TWO ‘TOKYO 1946’ EXOTIC COMBAT AIRCRAFT FROM MENG MODEL

REPORT: DAVID JEFFERIS

“This is not a toy” declares a stern caption on the box of an interesting kit from China-based Meng Model. Actually, it’s not a real aircraft either, but an 1:72 scale kit of an uncompleted World War II design, the Mansyn Ki-98 pusher-prop ground attack machine - but that makes it all the more interesting!

DINKY LITTLE 1:35 SCALE TAMIYA SIMCA 5 IN GERMAN STAFF CAR SERVICE

REPORT:DAVID JEFFERIS

Available shortly from Tamiya is this very neat 1:35 scale Simca 5 military staff car. The tiny Simca 5 was a French-built version of the better-known Fiat 500 Topolino, and many of them were pressed into military service during the World War II occupation of France.

STAR TREK USS ENTERPRISE AT WONDERFEST 2012

REPORT BY MAT IRVINE:

Here I continue my review of the 2012 WonderFest science-fiction and fantasy show, held at the end of May in Louisville, Kentucky - and take a close look at the test shot (above) of the huge 1:350 scale USS Enterprise due for release soon.

JAPANESE TOBU 2012 MODEL CONTEST

REPORT: DAVID JEFFERIS

The Tobu Department Store is located at the Ikebukuro Station, Tokyo, and is one of the Japanese capital’s largest such stores - and is also venue for the Tamiya Tobu 2012 model contest. Importantly for Tamiya, 2012 is also the 50th anniversary of its first military model, so in the company’s words, “... epic tour de force gathered more than usual.” Well, that’s the Google translation, anyway!

AOSHIMA H-IIB SPACE LAUNCHER KIT

ROCKET REVIEW BY MAT IRVINE

Give that the H-IIB launch rocket is the mainstay of Japan’s satellite launch industry it’s somewhat surprising that there has been no kit of it before - this kit from Aoshima is a first.

UNEARTHED! MPC 1:20 SCALE TURBOCAR KIT

MAT IRVINE REPORTS

Strange how some things happen. The SMN team is spreading out and working on producing a range of ebooks, and the first title will focus on my own modelling activities. It’s called Mat’s Marvellous Model Museum, and to this end I’ve not only been scribbling away furiously, but also doing some research on the vast stack of models in the collection. 

IT’S A SMALL WORLD - THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING MODEL KIT

TINY VIEW BY MAT IRVINE

You may have noticed some of Round 2’s AMT and MPC kit releases that also include a miniature version of the kit's own 'big box.' A new idea? Not exactly, as AMT/MPC’s previous owner, RC-2, had produced a range of small diecast cars in its Johnny Lightning ‘Classic Plastic’ series.