Smith Brothers Hobby Center

06/12/2026

P-47 Thunderbolts of the 1st Air Commando Group, 10th Air Force, taking off, 1944.

06/12/2026

06/12/2026

This wonderful submission comes from Robert B. over in Iowa! Saulena's Tavern is a great kit! Have you built it yourself?

06/11/2026

06/11/2026

5000th B-17 built at Hunter airfield, GA, 1944.

06/11/2026

Charles Elwood “Chuck” Yeager was one of the most famous test pilots in aviation history, the man who first flew faster than the speed of sound.

Born in 1923, Yeager began his flying career as a fighter pilot in World War II, where he became an ace and was credited with destroying 13 enemy aircraft. But his place in history was secured after the war, when he joined America’s high-speed flight test program.

On 14 October 1947, Yeager climbed into the rocket-powered Bell X-1 and flew at 1,078 kilometres per hour at an altitude of 12,800 metres — Mach 1.015. In doing so, he became the first pilot officially confirmed to break the sound barrier.

Yeager continued flying experimental aircraft for years, including the dangerous NF-104 Starfighter, seen here in 1962. He later commanded fighter and test pilot units in both Europe and the United States, eventually rising to the rank of Brigadier General.

From World War II combat pilot to supersonic pioneer, Chuck Yeager became a symbol of the jet age, calm, fearless, and always pushing aircraft beyond the limits of what seemed possible.

06/11/2026

A-6 takes off from the USS Enterprise.

06/10/2026

Iconic SP caboose seen locally for decades! Now available for pre-order!

The Cotton Belt received some C-50-5 class cabooses and they were optioned the same as the Southern Pacific cars. Pre-order these 1970s era ICC caboose models through your Athearn dealer by Tuesday, June 30th.

https://www.athearn.com/on/demandware.static/-/Sites-athearn-us-Library/default/dw466ccdb1/announcements/may-2026/03_GENHO_ICC_Caboose_042426.pdf