Thursday, July 31, 2014

BUILD 'EM BIG - BRETT GREEN BOOK DETAILS CONSTRUCTION OF AIRFIX 1:24 SCALE HAWKER TYPHOON 1b


If you like the look of the new 1:24 scale Airfix Hawker Typhoon 1b, then this book by Brett Green looks like an essential must-read.

SALUTE TO FREDERICK I ORDWAY III - A POWER BEHIND THE SPACECRAFT THAT FEATURED IN THE MOVIE '2001 A SPACE ODYSSEY'


One of the major forces behind the designs for spacecraft in the classic science-fiction movie 2001: A Space Odyssey, Frederick I Ordway III, died earlier this month, aged 87.

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

JAMES BOND CAR - TWO FORD THUNDERBIRDS COMPARED, FABBRI DIECAST AND REVELL PLASTIC KIT


Fabbri have produced a whole range of 1:43 scale diecast vehicles in the long-running partwork series, 'The James Bond Car Collection.' Among them is a Ford Thunderbird, which I've matched here today with a somewhat larger 1:25 scale Revell kit.

Saturday, July 26, 2014

EXCELLENT CARRIER VIDEO: RUSSIAN SUKHOI SU-33 DECK ACTION


THE HASEGAWA 1:72 scale Sukhoi Su-33 is a decent kit of Russia's premier carrier warplane, and today's video provides some good detail shots, allowing model makers to add extra sparkle to this kit.

Friday, July 25, 2014

MENG MONSTER TRUCK: FORD F-350 SUPER DUTY CREW CAB TO 1:24 SCALE


THIS KIT WAS A GREAT surprise - and a delight to many model makers - when it was announced. Until now, Meng, one of the newer Chinese model companies operating out of Hong Kong, has concentrated mostly on 1:35 scale AFVs and associated military, with a few aircraft in 1:72, 1:48, and 1:32 scales. Now this 1:24 scale kit - a Ford F-350 Super Duty Crew Cab - has been produced to fill a gap that seems to have been oddly missed by the American manufacturers.

Thursday, July 24, 2014

KITS FROM CHINA - TRUMPETER CATALOGUE ONLINE VERSION



Here's the online version of the 2013-2014 Trumpeter brochure, which has plenty to read for the avid model maker.

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

ROY CROSS, KING OF THE KIT BOXES - ORIGINAL AIRFIX BOX ART FOR SALE AT AUCTION


The auction house Vectis has a sale that will include the last major tranche of original Roy Cross Airfix artwork, selected by Roy himself from his personal collection. The Vectis sale is on Thursday July 24, 2014.

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

MORE FROM 'MODEL AIRPLANE NEWS' - TERRIFIC READ FOR SCALE RC FANS


There's plenty of excellent reading for radio control (RC) enthusiasts in this online version of the picture-packed Model Airplane News. RC flight is now a good option for scale fans, allowing you to not only build your aircraft, but also to fly it too - and mostly at an affordable price.

Monday, July 21, 2014

iPHONE 6 - WILL THIS HAVE THE BEST CAMERA TO PHOTOGRAPH YOUR MODELS?



HERE IS A NICELY RENDERED iPhone 6 concept that's been inspired by various leaks and rumours. The present iPhone 5s includes an excellent camera - many SMN pix are taken with one - but if rumours are correct, the upcoming iPhone 6 will be even better.

Friday, July 18, 2014

INCOMING: AIRFIX 1:24 SCALE TYPHOON MEGA-KIT HAS LANDED


The Airfix 1:24 scale Hawker Typhoon is now for sale, and looks to be a terrific model, packed inside and out with structural detail. We're looking forward to building this one hugely.

Thursday, July 17, 2014

TOP GUN F-14 TOMCAT FROM AMT - A SILVER SCREEN MACHINE WITH SWING WINGS


ISSUED IN THE AMT ‘Silver Screen Machine’ series, this 1:72 scale F-14 Tomcat is the first non-car subject to be included. The kit is also a return to the Tom Cruise movie Top Gun which, although dating back to 1986, still grabs attention.

Wednesday, July 16, 2014

SUPER-CHEAP LAUNCH MODELS - ATTRACTIVE PERIOD TRAMCARS FROM FRANCE AND BRITAIN


HERE'S A CHANCE TO GET A FRENCH period tramcar at a bargain price. It has to be a great deal at just 2.99 Euros. And if you don't want a French model, how about a British balloon tram?

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

A MONSTROUSLY GOOD READ - ‘AURORA MONSTER SCENES: THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL TOYS OF A GENERATION’



AURORA MONSTER SCENES by Dennis L. Prince and Andrew P. Yanchus, has been a long time coming, but for anyone even vaguely interested in Aurora and its monster kits, it’s a book that's been worth the wait.

Monday, July 14, 2014

1:32 SCALE XV-1 EXPERIMENTAL SUPER-CHOPPER KIT FROM GLENCOE MODELS


Glencoe Models have started to reissue many of their older kits, and this 1:32 scale experimental McDonnell XV-1 Convertiplane is one of these, making a welcome return for today's model makers.

Saturday, July 12, 2014

SMALLSPACE 3 SCIENCE-FICTION MODEL SHOW - LANDING ZONE: SUNDAY, JULY 13, 2014



ARE YOU FREE TOMORROW? Do you like sci-fi themes, models and miniatures? Then smallspace 3 is for you. It's on 10.00-16.00 Sunday in Hanslope, UK.

MEGA KITBASH CONCEPT - BMW ADVERT SHOWS THE WAY TO AN EXTRAORDINARY AIRCRAFT CARRIER



BORED WITH ORDINARY FIGHTING SHIPS? THEN try converting a US aircraft carrier kit to create a TV advert-style racetrack for BMW performance cars.

Friday, July 11, 2014

AIRFIX 1:24 SCALE TYPHOON 1B - UNMISSABLE VIDEO INTERVIEW



Here's a fascinating interview with Airfix Industrial Designer, Sam Townshend.

It's all good stuff that's packed with info on how the kit was developed. There are plenty of closeups too, which make buying and building the kit look like an absolute must.

A MOVING STORY - REVELL GLOBAL VAN LINES TRACTOR AND TRAILER KIT TO 1:87 SCALE


IN A CONTINUATION of looking back at some classic models, here’s one that appeared purely by good fortune, at the Spring 2014 Chicago Toy Fair.

Thursday, July 10, 2014

DETAIL-UP KIT BY LVM STUDIOS FOR 1:72 SCALE ZVEZDA SS-25 MISSILE TRANSPORTER


WE LOOKED AT THE 1:72 SCALE ZVEZDA SS-25 missile transporter kit recently, and now a detail-up kit for this is available from LVM Studios of The Netherlands.

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

HEAVEN ON EARTH FOR SCIENCE-FICTION FANS - SMALLSPACE 3 LANDS IN THE UK THIS COMING SUNDAY


SUNDAY JULY 13 MARKS the third one-day smallspace show, when Daleks, Cybermen, and many more deadly aliens descend on Hanslope village, UK. As well as full-size sci-fi mayhem, there will be plenty of scale models on display too. The result? An unmissable event. 

Tuesday, July 8, 2014

KITBASHERS LOOK AT THIS - FANTASTIC FUTURE FLYER VIDEO


LOOKING FOR a modelmaking project? Then you could find inspiration from this Lockheed Martin Skunk Works video, depicting Ares, a future-generation autonomous helicopter.

Monday, July 7, 2014

ULTIMATE ELECTRICS - MODEL AIRPLANE NEWS FLYING SPECIAL


WE'RE GETTING REALLY turned on to radio control (RC) electrics these days. It just seems such a good idea to build something that will actually do stuff - like flying - after it's been built.

Friday, July 4, 2014

ROBOT LOVERS, ONE PACE FORWARD - ONLINE TAMIYA ROBOTIC PRODUCTS


THE TAMIYA Educational and Robotic products catalogue is filled with interesting stuff for model makers who enjoy adding movement to displays.

Thursday, July 3, 2014

INCOMING - AIRFIX 1:24 SCALE HAWKER TYPHOON DUE THIS MONTH


THE TYPHOON IS HOT NEWS from Airfix, which has flagged the on-sale date for this mouthwatering kit as July 21. Good for you, Airfix - we're looking forward to opening up that big box and ogling the parts inside.

Tuesday, July 1, 2014

SCALE MODEL DATABASE - ONLINE ANSWER TO A MINIATURE PAINTING PROBLEM?


EVER SCRATCHED YOUR HEAD and wondered what colour was used for a particular model in a photograph, or on a full-size object, so you could match it to the model you were building?