SCALE MODEL NEWS

PETER CHIANG’S LATEST MODEL COMPETITION in Singapore focused on an ever-popular subject, the Supermarine Spitfire fighter. David Jefferis: The recent mini-Airfix Spitfire Group build from Hobby Bounties featured a wide range of models depicting the classic British single-seater.  Kevin Leo’s entry was the First of the Few which was the Spitfire prototype K5054, complete with its two-blade propeller.  First Prize winner was Jonathan Kua, with his Spitfire Mk I, dating from August 1938. This particular aircraft was based at RAF Duxford, in Cambridgeshire, now the Imperial War Museum Duxford, an airfield that still hosts many aviation events, including spectacular air shows, fascinating visitor museums, and hangars packed with droolworthy historic aircraft.  Other Spitfire entries included a beautifully-painted Seafire, complete with arrester hook and folded wings. But perhaps the most unusual entry was Lee Stringer’s Red 5 which was an 'Air War meets Star Wars' concoctio...

  THIS WEEK SAW the annual Airfix Competition 2020, organised by Peter Chiang, of Hobby Bounties in Singapore. Due to the Covid-19 and the Singapore Air Force Museum being closed, it was held online at Facebook, under the Hobby Bounties’ event 'mini-Airfix Cup 2020.' The pictures ( header, below ) are the entries from John Bartram from Sydney, Australia.   1. Airfix 1:144 Boeing Clipper Flying Boat, 1964 mould. 2. Airfix 1:72 Lysander, old original mould. 3. Airfix Hawker Hurricane MkI, old original mould. 4. Airfix 1:72 scale CAC Boomerang, old original mould.   Also included is a photo of Ng  Keng Leong’s F-51D Mustang. Plenty  more information,  pictures, and of course the winners, are to be found at the dedicated Hobby Bounties Airfix Cup web page.  Our personal favourite is the Batwing, which started out as a  standard Airfix Curtiss Tomahawk kit. It's nice enough out of the box, but the conversion to Bat-status by M. Razali Ahmad is original...

THE MODEL ENTHUSIASTS in Singapore are hard at work, preparing the National Airfix Aeronautical Model Engineering Competition. It's scheduled for November 2020, when the pandemic caused by Covid-19 will hopefully be in the past. SMN report: As we write this, the Airfix competition, themed 'Fighter Aircraft over Singapore' is more than seven months away. And that leaves enough time for model makers to get cracking and detail-up their entries. Previous competitions have had impressive results, so entrants will have to really go for it in 2020. SMN wishes you all good luck, and we look forward to showing off the winners later this year. Click here for more details.  And here is a selection of entries that ran in the 2019 competition. It's all excellent stuff, and there plenty more to see at the Airfix Cup website .          

HOBBY BOUNTIES OF SINGAPORE continues with its annual Airfix-linked model competition. In 2019, its online presence was boosted by the dedicated Airfix Cup website. SMN report: The force behind the competition is Peter Chiang, of the Hobby Bounties store. We have featured the competition before, and it's well worthwhile checking out the SMN article links at the bottom to find out more. Tasty Boeing B-17 ( below ) in British markings. Peter Chiang ( below left)  and his wife Hwa Bee, with the guest of honour, Professor Faishal, Senior Parliamentary Secretary at the Ministry of Education. The Airfix book was a gift to him, especially relevant as he is a keen modeller. Group shot of this year's winners ( below ). The 'Make and Take' session ( below ) is a useful feature. Plenty of beautifully crafted models ( below ) showed how stands and dioramas provide display appeal. A neatly produced entry ( below ) from the 2018 competition. Click here to visit Hobby Bounties in Sin...

HERE'S THE INFO on Singapore's 2018 National Airfix Aeronautical Model Engineering Competition. SMN report: The 2018 comp represents another chance for local model makers to show their skills. The pictures below show some examples of their fine work. Click at the bottom for entry details. We've shown other examples of previous entries in this, so follow the link at the bottom to read more.  Military jets ( below ) compared, each on its own base. The mini-dioramas ( below ) really make the models stand out. Science fiction subjects are popular ( below ) with Singapore model makers, as they are elsewhere.   Group sessions ( below ) are good for morale! Click here for more Singapore stuff at SMN. Click here for the 2018 competition details.