SCALE MODEL NEWS

HERE'S AN ACE HARRIER to the BIG scale of 1:18. This vid is well worth watching, and is the eighth in a highly-watchable series of build chapters. SMN report: 1:18 scale is on the large side for a model, especially a modern combat jet. We had a Cutlass naval fighter once, and it was definitely too big even for our generously-sized shelves. Click here to visit Primed Model Works and get a close look at this excellent model build.

Here’s a prize-winning build of the 1:24 scale Airfix Harrier, remodelled as a Spanish Navy Matador. The kit is based on the old-mould Harrier, marketed a few years back with additional parts to build the GR3 version. Creator of the sound-enabled display model is US model-maker George Mustafa. It took George over 800 hours (that’s equivalent to more than 33 days solid, working round the clock!) to correct the many flaws in the plastic, to scratch-build the hundreds of missing or corrected components, and to super-detail virtually everything else. The video (below) gives a good feel for George's work, especially the sound-chip side of things - which works just great. George used various bought-in extras, such as part of the Flightpath photo-etch set, a resin ejection seat from Heritage Models, while other parts were scratch-built. The resulting Matador model has working navigation, beacon, and landing lights, an illuminated instrument panel, rotating turbine blades and real Pegasus ...

Yesterday’s 30th anniversary of the Argentina-UK conflict saw Italian kitmaker Italeri releasing models of some British aircraft used in that short but bloody conflict. On offer from Italeri A 1:72 scale double-kit sees the Westland Wessex UH.5 and Sea Harrier FRS.1 in the same box, and at just over 200 mm (7.9 in) long each, the two models are well matched in size. A second Harrier kit to 1:72 scale features the GR.3 variant, this design without the Sea Harrier’s raised cockpit. A second 1:72 scale Wessex is also available, the HAS.3, nicknamed the ‘Camel’ for its humpback dorsal radar fitting. This kit offers three sets of decal markings, the others just one.   Other types involved There are plenty of other models relevant to the Falklands War, including the British Vulcan bomber and HMS Hermes aircraft carrier. However, we’d most like to see Argentine aircraft such as the Super Etendard, Mirage III, Skyhawk, Pukara, even British-supplied Canberra bombers. French and Soviet delta...

SMN report: We noted the big new 1:72 scale Short Stirling heavy bomber earlier this week, and now here’s a pair of smaller aircraft to the same scale, a Hawker Hart inter-war period biplane, and a Hawker Hurricane from World War II. Both releases look interesting enough, the Hart looking especially attractive, with fine interplane rigging a highly appealing feature. What’s the Corgi Hart like? The Hawker Hart light day bomber was designed by Sir Sydney Camm, who later designed the Hurricane and Hunter jet. Camm’s design is captured nicely in this Corgi Hawker Hart, from the pointed propeller spinner to the tail skid. Details extend to the strut-mounted pitot tube for indicating airspeed. The long fuselage groove you can see under the engine exhausts is not a cooling intake, but the exit slot for bullets from the single Vickers machine gun, fired by the pilot. The observer had a Lewis gun, mounted on a Scarf ring. You won’t see it on this model, reasonably enough, but for bombing purpo...

SMN report The folks at Fantastic Plastic are visiting the WonderFest international hobby event this weekend, and have a sale on to mark their escape from the office. Up to 30 percent savings are in place, and if you like to model interesting, unusual, or simply bizarre aerospace and sci-fi subjects, then FP is the place to visit. Competed model, ready for takeoff. Wide range of oddities Fantastic Plastic does the sort of subjects that mainstream kit manufacturers won’t go near, as there simply isn’t the mass-market for - let’s say - a weird ‘maybe’ project from 50 years ago that there is in another Spitfire or Mustang. All of which makes FP’s range of kits that much more appealing to the SMN crew. Mind you, many of FP’s kits are short-run items that come and go like the tides, so if you want something, it’s best to get in quick. Sale lineup this week Of the items on the marked-down list, the Avro Project Y really takes our fancy. It was produced in Canada at a time when ‘flying saucer...

Weekend Model Window is an occasional spot to show you some interesting stuff we've come across recently. The 2008 F1 Championship winning McLaren MP4-23 race car is the latest offering from partwork publisher DeAgostini, and the launch issue looks terrific. The 1:8 scale kit will measure some 594 mm (23.4 in) long when assembled, and has been developed with Kyosho, so should build into a fine replica. How long it will take to collect all the necessary parts is not revealed. A recent AFV from Revell is the 1:35 scale Marder 1 A5, with supplied markings as used in the Kosovo and Afghanistan conflicts. The 196-part kit has detailed Milan missile launcher, machine gun and tracks, aspects which have earned it some very good reviews. We were looking again at the old Disney 20,000 Leagues under the Sea movie the other night, so this steampunk design for a Victorian-era undersea device struck a chord. Lovely thing, and it would be wonderful to see one built, complete with motorized ...

SMN report After years of development, and seemingly endless delays and price hikes, the ‘5th generation’ fighter jet from Lockheed Martin, the F-35 Lightning II, has at last been ordered into limited production. It’s a bit better than recent news that the UK has dropped the F-35 STOVL version in favour of a standard configuration for launching from its as-yet unbuilt Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier. Along with other news that the UK Harrier force is being disbanded, it looks as though the UK is in for an entire decade without carrier-borne air power. Let’s hope it’s not needed. 5G helmet design Back to the F-35: it’s not been a massive hit with the model companies yet, but the rumour mill indicates that things will improve in 2011, not least with a Lindberg version to 1:32 scale. That’ll be interesting if it happens. Meantime, apart from the old Italeri 1:72 and Panda Models 1:48 offerings there’s so much to wait for. Still, we couldn’t resist showing you the latest in ‘5G’ fig...

SMN report Last week saw the 2010 Tokyo Hobby Show, and Hong Kong-based DML - Dragon Models Limited - put on quite a display there. Founded in 1987, DML is well-known for its excellent action figures, ready-built diecasts, and of course an ever-expanding range of plastic kits. Farewell to the Harrier - in UK service anyway So what’s on offer from Dragon at the moment? Well, there’s a smorgasbord of choice, so we’ll just pick and choose a few current faves. The Harrier II-Plus twin-kit to 1:144 scale makes up into a pair of tiny but tasty aircraft - and for this reviewer at least, a sad reminder that next year the Harrier will be phased out of UK military duty. But (grrr) the UK is the country that developed this formidable flying machine in the first place. Let’s hope that UK politicians don’t regret that decision... Tanks and ships On the humanoid front, the 1:35 scale 1940 German ‘Ghost’ Division tank crew kit assembles into a four-man set of beautifully sculpted and detailed figures...