LONDON TOY FAIR 2014 REPORT: AMERANG RETURNS AT FULL SPEED

After problems last year with its owner, the Modelzone chain, Amerang is back with a bang in 2014, which is excellent news for all, as it includes the Kosho diecast range (1:18 scale 1959 Le Mans Triumph above) and plenty on offer for lovers of science-fiction and fantasy miniatures.

IRON MAN MARK III 1:6 SCALE SUPERHERO FIGURE FROM HOT TOYS

This promo video from Hong Kong-based Hot Toys shows off the latest in the Iron Man saga - a Mark III figure, equipped with a variety of weapons for attack and defence. There's no audio on the video btw, so don't bother cranking up your speakers for a dynamic soundtrack...

‘Hot’ or not, the Mark III is certainly more of a model than a toy, and has detailed features that include an expandable wrist gauntlet, shoulder-mounted micro-munitions pod, and a countermeasures system that pops out of the hip zone.

Iron Man Mark II has a host of other goodies that the video doesn’t show, such as moveable flaps and airbrakes, a forearm rocket, interchangeable chest plates and hands that are fitted with illuminated repulsor-beams. The Mark III even has different heads, one of which looks (somewhat) like Tony Stark, as played by Robert Downey Jr. There’s also a standard helmet with a pair of glowing eyes.

The 305 mm (12 in) tall Iron Man Mark III figure is released this month by Hot Toys. Like many collectibles like this, you can display it as manufactured for a terrific-looking shelf-top item, or - and SMN’s up for this - spray some subtle weathering and shade effects to bring out the detail and reduce the factory-fresh shininess a little.

Oh, how we’d like a suit like this - a pity it exists only in the realms of fantasy and Hollywood!

Thanks to Topless Robot for the heads-up on this one. Visit TR here.

There’s a feast of Iron Man stuff for superhero fans to drool over here.