SCALE MODEL NEWS

Stealth technology is standard-issue on military hardware today, but not so long ago, it was top secret and kept far away from detailed public knowledge. So model companies came out with various guesstimate-kits, based on informed thinking by experts. Among these was the MiG-37B stealth jet, a 'faction' model even given the notional NATO codename, 'Ferret E.' End of the Cold War The reality of MiG weaponry has since proven rather different, but that doesn't make the Italeri MiG-37B kit ( above ) any less relevant - in fact, it's an extremely interesting kit that reflects the last days of the Cold War, and the dawn era of a new technology. Farewell seat and cockpit Today, the leading edge in weapons design is surely with the UAV (Uncrewed Air Vehicle), a type of combat machine certain to be at the leading edge of any and all future air wars. Let's hope they won't be necessary on many occasions in 2012. James Bond machine Meantime, enjoy the slide show and...

2011's coming to an end now, and it's been a year of steady growth for SMN, we're pleased to say. The Mobile Edition has been an interesting experiment, and in 2012, we should be able to make newsposts directly from the trusty iPhone. It's a high-tech world all right! Important skills Meantime, despite the advance of electronics, the manual skills of traditional craftsmanship remain as important as ever in the scale model world. And that's something that reflects today's society, as basic dexterity is needed across the board, whether you're a cook, a writer, a painter or a builder. Meantime, enjoy the show.   

SMN is awestruck: This video shows an amazingly small oval-track rail layout - built in ultra-tiny microscale to fit inside a Z-gauge model shop window... Watch and enjoy. Plus, the daily SMN Festive Slideshow. We have 20 items of scale gorgeousness on show today, though object number one, a cyber-pup, is more art than scale model. It's a steampunk creation, made up of various scrap components including a 1950s-era retro toaster. We like Fido's smile, though trust he doesn't bite, as metal teeth are liable to be sharp ...   And here's Mr J with the Incredible Hulk, his cuddly companion. Actually, that's not quite true - his friend Liz achieves a higher friendship-factor in a nanosecond, and doesn't have the Hulk's roaring temper, either! Mind you, that green complexion's kinda cute...