'WAR OF THE WORLDS' SCI-FI INVASION FEATURES IN MODEL RAIL LAYOUT

THIS LAYOUT COMBINES traditional model rail construction with a dash of science fiction. The Edwardian sci-fi story War of the Worlds by HG Wells makes for an interesting, and very different, diorama setting.

DOCTOR WHO TV SERIES RETURNS TO OUR SCREENS – AND THE NEW DOCTOR IS FEMALE

STAND BY FOR MORE DOCTOR WHO with the latest in the long-running BBC TV sci-fi drama.

A TRIBUTE TO ‘THE SKY AT NIGHT’ PRESENTER, SIR PATRICK MOORE

 

An appreciation by Mat Irvine
Sir Patrick Moore, creator and presenter of ‘The Sky at Night’, a long-running BBC TV astronomy show, died yesterday, December 9, aged 89.

“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...

MARKLIN TINPLATE WARSHIP HMS ‘TERRIBLE’ SELLS FOR RECORD MONEY

SMN report:

An ultra-rare steam-propelled tinplate cruiser became the most expensive single toy ever sold at a UK auction on Friday, April 20, when it shot past the estimate of £40-60,000 GBP to fetch a record £76,000 GBP ($122,500 USD). 

KITS FOR SALE AT HAMEX 3 - PLUS CLASSIC TV SCI-FI MODELS ON SHOW

HaMeX update:

Hanslope Model Expo is due tomorrow, Sunday November 27, so there will be a chance to choose from a wide range of model kits for sale, mostly at very reasonable prices.

COUNTDOWN TO HAMEX 3

HaMeX update:

Hanslope Model Expo runs on Sunday November 27, so there will be a chance to have a look at some of the factual space miniatures from TV on display there.

COUNTDOWN TO HAMEX 3

HaMeX update:

Hanslope Model Expo is due this coming Sunday November 27, so there will be a chance to have a look at some of the science-fiction miniatures on display there.

DALEK SECRETS REVEALED IN ‘BBC VFX’ BOOK FROM MAT IRVINE AND MIKE TUCKER

David Jefferis turns the pages

First things first - BBC VFX is a thundering great tome that tips the scales at not far south of 2 kg (4 lb) and is an encyclopedic 240 pages from end to end. And in fact, that’s just what it is - a show-by-show encyclopedia detailing the work of the BBC Visual Effects (‘VFX’) Department down the years.

SMN contributor Mat Irvine

The two authors behind BBC VFX are long-time experts in the VFX field. We know Mat well for his contributions to SMN, and for his droolworthy Model Museum, packed with examples just about every kit ever made. Mike Tucker worked at the BBC until 2003, and now runs his own company, The Model Unit, based at Ealing Studios near London.

Daleks to Moonbase 3

So what’s between the covers of BBC VFX? Quite simply, the most complete listings, descriptions, and behind-the-scenes information about virtually every BBC TV show that’s featured the Department’s expertise. Some of these are world-renowned - Doctor Who and the Daleks, for example; others are less well known - I’d never even heard of the 1970s series Moonbase 3, much less seen a show. But famous or not, Mat and Mike have put together a showstopper of a book that is packed with fascinating facts, whatever the TV show they are talking about.

HAMEX MODEL EXPO - H-MINUS ONE DAY...

The HAMEX co-hosted event is on tomorrow Sunday, November 29. If you’re in reach (there’s a map on the link below), it’ll be well worth coming.

HAMEX (Hanslope Model Expo) model-master Mat Irvine, will be showing his BBC Special Effects models and props, including the Doctor Who K-9 robodog, the Liberator spacecraft from the classic Blake’s 7 TV series, and a world-first: space models from the 1973 BBC science fiction series Moonbase 3.

UPDATE Mat will also have some spacecraft models from the ultra-long running astronomy series 'The Sky at Night' hosted by Sir Patrick Moore CBE. Mat will also run question-and-answer sessions at 1130 and 1430, when K-9 will be rolling around!

HAMEX co-host Paul Fitzmaurice of Little Cars will be showing tools and accessories for model makers.

Scale Model News will display a range of items from the SMN vaults, plus a slide show.

Check out the Hanslope Model Expo here.

Check out Little Cars here.

If you like spacecraft models, check out the interesting Space Craft Science Kits site here.

MEGA PRICE-DROP DOCTOR WHO GIFT SETS

The BBC’s Doctor Who is one of TV’s all-time top sci-fi series, and has a world-wide following in the millions. All the better then, for a sale of Doctor Who items at Amazon, which features a pair of gift sets from Airfix at more than 70 percent off the normal price.

These are a little unusual for Doctor Who memorabilia, as most items on sale out there are ready-builts of one sort or another. The Airfix duo Welcome Aboard and Daleks in Manhattan (video clip shown above) include paints, brushes and glue - just right for whiling away a few of these dark November nights. Even better for this reviewer, sound and light effects are included in both sets, which should really bring these dioramas to life. They’re a good size too - at 1:12 scale, the Doctor’s TARDIS* police box measures more than 240 mm (9.5 in) high, while the Dalek is just over 140 mm (5.5 in).

* Just in case you didn’t know, the name for Doctor Who’s blue transporter vehicle is an acronym for Time And Relative Dimension In Space, and it’s based on an old-style British police box. So that’s all right then - IWOOT!

Visit the featured pair, plus other Doctor Who items here.