SCALE MODEL NEWS

SMN report: Mat Irvine’s new book will appeal to all model car fans - it’s called simply Scale Car Modelling , and is due for publication on September 26. It joins other useful modelling titles by Mat, including Auto Modelling Masterclass and The Car Modeller’s Handbook . A tiny few from Mat's vast scale auto collection. This latest title will be published by The Crowood Press and will feature a huge number of pictures, plus detail-packed text, that combine to fill 160 colour-packed pages.  Automodellismo connection Visitors to Automodellismo will get a preview of the contents, as Mat will have several of the car kits that feature in the book on display - plus, of course, you’ll get a chance to talk to the author. You can pre-order Scale Car Modelling here .

Mat Irvine inspects: The US Patrol Torpedo Boat is a kit that has appeared in various forms over the years, including one branded under the ‘McHale’s Navy’ name, from the US TV series that ran from 1962-1966. This new Classic Kits release features another boat, PT-167, and a bonus is that it comes in 1:72 standard model scale, matching similar water-borne craft from Airfix. When assembled, PT-167 is 334 mm (13.15 in) long, a size that’s suitable for display on virtually any shelf or desk. Unusual finish PT-167 is noted for surviving a Japanese dive-bomber attack off the Soloman Islands in 1943, including a torpedo hit that went straight through the tough mahogany double-hull - fortunately without exploding! As displayed in the cover art, the kit should be painted in a black and white dazzle finish, which the instructions show in detail, and - this is unusual with model kits - there are useful photographs of a built-up and painted model. Lt John F. Kennedy, standing at right with other ...

SMN report: China-based Sun Star is probably best known for its truly excellent range of 1:24 scale bus and coach diecast models, and the even larger 1:12 Volkswagens and Morris Minors. It’s not so notable in smaller scales perhaps, but this recent addition to the range shows that Sun Star retains its mojo, even when working in 1:43 scale. Massive upgrade - from 1965 Chrysler Imperial to crime-killer The subject is a detailed rendering of the automotive star of the recent comic-based movie The Green Hornet , starring the crime-fighter of the same name, alias Brett Reid, aided by his Asian partner Kato. Their vehicle of choice is called ‘Black Beauty’, and is a fast and heavily armed street machine, based loosely on a 1965 Chrysler Imperial, itself a fine example of the best in retro-Americana. As a ‘star car’, we reckon the Black Beauty trails some way behind more imaginative designs, such as the outrageously designed Batmobiles, or even the DeLorean time-travelling car from the Back t...

Size is Important, says Mat Irvine: There is a big problem when you try to make a small model of an immense object, and it is literally one of scale. With most models, it’s an easy subconscious trick to work out scale by comparing bits and pieces on the model to their real-life counterparts. Reducing a vehicle to, say, 1:25 scale is perfectly acceptable as the doors, seats, steering wheel are familiar objects. A 1:35 scale battle tank has immediately identifiable features, and an 1:72 scale aircraft equally so - even if it is 72 times smaller than the real thing. Even 1:144 scale airliners are OK, as you can still make out doors and imagine yourself sitting behind those tiny windows. But go further, to ocean liner and warship scale - mostly 1:600 down to 1:1200 scale -  at which point commonplace window and door detail starts to disappear. Box sides have useful extra pictures. Mighty movie battlewagon But what happens with craft meant to be several kilometres or even miles long? Fo...

Mat Irvine inspects: The Revell-Germany Classic Kits range aims to bring you: 'Classic kits from 5 decades of modelling history', and one of the recent aviation reissues certainly adds to the list. This is the Martin B-57B, a twin-engine medium jet bomber built in the US as a licensed version of the English Electric Canberra. Clouds of starter smoke surround an Air Guard B-57B. Successful Canberra jet The Canberra was a very successful high-flying design that first flew in 1949. It was manufactured throughout the 1950s, and flew in the air arms of at least 17 countries. The last Canberras were retired only in 2006, these from the Royal Australian Air Force. The Martin B-57 that is the subject of this Revell kit went into service in 1954 and in all, more than 400 were built. The B-57 was a stalwart performer during the Vietnam War, and Pakistani versions saw service against Indian forces in 1965, and again in 1971. Original 1957 catalogue entry. Looking at the past Back to the k...

SMN report: Automodellismo is the only model show in the UK that specialises in cars. The show has been running for several years, but 2011 sees a change of venue, to that used by the HaMeX show - Hanslope Village Hall, north of Milton Keynes, Bucks. Automodellismo is being organised by some of the HaMeX organisers, particularly Paul Fitzmaurice of little-cars.com. The countdown to the show is on now, and today it stands at A-minus 22 days... Automodellismo will be held on Sunday 31 July 2011.    Mr J with green friend at the first HaMeX show. Tools for modelmakers Paul will of course be at the show, bringing with him a wide selection of modelling tools and accessories, and also kits for sale. Trade sales at Automodellismo will be augmented by Vince Brown of Models For Sale, the main UK importer for a lot of Japanese auto exotica. Paul’s co-organiser, Mat Irvine, will be at the show too, with a large selection of kits from his vast collection for sale. In Mat’s words, they hav...

Mat Irvine reports: Revell-Germany continues its Classic Kits reissue range (‘A classic kit from 5 decades of modelling history’) with the Honest John Missile and Mobile Carrier. It’s a 1958-vintage kit that was first produced in Revell’s original home town of Venice, California.  HJ makes an interesting load for the Kenworth truck and Fruehauf trailer.   Multi-colour kit This ‘new’ HJ kit is moulded in the original colours: green for the Kenworth truck and Fruehauf trailer, white for the missile. The 115-part kit is reissued as it was way back in 1958, though it’s not quite as straightforward as that - the basic kit started in a different form, and the missile is not in what is usually accepted as a ‘standard scale’ for military kits.  The kit's various elements, laid out for display.  Different scales Revell produced most of its missile, research rockets, and ‘futuristic’ spacecraft kits during the late 1950s and early 1960s. Missiles and rockets were made mostly i...