VIDEO BUILD OF GLENCOE RESCUE BOAT FROM 'THE FINEST HOURS' MOVIE

THE FINEST HOURS is a Disney action-thriller, based on a true sea rescue mission. And the Glencoe 1:48 scale US Coast Guard rescue boat features the type of vessel used in the movie. Click below to see Mat Irvine's video build of the kit. 

US COAST GUARD LIFEBOAT BECOMES A MOVIE STAR - AND GLENCOE HAS A 1:48 SCALE KIT TO MATCH

This 1:48 scale model lifeboat began as an ITC kit in 1959, and has been available from Glencoe for many years. Now the vessel has become a star in its own right, as it featured in the best selling 2009 book The Finest Hours, presently being made as a Disney movie of the same name.

TESTORS 1:43 SCALE HELICOPTER TRIO

Scale has long been a bone of contention for this exactoid modeller. The world of diecast vehicles exists largely at railway scales - 00, H0, S - or larger - 1:43, 1:24, 1:18. Bearing in mind the multitude of 1:43 vehicles available, it never fails to amaze me how little there is by way of compatible-scale replicas of other types of transportation.

So when Testors decides to include in its range not one, but three diecast helicopters at 1:43 scale, I’m more than interested. And interesting these helos are, especially the biggie of the three, a CH-149 Cormorant, which is the Canadian Armed Forces version of the Anglo-Italian AgustaWestland EW101.

These big helos trundle regularly across the sky right in front of my hilltop office, near Oxford, UK. They are noisy beasts, with three engines that give out a throaty roar. Not that I mind of course, as having a ringside seat to watch hedge-hopper nap-of-the-earth training flights always gives me a big buzz.

Testors’ other 1:43 helos are a US Coast Guard Agusta-Bell MH-68A and a Bell UH-1D in New York City Police colours. All are pre-painted, and assembly (the Cormorant has just 16 parts) is by screw-and-glue. A touch of subtle weathering and a light blowover with satin varnish will turn them from shiny toys to serious models without too much trouble - and of course, open the door to any number of diorama scenes.

These helicopters are available from retail outlets or direct from Testors here.