SCALE MODEL NEWS

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...

Science-fiction fans start here, with this whimsical fantasy aerial trampship, named Waldo . The concept was penned by designer Ian McQue, made available as a kit from Industria Mechanika to 1:35 scale. Like so many of IM's productions, this air-ship is not from any of the well-established sci-fi or fantasy movie franchises, so Star Wars, Star Trek, Hobbit or Avengers, it's not. Instead, you have an original kit, that is suitable for almost any fictional setting. It's perfectly OK to build as is. Conceptually, Waldo stays up courtesy anti-gravity motors, but there's nothing to stop you adding a set of gas bags, or fan-style propulsors of some sort. The ship can be crewed by humans or aliens, but a nicely sculpted human pilot is included. And, as the kit is to military-kit standard 1:35 scale, there are many options available for crew or passengers. Five-view of Waldo's casually-dressed pilot figure (below). It's a well-produced 1:35 scale figure, which will look...

It's good to return to our friends at Industria Mechanika, purveyors of original science-fiction models that are a world away from standard-issue Star Wars and Star Trek. Not that Star Trek and Star Wars aren't great subjects for models - it's just that Industria Mechanika's range is based on original concepts, created by talented designers who work mostly in the world of video gaming and movie-making, so IM's stuff comes from their spare-time heart and soul. The kits are mostly to standard scales too, which means that it is not difficult to incorporate them into existing collections, or to add production kits as diorama extensions. Visit Industria Mechanika here. And some interesting sci-fi stuff available below. Industria Mechanika's Kastor mobile hovertank may have a steampunk flavour, but that's no bad thing at all, and it's convincing as a futuristic combat machine, and even better, comes in military-model standard 1:35 scale. More IM articles at SM...

SMN REPORT: Industria Mechanika are making a name for original sci-fi and fantasy modelmaking, and here are some of the latest works being prepped for sale. Big kit In IM's words, “Traverse the cosmos in the OrbShip, designed by world-renowned concept designer Scott Robertson.”  Made to 1:48 scale, the OrbShip builds up to a good size, and being in this standard scale, will sit nicely with existing aircraft and military models, especially those depicting ‘what-if’ scenarios. The kit contains: * 46 resin components. * One photo-etch brass detail-up sheet. * Nine precision laser-cut windows. * Precise scale pilot figure. * Detailed instructions plus mini-poster. Impressive build When assembled, the OrbShip measures some 378 mm 12.5 in) long, and stands about 127-153 mm (5-6 in) high, depending on landing gear configuration. Width is 108 mm (4.25 in), and according to Industria Mechanika, “It’s impressively big when done!” About Scott 46-year old Scott Robertson is a leading concept a...

SMN report: We’ll be fascinated to see how many robots will be on display at Japan’s Shizuoka Hobby Show on May 17-20. They’ll probably number in their hundreds, from a host of toy, figure, and kit manufacturers, including Fine Molds, whose 1:20 scale robot shown here comes from the anime fantasy movie Laputa: Castle in the Sky . Unusual robot This Fine Molds robot is not a brand-new release, but the strange mechanoid is worth a mention, if only because it is so definitely not a run-of-the-mill Terminator or Robocop-style creation. There are two versions of the design, the combat 'soldier' type shown here, with 132 components, and the peace-loving 'gardener' type shown at the bottom, with 139 parts.  City in the sky The movie Laputa was first released in 1986, but it’s still going strong, and maintains a faithful following. The recent Fine Molds snap-fit kit includes the hugely long-armed soldier-bot, human figures, and a strange creature that seems to be a weird cross...

SMN report: The Industria Mechanika sci-fi model outfit is going from strength to strength, and now there’s a contest on to spice things up. If you’re a steampunk fan (and we are) then IM’s invitation to send in figure designs in the genre is a tempting one. Steampunk range Industria Mechanika has some interesting 1:35 scale steampunk-style model kits already, including the fish-shaped Submersible, insectoid Hornethopter, and the upcoming Steam Car and Squid-Shaped Submersible. As for the contest, in IM’s words: “Wouldn’t it be cool if we got the community involved?” And that’s how the idea came about. Again, from IM: “You can now have the chance to become immortalized in your best Steampunk attire as a scale model kit!” Dress for Success Many people in the Steampunk community create fantastic outfits which they wear to conventions and shows, so emailing pix of your outfit means you could be chosen to “become” a figure model kit. Accessories count too, so rayguns, backpacks, electro-sw...