SCALE MODEL NEWS

WE HOPE YOUR CHRISTMAS STOCKING comes loaded with a kit or two (or three) and that you find time to build a model over the festive break. We're looking forward to 2017, as there are lots of interesting models coming soon. And we'll be looking at the best and most interesting of them in the year to come. Meantime, here is a roundup of scale model deliciousness. Enjoy your break and keep an eye open for more of these festive picture albums. First off ( header pic ) are a pair of absolute classics, 1:72 scale Airfix Spitfires. At left is the poly-bag wrapped Spitfire Mk IX from the 1960s At right is an anniversary version of the first Airfix Spitfire. The header card is a reproduction of the original, but the somewhat unwarlike bright blue kit itself was a new version. As for the artwork, let's just say it's come on a bit during the intervening years! A nifty AMT diorama ( below ) featuring the Three Stooges and a somewhat weatherbeaten Ford Model T pickup. A review of thi...

THIS CAR MODEL IS a variation on the Revell Citroen 2CV kit, this time with a set of ‘Sausss Ente’ decals. Mat Irvine: The Sausss Ente tag stands for Flying (or Speeding) Duck, a 2CV variation manufactured primarily for the German and Swiss markets in the mid-1980s. The Sausss Ente had an engine that could run on lead-free petrol, which was then being introduced in Europe, though it wasn’t yet universal. Sausss Ente cars were painted mostly in a bright bamboo green, and had flying duck decals on the sides and boot lid. The Revell Citroen 2CV kit comes packed in a sturdy cardboard box, with useful closeup reference photos included on the  bottom ( below ). The kit itself is identical to earlier versions from Revell , the only difference being in the decal sheet and box art. However, the bright green colour scheme and decals ( below ) certainly give you a finished 2CV model with a difference.    The decal sheet includes an array of alternative Euro licence plates. Note th...

BLADE RUNNER 2049 is the long awaited sequel to the all-time classic science fiction movie  Blade Runner , directed in 1982 by Ridley Scott, of Alien fame. SMN report: The new movie will still be set in the dark universe that Scott created, though there is a new director this time round. At SMN, we're hoping that Blade Runner 2049 will have plenty of new vehicles that will become sci-fi models to build. The best known vehicle from the original movie is the police Spinner ( cockpit below ) which has seen some action in the miniatures world, in both diecast and plastic kit forms. We've featured the Spinner at SMN here and here . Here is Mat Irvine's built-up Fujimi 1:24 scale Spinner kit ( below ). It looks good, and the new film should spark new interest in both the Spinner kit and the whole future-noir genre. The original designs for Blade Runner vehicles were sketched ( below ) by the legendary artist-designer, Syd Mead . The power of his work shows clearly here, wi...

THIS TAMIYA KIT COULD MAKE A HUGELY USEFUL addition to a military display. Produced to Tamiya’s usual high standards, the LAV (Light Armored Vehicle) makes an Asian-sourced counterpoint to 1:48 scale machines from other kit makers, such as Airfix. SMN report:  The LAV (Light Armored Vehicle) first went into service with units of the JSGDF (Japan Ground Self Defense Force in 2002. It was designed as a fast and manoeuvrable machine, capable of reaching up to 100 km/h (60 mph) over rough terrain. In 2004, the JGSDF sent LAVs to Iraq on humanitarian assistance duties. The experience led to various upgrades, also useful for deployment back home in Japan. The LAV's compact size means that it can be transported by aircraft such as the Lockheed Hercules, or be slung under a helicopter such as the Boeing Chinook. The Tamiya kit is not exactly large when assembled ( below ). The completed LAV sits on your palm at a length of less than four inches. But while it may be small, it is pretty much...

THE 007 JAMES BOND-MOBILE  featured recently made us look up the best known of all 007 cars, the Aston Martin DB5. SMN report: Back in the day, Airfix made cars to 1:24 scale, and the James Bond Special Agent 007 ( header pic ) was one of these. The kit itself was pretty good, even if the box art wasn't up to the standard of Roy Cross, who painted so many Airfix kit boxes. But the real DB5 standard-bearer is undoubtably the Corgi diecast ( below ) that right from the start came complete with many working 007 features.  In fact, Corgi is presently running an online vote for the Ultimate Corgi Top 10 . There's stiff competition out there, for the DB5 is up against such worthy Corgi Toys as the Beatles' Yellow Submarine, the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang flying car, Thunderbirds FAB-1 and others. Argh, the agony of choice! You've got until December 19 to get your vote in. There have been plenty of DB5 kits over the years. The 1:24 scale Doyusha kit ( below ) had all th...

THIS IS AN INTRIGUING REISSUE of a 1:25 scale kit that has not seen the light of day since its original release in 1960. Mat Irvine : I’ll say this straight away: the Century Coronado is not a very good kit, but it is one of the very few boat kits that fits with a 1:24/25 scale car kit collection. So it's well worth persevering with the build's idiosyncrasies, as you will end up with a unique model. The box base ( below ) has a lot of printed information, and is a great help with the paint scheme. The kit originated from Palmer, which was a US kit company in existence around the same time as AMT and Jo-Han, also producing similar ‘annual’ car kits. But whereas AMT and Jo-Han models featured meticulously detailed bodywork and details, Palmer kits were - to be kind - not quite up to the same standard. For a start, Palmer still issued cars with multi-piece bodies, while most kit makers had phased these out long before. The Century Coronado kit - now sold as a New Lindberg Line mo...