AMAZING METAL MINIATURE: EDUARD FEISELER STORCH TO 1:72 SCALE

EVERY NOW AND AGAIN we come across something that goes way beyond the normal – and here is a great example, showing the build-up of a metal Feiseler Storch.

STILL THE WORLD'S FAVOURITE FIGHTER: F-16 FIGHTING FALCON VIDEO KIT-BUILD

NEARLY 4600 F-16 FIGHTING FALCONS have been built since 1973. Today the US Air Force still flies the F-16, as do 25 other air arms. And that ubiquity is matched by model manufacturers, including Hasegawa.

DAMES DUELING TO THE DEATH? AIRFIX RUMOURED TO BE AIMING AT FEMALE MODEL FANS

ACCORDING TO REPORTS, AIRFIX is plotting new stuff 'for the girls' as the 60-year-old model kit maker targets a new generation of female scientists. Not forgetting that Hasegawa (above) is already in the female model maker market.

FUTURE COMBAT SOLDIER - 1:20 SCALE Ma. K Mk 44 MECHA-TROOPER FROM HASEGAWA

Hasegawa’s take on the Ma. K (Maschinen Krieger) sci-fi universe, first created back in the 1980s by Japanese artist Kow Yokoyama, is steadily growing, with new figure sets now available to 1:20 scale.

BLAST FROM THE PAST: ‘RED BARON’ VON RICHTHOFEN FLIES BACK TO THE MODEL BENCH IN HASEGAWA’S BIG-SCALE BEAUTY

First produced by Hasegawa decades ago, the 1:8 scale structural-build Fokker Dr1 Triplane now earns the title ‘Hot Product’ from Hasegawa USA.

INCOMING: FASCINATING 'SEE-INSIDE' HASEGAWA 1:16 SCALE SOPWITH CAMEL FIGHTER KIT

SMN report: Due shortly in stores worldwide is this 1:16 scale Hasegawa ‘Museum Quality’ structural kit of the Sopwith Camel F1, an iconic single-seat World War I fighter plane.

CALLING ON ALIENS? 1:48 SCALE VOYAGER SPACEPROBE FROM HASEGAWA

Mat Irvine: It’s perhaps a slightly odd decision for Hasegawa to model a spaceprobe that is more than 35 years old… but let us be pleased the company did, as it is a very interesting kit for any space enthusiast.

STEAMPUNKS UNITE - COPPER AND STEEL MINI FROM CARLEX

SMN REPORT:

Like sci-fi? Like steampunk? Like cars? Like a kit bash? Then here’s an idea for you. It’s a full-size customized show car, the Mini Countryman Steampunk edition from Carlex Design of Poland.

ON A ROLL - HOT STUFF FROM HASEGAWA

SMN report:

Hasegawa of Japan is bringing us hot new and revised products at a pace-and-a-half. Here a taste of what’s in store - space, sci-fi, aviation, and... girls!

HASEGAWA RELEASES LIMITED EDITION 1:72 SCALE LOCKHEED STARFIGHTER CCV

SMN report:

The Lockheed F-104 Starfighter was originally labelled ‘the missile with a man in it’, for its performance and for the tiny wings, seemingly too small to keep it in the air. The aircraft was widely produced, and one of the most interesting variations of the Lockheed jet was the one-off experimental CCV, now featured as a limited-edition 1:72 scale release from Hasegawa.

‘BIG MINI’ - BMW SHOWS OFF JCW SPORT COUNTRYMAN

Mega Mini - less height, more speed:

Revealed by BMW Mini just in time for the Geneva Motor Show next week is the ultra-sporty Countryman JCW. It earns its keep here as a kitbash option for modelmakers keen on the 1:24 scale Hasegawa Mini Cooper S ALL4 Countryman.

LATEST ‘BIG MINI’ TO 1:24 SCALE FROM HASEGAWA

First look at the big Mini:

We’re pleased to report that supplies of the Hasegawa Mini Cooper S ALL4 Countryman are available now. The model represents the 4-wheel drive performance version of the biggest car in the BMW Mini range. It’s a 1:24 scale kit of this newish vehicle, and has 104 components in the box.

2012 INCOMING - ‘BIG DOG’ HUNTER-KILLER ROBOT PROWLER

SMN update:

We reported on the upcoming ‘Grosser Hund’ Maschinen Krieger (Ma.K) sci-fi kit in October 2011, and now it’s here - big, bold and nasty, but apparently without a set of gnashing metal fangs. The Grosser Hund (‘Big Dog’) is the latest 1:20 scale kit from Hasegawa, featuring the science-fiction universe first created in the 1980s by the Japanese artist, Kow Yokoyama.

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.

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.

HASEGAWA MASCHINEN KRIEGER ROBODOG ‘GROSSER HUND’

David Jefferis reports:

Here’s more from the Ma.K (Maschinen Krieger) science-fiction universe, first created in the 1980s by Japanese artist Kow Yokoyama. Ma.K is set in the 2800s, with a storyline based on the fighting between various factions as the Earth repopulates after a nuclear war.

Hasegawa has been leading the way with excellent Ma.K kits, and the latest in the line is the new-tool ‘Humanoid Unmanned Interceptor Grosser Hund.’ Grosser Hund (Big Dog) will be to 1:20 scale, and have 196 components. Many of these, particularly the limbs and head, will be moveable using Hasegawa's neat poly-cap system.

ROARING ALONG FOR DECEMBER RELEASE - HASEGAWA 1:24 SCALE MINI COUNTRYMAN

SMN report:

Car fans should be pleased with Hasegawa’s December release of the Mini Cooper S ALL4 Countryman, a mouthful that indicates the 4-wheel drive sporty version of the biggest Mini in the range. Hasegawa has released a 1:24 scale kit of this newish vehicle, which will have 104 components. When fully assembled the Hasegawa Mini Cooper S will measure 173 mm (6.8 in) long.

HASEGAWA FOLLOW-ME JEEP IDEAL FOR WWII DIORAMAS

SMN report:

If you like the look of the 1:48 scale Revell B-17G we featured earlier this week, then these items could be just the thing if you’re into dioramas, or simply wish to add a few items to bring some life to a static model.

LAST F-22 RAPTOR UNDER CONSTRUCTION, BUT THE STEALTH FIGHTER STILL FLIES HIGH IN THE KIT WORLD

SMN report

The last of 195 F-22A Raptors for the US Air Force is now under construction, yet the entire F-22 fleet remains grounded over concerns about the pilot's cockpit breathing system inside the cockpit, which has been under investigation since November 2010, when an F-22 crashed mysteriously in Alaska. No emergency call was received from the pilot, and the assumption is that he passed out from oxygen loss before the crash.

HASEGAWA RAIDEN - A 1:32 SCALE THUNDERBOLT FROM JAPAN

SMN report:

According to Hasegawa, this is the first 1:32 scale kit of the Mitsubishi J2M3 Raiden (Thunderbolt) since the 1960s. Apparently, the original moulds were lost at sea, so this new kit provides a fine opportunity for the 21st century modelmaker to assemble a state of the art new-tool production.