It’s sad that I ended up with a muscular pain just from moving around a little, could be due to me ageing.
Being sent to the Hobby Show the other day, Tomeko here, How do you do?
Today, I’d like to report on the event, starting with the new items and the items that looks to open reservation sometime hereafter.
■Pit Road
- 1/72 Type 10 Tank
Before it was made official, they were referred to it as TK-X, the latest tank of the Japanese GSDF.
It’s smaller and lighter than the previous Type 90 that was used as the main force before, yet boasts a spec that’s greater than
the Type 90.
And by being equipped with the C4I, the new information system, the communications capabilities has greatly risen.
This has allowed for a greater teamwork with the other allies nearby and the commanding choppers etc. by the improved communication.
They are looking to allow sharing of information with each type of army copters as well, so if that becomes usable, they will be able to carry
out missions more dynamically, I would imagine.
This is something that could be said about most new weapons, but they hadn’t just improved the firepower/armor/mobility etc. but they
also has some sort of information system used on them as well.
They are to be officially stationed from next year, and seem like the older type machine, Type 74 will be positioned after being updated. There
seems to have been prototype displayed at the Fuji General Arms Exercise this year, so this surely will be machines that will be picked up by
many media from now. Probably, anyway.
- Aikokumaru
Errrrm, the naming sense is questionable, it literally mean "Love the Country", and yes this was a ship from the constant war.
I mean, apparently this ship just had a private boat customized and used as special cruiser.
The photo is that of the colored version of a resin kit, but the product is scheduled for release as a plastic kit.
There were also many other new items lined up on display too.
■Hobby Boss
There were new items announced at the show briskly displayed.
So manly of you, Hobby Boss!
- 1/35 Merkava Mk.4
The tank serving in the Middle East: latest model of the Merkava series.
It seems that there are many troubles around that region, and there may be relatively small amount of Israeli troops, but they are equipped
with very nice goods.
The most characteristic feature of this Merkava is the fact that the engine is positioned in the front part of the tank.
Normally, the common theory would be to equip the engine at the back to try to minimize the risk of it being damaged when being hit, but in the
case of Merkava, they incorporated the idea to protect the people inside, even at the cost of the engine being hit, and purposefully
positioning the engine at the front as an additional defense.
There seems to be other parts equipped that can function as a shield in the case of an emergency as well, and there are voices that claim this
is the greatest tank in the world, if you think about the safety of the troops inside as a priority.
Now, there is an exterior equipment module used for the turret part of this Mk.4,
so
you just have to replace that part even if hit.
What an economical design!
There are other countries that manufacture tanks in their own country, but the reason Israel put so much effort into protecting their troops
could be simply due to the point that they don’t have so much of the population employed.
However, compared to the land and the population, their economy is fairly wealthy, so they don’t have so much trouble in keeping quality
military equipment.
- 1/72 Kamov Ka-29
The Russian Military Heli that has a characteristic co-axial (double inversion) rotor. This co-axial contra-rotating rotor with two main rotors
that’s on a single axel, and adjusts its position by spinning one rotor clockwise, while spinning the other in anti-clockwise; therefore
eliminating the need for a tail rotor, which directly equals being able to be used in a smaller space, thus great to be put onboard a Carrier.
and yes, that was quite a mouthful.
So that is its main merit.
...although it will require that much height.
However, this coaxial contra-rotating types may have a complicated structure, as it doesn’t seem to be used too much elsewhere other than
at the Kamov Engeneering Department of Russia at present.
- 1/48 F3H-2 Demon
This is an onboard fighter jet developed by the U.S. Army in the 1950s.
As the Korean War broke out, there are some functions loaded onto these such as the all-weather capability etc.
Please enjoy the rest of the images of the awaited new items from Hobby Boss.
- 1/35 VK45.02(P)
- 1/35 Land Rover
- 1/35 Chinese Army ZTZ96A
- 1/32 Spitfire Mk.Vb
- 1/48 Focke Wulf Ta152C-1
- 1/32 F-84E Thunder Jet
- VK45-02(P)H
There was the 1/72 Dora that had finally started sale the other day displayed at the booth as well. There may have been some that felt they
couldn’t afford it, but they could still just admire it at close range.
■Cyber Hobby
- 1/32 WWII German Air Force Bf109E
I guess there really isn’t much need for explanation. The popular German aircraft, the Messerschmitt.
They’ve pursued reproduction of fine details with the cockpit and engine etc., not just the details of the aircraft surface and its
state. By the use of many slide mold, this is a kit that has both the great accuracy of form, as well as the simplicity of construction.
Super!
- 1/35 Kettenkraftrad Late Type
This is the late type of the Kettenkraftradm, which had been familiarized as the transport item of the German troops. As a half-track vehicle,
this may well be the world’s smallest class. The slight slackness of the crawler-track and the cool/cute look has been reproduced very
nicely, a kit to look forward to for sure!
Btw, the front wheel looks like that of a motorbike, but it doesn’t have any breaks or anything on it, and apparently it could actually
run without it...
......maybe even a plastic kit newbie like me might be able to build this.
- 1/6 WWII German Army Panzer II Type B
BOOOOOM!
Seated right at the center of the booth, was the complete model of the Panzer II at a whooping scale of 1/6 size. There were no details of
pricing and stuff, but it had such impact even as a base model that hasn’t even been colored.
It could probably go very well against the Dora of Hobby Boss too.
As the scale is 1/6, it could be interesting to create a huge diorama by combining it with the military type dolls too.
Although the pricing might be just a little high, with the size being what it is......
......so yeah.
The All Japan Model Hobby Show has reached a commemorative 50th round.
It was the open for public viewing in the weekend that just passed, may be some of you managed to make a visit.
But for those of you that didn’t get to go, don’t worry, there are still more of the Hobby Show report to come, here at the Hobby
Search Blog! I hope you will get a taste of what the event was like.
Sorry for the article being a little long, that’s it for today!
Thanks for reading and look forward to more that’s to come!
By Tomeko.