STEALTH JET OR JAMES BOND AUTOGYRO? YOUR CHOICE!

Stealth technology is standard-issue on military hardware today, but not so long ago, it was top secret and kept far away from detailed public knowledge. So model companies came out with various guesstimate-kits, based on informed thinking by experts. Among these was the MiG-37B stealth jet, a 'faction' model even given the notional NATO codename, 'Ferret E.'

FESTIVE SEASON SLIDE SHOW - FROM PEUGEOT RACE CAR TO LUFTWAFFE 1946

2011's coming to an end now, and it's been a year of steady growth for SMN, we're pleased to say. The Mobile Edition has been an interesting experiment, and in 2012, we should be able to make newsposts directly from the trusty iPhone. It's a high-tech world all right!

AMAZING AND EXTRAORDINARY - TINIEST MODEL TRAIN EVER MADE?

SMN is awestruck:

This video shows an amazingly small oval-track rail layout - built in ultra-tiny microscale to fit inside a Z-gauge model shop window... Watch and enjoy.

Plus, the daily SMN Festive Slideshow. We have 20 items of scale gorgeousness on show today, though object number one, a cyber-pup, is more art than scale model. It's a steampunk creation, made up of various scrap components including a 1950s-era retro toaster. We like Fido's smile, though trust he doesn't bite, as metal teeth are liable to be sharp...  

MORE MODELS TO ENJOY...

A Baker's Dozen for you today, with subjects ranging from the gorgeous Imai Thunderbirds kit above, to Belgium's Tin Tin, the suave super-spy James Bond, and the British sci-fi hero Dan Dare - and of course, Dan's Venusian nemesis, the melon-headed Mekon, nastiest alien super-villain to strut the spaceways...

MORE PIX FOR THE FESTIVE SEASON

We trust you've had a great Festive Season so far - relax here over some tasty models...

BOXING DAY SLIDE SHOW

Hey, we hope you've had a great Christmas Day... and here's a Boxing Day slide show of interesting stuff.

Come back daily to see a group of models each time. And... enjoy the rest of your day!

HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL MODELMAKERS

If you have broken off your Christmas Day festivities to have a look at SMN, then we'll just say: "Thank you for visiting Scale Model News in 2011 and we look forward to your company for the rest of this year, and of course, during the New Year 2012 to come."

The pix are of our stellar (well, Star Wars) light display - and after the festive season is over, those attractive blue LEDs may well find continuing use as blast-pit lighting for our big starship landing field diorama.

But that's another story, to be told in 2012!

AERIAL ACTION -1:32 SCALE HEINKEL He 219 UHU COMING IN 2012

SMN report:

Recent rumours have swirled around the notion of Revell adding to its big-scale range with a Heinkel He 219 Uhu (Owl) night fighter. And it seems that this really is going to happen, and that it won’t simply be a scaled-up version of the 1:72 scale kit already available.

NEW KITS AND ‘KATCH THE KAT’ FROM ROUND 2 MODELS

Mat Irvine reports:

Since its inception, Round 2 has reissued kits that haven’t seen the light of day for many years. But they aren’t all straight down-the-line reissues. Many of the new kits supply more parts than originally, often by combining parts from several versions that you didn’t get first time around. Also, some parts are supplied in varied colours - for example, plain transparent parts in the early kits are now supplied with three other transparent shades, so you can mix and match if you wish.

AIRFIX 1:72 SCALE FAIREY SWORDFISH, VICTORIA CROSS ICONS GIFT SET

SMN report:

If you’ve time for a last-minute shop for Christmas then the latest Airfix Fairey Swordfish might fit the bill. Newly-released, the attractively-boxed 1:72 scale kit promises to be a quantum leap ahead of the good old girl that many a mature modelmaker assembled in his youth.

NEW FOR 2012 - CANNON-ARMED BATMOBILE TUMBLER STARS IN UPCOMING BATMAN MOVIE

SMN report:

The final part of the current Batman ‘Dark Knight’ movie trilogy is heading our way next summer, and The Dark Knight Rises will bring a host of techno-treats by way of new and updated crime-zapping machinery for our caped crusader. And that means there'll be new movie tie-in Batman kits, collectibles, diecasts, and RC equipment on release soon. 

BLACK IS BEAUTIFUL - NEW ZEALAND ALL BLACKS BOEING 777 UNVEILED FOR 2012 FLIGHT

SMN report:

Here’s a challenge for the kit-basher kings and paint-masters among you - it’s Boeing’s latest 777 twin-jet for ANZ (Air New Zealand), painted in midnight black to toast the World Champion All Blacks rugby team. Not only does the special scheme look great, but it makes the 777 the world’s largest airliner ever painted in an overall black finish. You can see the rollout on video, together with two All Blacks players, after the jump.

REVELL 1:72 SCALE A400 'GRIZZLY' - BUILT-AND-PAINTED UPDATE

SMN report:

The 1:72 scale Revell Airbus A400M models the tactical airlifter that is the long-delayed European answer to the hugely successful Lockheed-Martin Hercules, a military cargo plane that’s been produced continually since its first flight in August, 1954.

ROUND 2 TAKES OVER AMT, POLAR LIGHTS, MPC - BEATLES, STAR TREK KITS IN 2012

SMN report:

The Round 2 model company recently acquired all rights to the leading model kit brands AMT, MPC and Polar Lights from Tomy, the Japanese toy, merchandise and entertainment name.

2012 MINIATUR WUNDERLAND VIDEO SHOWS THE WORLD’S MOST AMAZING MODEL RAIL LAYOUT

SMN report:

Here's the 2012 official video from Miniatur Wunderland, Hamburg. It's the largest model rail system in the world, and one of the most successful tourist attractions in Germany.

REVELL QUEEN MARY 2 LUXO-LINER MODEL AWARD

SMN shipping news:

According to the ship’s owner, Cunard, the luxury liner Queen Mary 2 is: “the most magnificent luxury ocean liner ever built. Her every detail harkens to the Golden Age of Ocean Travel, while providing one of the most modern luxury cruise travel experiences on Earth.” Wow, that’s breathless prose for you - but just for once, this ship might live up to it. And the Queen Mary 2 makes a fine model subject too, as the pic above shows.

BMW ART CARS - JEFF KOONS SUPER-STRIPES CREATION AVAILABLE IN 1:18 SCALE

SMN report:

Here’s something with a wow-factor to add to that lineup of 1:18 scale diecast cars. It’s the latest in a long line of BMW ‘Art Cars’ - art in motion, with designs and paint applied by a host of top-name artists over the years.

EXHIBITION OF BOX-ART FROM THE FRENCH HELLER KIT COMPANY

SMN report:

If you have a trip to Paris, France, planned anytime until January 3, 2012, then make sure you go to Gallerie 64bis, not far from that famous Parisian icon, the Eiffel Tower.

HOP ON FOR A FIRST LOOK AT THE BIG NEW REVELL LONDON BUS KIT

Mat Irvine reports:

It’s one of those coincidences that two of the most significant model kits to be made in recent years are both to 1:24 scale and both of classic British subjects. First came the Airfix 1:24 scale de Havilland Mosquito, now Revell has given us the archetypal London Bus - a name so familiar that the kit is called just that, not the AEC Routemaster, to give it its full and correct name.

STARDATE 2012 - SPACE SHUTTLE 'ENTERPRISE' FLYING IN TO NEW YORK’S USS INTREPID MUSEUM

Mat Irvine weekend read:

In 2012 a new addition will join the famed USS Intrepid Museum Complex at Pier 86, New York City. The new display star will be the ALT (Approach and Landing Tests) Space Shuttle Orbiter Enterprise, (above) due to fly from Washington DC to JFK International Airport on the back of NASA’s Boeing 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft.

2012 PRODUCTS REVEALED - INCOMING KITS FROM REVELL-MONOGRAM

From Mat Irvine:

Here’s a look at Revell-Monogram kits for release in 2012. I’ve previously  mentioned the recreated Renwal Blueprint series, with the futuristic Teracruzer and Mace missile, but there’s much more coming down the line.

FIRE-BREATHING RENAULT RALLY RACER FROM OTTOMOBILE

SMN report:

Here’s a new 1:18 scale resin-based model from the French OttOmobile company that’s just come on release. It’s a Renault 5 Maxi Turbo racer, as driven by driver Erik Comas in French Supertourism rallies.

FANTASTIC HAND-BUILT V-12 MOTOR - A SUPERB MINIATURE POWERPLANT THAT WORKS

SMN report:

We’ve always been in awe of the sheer thrill of hearing a big powerplant on full song. Whether it’s the earsplitting roar of a combat jet on full afterburner, or the mighty rumble of a muscle-car V-8, they all hit the spot. 

REVELL SCALE MODEL AWARD 2011 - RESULTS POINT TO THE HIGHEST QUALITY EVER

SMN report:

The Revell-Germany annual Scale Award competition could be the biggest international modelmaking contest sponsored by a kit company. Revell’s criteria for the judging panel's votes were clear: “the creative performance of the model builder and the attractiveness of the model itself.”

MORE FROM HASEGAWA - A BOILING-HOT STEALTH EGG PLANE

SMN report:

A new Egg Plane from Hasegawa is the F-22 Raptor, arriving with all-new tooling and decals, plus assembly instructions and a super-cute, big-eyed anime-style lady pilot.

CHICAGO TOY SHOW 2011 - TREASURE TROVE FOR BARGAIN HUNTERS

SMN weekend read from Mat Irvine:

Billed as ‘largest in the state of Illinois', the Chicago Toy Show is a twice-a-year event, held at the Kane County Fairgrounds. According to my friend and colleague Dean Milano, the show is far smaller than it used to be, but to this visitor from ‘across the pond’, it’s still pretty impressive. 

SWITZERLAND BUYS SAAB GRIPEN - MEANS MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR MODELMAKERS

David Jefferis reports:

Ace news for Swedish aerospace company Saab this week, as Switzerland has decided to go for the Saab Gripen NG (New Generation) as its front-line combat jet. The Gripen has been a challenger for the 22-aircraft order, in a long-running competition between state-of-the-art fighters such as the Dassault Rafale, EFA Typhoon, and Boeing F/A-18.

PRECISION 1:8 SCALE HASEGAWA ROTARY ENGINE

SMN report:

Hasegawa has reissued the beautifully produced 1:8 scale scale Le Rhone rotary engine. There are just 82 components to assemble, but it's an impressive kit nonetheless. As you can see from the pictures, the result will be a extremely convincing replica of this important World War I powerplant, and Hasegawa includes a dolly stand, so the display possibilities are good too.