SCALE MODEL NEWS

The massive IPMS Scale ModelWorld is on again this weekend at Telford, UK. For anyone with an interest in scale modelmaking, it’s THE show to visit. In addition to the model displays and judging, there are plenty of things going on, such as these items from the IPMS news update: * The Valiant Wings Publishing book, ‘Airframe and Miniature No 6: North American Early P-51 Mustang’ will be available, with copies for sale. Come by, grab a copy and have a chat. Plus there are plenty of on-stand demos, including. * Saturday, November 9: 1000 and 1200: Richard Franks on the many uses of Aizu masking tape and pickup pens. * 1100 and 1300: Steve Evans shows how to create effective pastel weathering and paint chipping using watercolour pencils. * 1500: Daniel Zamarbide will be signing copies of his Airframe Constructor book 'How To Build the North American P-51 Mustang.’ * Sunday, November 10: 1000 and 1300: Richard Franks demonstrates the uses of Aizu masking tape and pickup pens. *And ther...

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...

You might not have heard of Stevens International, but it’s an important outfit in the modelling world, as the company is one of the main US hobby distributors. There are plenty of well-known model names in the Stevens portfolio, including China’s Trumpeter, whose current range of kits was on display at iHobby Expo 2013, as was a test shot of the upcoming 1:200 scale USS Missouri battleship, due for release in November 2013, and seen (below) in the glass display stand. Judging from what was visible, the kit will make a spectacular finished model, with more than 1573 components, including 11 photo-etch frets, a two-piece main hull, complete gunnery suite, recon seaplanes, decals and stand. It won’t be cheap mind, with an expected US price of $479.95. But for keen ship modellers, it’ll make a fine display piece. Stevens also imports the Haynes 1:4 scale four-cylinder car engine (above). This was originally a Humbrol kit, but is currently available in the UK under the Airfix name. Haynes ...