ONLY livery for the P-6E that anybody knows. This, and the only kit of it is the old lindbergh one. Now, the way things are going, we'll probably see a new tooling kit from it from an up and coming model kit manufacturer, but as they're doing nominally more obscure aircraft first, I can't see the P-6E happening.

I've been saying for a long time that HM could sure win some love from more historically oriented collectors by going back to the golden age or at least the 30s with a release or two that doesn't scream "money grab". You know, like Corgi's Beaufort. The I-16 is an idea that I've floated before. However ultimately the one that can get HM a lot of love is a 1/48 vindicator, which can be done in US (yellow wings, battle of midway, "pearl harbor", "coral sea", etc., British, and French liveries. The vindicator straddles the line nicely between being profitable and earning them the sort of respect that they got when they were doing their superb F3Fs. There are not less than 12 decent vindicator / chesapeake liveries that I think they could do and little to no mould variation is required.

https://i.ibb.co/zSjHq3T/vv2.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/DgdpWg2/vv1.jpg

Re: Wishes for Hobby Master - but this time in 1:4
 

1:48 Vindicator ?? Count me in !!

Re: Wishes for Hobby Master - but this time in 1:4
 

I understand that they actually participated in the battle of Midway, if I recall correctly, operating from the Midway aerodrome, as all early attacks on the Kido Butai...

Re: Wishes for Hobby Master - but this time in 1:4
 

"all early attacks" overstates it. The actual combat experience of the vindicator was minor, and its effectiveness even less. Still a wonderful, historical aircraft with a ton of liveries and it will look gorgeous in diecast as most of the liveries (the one unique camo french ones being an exception) require no mottling and are the sort that work well in diecast.

Re: Wishes for Hobby Master - but this time in 1:4
 

Ah, the "Wind Indicator." Yeah, along with a 1/48 Devastator!

Re: Wishes for Hobby Master - but this time in 1:4
 

Oh yesss, that one too, a 1:48 Devastator !! That would be awsome :D
And unlike the Vindicator, I think these is a chance a Devastator may be produced one day by HM....

Re: Wishes for Hobby Master - but this time in 1:4
 

I recalled another couple of kits in 1/48. There was an ancient Aurora kit, too, but there was a great one from Classic Airframes:

https://www.scalemates.com/kits/clas...e-hawk--254368

http://www.hyperscale.com/features/2001/p6ejv_1.htm

Re: Wishes for Hobby Master - but this time in 1:4
 

those are words you don't often see together in the plastic model community.

great subjects, sure. but very few classic airframes kits were anything but ... well.. deficient in one way or another. still love them for the subjects they brought to us all. many of them are now being re-done by other companies to modern tooling and accuracy/detail standards, finally.

Re: Wishes for Hobby Master - but this time in 1:4
 

Some possible P-36 liveries (just USAAF):

Attachment 354260

Attachment 354262

Attachment 354264

Re: Wishes for Hobby Master - but this time in 1:4
 

So JML, I'm afraid the liveries you listed probably advertise why there probably wont be a 1/48 P-36 hawk. Carousel missed a chance by not making an olive drab one, but beyond that most people who want one would find a carousel. there can't be that much interest in the various cleveland air race liveries. there are also nice french hawk liveries, including the one that did the uk/france airshow circuit in recent years - i have this one as a built kit - but given that it needs tooling modifications and has no combat history, i cant really see it happening.

meanwhile, while i am not too excited about the latest hm releases, i did overlook one thing - i very much do like MF-1, the wildcat. this one is unique because of its red cowl. it was available previously by dragon in a somewhat hard to find 72 scale diecast.

if i recall, there was some controversy about this livery, but i forgot the details. still, it
looks great and is a unique wildcat. i'll take one.

https://i.ibb.co/8NDscjN/mf-1.png

also, the pre-pro for the herman graff 190g has come out. i for one am happy with my built model and my old franklin mint, even if the latter has a lot of issues. if you dont have a g and dont want built kits, this may be the one to get, but it's obviously far less than it might have been with competent and realisting mottling.

Re: Wishes for Hobby Master - but this time in 1:4
 

This is one 1/48 scale aircraft i would like to see in die-cast. The Ki-100. In both bubble and razorback types. Not my Favourite IJA aircraft, but undoubtably one of the most important. I have a plastic 1/48 model but a diecast one would be much appreciated. This one in the photo below is at the RAF Cosford museum not too far away from me. They also have a Kawasaki Ki-46 Dinah.
Attachment 354620

Re: Wishes for Hobby Master - but this time in 1:4
 

One more F9f-5, let's finally have the Mig Killer.



https://theaviationgeekclub.com/meda...cret-dogfight/


https://aircraftprofileprints.com/18...file-print.jpg

Re: Wishes for Hobby Master - but this time in 1:4
 

Thanks 3rdwatch, you bring in a new line to the discussion, one that I think had mentioned in the original post but that we forgot to comment... how about early post-war aircraft in 1:48 ? ie models of a similar size and complexity as the current ones made by HM ?

Indeed, another issue of their F9F would be easy for them ( I already have one ) but how about other aircraft of the Korean War ? How about a P-80 ? would go well next to the F9F and potentially also the later variants of the Corsair or Mustang that were used in that war.

Re: Wishes for Hobby Master - but this time in 1:4
 

... and that is even before we put forward how many models HM could release of the T-33 variant, with liveries for all over the world, they could sell it everywhere...

Re: Wishes for Hobby Master - but this time in 1:4
 

can't see either P-80 or T-33 selling in 1/48. They are big, underdetailed aircraft. The falcon T-33 sold at best "ok" (though it had horrible intakes). From a mould perspective there is quite a bit of difference between a P-80 and a T-33 and what's more to make an interesting set of both each would itself require a lot of mould variation. Just can't see it happening.

Re: Wishes for Hobby Master - but this time in 1:4
 

Would it really be that much bigger than the F9F ? I do not think so. Plus HM is already doing big big models in 1:32. If the moulds are very different, then just go for the T-33...

Re: Wishes for Hobby Master - but this time in 1:4
 

The F9F has folding wings.

As I said, i think the chance of a T-33 in 1/48 are very slim. One good benchmark is just how little interest there has been in 1/72. The P-80 was basically never made in 1/72 and the T-33s didn't sell well even though in theory falcon models should have been able to pump those out endlessly at low cost for second-tier aviation user nations. Even if we stay in the realm of trainers, I don't see how this makes more sense than:

• T-6 in the realm of trainers
• Me-262 in the realm of early jets
• P-59 1/72 if we stay in a very limited Early US Jet space
• Even FJ-3 fury which would be more popular in 1/48 (or 1/72) than this.

but honestly, except for Me-262, which they will obviously do and maybe an outside chance at a T6/SNJ HM isn't going to do any of the above.

T-33 incidentally was the first cockpit I ever sat in my life - in a museum though and if I have the sequence correct it was even before I was in an airliner. Still, even at a young age this helped put me on a lifetime of flying.