SCALE MODEL NEWS

DESTINED TO BECOME ANOTHER MUST-HAVE on the bookshelves of scale model makers, this new title is written by SMN contributor Mat Irvine. SMN report: The Model Builders' Manual is a 188-page hardback from Haynes Publishing, well known for its comprehensive range of automotive guides. In recent years, Haynes has added titles on a range of subjects including air, space, sci-fi, and now scale models from Mat. Like other Haynes manuals, the aims of the book ( below ) include clarity and ease of use, achieved by simple layouts, clear text, and plenty of photographs supplied by the author. The book consists of twelve chapters ( below ) plus appendixes and useful references. The interest-packed cover ( below ) shows you are in for a treat, with hours of reading enjoyment to come. Detail photos ( below ) include this test-shot for the Moebius Models kit of Grandpa and Herman Munster. Mat clears up the confusion between the terms 'sprue' and 'runner' with ( below ) a defini...

AN INVASION OF SCI-FI AND SPACE MODELS LANDED at last Sunday's Smallspace 8 2019 event. Here are some more pictures we took at the show. SMN report: Science-fiction displays included figures ( header pic ) and vehicles ( below ) from the Alien movies.   Jetsons family ( below ) going for a family ride in the aircar we'd all like to fly in one day. Gerry Anderson's various TV series have inspired many model makers. These beautifully-made vehicles are fully radio-controlled.   More Gerry Anderson models. The sleek aircraft ( below right ) appears to have been based on the F-20 Tigershark of the early 1980s. Behind it, what looks a neatly modified Bell X-5. Robots ahoy, here a Cylon Centurion ( below ) from Battlestar Galactica. Steampunkish anti-gravity tramp ship ( below ) based on the Waldo by Ian McQue .   Tin-can Zorrat 002 ( below ) was one of a group of scratch-built originals on display. Star Wars X-Wing ( below ) finished in a well-used but combat-ready condition....

  THE SKILLS AND CRAFTSMANSHIP of miniature makers were in generous supply at today's Smallspace 8 show. Here are just a few of the entries on display. Of course, some entries were to 1:1 scale, as the hooded Star Wars figure ( below ) shows. This Snow Speeder ( below ) was a neat miniature, complete with mini-diorama base. Tolkien fans were not forgotten ( below ). Variation ( below ) on a theme of alien chest-burster. Blake's 7 fans had plenty to see ( below ). They could also bid for props later, at the afternoon auction, hosted by co-organiser Mat Irvine. More Star Wars with this neat X-Wing ( below ) depicted racing flat-out over a tiny section of Death Star. More science-fantasy ( below ) this time a finely-crafted bust of Hellboy. The wooden plinth set it off nicely. Small-scale figures on display ( below ) gave fresh meaning to the name of the show. This figure stood just a couple of inches high, on a circular diorama base.   Thanks to all at Smallspace , and to the or...

SMALLSPACE RETURNS this weekend. This time, it's the eighth edition of the annual sci-fi/realspace model show. For any UK space buff, Smallspace has become an unmissable event. SMN report: As with previous Smallspace events, there's a main theme. This year it's the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon landing. But there are plenty of other anniversaries to think about this year, including the 65th birthday of everyone's fave Japanese monster, Godzilla. The spaceship ( below ) is just one of hundreds on display at Smallspace 8, with original designs as well as those based on TV and movies. Star Wars fans can meet life-size Star Wars models and droids ( below ) made by Alireza Nohekhan. One of the special guests will be astronomer and space educator Jerry Stone ( below ) from the British Interplanetary Society. MechaGodzilla will be there ( below ) with its owner, Stephen Billings. As will Daleks, RD-D2, and other life-size creations ( below ). The 'What if?' s...