SCALE MODEL NEWS

BLADE RUNNER 2049 is the long awaited sequel to the all-time classic science fiction movie  Blade Runner , directed in 1982 by Ridley Scott, of Alien fame. SMN report: The new movie will still be set in the dark universe that Scott created, though there is a new director this time round. At SMN, we're hoping that Blade Runner 2049 will have plenty of new vehicles that will become sci-fi models to build. The best known vehicle from the original movie is the police Spinner ( cockpit below ) which has seen some action in the miniatures world, in both diecast and plastic kit forms. We've featured the Spinner at SMN here and here . Here is Mat Irvine's built-up Fujimi 1:24 scale Spinner kit ( below ). It looks good, and the new film should spark new interest in both the Spinner kit and the whole future-noir genre. The original designs for Blade Runner vehicles were sketched ( below ) by the legendary artist-designer, Syd Mead . The power of his work shows clearly here, wi...

IF THIS MODEL LOOKS familiar, it should be, for is it is a renamed Police Spinner from the classic science fiction film Blade Runner , already made as a kit by Fujimi.  Mat Irvine: But then why is this one called ‘Future Car’? This is because it appears in Back to the Future Part II, the second one in the trilogy that really is set in the future, where the car is seen briefly - very briefly - parked in a couple of scenes as, well, a parked car. The kit - as the Police Spinner - has already been reviewed here , and the Future Car is, as far as the parts go, basically a straight reissue. No markings or special paint job are required, and some of the exterior details are not required - just build it ‘out of the box.’ Cleanly moulded components (below) are a Fujimi hallmark, including red and blue transparent light units. Incidentally this is not the only ‘re-used’ Star Car to appear. The car built for the The Last Starfighter  movie was built, as was the Spinner, by customize...

SMN REPORT: Did you enjoy the classic sci-fi movie, Blade Runner? Did you laugh at the Back to the Future (BttF) time-travel trilogy? If so, we bet you didn’t know that Blade Runner’s Spinner cop car also appeared in the second BttF movie. And now here it is again, coming shortly as a 1:24 scale kit, from Fujimi of Japan. The latest Fujimi 1:24 scale sci-fi kit, simply titled ‘Future Car’ features a vehicle that’s said to be briefly seen in Back to the Future II - so very brief, in fact, that the SMN Crew fast-forwarded the DVD last night without spotting it. However, we live in hope and will sleuth some more tonight! Sleeker Spinner The new injection-moulded car is essentially a standard Fujimi Spinner kit, less police accessories such as the roof lights, though they are included in the box. As you can see from the box-top art (header pic), the overall look of the Future Car is somewhat sleeker than the police Spinner, so it’s none the worse for being minus some items. Parked Spinner ...

Mat Irvine update: After my initial report on Fujimi’s surprise release of the 1:24 scale Spinner Police Car from the classic science-fiction movie Blade Runner , here’s how I worked to complete the model. Hard to find details Frankly, one major problem was finding enough references, to check details when building the model. The obvious starting point might be the movie itself, but a glance at Blade Runner makes you realise that the future-view of Ridley Scott (and of author Philip K. Dick, for that matter) is pretty dank and dismal. Most Spinner shots show a cityscape shrouded in smog and rain, so trying to ascertain details direct from the movie is not worth the bother - frankly, forget it! There is however logical reasoning in that if this is how Spinners appear on-screen, it’s how they should be depicted, but even here one has to start somewhere. Magazines to the rescue Given the popularity of Blade Runner , I would have thought that details would be everywhere, from publications ...

Mat Irvine reports: Even after all these years, the model companies can still surprise us, especially when one of them - Fujimi of Japan - recently announced a model kit of a ‘star car’ that appeared in Blade Runner , a famous science-fiction movie first released no less than 30 years ago this June. Spinner kit release I’ll talk about Blade Runner shortly, but first of all, what about the model? Well, now the long wait is over, and kits are freely available, opening the box reveals a fully-detailed injection styrene kit of the Spinner, and it’s made to the accepted star car scale of 1:24. However the kit has managed a surprise in not coming from a US company, instead being released by Fujimi, a Japanese company not known for making star cars before. Component count Opening the box provides some highly favourable initial reactions. The moulding colour is white, not blue as shown in some pre-production images, which means that you’ll need to spray-paint it all. But that’s no bad thing, ...

SMN report: Due for release late October is an item that sci-fi model fans have long been crying out for - an injection-moulded kit of the Spinner Police Car from the classic 1982 science fiction movie Blade Runner. It’s going to be a 1:24 production from Fujimi, and brings that near-three decade famine to an end, and should bring Fujimi’s talents to the fore with clean mouldings and accurate detail. Choose your Spinner mode The Fujimi Spinner can be built in two driving modes, as a ground runner or in wheels-up flightworthy configuration. Decals are supplied by the excellent Italian Cartograf company, so these will be state-of-the-art productions.  Test shots for the kit were completed in blue and other shades, but apparently the production models will be plain white and clear. Aaah... it’s been a looong time fellow Blade Runner fans, but Fujimi finally puts a smile on this fan’s face! Pictures above courtesy the excellent Gunjap site, link below. Syd Mead aerodynes A word for non...