SCALE MODEL NEWS

WE MOSTLY THINK OF MODELS as miniature versions of the real thing, 1:72, 1:48, 1:87 and so on. Well, every now and again, the models get their revenge and make it the other way round - from small-size original to full-size 1:1 realization. SMN report: Here we feature the Thunderbirds movie from 2004, which featured some full-size versions of Gerry Anderson's miniatures from the TV puppet series. The video ( below ) not only shows a number of 'dream car' designs produced for the motor show circuit, but also takes a sneak peek at updated and redesigned Anderson vehicles. These include a super-sleek updated version of the original bubble-top six-wheel Rolls-Royce FAB 1, driven by chauffeur Parker for the female boss he called, "M' Lady" Penelope. Under the skin, the pink movie car was actually a Ford, but it still looked pretty good to our eyes. You can see it in closeup in the movie ( below ).   Lady Penelope's FAB 1 is presented ( below ) in 1:32 scale m...

Scale readymades in 1:18 and 1:43 are featured in this excellent 2014 catalogue from Paul's Model Art. But the stars of the show are the superb miniature dream cars from days of retro-futures past. Motor show cars, and in particular the GM Motorama concepts hit the heights of designer dreams (below) with features like turbine exhausts, jet-plane fins, bubble canopy and aero-style intakes. This beauty was the Cadillac Cyclone XP74 concept of 1959. The LaSalle roadster (below) came from 1959, and was designed under the leadership of GM car-design legend, Harvey Earl. The Minichamps version is a limited edition in two scales, 1:18 and 1:43. The Edsel Ford Model 40 sportster (below) was designed and built in 1934. Conceived on the classic lines pioneered by cars such as the MG and Triumph, the Model 40 was sleeker than either. The model comes in 1:18 and 1:32 scales.  The 1938 retro-future design (below) came from Hispano-Suiza with the H6C Xenia. The design followed an aviation theme,...