SCALE MODEL NEWS

THE LAND ROVER IS ONE OF THE WORLD'S best known off-road vehicles, and is found in every country. But considering this widespread popularity, kits of the original Land Rover to 1:24/25 scale have been few and far between. In the military scales of 1:35 and 1:72/76, yes, but to the standard car scale, no. Mat Irvine reports:  But now Revell has come to the rescue with a brand-new kit of one of longest-running Land Rover types, the Series III Long Wheel Base (LWB), otherwise known as the ‘109’ for the number of inches in its wheelbase. Revell could have reissued the old ESCI kit (now Italeri). But that kit is getting a bit long-in-the tooth, so instead Revell opted to make a brand-new tool. Overall this is an excellent kit, although there are a couple of anomalies, more of which later. The model is fully detailed, complete with chassis, engine, running gear, interior, and bodywork. There are various assembly options, depending on what configuration you wish, and you have to decide on...

THE LAND ROVER is one of the best known off-road British vehicles, and this Italeri kit models the military version, as used by the SAS (Special Air Service) on operations in the Middle East. SMN report: The Italeri kit features the 109-inch (277 cm) long-wheelbase Land Rover, first used by British SAS forces in the 1970s. These ‘Landies’ are nicknamed ‘Pink Panthers’ for their unique pinkish camouflage paint. The Italeri Land Rover kit is nicely presented and moulded, albeit when assembled it's not that large. Even at 1:35 scale, the finished model will sit comfortably in the palm of your hand. But Italeri has worked hard on the kit, and it is packed with satisfying details. Components include machine guns, fuel can, smoke and flare dispensers. On the rear flanks hang lengths of perforated metal, which can be used as ramps to enable the Land Rover to escape safely if it sinks too far into soft sand. We have only one moan, so far as the kit is concerned - you’ll have to supply you...

REPORT BY MAT IRVINE: Italy’s home-grown model company, Italeri, is one of those still producing a wide variety of kits. However, as is so often the case in the world of takeovers, it has over the years acquired virtually all its rivals in the country, including Protar and ESCI. These have greatly increased Italeri’s own vehicle catalogue, especially those from ESCI, and has led to a new kit trio ‘of mixed parentage’. Unique to ESCI ESCI had made a number of vehicles that were not made by anyone else in 1:24/5 scale, such as the Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen, long wheelbase (LWB) Land Rover, and an early Toyota Land Cruiser four-wheel drive (4WD). In addition, ESCI made a series based on the Jeep CJ-7, though none were the classic CJ-2 military version, but this was one Italeri itself had made.  Extra parts Consequently, Italeri has issued three military soft-skinned vehicles from around the globe using both its own and ESCI tooling. These are a reissue of an Italeri original, the Willys ...

SMN REPORT: The Spanish Lego fan Sheepo 2012 doesn’t seem to be too worried about the financial ups and downs of the Eurozone, maybe because he’s been hard at work building this 1:8.5 scale Land Rover Defender 110.  Details aplenty Sheepo’s scratch-built Land Rover Defender 110 not only looks just so, but he’s built in details that include a five speed gearbox, a two or four-wheel drive system, working suspension on all wheels, and disc brakes that yank it to a halt, pronto. The Defender has a fully-detailed chassis, and working radio control system. Building from standard parts Engineering student Sheepo has stuck to the rules where kit-bashed Lego models are concerned - that is, only standard Lego parts can be used throughout. Not that the rules are too onerous, as the Lego Technic system is about as comprehensive as you’re likely to get, this side of a Formula One racing outfit. Another Sheepo Lego masterwork, this time a 1960s-era Mini Cooper. Vote for the Defender We’ve incl...

Mat Irvine reports Considering the longevity and worldwide popularity of the Land Rover, there have been surprisingly few model kits of the vehicle. There are diecasts and ready-builts by the dozen, but if you want to glue something together, not a lot. There are kits made in 1:72, 1:76 and 1:35 scales, though these are mostly military vehicles. Heller makes one in 1:43, reissued by Airfix, but when we reach the most popular car scales of 1:24 and 1:25, there’s not a great deal of choice. There was an oldish Monogram kit of the short wheelbase (SWB) version, but fortunately the Italian kit company Esci made a long wheelbase (LWB) version to 1:24 scale. This came in three types - soft-top, hard-top/station wagon, and a special paratroop version with suitable army equipment. Sadly, Esci as a kit company has disappeared, but fortunately most of its tooling survives, either with Revell Germany, or now mostly with fellow Italian company Italeri. And it is Italeri that has recently reissued ...