REVELL VIRGIN GALACTIC SPACECRAFT: TEST SHOT ASSEMBLY DETAILS FROM MAT IRVINE

Here’s more on Revell’s new kit of the SpaceShipTwo and WhiteKnightTwo combo that will allow anyone to ‘fly into space’ - with two provisos: that they have a spare $100,000 or so, and can demonstrate that they are ‘reasonably fit’!

AIRFIX INCOMING 2014: D-DAY 70th ANNIVERSARY NEW-TOOL KITS

2014 looks like being a vintage year for Airfix, with a range of new-release and new-tool subjects in various scales. Here we look at some kits designed to partner with the D-Day landings that commenced on June 6, 1944.

HUMANS IN SPACE: REVELL VIRGIN GALACTIC DUO FLIES HIGH IN 1:144 SCALE

Space fans - and potential astronauts - will cheer this latest Revell real-space kit of Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic ‘edge-of-space’ craft, due to fly paying passengers in 2014.

CAPTAIN HARLOCK ‘ARCADIA’: SPACE-COMBAT BATTLEWAGON KITS GALORE, PLUS THE MACROSS SAGA

Hasegawa’s Captain Harlock 'Arcadia' kit is not the first model of this futuristic warcraft by any means. There have been at least three kit versions, maybe four, plus at least one resin and one paper kit of this vessel.

HERE’S A KIT FOR SCI-FI AND ANIME FANS: 1:1500 SCALE SPACE BATTLESHIP ‘ARCADIA’

Neat and shipshape - or perhaps it should be spaceshape - model kit of a Japanese anime sci-fi series interstellar war vessel.

VAN DAMME: DOES THE SPLITS IN EPIC STYLE BETWEEN TWO VOLVO TRUCKS

Bet there aren't too many model-makers who can even dream of equalling martial-arts expert Jean-Claude Van Damme's Volvo ultra-lithe super-split advert, but it's a fun-view anyway. Happy Boxing Day!

CHRISTMAS GREETINGS FROM CHUCK NORRIS AND SCALE MODEL NEWS

Here's wishing all SMN readers a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. May all your scale dreams come true - the bigger the kit, the better!

MIND-BOGGLING JAPANESE KITBASH: PLASTIC KITS TRANSFORM COMPUTER INNARDS TO MAKE AN AMAZING MINIATURE TECHSCAPE

Designer Hiroto Ikeuchi has produced something far out with this extraordinary conversion of a computer into a fantastic miniature world, mixing plastic kits with high-tech computer geekery.

HELO-ATTACK: TOP-LEVEL VISUAL EFFECTS USING A REVELL 1:48 SCALE MIL-24 HIND MODEL KIT

Excellent demo here from South African VFX-master Scott Newman. Being realistic, making a video this good might be beyond many of us, but no matter - it looks great and is something to aspire to.

JADE RABBIT ROBOT LANDS ON MOON: BUT HUMANS GOT THERE FIRST!

This movie dates back to the heady days of Apollo, when astronauts took the electric-powered Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV) for a drive. The update here is to stabilise the video, allowing for a much better viewing experience.

MODEL CANNON BLOWS AWAY EVERYTHING IN ITS SIGHTS

Model engineer T Shamir’s brass mini-mortar operates on the same working principles as the full-size weapons of war dating from the 15th century.

ED ‘BIG DADDY ROTH FROM REVELL: RAT FINK FIGURE AND 'CRAZY PAINTING' GARAGE KIT TO 1:25 SCALE

Here’s a homage to the late, great ‘Big Daddy’ Ed Roth, king of the Customizers and creator of the bulging-eyed Rat Fink rodent. Excellent news for all custom car fans, it’s available now from Revell.

SUN, FUN AND MODEL KITS: HAMEX 5 SHOW REPORT

Sunday December 8, 2013, saw the fifth HaMeX show (Hanslope Model Expo) held in the village of Hanslope, North Bucks, UK. The day was chilly, but bright and dry, which can’t always be guaranteed for this time of year! Above, the new Batman Tumbler from Moebius was built on a suitably grimy Gotham city diorama by Mat Irvine, then loaned to Tony James for his stand.

HUNGRY ROBOTS HEAD FOR HAMEX: K-9 CAFE FEATURES AT THE ANNUAL SWAPMEET AND MODEL SHOW

It’s December again, and that means another HaMeX Swapmeet and Model Show, to be held on Sunday, December 8, 2013, in Hanslope, UK.

MILITARY VEHICLES COLLECTION: WORLD WAR II SERIES TO DIECAST-STANDARD 1:43 SCALE FROM EAGLEMOSS

Here’s another partwork collectible from the publisher, Eaglemoss. For enthusiasts of scale militaria, this World War II series could be a tempter, especially as the models themselves seem to be well made.

FRENCHMAN AT IPMS MODELWORLD 2013: TAKES PIX OF THE EXCELLENT MODELS ON SHOW

French model fan JC Carbonel was hard at work during his visit to the IPMS ModelWorld 2013 recently. His pictures show a kaleidoscopic range of model choices, and highlight the hugely high level of craft skills on display.

JAMES BOND ASTON MARTIN AND JAPANESE WARSHIP: EAGLEMOSS HAVE THEM COVERED AS PARTWORK COLLECTIBLES

The partwork publishers are hard at it with model products these days, and we’ll doubtless be seeing a bunch of new items launched after Christmas. Meantime, here are a pair of ready-built models to inspect, coming piggy-backed with collectible magazine-style publications.

DOCTOR WHO FANS CELEBRATE: 50 YEAR ANNIVERSARY EXHIBITION HELD IN THE LONDON DOCKLANDS

To coincide with the 50th Anniversary of the famed TV sci-fi series Doctor Who, a massive event was held at the giant ExCel exhibition complex in London’s Docklands last weekend, November 22-24, 2013. Among the exhibits was this Sea Base 4 from the 1983 episode, ‘Warriors of the Deep.’

HEAVY-METAL BIKERS: THIS 1:6 SCALE MOTO GUZZI 850V CALIFORNIA IS FOR YOU

Italeri has just released a motorbike kit that will have working-part fans drooling to get their hands inside the box.

INCOMING: AIRFIX 1:24 SCALE HAWKER TYPHOON

Brilliant news from Airfix at the IPMS Scale ModelWorld show is the soon to be released 1:24 scale Hawker Typhoon.

SCALE MODELWORLD 2013: THE WORLD’S GREATEST MODEL SHOW

The massive IPMS Scale ModelWorld is on again this weekend at Telford, UK. For anyone with an interest in scale modelmaking, it’s THE show to visit.

INCOMING: F-101 VOODOO FROM KITTY HAWK MODELS TO 1:48 SCALE

Set for near-future release is a 1:48 scale F-101 Voodoo from Kitty Hawk Models. But can this model beat the classic Monogram kit to the same scale?

HMS ‘ENDEAVOUR’ SAILING SHIP KIT: AHOY THERE, IT’S MADE TO MODEL AIRCRAFT STANDARD 1:48 SCALE!

Sailing ship enthusiasts can climb aboard here for this big model of HMS Endeavour, ‘the ship that discovered Australia.’

JAPANESE ANIME KIT: FINE MOLDS JIRO BIRD-WING AIRCRAFT FROM ‘THE WIND RISES’ MOVIE

‘The Wind Rises’ (Taze Tachinu) is a hugely successful 2013 Japanese animated movie, the fictionalised story of Jiro Horikoshi, designer of the Mitsubishi A5M, and its famed successor, the A6M Zero. And this 1:48 scale Jiro ‘Bird-Type’ aircraft features in the movie.

COMET MINIATURES: THE END OF AN ERA, BUT THE DAWN OF A NEW AGE

Mat Irvine reports: After 30 years of being a major model store in South London, Comet Miniatures closed its doors for the final time last week.

WEEPING ANGEL TEMPORAL VAMPIRE: DOCTOR WHO FIGURINE COLLECTION

Doctor Who fans queue here for a set of collectible figurines from partwork publisher, Eaglemoss. They are moulded to a common 1:21 scale.

“WE’RE AT WARP 9.6 CAPTAIN: THE ENGINES CANNA TAKE IT ANY MORE!” “WRONG SHIP SCOTTIE: THIS IS A ROMULAN WARBIRD!”

Star Trek lives with an interesting fortnightly, ‘The Official Starships Collection’ from partwork publisher, Eaglemoss.

iHOBBY EXPO 2013: MAT IRVINE’S WRAP-UP REPORT

My last look at the excellent iHobby Expo 2013 includes some famous and not-so-famous faces, and even a book of mine.

REVELL-MONOGRAM AT iHOBBY EXPO 2013 AND THE TOLEDO COLLECTORS TOY FAIR

Mat Irvine: The model company located nearest to iHobby Expo 2013’s Schaumberg Conference Center venue, Revell-Monogram, displayed new products only on the Saturday.

iHOBBY EXPO 2013: MAT IRVINE PREVIEWS NEW MOEBIUS MODELS

Moebius Models performed a neat trick for 2013. The company was present at iHobby Expo in Chicago, while simultaneously mounting a display some 400km (250 miles) away, at the Toledo Collectors Toy Fair, Sylvania, Ohio.

iHOBBY EXPO 2013: BATTLESHIP TO BULLDOZER, AS MAT IRVINE SURVEYS THE STEVENS INTERNATIONAL MODEL-KIT PORTFOLIO

You might not have heard of Stevens International, but it’s an important outfit in the modelling world, as the company is one of the main US hobby distributors.

iHOBBY 2013: MAT IRVINE SCOPES OUT NEW SCI-FI STUFF FROM PEGASUS HOBBIES

Pegasus Hobbies is the brainchild of Larry Thompson (on stand, above) starting some years ago with accessories produced for model car builders. Today, Pegasus is far better known for its kits covering the wide topic of science-fiction.

iHOBBY EXPO 2013: MAT IRVINE SPIES THE NEW MINICRAFT 1:72 SCALE MARTIN PBM-5 MARINER

There is always a ‘model of the show’ at iHobby Expo, and although there weren’t any big fanfares to accompany it, and although I’m not really a big aircraft fan, my nomination nevertheless goes to the brand-new 1:72 scale Martin PBM-5A Mariner from Minicraft.

iHOBBY EXPO 2013, CHICAGO: SHOW REPORT FROM MAT IRVINE

iHobby Expo, the main showcase for what’s new in US model-making, returned to the Chicago area from October 3-8, 2013, after a brief relocation to Cleveland, Ohio, in 2012.

INCOMING: REVELL AIRBUS A350 XWB TEST SHOT PIX

Revell already has the Boeing 787 Dreamliner in its kit lineup, so now its European competitor is approaching, in the form of the 1:144 scale Airbus A350-900.

COLD WAR WARRIOR RETURNS: 1:48 SCALE AIRFIX JAVELIN DELTA-WING INTERCEPTOR

The first 1:48 scale model of the twin-jet Gloster Javelin, this Airfix kit is bound to be popular with fans of Cold War-era aviation technology.

INCOMING: SECRET SOVIET LUNAR SPACECRAFT TO 1:48 SCALE

A detailed 1:48 scale kit of the one-man Soviet LK Lunar Lander, built to beat NASA to the Moon in the heady Space Race days of the 1960s.

INCOMING: TWIN-FIN MiG-25 FOXBAT INTERCEPTOR FROM KITTY HAWK MODELS

A 1:48 scale kit from Kitty Hawk Models that captures the lines of the famed MiG-25 Foxbat very well indeed.

NAMED AFTER THE 9/11 ATTACKS: USS NEW YORK, NOW A 1:350 SCALE MODEL FROM REVELL

The USS New York, Amphibious Transport Dock LPD-2, is a brand-new 1:350 scale kit from Revell Germany. The ship was named after the city that bore the brunt of the attacks of September 11, 2001.

SAUCER SIGHTING: C-57D SPACE CRUISER FROM ‘FORBIDDEN PLANET’ ZOOMS IN FROM POLAR LIGHTS

Forbidden Planet, ‘the’ classic 1950s science-fiction movie, memorably gave us not only Robby the Robot, but also the C-57D Space Cruiser. Polar Lights has already issued a larger kit of this flying saucer, but has now come up with a brand new, half-size version to 1:144 scale.

NORFOLK AND SUFFOLK AVIATION MUSEUM: AIRCRAFT BIG AND SMALL ON DISPLAY, AND THERE'S FREE ENTRY!

Here’s a great place to go if you like the magic combo of old aircraft, nostalgia and memorabilia, with some fascinating models included in the mix.

END OF THE ROAD FOR MODELZONE CHAIN OF HOBBY STORES

The joint administrators of the UK Modelzone store chain have confirmed that all remaining stores are set to close by mid-September.

AMAZING AND EXTRAORDINARY: FLYING SCALE YAK-130 TWO-SEATER JET

Two years ago, at the 2011 9th Jet World Masters championship in the US, a flying scale Yak-130 was awarded top prize for being at the limit of accuracy, setting a new standard in its class. And now it's been much improved, in time to go back on display again, this time in Switzerland.

ON THE RADAR: AIRBUS A350-900 MODEL KIT DUE FROM REVELL IN NOVEMBER 2013

The new Airbus A350-900 made its maiden flight just two months ago, but already Revell is preparing a kit of the latest jetliner from Europe’s premier aircraft manufacturer.

INCOMING: NEW-TOOL MASCHINEN KRIEGER 1:20 SCALE SCI-FI KITS FROM HASEGAWA

A realistic-looking 1:20 scale walker bot stalks the surface of our neighbouring Moon, while back in the service bay, a same-scale figure set maintains the equipment.

INCOMING: AIRFIX NEW-TOOL HARRIER GR1 TO 1:72 SCALE

It’s good to see that 1:72 scale is still occupying kit manufacturers, and here’s a useful new-tool kit from Airfix, featuring the famed Harrier GR1 ‘jump-jet.’

FUTURISTIC FLYER FROM PLATZ: NORTHROP GRUMMAN X-47B UNMANNED COMBAT AIR SYSTEM TO 1:48 SCALE

This kit, from the Japanese model company Platz, represents the Northrop-Grumman X-47B, an unmanned US Navy aircraft recently in the headlines for its aircraft-carrier flight tests.

INCOMING: SAAB J-29 ‘FLYING BARREL’ FROM TARANGUS, WITH LANSEN AND VIGGEN FLYING IN FORMATION

Swedish model outfit Tarangus has just released its 1:72 scale Saab J-29 Tunnan (‘Barrel’) and it looks an interesting little kit.

HASEGAWA EGG PLANE: SHENYANG J-15 FLYING SHARK CHINESE NAVY JET

“It's not eggs-actly copyright in-fridge-ment” says Hasegawa, introducing the latest in its long line of Egg Plane mini-kits, this one a Limited-Edition Shenyang J-15.

INCOMING: ROYAL AIR FORCE RESUPPLY SET FROM AIRFIX

This neat diorama detailing set to 1:72 scale makes useful news from Airfix.

INCOMING: REVELL JUNKERS Ju-88 A4 KIT TO 1:32 SCALE

World War II aviation fans can look forward to this big-scale model of the widely-used Junkers Ju-88.

DEATH OF THE MODELZONE CHAIN: MAT BRINGS BACK PICTURES FROM THE EDGE

Mat Irvine popped in to Milton Keynes, UK, to see how the local branch of the moribund Modelzone chain was doing today. The results you see here.

UK MODELZONE STORES BEING CLOSED: RIPMAX BUYS WHOLESALE SIDE AMERANG

Modelzone had up to 47 stores across the UK, but ran into trading problems in 2012, moving into administration in June 2013.

UK GOVERNMENT BACKS LEADING-EDGE SABRE ENGINE: MEANTIME, YOU CAN FLY HIGH WITH THE HERPA 1:250 SCALE MODEL

SKYLON UPDATE: The UK Government is investing £60m GBP ($92m USD) on the Skylon's revolutionary Sabre engine, to enable a full-scale prototype to be built - so maybe this special edition model isn't pie-in-the-sky. 

INCOMING: EASY AIRFIX COMPETITION TO WIN A 1:48 SCALE WESTLAND LYNX HELICOPTER KIT

One of several competitions running at Airfix, this looks like a neat way of scoring the excellent 1:48 kit of the highly successful Lynx helicopter.