SCALE MODEL NEWS

Star Trek lives with an interesting fortnightly, ‘The Official Starships Collection’ from partwork publisher, Eaglemoss. As usual with such publications, you get a colour magazine (above) in this case 20 pages long, packed with data and background information. The episode shown here is the fifth in the series, a leaf-green Romulan Warbird. Conceptually a 24th Century design, the Romulan D’Deridex Class Warbird is a biggish ship, some 1.3 km (0.84 mile) long with power to match at a maximum Warp 9.6. The power supply is nifty, the Romulans having designed a mini-black hole that creates an enormously strong gravity field. So now you know - and there’s plenty more info like that to read in the magazine. Apart from the pseudo-science, there’s a lot on offer in the mag, including designer details on the creation of the ship for the series. It's fascinating stuff for sci-fi nerds like me - note the alternative vertical design shown above. What do you get apart from the mag? There are thr...

My last look at the excellent iHobby Expo 2013 includes some famous and not-so-famous faces, and even a book of mine. The biggest display object at iHobby Expo 2013 had to be the giant inflatable Space Marine, from Games Workshop. The figure was a promotion for the hugely successful Warhammer 40,000 wargaming series. The prime US model paint company, Testors, was at the show, as was Hornby, with a display that included Scalextric, Airfix and Humbrol. MRC (originally Model Rectifier Company) showed its US distribution strength, with clients that include Academy, Italeri, and Mini-Art. The Russian kit company Zvezda was there with a new range of models from the animated movies, Cars and Planes (below). I think it’s a pity that neither range is to a standard model scale but it’s good to see them on sale, nevertheless. Woodland Miniatures (below) is a regular at the show. Treasure trove! My Scale Car Modelling book for sale (below) on the Motor Books International stand. Tom Grossman (left...

Mat Irvine: The model company located nearest to iHobby Expo 2013’s Schaumberg Conference Center venue, Revell-Monogram, displayed new products only on the Saturday. The following day, R-M moved to Sylvania, Ohio, to reveal new car models at the spacious (above, below) one-day Toledo Collectors Toy Fair . A variation (above) on the existing Revell 1949 Mercury kit. This time it’s a station wagon, in ‘woody’ form. The 1968-73 TV series ‘The Mod Squad’ featured a similar car, actually a 1950 version. Aurora made a kit of it, and as with most Aurora kits, this has become a real collectible item. If you are determined have this Star Car in your collection, you could use this new kit instead. New version of the 1970 Plymouth Hemi Cuda 2'n1 kit (above) this time a hardtop. Two versions can be built, with different hoods and grilles. California Wheels 1:25 scale kit of a 1950 Oldsmobile, modified into this handsome custom version. This is an interesting reissue. It’s the old Monogram drag...

Moebius Models performed a neat trick for 2013. The company was present at iHobby Expo in Chicago, while simultaneously mounting a display some 400km (250 miles) away, at the Toledo Collectors Toy Fair, Sylvania, Ohio. iHobby Expo is the main US hobby show, but for many years there has also been a specialist Toledo Collectors Toy Fair, in Ohio. This year the Toledo show coincided with the Sunday of iHobby, so Moebius was torn as to which to attend - so it did both. Frank Winspur, creator and CEO, was at the show in Chicago while colleague Dave Metzner was two states eastward. The split was primarily because Moebius, although known mainly for its range of science-fiction and horror models, has also turned its attention in recent years to car and truck models, such as the excellent 1:25 scale 1952 Hudson Hornet convertible and 1953 hardtop (above) and streamlined Art Deco-look International Lonestar and Prostar trucks. First though, what was at iHobby Expo 2013? Here, Moebius revealed wo...