SCALE MODEL NEWS

“TRY NOT TO DAMAGE IT, 007…” That famous phrase from ‘Q’ in James Bond movies applied in spades to the famed Aston Martin DB5. But it also related to another Bondmobile, the Lotus Esprit S1 that served double-duty as a submarine in the 1977 film  The Spy Who Loved Me . Mat Irvine:  Nicknamed  Wet Nellie  (as a back-referral to the  Little Nellie  autogiro in  You Only Live Twice ) it’s perhaps surprising that a proper model kit hasn’t been made until now. The ‘proper’ qualification is required, as a 1:32 scale kit from the Japanese Eidai company was released some years ago, but it was simplified, motorised, and - assuming you can find one today - can cost a fortune on Internet auction sites. So it’s definitely time for a 1:24 scale kit, which is what Fujimi has supplied. However, there was one slight problem in the early stages, not Fujimi’s fault, but which aspect of the multi-mode vehicle should the company choose to model? In the movie, the Esprit c...

INTERESTED IN NAVAL MODELS? Well, here's a kit that may have slipped in under your radar. It features the submarine that featured in the 1981 German film Das Boot (The Boat) which tells the story of a German crew and their vessel during World War II. Mat Irvine: The Airfix kit makes a small model at 1:400 scale, and it represents a type of sub that wasn’t particularly large in the first place, one of the points that the film demonstrates in showing the claustrophobic atmosphere on board. The kit supplies 52 parts ( below ) although only 36 of these are actually used. Some components are very small, so you do need to take great care during the build. The comprehensive plans are in six stages, and the neatly-printed box back ( below ) shows the finishing scheme in colour. Perhaps the oddest thing about this kit, bearing in mind the fiddly nature of many parts, is that it is available only as a Starter Set. However, that does mean that four Humbrol acrylic paint pots, a paint brush a...

SMN report: Moebius Models have posted some extra pictures of the latest Seaview submarine kit. When assembled, the kit should measure some 990 mm (39 in) long, and it looks very good indeed. In the words of one pleased modelmaker: “When they say huge they mean it. It is a big sub with some great detail work. I made the mistake thinking after I built it, my son could play with it in the tub, WRONG. I do not know what I was thinking...” Cool model He goes on to to say: “It was entirely my fault thinking he could play with it in the tub but it is really cool how big it is! Regardless, with exception of the few little antennas on top, it is very durable for a model.” So all big sub fans, the queue starts here! Aurora models Both the Seaview and its marsupial Flying Sub have had several model kits created of them, both being originally offered by the Aurora Model Company back in the 1960s, when the TV show was running, and they’ve since been re-released several times. Moebius Models have...

SMN report: Mat Irvine reported from the 2011 iHobby Expo in November, and one of the upcoming kits that looked very interesting indeed was the 1:72 scale USS Skipjack nuclear submarine. Well, the sub’s now coming into view and should be available very soon indeed. TV star submarine Moebius has another big submarine on offer too, and that’s the Seaview , star of 'Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea', a long-running TV series that was aired from 1964-68. To this science-fiction fan, the Seaview is probably the more interesting of the pair, not least for its mini-sub - included in the Moebius kit - and for the windows in the bow section. Perfect for a TV series, big, square windows up front are the last thing a working submarine needs, but kudos to the special effects team - it looked really good when you saw crew figures walking about behind those four holes in the pressure hull. High-speed sub The Moebius 1:72 scale USS Skipjack  was one of the most advanced subs of its time, pow...

Mat Irvine reports: The 2011 iHobby Expo show took place from October 20-23, at the Rosemont Center, near Chicago, Illinois. It's an amazing place to visit, as it showcases a mind-boggling array of model and hobby products.  Tempting new kits It’s good to see that smaller companies are on the increase and mostly producing brand-new kits, and one of the best-known of these is Moebius Models. Created by Frank Winspur a few years ago, Moebius was initially known for recreating old Aurora kits, but has now taken on a distinct identity of its own. Hudson Hornet, in sedan and convertible forms.  Classic autos First there was the recent 1:25 scale International LoneStar truck, and now there’s an excellent 1953 Hudson Hornet, accompanied by convertible and Stock Car versions. Fans of retro-Americana will also love the 1955 Chrysler 300, due soon. Dave Metzner of Moebius (left) shows model car enthusiast Dean Milano the body pattern for upcoming Chrysler 300. Batmania! On the movie fro...