A US NAVY STARSHIP PROJECT FOR SCI-FI KIT-BASHERS

Mat Irvine's Smallspace 6 model show blew the weeds off similar events yesterday. Until next year, how about a look at this concept. We're looking at our existing Star Trek miniatures, thinking of ways to customise them!

KIT-BASH CHALLENGE - CHINESE CONCEPT FOR A COLOSSAL CATAMARAN AIRCRAFT CARRIER

SMN REPORT:
Is this a subject for maritime modellers or aircraft builders? We don’t know the answer (though suspect it’s probably both) but either way, these Chinese Navy illustrations have surfaced on the internet and, concept or not, the cat-carrier is just made for an impressive what-if miniature display piece.

MORE FANTASY AND SCI-FI MODELS ON SHOW

 Here's the second of our two catch-up photo-reviews of the 'smallspace' modelfest held earlier this year. As with yesterday's selection, be very impressed with the quality of workmanship on display.

STAR TREK USS ENTERPRISE AT WONDERFEST 2012

REPORT BY MAT IRVINE:

Here I continue my review of the 2012 WonderFest science-fiction and fantasy show, held at the end of May in Louisville, Kentucky - and take a close look at the test shot (above) of the huge 1:350 scale USS Enterprise due for release soon.

THE WONDER OF WONDERFEST

SMN EVENTER BY MAT IRVINE

Each year sees the Crown Plaza Hotel in Louisville, Kentucky, transformed into WonderFest - an event that presents all that’s wonderful in science-fiction, fantasy and horror model-making. WonderFest 2013 was held a couple of months ago, over the weekend of May 25-27, and your occasional SMN writer attended the show as a first-time guest. 

INCOMING - STAR TREK FANS STAND BY FOR NEW MOVIE COLLECTIBLES

SMN REPORT:

The collectibles industry is on the march, aiming to sign up for tie-ins to the next Star Trek movie. The 2009 Star Trek reboot by director J.J. Abrams breathed new life into the franchise, so it’s great to hear that licensing deals are already slotting into place.

SUPER-TINY STARSHIP ENTERPRISE FROM THE STAR TREK UNIVERSE

Over on our sister site Starcruzer, there's a glimpse at what has to be the smallest model ever made, less than one billionth the size of the real thing - even if 'real' is a fictional creation.

Two Japanese researchers used high-tech ion-beam equipment to make a nanoscale model that's more than a little smaller than the rather attractive Round 2 Polar Lights item we show above that you can make yourself.

Visit Starcruzer to read more here.

View a range of Star Trek models here, though note that some Star Wars items have sneaked in!

BATTLE OF MIDWAY 3: JAPANESE AIRCRAFT CARRIER AKAGI

The Akagi was the Japanese Carrier Force flagship at Midway, where she was attached at 10:26 on June 4 by dive-bombers from the USS Enterprise. A single bomb set off fires and explosions among armed and fueled planes that were being readied for an air strike. Another bomb exploded next to the stern, making the Akagi’s rudder jam. The following morning the doomed hulk was scuttled.

Akagi is a long-time favourite with ship modellers, and by far the best kit today is the 745 mm (29.3 in) long Hasegawa model, to 1:350 scale. Also available from Hasegawa are ‘Detail-Up’ brass etches that can take the model to a whole new level - follow the link below to see what can be achieved.

You can view Hasegawa Akagi pictures here, and buy the kit here.