SCALE MODEL NEWS

HERE ARE REISSUES of two Revell kits from the Space Shuttle age, the Boeing 747 SCA (Shuttle Carrier Aircraft) and (above) the Space Shuttle Orbiter Atlantis . Both kits are to 1:144 scale. Mat Irvine: These are both reissues of kits that started life way back at the beginning of the Space Shuttle programme. In fact, the Boeing 747 SCA (Shuttle Carrier Aircraft) was the first-ever Revell kit of the Shuttle system, issued in 1977. This kit featured the Shuttle Orbiter Enterprise  on the box, though separate Columbia and Challenger box-art was also made. The 747 SCA has box-art that shows it flying over the specially-constructed display buildings at the Smithsonian Udvar-Hazy Center, Dulles Airport. This did have Enterprise on display, but now houses Discovery . Enterprise has been moved to the Intrepid Museum, NYC. However, these kits featured no payload or interior detail. In 1978, the Orbiter was issued by itself, and this time a generic Spacelab payload was included. Althoug...

THE CITROEN DS19 MAY NOT BE a powerful sporting Corvette Sting Ray or Jaguar E-Type, but as one of the prettiest passenger cars ever made, it is certainly a good choice as loss leader (price just 2.99 Euro) for a new Dinky Toys collection from Les Editions Atlas. David Jefferis: I might not have chosen to model the car in that particular shade of garnet red, but it doesn't detract from what is a nicely reproduced miniature 1:43 scale model. Here's the story from Les Editions Atlas, translated into somewhat flowery English, courtesy Google Translate: "The story begins with the official re-release of the DS 19 ref. 530. ATLAS Editions decided to let you rediscover this sophisticated model, much sought after by collectors today. "Garnet and roof ivory finish, this reissue of the DS 19 is provided with amenities lacking on older models Dinky Toys, such as: fuel filler door, and other interior fittings.  "This miniature car will bring back the child in you and deligh...

The Revell-Germany 1:25 scale Hummer H2 kit has been through several incarnations before reaching this latest iteration. Mat Irvine: Previously this Hummer H2 had been issued by Revell-Monogram (RM) for the US market, starting off as a ‘diecast’ kit, where the body was in metal, pre-finished with paint and markings, though the rest of the parts were in conventional plastic and needed assembly. In addition this first version was issued as from the TV series, CSI-Miami (above) in which Hummers were used as the general mode of transport for the CSI crew. The CSI issue (below) was the only one where the body was metal, subsequent issues moving the moulding of the body over to plastic. A custom version was also made, which primarily meant giant sized ‘Donk’ wheels replacing the admittedly already pretty large stock wheel and tyres, and installing a suitably gigantic sound system. RM issued the kit with both these stock and custom options, though the stock was purely that, with no CSI schem...

Fine Scale Modeler has been a long-time favourite read, with high production values and editorial quality. It helps that we've had the odd model featured in there too. With this Special Edition, FSM steps up to the plate with fact-packed pages, stuffed with expert information that should help every model maker craft a better kit. Whether you're interested in assembly tips, super detailing know-how, painting or weathering advice, they're all there and more besides.

NO EXCUSES for showing this beautiful old bird, though for airliner model fans, there's plenty of useful reference detail to see. Enjoy!

Here's a beautifully produced book by German photographer and model fan Michael Spengler. Racing Cars is a must-look for anyone who likes diecast racing cars. Most of us grew up with diecast model cars of one sort or another - Corgi, Dinky, Hot Wheels, Solido - you name it, they have all become retro nostalgia items, and many are highly sought-after collectibles too. Dinky Toys had a fair range of racers, including the Maserati (above) and you can see many others in the catalogue we uploaded to Issuu (below). For more information on Michael Spengler's book, visit his site here.

This 1:48 scale model lifeboat began as an ITC kit in 1959, and has been available from Glencoe for many years. Now the vessel has become a star in its own right, as it featured in the best selling 2009 book The Finest Hours , presently being made as a Disney movie of the same name. Mat Irvine:  In 1952, Rescue Boat CG 36500 went to help the oil tanker Pendleton , being battered by a 70-knot storm off the coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Thirty-two crew were taken from the stricken ship, and returned safely to Chatham Lifeboat Station. All four Coast Guard crewmen received the Gold Life Saving Medal for the mission. The box art (below) was painted by Jack Leynwood, one of Glencoe's regular illustrators. The kit is - due to its age - somewhat simple in construction. But even delicate parts such as the masts and railing supports still mould well, and the model builds into a neat little replica of the boat. The runners (below) are far thicker than they would be in a new-tool kit, but...

There are a number of kits of the Citroen 2CV - the ‘Ugly Ducking’ - but until now the van version, equally popular in France, was unobtainable as a convention plastic kit. Now Tamiya has modified its 1:24 scale 2CV saloon car to make the Fourgonnette van, with distinctive corrugated sides and roof. Mat Irvine: The kit represents a vehicle that is a French classic. All long-standing car-producing nations seem to have a vehicle associated with that country: the United States has the Ford Model T, Britain the Mini, Germany the VW Beetle, and Italy the Fiat 500. With France it has to be the Citroen 2CV, so here Tamiya has scored a big plus with this choice of kit. But it is a slightly more than just Tamiya, as the Fourgonnette is a co-operation with Ebbro, a company based in Shizuoka, Japan. Ebbro primarily makes diecast vehicles to 1:43 scale, so the introduction of a 1:24 kit may seem slightly odd. However Ebbro's founder and CEO, Makoto Kiya, used to work for Tamiya, hence the conn...

THERE'S GOOD WEEKEND reading here, and some fine models to look at through the 63 pages of the IPMS Santa Maria Magazine. Look out for the big side-views, very useful as reference material. Marine modellers will be delighted by Louis Carabott's French battleship Richelieu , while air fans will enjoy the amazing F-14 Tomcat buildup picture sequence.

This is the third issue of Revell’s new 1:25 scale 1957 Ford Custom car kit, this time as a cop car of the period. The kit has been created in conjunction with the specialist model company Model King. Mat Irvine: The kit is a new-tool production, the result of using modern techniques and methods such as a chassis separately moulded from the floor pan, and metal stub axles to hold the wheels. The interior is now made up from individual panels for the floor and sides, which makes painting far easier than the classic one-piece moulded tub. Most parts (below) are moulded in white, making overpainting other colours straightforward. Much of the kit is identical to previous issues, so you can build it up stock, and add the police accessories at the end. However, this would tend to dictate the colours you use, so here the classic ‘black and white’ of police cars of the period, or any period for that matter, has been used. And being a black and white, it’s the white that goes on first, and it ...