ITALERI INCOMING - COUGAR HELICOPTER UPGRADE KIT

Italeri's 1:72 scale Eurocopter AS 532 Cougar helicopter kit has received an upgrade to the moulds, and a four-country super-decal sheet. This looks like a worthwhile job and the revamped kit should make a useful addition to the helo’s fan’s build-list.

ONE WHEEL OR TWO? MEN IN BLACK MONOWHEEL vs. TAMIYA MONSTER YAMAHA

SMN REPORT:

Tech-freak film fans can go loopy over the ace monowheel motorbikes (above) ridden by Agents J and K in the latest 'Men in Black 3' sci-fi saga. The movie is terrific entertainment, and a real “Want one” from the SMN Crew for those monowheel bikes. Back in the real world, Tamiya has a Yamaha Monster model for you...

LONDON BUSES NEW AND OLD

DAVID JEFFERIS REPORTS:

The SMN Crew had a trip to London yesterday, and apart from rides here and there on standard buses, we also saw one of the prototypes of Mayor Boris Johnson’s ‘Boris Bus’, and have to report it looks amazing in the metal.

Diecast Boris Bus

The 1:76 Corgi version (below) is nearly with us, so it's wait-n-see time for this one. Judging from this promo pic, it looks to be an excellent little model, and one we'll definitely have on display ASAP.

MORE MODELS ON DISPLAY

SMN REPORT:

Here’s the second set of scale model pix, courtesy Revell-Germany, the Mercedes-Benz set (above) due for release in August. And also a reminder that RG’s Scale 2012 modelbuilding competition is open for entries until August 15.

REVELL SCALE MODELBUILDING AWARD 2012 - GET YOUR MODELS ONLINE AND WIN!

SMN REPORT:

Target date for this year’s entries in the prestigious Revell Scale Modelbuilding Award competition is August 15, 2012. So if you want your talents recognized, here’s the chance.

AMAZING LEGO LAND ROVER

SMN REPORT:

The Spanish Lego fan Sheepo 2012 doesn’t seem to be too worried about the financial ups and downs of the Eurozone, maybe because he’s been hard at work building this 1:8.5 scale Land Rover Defender 110. 

LIMITED EDITION 2012 - QUEEN’S DIAMOND JUBILEE SHORTS TUCANO

SMN REPORT:

Here’s a new Limited Edition kit from Airfix, on release to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, on June 5, 2012.

SPACEX LAUNCHES DRAGON TO INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION

SMN REPORT:

News that the US company SpaceX successfully launched its Dragon space capsule, which is now on course for a test rendezvous with the ISS International Space Station makes us smile. And of course, it opens the door to the model-making wish-list.

INCOMING - PLANET OF THE APES ICARUS SPACECRAFT

SMN REPORT:

It’s a science-fiction time at the moment, with the run-up to Wonderfest this coming weekend, and today we’ve got an elegant-looking fictional spacecraft, the Icarus from the classic 1968 sci-fi movie Planet of the Apes.

KENTUCKY FRIED SCIENCE-FICTION - WONDERFEST HOBBY EXPO COMING ON MAY 26-27

SMN REPORT:

The WonderFest Hobby Expo is a weekend-long feast of science-fiction, horror, and fantasy modelling that’s held every summer in Louisville, Kentucky. This year, there’ll be a star-packed lineup of movie special effects guests, and a mega-size model contest for sci-fi, horror, and comics-related subjects. Model and toy dealers will be there, as will seminars to entertain and improve sci-fi hobbyists of all ages.

SHIZUOKA 2012 - BANDAI YMT-05 HILDOLFR SUPER-TANK

SMN REPORT:

Shizuoka is ground-zero for model robots and mecha of all kinds, and heading the charge from Bandai are Mobile Suit Gundam models and kits, based on a fictional universe that’s been popular since it first hit the stores in 1979. ‘Gunpla’ are Gundam Plastic models, and here’s an especially neat 1:144 scale sci-fi tank kit, the YMT-05 Hildolfr AFV, a deadly weapon named after a son of the Norse god, Odin. 

SHIZUOKA 2012 - HOT STUFF FROM TAMIYA

SMN update:

Shizuoka 2012 sees the Japanese model companies at their best, showing off a fantastic range of new and retooled products to delight us all. And leading the charge is Tamiya, with a galaxy of mouthwatering models.

SHIZUOKA 2012 - DOYUSHA 1:100 SCALE ZERO FIGHTER

SMN REPORT:

Here is the eighth model in the 1:100 scale Tsubasa Collection EX range from Doyusha of Japan. The finely-built Mitsubish Zero fighter represents that of Tetsuzo Iwamoto, a top-scoring Japanese ace of World War II.

GIANT AIRBORNE COMMAND POST - REVELL BOEING E-4B

MAT IRVINE REPORTS

Perhaps not too surprisingly, the major cost of any model kit is in the tooling. So once the main mould has been made, companies want to get the most out of their investment by creating as many variations on a theme as possible. And so we see a new version of Revell’s venerable 1:144 scale Boeing 747 Jumbo Jet, this time as the E-4B Airborne Command Post.

SALUTE TO A LEGEND OF MOTOR SPORT - REVELL 1:12 SCALE FORD SHELBY GT500

MAT IRVINE REPORTS

Carroll Shelby, one of the best known names in US motor sport, died last week, on May 10, 2012, aged 89. Coincidentally, Revell-Germany has just released a big, 1:12 scale version of the Revell-US Ford Shelby GT500 Mustang kit, thus helping to mark the long career of this motoring legend.

BIG-SCALE FINE MOLDS JEEP

SMN REPORT:

Here’s a tasty variation in big 1:20 scale kits for military modellers - it’s a Fine Molds model of a quarter-ton US Army Jeep, the original 4x4 that was jack-of-all-trades for Allied forces in World War II.

“THE DOCTOR WILL SEE YOU NOW” OR “BETTER LATE THAN NEVER.”

MAT IRVINE WEEKENDER

If you start a model build, then it’s best to complete it in a reasonable time, as there’s little point in your latest creation hanging around in a partially-built state. Well that’s the usual idea, but plans can go awry...

SHIZUOKA 2012 - MODULAR Z-SCALE RAIL SYSTEM FROM TOKYO MARUI

SMN Report:

Here’s a particularly interesting item for small-scale model rail fans - Japan’s Tokyo Marui has a Z-scale system that comes in pre-built, modular sections. A brilliant idea, and one that deserves worldwide interest.

TAMIYA ILYUSHIN IL-2 STURMOVIK - RUSSIA’S FINEST GROUND ATTACKER

SMN report:

There are plenty of Sturmovik kits around, so do we need another? The answer with the Tamiya 1:48 scale release, due out soon, is: “Just look at the parts.”

SEARCH THE SKIES! - LUNADIVER STINGRAY ON MOON ATTACK MISSION

SMN report:

Researching the upcoming 51st Shizuoka Hobby Show means we’ve bumped into all sorts of good stuff, and that includes these ace shots of the Hasegawa 1:35 scale Lunadiver Stingray spacecraft, complete with a pair of space-combat troopers.

TAMIYA STEYR 1500A COMMAND CAR WITH... COUNT THEM: 1-2-3-4-5-6-7 SCALE FIGURES

SMN report:

Latest take from Tamiya on the Steyr 1500A military truck is a neatly crafted 1:35 scale model, with a more than full complement of Wehrmacht staff, even a beskirted female aide.

GEMINI 1:24 SCALE SPACECRAFT RETURNS WITH REVELL

Weekender with Mat Irvine:

The 1:24 scale Gemini spacecraft was one of Revell’s most popular space kits of the 1960s, and now, if you missed the last reissue in 2000, it’s available once more in the 'Revell Classics' range.

ROBOTS ON THE MARCH IN JAPAN

SMN report:

We’ll be fascinated to see how many robots will be on display at Japan’s Shizuoka Hobby Show on May 17-20. They’ll probably number in their hundreds, from a host of toy, figure, and kit manufacturers, including Fine Molds, whose 1:20 scale robot shown here comes from the anime fantasy movie Laputa: Castle in the Sky.

UPCOMING - 51st SHIZUOKA HOBBY SHOW THIS MONTH

SMN report:

Last year’s Shizuoka Hobby Show was held not long after Japan’s devastating earthquake and tsunami, so let's extend good wishes to Japan and for no similar shadow over the show this year. The doors are open for the 51st Hobby Show on May 17-20, and it’s a biggie, held in Shizuoka, the self-styled Japanese ‘Hobby City’.

EVEN BIGGER BOMBER - 1:32 SCALE B-17 FLYING FORTRESS FROM HK MODELS

SMN Report:

We make no apologies for featuring another World War II bomber from Hong Kong Models - this one adds two more engines, and a lot more size, to represent the famed Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress. Manufactured to 1:32 scale, it’s a biggie all right.

BIG BOMBER KIT - 1:32 SCALE B-25J MITCHELL FROM HK MODELS, HONG KONG

Hong Kong Models is going bigtime for big planes, with a range of tasty-looking 1:32 scale bomber kits. And the first of these flying towards us is the HK North American B-25J Mitchell, due for release now.