SCALE MODEL NEWS

SMN report: We’ve long had the popular modelmaking genre ‘Luftwaffe 1946’ catering for alternate-history buffs of European World War II-era warfare, but less well-known are alt-history scenarios for the Far East. So it’s all the more interesting to see this 1:48 scale Fine Molds kit, of a Japanese pusher-prop fighter. Dramatic box-art (above) from Fine Molds for the Sky Crawlers. Canard-wing Shinden The Fine Molds ‘Sky Crawler’ is a nifty-looking machine, based loosely on the layout and appearance of the Kyushu J7W1 Shinden, an unusual aircraft that first flew on August 3, 1945, shortly before Japan surrendered to the Allies. Whether it would have proved worthy of combat against Mustangs and Lightnings is debatable, but the planned jet-powered successor certainly could have been a deadly foe. Comparison between the two ( Sky Crawler below ) is interesting - scroll down to the bottom for various Shinden pix.  Push that prop! The so-called Concept A kit has at least one unusual feat...

SMN report: Radio control (RC) fans have a chance to go racing with the Tamiya electric Mini JCW Coupe, modelled on the car that took part in the 2011 24-Hour Nurburgring race. Lightweight body The RC Mini Coupe is to 1:10 scale, and comes with a pre-finished lightweight polycarbonate bodyshell. The car comes complete with racing extras, such as the front-mounted spoiler and big tail wing, both designed to keep the real thing glued to the ground when hurtling along for hour after hour flat-out around the twist and turns of Germany’s famed Nurburgring racing circuit. Front-wheel drive The big 1:10 scale means you get a decent-sized model, even if the Mini is not a large car in real life - the body is some 375 mm (14.8 in) long, with a wheelbase of 239 mm (9.4 in). The chassis and powertrain reproduce the Mini’s front-wheel drive system, so handling is not unlike the real thing. Accuracy is reasonable, and while not a patch on an equivalent injection kit, does capture the flavour of the ...

SMN report: Hasegawa of Japan is bringing us hot new and revised products at a pace-and-a-half. Here a taste of what’s in store - space, sci-fi, aviation, and... girls! Dreamliner The 1:200 scale Boeing 787 Dreamliner comes in two flavours, JAL (Japan Airlines) and ANA (All Nippon Airways), differentiated in several ways, such as the differing engines used by the two airlines. At this scale, the changes are visually minor, but Hasegawa has detailed everything you need for an accurate finished model. Voyager Real-space fans have a treat in store with the 1:48 scale Voyager space probe. Two were launched back in 1977, their mission to record data and information about the outer planets. After swooping past Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune, they are now drifting into interstellar space, beyond the Solar System.  Golden Record The Hasegawa kit includes a scale representation of the ‘Golden Record’, a video disc containing the sights and sounds of Earth. There’s one aboard each space...

David Jefferis reports: There are some big smiles at Moebius Models this month, as the 1:8 scale Bela Lugosi Dracula kit won the 2012 Rondo Award. The Moebius win is one of several made in the horror genre, and is for the ‘Best Toy, Model or Collectible.’ The kit The kit shows the famed Dracula actor bela Lugosi, as he appeared on Broadway in the 1920s. It’s made to 1:8 scale, and comes with the diorama base as shown, though the bat is not included, which is a shame. Due very soon is a deluxe version, which will include a female victim (one of his brides, I guess) and extra components to make the necessary larger base. Other winners in the category Runners-up: The Munsters (Diamond Select), Bride of Frankenstein (Diamond Select), Godzilla ornament (Carlton). Honorable mentions: Twilight Zone bank teller (Bif!Bang!Pow!), Barbara from Night of the Living Dead (Emce) Rondo: the Awards The Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards (‘Rondos’ to those in the know) are named after Rondo Hatton,...

SMN report: An ultra-rare steam-propelled tinplate cruiser became the most expensive single toy ever sold at a UK auction on Friday, April 20, when it shot past the estimate of £40-60,000 GBP to fetch a record £76,000 GBP ($122,500 USD).  Collection on the block The ship was a model of HMS Terrible , part of a lifetime collection of toys and trains belonging to the late Ron McCrindell, who died in August 2011, aged 91. Auctioneer Hugo Marsh said of the sale: "As far as we are aware it is the most expensive single toy sold in the UK." It was bought by an anonymous overseas collector, so sadly we can’t report on the excitement of owning this delightful collector’s treasure trove. The 620 mm (24.4 in) long vessel, made in 1905 by Marklin of Germany, was one of 340 toys on sale. The model itself made the headlines 40 years ago, when it featured in a BBC TV show, steaming across the calm waters of Hampstead Ponds, in north London. The Auctioneer’s description We quote below in fu...

Show update from Mat Irvine: The second Automodellismo Show - the show that features model cars inside and 1:1 scale classic cars outside - was very successfully held last Sunday, April 15, 2012. This is the second year under its new banner and location, in Hanslope village, Buckinghamshire, UK. Tasty auto lineup included, left to right: Ford Mustang, Chrysler PT Cruiser, MG-TF, Lotus Elan 2, Bond Bug, Triumph Herald, TVR 350C, Morgan Plus 4.  HaMeX model shows Automodellismo is held under the HaMeX banner - Hanslope Model Expos - that now runs three model shows a year. Automodellismo 2 drew a wide range of visitors, and had a fascinating range of full-size display cars for them to drool over. Although this aspect of the show was really a ‘taster’, it immediately caught the attention of passers-by, and confirmed to anyone arriving that: “Yes, you are in the right place!” The PT Cruiser brought its very own mini-model show in the back. Auto visitors A dozen cars graced the car park...