SCALE MODEL NEWS

MORE INTERESTING STUFF from Peter Chiang with these entries from his Hobby Bounties mini-Airfix James Bond competition 2019. The cars are all in 1:32 scale, the James Bond Aston Martin ( above ) being fitted with an ejection-seat cutout in the roof, and much else besides.   SMN report: Here we see a nicely assembled Airfix 4.5 litre Bentley ( below ) and VW Beetle with skis, both to 1:32 scale. Secret agent Bond ( below ) leaves his top hat behind. A change of scale ( below ) with Airfix 1:76 scale astronauts, here featured in a neat diorama setting. Click here for more info at Hobby Bounties.

A FEW MONTHS BACK, REVELL REISSUED a 1:24 scale kit of the Trabant 601S, to celebrate 60 years since the boxy little East German car was first built, in 1957. Mat Irvine:  The Revell kit enables you to build a stock Trabant, and also a version called the Safari, which operates guided tours around Berlin. A new decal sheet features the zebra-stripe markings that adorn the exterior of the Safari. They certainly stand out in Berlin’s busy traffic. Revell has actually made two versions of the Trabant. The first was a simplified kit without vinyl tyres, but did include a large roof rack. Revell retooled the kit in far more detail, though the rack option was deleted. The kit we show here is a reissue of this latter kit. The box back ( below ) has useful information and pix of the car. Official Revell pictures ( below ) show a decent level of detail, including the engine compartment, plenty of decals, and chassis underpan. The Revell Trabant’s rear ( below ) is graced with German words th...

JUST LUURVE THIS VIDEO which is a reminder of decades of custom car creativity. SMN report: As for model cars, well the VW Beetle is a classic that's available in kit or diecast form. The model (below) is a 1:24 scale custom from Maisto. Detailing is perhaps a little clunky, but the basics are there for a more elaborate model.     And the Beetle-Veyron mashup ( below ) comes courtesy RC workshop, and would look really fine, either in a radio-control circuit race or on a display shelf.

THIS ITALERI KIT OF THE VW 1303s Beetle goes to prove the old saying, never take anything for granted. Mat Irvine: When I first learned that Italeri was making 1:24 kits of both a saloon and a convertible Volkswagen Beetle, I assumed they would be the same as the recent Revell kits. Italeri and Revell are independent companies, but there have been various kit-tool exchanges over the years, with many models being joint ventures. So I thought that if both Revell and Italeri make 1:24 scale Beetles, they must be the same kit. However, this is not the case. The Revell kits ( click here for SMN review ) are brand-new originals, whereas this Italeri Beetle is actually a reissue of an older kit from the Japanese manufacturer, Imai. Parts layout ( below ). Note the pair of metal axles. Left- and right-hand drive dashboards are supplied. The Imai kit was originally motorised, so although a motor has not been included by Italeri, some elements of it are still apparent, especially the relatively...

REVELL HAS PRODUCED A 1:24 SCALE KIT of this most famous of German cars for many years. However, this latest kit is a brand-new updated version, with more detail and accuracy than the earlier offering. Mat Irvine:  The new Revell Volkswagen Beetle Limousine kit represents a 1968 model-year car, though the basic style and design lasted for many years. The kit features a full interior, a detailed air-cooled engine for the rear, with an opening engine hatch. There’s also an opening boot lid in front, though the interior is oddly bare - there should be at least a spare wheel inside. However, the four main wheels rotate, the tyres are of thin vinyl, and many parts are chrome plated, such as the tiny front grilles, front and rear indicator and lamp housings. Parts layout ( below ). Note alternative dashboards are supplied ( bottom left ). There is a multi-piece interior with separate side-panels, individual front seats and rear bench. Small details, such as the roof-mounted grab handles ...