SCALE MODEL NEWS

Sailing ship enthusiasts can climb aboard here for this big model of HMS Endeavour, ‘the ship that discovered Australia.’ First thing to note is that, when assembled, this ship is BIG. She is 916mm (36in) long, with a beam of 337mm (13.3in) and height from keel to mast tops of 765mm (30in). And it gets better, for the Endeavour is made to the kit-standard 1:48 scale. What this means is that ship-lovers can build an excellent display model, but the rest of us have a diorama piece ready and waiting. And for steampunk-fantasy fans like us, the Endeavour is ripe for a makeover. Imagine replacing the sails with gas bags, adding propellers to either side, a tall funnel from a midships steam engine, and you have the makings of a splendid steampunk Sky Trader vessel. Great stuff… But away from parallel-universe land, and back to James Cook’s era and the kit as it is intended to be built. The weekly publication supplies a bunch of components, and a background 16-page colour magazine with each i...

Doctor Who fans queue here for a set of collectible figurines from partwork publisher, Eaglemoss. They are moulded to a common 1:21 scale. The fortnightly Doctor Who Figurine Collection includes a 20-page colour magazine, with the issue’s figurine packed in a neat box. In Issue 4, the figurine is our Weeping Angel, described as a Temporal Vampire, in ‘feral mode.’ The resin-cast figure stands some 81 mm (3.2 in) high, plus a base 8 mm (0.3 in) deep, for a total height of 89 mm (3.5 in). The series is made to 1:21 scale, so that means in ‘real life’ this Angel stands some 1.7 m (5 ft 7 in) so the species is not very tall. We’re not regular Doctor Who viewers, so don’t know too much about the Angels’ backstory, but suffice to say, they are one of the many nasty lifeforms confronted by our hero, the time-and-space travelling Doctor Who. The figurine is neatly packed inside an acetate form-fit shell and a cardboard box. Be ready to take your time with unpacking, as getting inside that acet...

SMN REPORT Here’s the latest in the Helicopters series we featured at first publication in September 2012. This one features a Westland S-55 Whirlwind, finished in the bright yellow markings of Royal Air Force Rescue.  First issue This series is now well and truly under way, the Big Whoppa launch production has long gone, and currently model and magazine come together in a rather graceless plastic bag, of sub-Airfix delightfulness. Still, let’s not get downhearted, as it’s what’s inside that floppy bag that counts. Inside the bag Cut open the bag and you get a substantial bubble-pack holding the helicopter, plus a small bag with extra components, just three push-on rotor blades and a two-part stand. Fit and finish It’s very simple to assemble - just push the blades onto the rotor head, and ease the stand together. But that’s OK, as they all fit perfectly, with no cement needed as a fail-safe. There's no droop on the blades, so regard the model as being in flight mode.  Is it...

Batman lovers - did you miss out on the first-pass of this excellent ready-built series, featuring Batmobiles old and new? If so, then head straight down to your local newsagent, where Number 1 in on sale as a slightly modified series reissue. Second time around We reviewed this excellent piece of Batmania first time around when it was issued in March 2011. At first glance the new one looks exactly the same, which is good news as the miniatures were really well done. The first issue features a Batmobile, excellent Batman figure and two oil drums, all sitting neatly on a diorama base, under a clear, stackable plastic dome. Shape-changer dome Last time round the dome was a nifty oval shape, here in 2013 it's had a sidegrade to a more conventional rectangular format. Launch price is the same, at £2.99 GBP, though that will doubtless go up after the first few cars have hit the stores. The included 'Batmobile Automobilia' magazine is also included, with a redesigned cover. Summa...

SMN REPORT “Build up your Chopper Squad” is the rallying call on the sales video for this latest UK partwork release, Part 1 available now. And it looks an interesting buy for helo fans, as there’s a 1:72 scale model included with every issue. First issue As usual with partwork publications, the first issue is a heavily subsidised whammo release, in this case a 16-page full-colour magazine, strapped on to a blockbuster backing board, which also acts as the base for a bubble-pack containing the meat of the business, a metal-and-plastic 1:72 scale helicopter. Army attacker In this first issue, the helo of note is a Sikorsky UH-60L Black Hawk, finished in US Army colours, as flown in the 1991 Operation ‘Desert Storm.’ Assembly in minutes What’s the model like? Well, it’s an easy build all right, containing the finished fuselage and six extra components in a plastic bag... it feels rather like shades of early Airfix, in fact. Those extras consist of a push-together stand base and arm, plu...