SCALE MODEL NEWS

PEGASUS HOBBIES is billed as the largest hobby store in southern California (SoCal), and having walked all the aisles, I can confirm the statement is true. Mat Irvine:  President of Pegasus Hobbies is Larry Thompson, whom I first met at trade hobby shows in Chicago, variously RCHTA and then iHobby Expo. Back then, model company personnel would meet up over a weekend to display their wares, and get together with like-minded others for a natter over a pizza and beer. Larry traveled to Chicago for those events, but would always add “If you are ever in California, drop by.” So, as I was there recently, that’s just what I did. The Pegasus Hobbies store is located in Montclair, about an hour or so on the I-10 from downtown Los Angeles. Located in a side street off the interstate, at first glance it doesn’t look that imposing, but you soon spot what appears to be a control tower on the roof, along with a full size yellow and black Gee Bee Model Z race plane. Both are replicas, but do set ...

Pocketbond deals with an eclectic range of items, from toys and games, through to kits proper. It is the main agent for Trumpeter and Academy in the UK, and also imports Pegasus Hobbies, Imex, Roden, AFV Club, and a host of smaller companies. Mat Irvine reports: Pocketbond also runs its own kit brand, Emhar, which started by making AFVs and truck kits to 1:76 scale, now also featuring a new 1:24 scale Bedford truck, available in four versions. Pocketbond took over another UK import and distribution toy and model company, Toyway, a few years ago, and that company’s products are now incorporated into the Pocketbond range. There is a very comprehensive 144-page catalogue listing all these models - more than 2500 of them - plus a lot more, including scale diecast 1:76 cars and vans, suitable for UK railway layouts and a series of Scenix buildings for railways, and wargaming structures under the Conflix name. Pocketbond unfortunately lost its founder and CEO, Phil Brooks, early last year, b...

Mat Irvine reports: After 30 years of being a major model store in South London, Comet Miniatures closed its doors for the final time last week. Comet was the early-1980s creation of Tony James, one of the most colourful modelling names in the UK. As well as being a model store, Comet Miniatures also earned a name for multi-material kits in vac-form, white-metal and photo-etch and, later, injection-moulds. The Disney Nautilus submarine, Doctor Who Daleks, and the Blake’s 7 Liberator are just three science-fiction subjects that have featured in the Comet Miniatures catalogue. So what caused the shutdown? It was a combination of various things, including competition from the Internet and building redevelopment work nearby. But it’s not all gloom, as Tony James is moving into the future under the Timeless Hobbies name. It will be primarily an Internet mail-order outfit, but Tony will also be trading at UK model shows. The Comet Miniatures website continues for the time being, with Timel...

Pegasus Hobbies is the brainchild of Larry Thompson (on stand, above) starting some years ago with accessories produced for model car builders. Today, Pegasus is far better known for its kits covering the wide topic of science-fiction. One of the latest from Pegasus is artist and designer Greg deSantis' take on that perennial favourite, the Nautilus submarine, and I am talking here of the original Jules Verne version, not the later nuclear boat, as used by the US Navy. On the stand (above) was this assembled example of the Pegasus Jules Verne Nautilus. There's an interesting YouTube video on the kit too (below). Of all the design variations on this famous fictional sub, the best known has to be the Disney version, but this one - although reminiscent of the movie - is actually very different, with definite touches of steampunk in its appearance. It’s a multi-material kit, with parts in injection plastic, resin and photo-tech - and yes, the squid is included! Pegasus has more kit...