SCALE MODEL NEWS

FANS OF BIG BOMBER models could do worse than look at the Revell B-1B Lancer kit. It's a biggie all right - to 1:48 scale, the model measures some 921 mm (36.26 in) when assembled. SMN report: The Revell B-1B has moveable wings, which accurately model the real thing's variable-sweep geometry. Also in the kit are a removable hatch and entry/egress ladder, bomb bay doors, detailed radar, and decals for two different aircraft. Instructions ( below ) are comprehensive, with step-by-step exploded-view line art to guide the buildup accurately. The B-1B's flight deck has a fair amount of detail, which will respond well to careful painting and finishing. It's a pity there's not much to see once the fuselage halves are mated, so maybe it's an argument for including in the box a fuselage half in transparent plastic. It's been done before, particularly by Tamiya with its Bell X-1 and Fairey Swordfish kits. Plenty of visual guidance is provided for a trouble-free assemb...

IT TOOK NEARLY TEN YEARS and a journey of three billion miles, but the space probe New Horizons finally flew close by the sub-zero world of Pluto on July 14, 2015. And here is Mat Irvine’s account of scratch-building a 1:8 scale model of the probe for a BBC TV show. Mat Irvine: Models of space probes within the space industry are relatively plentiful, as they are often needed for design and engineering purposes, and even for CEOs’ desktops. But when it comes to commercial kits, they are the poor relation, compared to models of launch rockets and manned spacecraft.  Consequently, when I needed to supply a New Horizons model for the BBC2 series Stargazing Live in March 2015, there was no other way but to build it from scratch. Having said that, there is a paper model  available from NASA here . The NASA link also gives downloadable models of Pluto and the Pluto-Charon twin-body system. There are 3D model files available too, which are also available direct here .  However,...

A NICE VIDEO courtesy Airfix and Corgi of the UK's premier air display, the Royal International Air Tattoo 2015, held at RAF Fairford earlier this month. It makes good viewing, especially the camouflage-finish EFA Typhoon and bat-like Avro Vulcan. Click for full-screen mode, to max out on those all too brief glimpses of the modelling side of things.

A BATTLE OF BRITAIN anniversary special from Airfix offers four 1:72 kits at less than half price. Three of the kits are aircraft: a Spitfire, Hurricane, and Bf 109. The fourth is an unusually good choice, in the form of the Airfix RAF Air Sea Rescue Launch.   The Air Sea Rescue Launch ( below ) has always been a favourite at SMN, not only because it's a decent kit with excellent diorama possibilities, but also because it's a model of a handsome and rakish original. When assembled, the Air Sea Rescue Launch measures 266 mm (10.5 in) long. The Spitfire and Bf 109 are in a Dogfight Doubles pack, complete with eight mini-pots of paint, brushes and a micro-tube of cement. Those extras are useful for beginners, though experienced model makers will doubtless put them to one side. Still, you never know when such things might come in useful. The Hawker Hurricane (below) is a newish tooling, with decent interior detail, especially for a single-seater in comparatively small 1:72 scale. I...

SMALLSPACE 4 FEATURED MANY STARS of the big movie franchises. This Ironman figure is finished with a neat metallic sheen, and also features a realistic lighting display. SMN report: This Cylon Raider ( below ) was shown with an optional LED lighting kit, supplied by Tyridium Models. LEDs are an excellent idea that, if carefully used, can improve the show appeal of many models. Used badly, they can easily make a good kit look like a cheap Christmas decoration. Wonder Woman ( below left ) fights off an underwater creature. Smaller scale Batmobile and Chevrolet Camaro could help her to escape if the beast becomes a real problem. She stands a good chance of freedom if she chooses the Chevy, as it's not just any old Camaro, it's Bumblebee, star of the Transformers movies. Colonial Viper ( below ) from Battlestar Galactica looks a neat build, with weathering that gives it a battle-weary appearance. Actually, the maintenance crew would get a serious dressing down if it were my ship -...

GERRY ANDERSON ENTERTAINMENT ruled children's TV in the 1960s and 1970s, with series after series, all achieving great popularity. Above, the Mole, from the all-time classic, Thunderbirds. Forward sweep wing was an unusual feature of Thunderbird 2. It's been tried a few times with real aircraft, but materials technology has not yet been advanced enough to make it a production possibility. The model ( below ) to about 1:200 scale, shows a neat diorama launch pad. Good as it looks, I can't help feeling it's time we saw some of these T-Birds presented in different markings. For example, it would be good to see a United Nations-sponsored version, painted white with blue UN flags. Nifty little Fireball XL-5 ( below ) on its launch rail, propelled by two rockets, with not-so-convincing smoke trails. Incidentally, a recent infographic we saw marked the XL-5 with a top speed of 24C - 24 times light speed. Does anyone know if this figure actually fits into the Fireball XL-5 fict...