SCALE MODEL NEWS

The T-800 Terminator strikes back with this latest 1:6 scale figure from the Hong Kong firm, Hot Toys. David Jefferis reports: Hot Toys has revealed the latest Arnold Schwarzenegger figure in its 1:6 scale collection, a battle-damaged T-800 from The Terminator a movie that’s been around for a near-unbelievable 30 years. Arnie has already been given the Hot Toys treatment for his role in the 1991 Terminator 2: Judgement Day , but this new figure recreates his performance in the first film. The 1:6 scale Hot Toys Battle Damaged T-800 comes with two different heads, one of them more damaged than the other, allowing you to see parts of the metallic endoskelton, and the famed glowing red eye. There’s also a leather jacket, a range of guns, different hand positions and, of course, Arnie’s trademark ultra-dark sunglasses. However (and it’s something of a pity for this reviewer) there’s no built-in trigger and sound system for the figure to say those immortal words, “I’ll be back.” More Hot ...

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...

California-based Fantastic Plastic has just released a new 1:72 scale kit of the Whispercraft, a fictional helicopter that featured in the 2000 sci-fi movie, The 6th Day . In The 6th Day , Arnold Schwarzenegger (famed for the Terminator movies) plays the owner of a small aircraft rental company specializing in vertical takeoff Whispercraft, advanced helicopter-like vehicles whose blades can be fixed in flight to function as conventional wings. Ron Cobb’s work The Whispercraft was designed by the hugely talented Hollywood conceptual artist Ron Cobb, some aspects of which he based on actual aerospace projects then being developed by the US military. Upgrade kit This Fantastic Plastic kit is a re-release of the 2007 kit, with upgrades that include Ron Cobb's blueprints, along with extras such as a detailed interior, clear vac-form canopy and - we’re pleased to see this - weapons for a military gunship version. Movie plot In case you’d forgotten (or didn’t know) The 6th Day plot here’...

REPORT BY MAT IRVINE: Here I continue my review of the 2012 WonderFest science-fiction and fantasy show, held at the end of May in Louisville, Kentucky - and take a close look at the test shot ( above ) of the huge 1:350 scale USS Enterprise due for release soon. The large scale means that the bridge of the Enterprise is clearly visible (above).  Main runners (below) for the kit.   Mighty starship Jamie Hood of Round-2 showed off the upcoming Star Trek USS Enterprise . This is the original version from the first series, and ‘the best’ as Scotty might maintain, “No bloody A, B C, or D…” The kit is made to a massive 1:350 scale, and stretches some 813 mm (32 in) long. Five moulding colours are involved: two shades of grey and three transparent tints. The Enterprise will be sold under the Polar Lights name, and should be available in October. You even get a tiny Galileo shuttlecraft, seen below next to a business card. Munsters at home Frank Winspur and Dave Metzner...