SCALE MODEL NEWS

David Jefferis looks at a new marine kit: Revell plan the release of this 1:400 scale kit in November, and it looks an interesting and colourful choice for marine enthusiasts. The scale means you’ll end up with a decent size model - as planned the liner will be 629 mm (24.8 in) long, and the height from keel to mast top will measure 120 mm (4.7 in). It will be a fairly lengthy build, with some 300 components in the box - just the thing for those long winter nights ahead. Colourful paintwork Finishing the ship for display will make a real change from the standard grey of most warships. The Aida Diva is one of three sister ships (the others are the Bella and the Luna) that form part of the leisure fleet of an Anglo-American cruise line based in Germany, and what sets the Aida trio apart from similar cruise liners are their unusual liveries. Luscious lips Trademark emblem of the fleet is the bright red pair of lips at the sharp end, while a giant eye and blue stripes decorate either side ...

SMN report: Seven years after the first Bugatti Veyron Coupe was purchased by a car freak equipped with a brain-meltingly large wallet, the final one rolled off the dedicated production line at Bugatti just a few weeks ago. Artoart Veyron about as good as metal-casting technology allows. In total, 300 of the 987bhp hypercar were made by the time production stopped on June 27, so if you are after one now you are going to have to go to one of the existing owners and make them a decent offer - or maybe an offer they can’t refuse. Neat detail and removable parts mark the Autoart Veyron. End of an era The final Bugatti Veyron was ordered by an unnamed European customer, marking an end to the triumphant reign of this supercar, making it a worthy successor to classic Bugattis of old, and definitely one of the most valuable cars ever created. Retro-era two-tone paintwork a mark of the Veyron, real or miniature.  Production continues Still, the Veyron story isn’t over yet, as the Gr...

SMN report: Thanks to the SMN reader who pointed out this Tamiya-based video for the UK boyband McFly's 2006 song Room on the 3rd Floor . The band is named after Marty McFly, movie star of the 1985-90  Back to the Future  sci-fi trilogy, and inspiration for all those kits and diecasts of the DeLorean flying car. Animated sequences Whether or not you like MacFly's music, the video is well worth watching to see the components take on a life of their own, with - somewhat spooky, it has to be said - animation sequences, both parts on their runners and art on the box. A singing plastic head may not be quite to everyone’s taste, but It’s very well done indeed, and gets even better when the instructions come to life too, line-drawings moving around with gusto to show various pieces self-assembling in a very clear and satisfying way. Animated brochures The McFly video pointed to a possible future direction for Tamiya and other kit manufacturers, to add visual interest to their pr...

SMN report: We mostly associate Tamiya with top-line traditional plastic kits - and quite rightly, for they are superb products, as we recently showed with the newly-released 1:32 scale P-51D Mustang. But Tamiya doesn’t stand still, and the company recently paid the advertising agency Ogilvy & Mather Vietnam to create an ad campaign based around the catchline, ‘Tamiya Put It Together’.  Print ad series Ogilvy & Mather’s solution to the brief was a series of print ads featuring fictional kits based on popular and continuing conspiracy themes - Elvis Presley lives, Roswell UFO aliens, Moon Landing hoax, Who killed JFK, and the death of Marilyn Monroe. Fictional the kits may be, but O&M put much hard work into the visuals, which look really convincing until you look hard, and notice a few pointers to the truth - for example, the Lunar Rover sports a 1950s-era auto steering wheel, a cute in-joke we reckon, as the originals had side-stick controllers. Request to Tamiya Howev...

Mat Irvine discusses: Back in June, I gave details of the Airfix resin-moulded range of ruined buildings, aimed mainly at military diorama builders. The example I highlighted was the ruined workshop, and I hinted that the figures in the scene - French resistance fighters, with a Citroen Traction Avant - were waiting for a spy drop from a Lysander delivery plane.  Box back includes Humbrol paint details plus aircraft details in four languages. World War II spy plane Well, since then the drop appears to have happened, so here is an extension to that article. It revolves around the British Westland Lysander high-wing monoplane, a mainstay of RAF undercover work during World War II. The Lysander was ideal for the task, as it could fly in what we might today call ‘stealth mode’, and could land on unprepared surfaces in the dead of night.  Built-up model and instruction sheet. Secret operations The original Airfix 1:72 scale Lysander was one of the company’s first aircraft kits...

SMN report: The new Tamiya 1:32 scale P-51D is gathering plaudits all over, and we’re not surprised. It’s easily a match for the firm’s Spitfire models in this scale, and utilises the same super-small magnet technology to keep the ultra-thin engine cowlings in place. Scene from the Red Tails movie, featuring P-40s and P-51Ds. Is it worth buying? Should you pony up the money to buy this Mustang? The answer is quite simple - if you have the slightest interest in this World War II thoroughbred, and enjoy model making, it has to be an unqualified yes. Usual high quality box art from Tamiya. Enjoy the Tamiya pix (don’t forget to click for the full-size images) to see what we mean. Neat wheel-well and drop-tank detail. Merlin engine a miniature marvel. Note red tail markings and (below) neat stand. Magnets allow full engine reveal. Note separate prop spinner. Metal-etch parts for fine details. Finished cockpit assembly, and (below) triple 'whole nine yard' ammo belts. Red Tails movie...

David Jefferis reports: Looks like the Revell 1:24 scale London Bus is making good progress. These newly released pix should make any public transport model maker raring to go. It looks good, especially the engine detail under that lift-up cover, plus those seats, and lots of ’em. Details, details At the business end, there’s neat detailing to the diesel engine pipework, while the trademark steering wheel looks to be at the correct nearly-flat angle. Upstairs, vertical handrails are included as are the built-in grabrails on every seat back. The step-on step-off open platform at the back is there, complete with waste bin for ticket stubs, and the under-stair hole for storing prams and other paraphernalia. Ready and waiting The rear view shows a few problems remaining with fit on the roof, but doubtless these will be sorted before the model is cleared for production. All in all, it looks like a good one, and we can’t wait. More on the subject here and here . Have a look at Sun Star’s ha...

SMN report: Mattel’s Hot Wheels line has released a treat for Batman fans, with the latest Limited Edition Batmobile. “Not another Batmobile...” I hear you sigh, but read on, for this is a biggie 1:18 scale diecast model, with opening sections that reveal enough inner details to make it a unique entry for the Batman memorabilia shelf. What you get Features include a lift-up front panel, under which lurks a neatly-produced engine, and next to it, a standard-issue car battery. Venture inside the double-bubble canopy via the opening doors, and you should see the red Batphone, complete with retro-style wiggly wiring; there’s also fine red piping adorning the seat trim and plenty of cabin detail. Behind the seating area are a trio of rocket launchers, while continuing aft, you find another lift-up panel, revealing computer systems and some fairly mysterious Bat-tech equipment. Winning touches for me are the finely-lettered twin parachute packs (labelled 'Bat chutes') positioned eith...