STEAMPUNK COMES TO MODEL RAIL WITH A NEW BASSETT-LOWKE RANGE

THE BASSETT-LOWKE BRAND DATES BACK to the late 1890s. So it's appropriate that the Hornby-owned company is now trailblazing a path back to that era with a dedicated range of steampunk-inspired locomotives, rolling stock, and accessories.

MEDIA MODELLING SHOW, ESPECIALLY FOR STEAMPUNK FANS

WE'D LOVE TO SAY THE SHOW GOES ON but Media Modelling 3 is another casualty of the war against the coronavirus pandemic.

REVELL 'BLACK PEARL' GALLEON, AS SEEN IN THE MOVIE 'PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN'

IN 2017, WE REVIEWED the 895-part Revell 1:72 scale kit of the Black Pearl, as seen in the Disney movie saga Pirates of the Caribbean. The kit we show here is a smaller 1:150 scale version of the same ship, though it still comes with 112 parts.

AIRFIX GOES BACK TO THE FUTURE WITH THE LAUNCH OF A NEW ‘VINTAGE CLASSICS’ RANGE

AIRFIX BRINGS BACK A NEW WAVE OF OLD KITS for model makers with a taste for nostalgia.

HOW TO MAKE A HOT WHEELS MAD MAX CUSTOM CAR

FANS OF THE MAD MAX movies will find this how-to video the right-on route to converting an off-the-shelf model car to a Hot-as-the-Outback Mad Maxmobile.

STEAMPUNK-MEETS-DECO SCI-FI FROM HASEGAWA: 1:72 SCALE ‘LAST EXILE’ VANSHIP DOUBLE-KIT

"COMMAND THE SKIES of a dark, futuristic Earth" is the tagline to this interesting steampunk-meets-deco science-fiction kit from Hasegawa. It’s based on the Japanese anime series ‘Last Exile’, a drama that is set on (despite that tagline) a fictional alien planet called Prester.

SMALLSPACE 4 - STEAMPUNK TAKES A SOLAR SYSTEM PRIZE

THE STEAMPUNK DISPLAY at Smallspace 4 took the 'Best in Solar System' Prize, and deservedly so. Modelmaker Ian Crichton's display showed a range of beautifully finished models.

BEAUTIFULLY CONSTRUCTED STEAMPUNK BATTLESHIP: 'BARNUM'S DREAM'

Model maker Ed Ross mixed live steam and Victoriana, to produce a working steampunk aerial battleship. The result is a superb piece of craftsmanship. 

LEONARDO’S MARVELLOUS MACHINES: FLAPPING-WING ORNITHOPTER FROM ITALERI, AS DESIGNED BY THE RENAISSANCE INVENTOR AND PAINTER

This is one of the second batch of Leonardo creations, originated by Academy in South Korea, then repackaged for the European market by Italeri.

STEAMPUNK OR RETRO-FUTURE?: WHO CARES, THIS SCI-FI TRAIN RACE MIGHT CONJURE UP SOME IDEAS FOR AN OFF-THE-RAILS KITBASH

Here's a fun few minutes from Russian CGI outfit, Digital Light Studio. We'd like to see versions of these locomotives running on scale tracks, modded from Hornby or Bachmann originals.

FRENCHMAN AT IPMS MODELWORLD 2013: TAKES PIX OF THE EXCELLENT MODELS ON SHOW

French model fan JC Carbonel was hard at work during his visit to the IPMS ModelWorld 2013 recently. His pictures show a kaleidoscopic range of model choices, and highlight the hugely high level of craft skills on display.

HMS ‘ENDEAVOUR’ SAILING SHIP KIT: AHOY THERE, IT’S MADE TO MODEL AIRCRAFT STANDARD 1:48 SCALE!

Sailing ship enthusiasts can climb aboard here for this big model of HMS Endeavour, ‘the ship that discovered Australia.’

SCALE MODELWORLD 2012 - THE WINNERS

MAT IRVINE REPORTS
The competition at Scale ModelWorld 2012 was split into a number of classes depending on subject, scale, and construction type. This has led to approaching 100 different classes, sometimes leading to some confusion as to which class to enter your creation.

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.

CONTEST - DESIGN A STEAMPUNK FIGURE CONTEST, WINNER GETS IT MADE AS A MODEL KIT

SMN report:

The Industria Mechanika sci-fi model outfit is going from strength to strength, and now there’s a contest on to spice things up. If you’re a steampunk fan (and we are) then IM’s invitation to send in figure designs in the genre is a tempting one.

NOW TAKING ORDERS - STEAMPUNK FIGURES FROM INDUSTRIA MECHANIKA

SMN report:

Industria Mechanika has just opened the order book on a trio of precisely sculpted scale figures, ‘Deckhands’ for the Ralph McQue Remora anti-gravity floating cargo ship. The excellent Remora was released earlier this year, and it’s good to see the steampunk-inspired fantasy vessel will have a scurvy crew before long.

IMPROBABLE MODELS FROM FANTASY-MASTER GREG DeSANTIS

SMN report:

Today’s images are a trip back in time to the years 2005 and 2006, when US concept artist and modelmaker Greg DeSantis made a series of compelling fantasy and science-fiction models. However, these were not wood, plastic, or metal creations - instead, they were 3D models created in a computer - for Greg was, and is, a gifted digital modelmaker.

2012 INCOMING - GORGEOUS STEAMPUNK KITS FROM FICHTENFOO AND INDUSTRIA MECHANIKA

SMN report:

Boy, there are some enviable kit-producing talents out there, and they are not just working with the mainstream companies, either. US modelmaker and web designer Michael Fichtenmayer is among those talents, and his FichtenFoo and Industria Mechanika websites bring us all manner of science-fiction delights, including this limited-edition model kit of Ralph McQue’s Remora, a sort of anti-gravity floating cargo ship. Orders are being taken now for this very limited release.

IPMS SCALE MODELWORLD 2011 - PHOTO REPORT

SMN report:

The Scale ModelWorld 2011 Show was a major event last weekend for the IPMS (International Plastic Modellers Society), and a galaxy of models were on display. SMN’s own Mat Irvine was at the show with a stand (above), and all in all, the annual bash went down very well indeed.

WEEKEND MODEL WINDOW

Weekend Model Window is an occasional spot to show you some interesting stuff we've come across recently.

The 2008 F1 Championship winning McLaren MP4-23 race car is the latest offering from partwork publisher DeAgostini, and the launch issue looks terrific. The 1:8 scale kit will measure some 594 mm (23.4 in) long when assembled, and has been developed with Kyosho, so should build into a fine replica. How long it will take to collect all the necessary parts is not revealed.

A recent AFV from Revell is the 1:35 scale Marder 1 A5, with supplied markings as used in the Kosovo and Afghanistan conflicts. The 196-part kit has detailed Milan missile launcher, machine gun and tracks, aspects which have earned it some very good reviews.