SCALE MODEL NEWS

SMN report: Here’s something unusual, and a little different from the usual SMN line, but as Seattle-based artist Christopher Boffoli has used a range of model rail figures in his works, that’s a good excuse for us to have a closer look. Food meets art According to Christopher Boffoli, his ‘Disparity’ series aims to highlight the culture of over-consumption, using hand-painted model rail figures, glued into place onto real food. “I chose food as a backdrop because it is a constant,” says Christopher, “People see a striking image of food and are immediately drawn in because it is something familiar.”   Serious fun “As an American too, I think my choice is conscious in terms of the strange and often negative relationship that many Americans have towards food. I mean, the work is mostly humorous on the surface and most viewers will react to the humour in it.  But I'm also perhaps making some other statements too about North America's food bounty, overuse, abuse and obsessions.” S...

David Jefferis reports: Here’s more from the Ma.K (Maschinen Krieger) science-fiction universe, first created in the 1980s by Japanese artist Kow Yokoyama. Ma.K is set in the 2800s, with a storyline based on the fighting between various factions as the Earth repopulates after a nuclear war. Hasegawa has been leading the way with excellent Ma.K kits, and the latest in the line is the new-tool ‘Humanoid Unmanned Interceptor Grosser Hund.’ Grosser Hund (Big Dog) will be to 1:20 scale, and have 196 components. Many of these, particularly the limbs and head, will be moveable using Hasegawa's neat poly-cap system. Wave Maschinen Krieger Hasegawa is not the only Ma.K manufacturer: the Wave Corporation does them too. On show here is the beautifully crafted 1:20 scale ‘Ketzer’ future trooper figure. Like other Ma.K trooper figures, the concept depicts a protective powered exo-suit in which the soldier acts as pilot.  Heinlein came first The exo-suit is a brilliant concept that was first pi...

SMN report: Car fans should be pleased with Hasegawa’s December release of the Mini Cooper S ALL4 Countryman, a mouthful that indicates the 4-wheel drive sporty version of the biggest Mini in the range. Hasegawa has released a 1:24 scale kit of this newish vehicle, which will have 104 components. When fully assembled the Hasegawa Mini Cooper S will measure 173 mm (6.8 in) long. Alternative parts Hasegawa have decided to include two wheel styles, and the thoughtful ability for the modelmaker to build the kit in either left- or right-hand drive versions. It looks like an excellent choice for anyone interested in the Mini, and the upright boxy outline of the vehicle makes an interesting comparison with the smaller original car of the 1960s. Mokei Show The grey display test model here was shown at the spectacular All-Japan Mokei Hobby Show, held earlier this month, more details here . Various Hasegawa kits here . Tamiya 1:24 kit of the original Austin Mini Cooper 1275S here .

David Jefferis looks at a new marine kit: There’s another interesting ship kit due from Revell with the release of the Vasa , a 17th Century Swedish sailing ship. To the unusual scale of 1:150, the model will be 455 mm (17.9 in) long when complete. The component-count is 330, and the Revell Vasa should be in the stores by December. These pictures show test shots of the kit. Grand flagship of the Swedish Navy The original Vasa set sail in 1628 as the brand-new flagship of the Swedish Fleet, and an important weapon for the Swedes, as the country was at war with Poland. However, just 20 minutes into her first voyage, the Vasa turned turtle and ignominiously sank to the bottom. The wreck lay undisturbed for more than 300 years, until in 1961 the ship was discovered, and has since been raised, restored and put on display in a special museum. Voyage of doom Various factors contributed to the ship's sinking, including a combination of design errors, top-heavy build, and not enough bal...

SMN report: The Boeing 787 Dreamliner has - after many delays - finally gone into passenger service, with the first fare-paying flight by lead airline customer All Nippon Airways (ANA). Years late, the Boeing twinjet is now rewriting the rules for lightweight construction, fuel economy, and passenger comfort.  Injection kits Meantime, what’s the state of play for scale model 787s? We’ve had a look at the two injection kits presently available, both to 1:144 scale. The Zvezda version came first, and is an extremely neat production. The 787’s trademark oversize windows are well represented, and though our particular kit had a small amount of warping on upper and lower wing halves, all that was needed on assembly was some gentle assistance from clothes pegs and tape.  Careful with the fuselage join The fuselage fits nicely, though as ever with airliner kits, you have to go carefully with the cement and be prepared to spend time with some very loving polish-and-buff to lose the ce...

SMN update: It’s good to report that Airfix have reintroduced an old sci-fi classic kit, the Angel Interceptor from the Gerry Anderson supermarionation television series Captain Scarlet, first shown in the late 1960s. It’s to 1:72 scale and is an ultra-simple build, with just 23 components to assemble. From canard-equipped anteater nose to Spectra-Fan air ramjet tail, the model measures some 185 mm (7.3 in) long. Female pilots As portrayed, Angel Interceptors were fast, being able to fly from their Cloudbase HQ at more than Mach 4.5 - approximately 4800 km/h (3000 mph) - at altitude. They were flown by a group of female pilots, codenamed Destiny, Harmony, Melody, Rhapsody, and Symphony, who sat in what must be the biggest cockpits ever made. A glance at a closeup shot revealed room inside for a grand piano... or maybe a male admirer or two, as those girls were rather dishy, even if they were only puppets. The Airfix Angel story The kit has a long history, going back more than four dec...

SMN report: Hobby Master’s December release list looks positively mouthwatering, with diecast collectibles available in no less than four scales. Smallest scale first Here we have a trio of 1:200 scale airliners, with two of them especially interesting subjects from the golden age of propliners. The Douglas DC-6B competed with the shapelier Lockheed Constellation, but was the excellent workhorse with which PanAm started its transatlantic tourist-class service, in 1952. HM’s DC-6B is finished in American Airlines markings - plain metal overall, accented by a red AA lightning strip along the fuselage sides. The other two HM airliners are the Boeing Model 377 Stratocruiser, and the more recent Airbus A310 twinjet. New-tool bomber Here we have another B-24 Liberator, this time to 1:144 scale. We haven’t seen the Lib in the metal yet, so it will be interesting to see what improvements have been made. If HM have concentrated on finer transparency mouldings and reduced gaps between major comp...

SMN Review: We thought you'd like to share some pix taken at the Automodellismo Show this summer. The overall level of entries to the show (and to be in with a chance to win the Spark Plug Trophy) was very high, as you will see. Note: we seem to have the slideshow feature working again, so after you have clicked to read on, just click any pic to see the enlarged version - then use left and right arrows to view more. To exit, click the 'x' at top right. Enjoy! Automodellismo and HaMeX Automodellismo was held at the same location as the HaMeX Show, diary set for a third exhibition on November 27 this year. Co-organizers Paul Fitzmaurice and Mat Irvine were well pleased with the extent and variety of model cars on display at Automodellismo, and these pix show just how much care and craftsmanship has gone into them. Automodellismo 2011 here . HaMeX 3 details and dates here . Photographs courtesy Mat Irvine.