SCALE MODEL NEWS

WE SAW SMALLSPACE 9 reaching out to sci-fi model fans recently. Last weekend, it was the turn of the sci-fi enthusiasts of Corby, a town in the UK’s East Midlands. David Jefferis: Whereas Smallspace concentrates on being a scale model show, Corby’s event took a much wider look at the worlds of science-fiction and fantasy. Among the differences were fans that included Cosplay (costume play) as part of their lives. As you will see from the pictures ( below ) a sleek green skin-tight suited Power Ranger cut an impressive presence. And outside, realistically attired Imperial Stormtroopers and a Doctor Who were on patrol to usher visitors to the show.  Model fans were catered for by the IPMS Spaceflight SIG (Special Interest Group), members of which displayed many spacecraft. Of particular interest to me were scale models of several SpaceX craft, especially a beautifully-made miniature of the full-stack SpaceX Starship, ready for liftoff. The BBC’s Doctor Who made a strong impression t...

INCREDIBLE ATTENTION TO DETAIL and a beautiful finish mark out Stefano Marchetti's fantasy Ferrari. The model took overall gold in the 2016 International Plastic Modellers' Society (IPMS) competition. SMN report: Mat Irvine's closeup pix reveal the minute detail portrayed by Stefano. Handsome work indeed, and something of a shame that the car doesn't exist in reality. Hot Wheels take note! The turbine exhaust ( below ) is nicely discoloured, indicating a high exhaust temperature. Lift-up entry hatch ( below ) echoes the original 1960s-era Ferrari cockpit. Fictional-tech curving vertical-takeoff lifters ( below ) replace rubber tyres in this alt-history model. Note the extendable landing pads that take the weight of the Ferrari when the turbine is switched off. Stefano has managed assorted peripheral details well ( below ). Here, a classic oil can vies for attention with spanners, screwdriver, plus other bits and pieces. Flammable fuel and a hot turbine engine are a fi...

SCALE MODELWORLD is the national show for the UK IPMS (International Plastic Modellers Society). It was held over November 7-8, 2015, at the Telford International Conference Centre. Mat Irvine: An important part of Scale ModelWorld is the competition, open to all IPMS members, UK or otherwise. It is split into categories such as Aircraft, Ships, Military, Cars, Figures, Space, Sci-Fi and Fantasy. 2015 National Senior Champion and Best Space, Sci-Fi or Fantasy ( header and two pix below ): Russian Baikonur Soyuz Launch Pad with Soyuz TMA-21 space mission, by Bruno Gire. After the judges of individual categories have made their choices, the leader of each category picks the overall best in their own section, to be entered into the overall ‘Best In Show.’ This means that selection is tight - they’ve already won in their own category and now there is the unenviable task of judging dissimilar subjects. With the wealth of entries being in aircraft, military and ships, it is usual f...

FOR SCI-FI AND FANTASY MODEL FANS, steampunk - Victorian flavoured gee-whizzery - has provided a new dimension to miniature making. And the recent 2015 Steampunk World's Fair ( video above ) provided plenty of ideas that might be incorporated into a scale model, especially where figures are concerned. Steampunk has invaded the sci-fi space, and this beautifully crafted monowheel bike with rider won a gong at the IPMS show at Telford. And quite right too, especially as even the diorama setting is nicely done, with a slightly War of the Worlds flavour to the whole thing. 1:1 scale craft skills give this costume-playing fan ( below ) a highly realistic look, one that could easily be transferred to the smaller scales we are used to. Aerial dreadnoughts similar to the ones depicted in this visual ( below ) for a tabletop wargame could be created from existing naval kits. The ships in the Airfix 1:350 and 1:600 ranges are particularly useful for this, as there's a wide variety to ch...

HERE IS A SECOND SET OF photos, taken by Mat Irvine at IPMS Scale ModelWorld 2014, in Telford, UK. I'M NOT SURE of the exact model-count on display at the show, but as you can see from the photo ( above ) every table had much to show visitors. What's more, there were plenty to keep the judges busy on their inspection duties. Industria Mechanika was well represented at IPMS Scale ModelWorld 2014. The neatly crafted IM kit ( below ) was a beautifully presented 1:35 scale model of the Remora, a 'sorta' streampunk flying cargo ship. The kit is ideal for weathering and this one has certainly been weathered! This Comet Miniatures Liberator ( above, below ) gained a Silver. Personally, I think the engine should be finished in a slightly darker green, but otherwise it was a good build, and had the additional feature of a circular 'space' backdrop. This Industria Mechanika Dragonfly ( above, below ) gained a class Gold. Besides the excellent paint finish on the craft its...