Scale Modelling news, reviews, features and more...
CLICK-FIT KOMBI
Having catered for the first-generation Volkswagen Type 2 Microbus in 1/24, Revell has now produced a newly tooled replica of the second (known as T2), which is also an ‘easy-click’ offering that can be constructed with little or no cement.
BEETLE-BORNE BUGGY
Re-released for the first time since 1979, Airfix’s 1/32 Beach Buggy makes a very welcome and attractively priced return.
SHEENE'S RIDING MACHINE
Italeri’s latest re-boxed Protar kit is an absolute classic, replicating the latter’s original 1981 release of British racing legend Barry Sheene’s 1978 Heron Team Suzuki RG 500.
LEGENDARY DESIGNER
As the creator of arguably the most famous gun in history – the AK-47 – Mikhail Kalashnikov is undoubtedly a Russian hero and has been recreated in miniature by his home country’s Arkona Miniatures.
FEMALE NINJA
Not content with egg-planes and sci-fi spaceships, Suyata has also released a range of 1/24 mannequin-style samurai/ninja figures. This offering provides parts for two females: an armour-clad individual and a second monotone form.
FORTRESS FLYERS
The boxtop artwork may feature a B-17, but the three airmen and two groundcrew would be just as suitable for ICM’s own A-26 Invaders or other similar light bombers.
SACKHOFF'S 'STARBUCK'
Here’s a perfect accompaniment for Moebius/Revell 1/32 Colonial Vipers: a resin figure depicting Kara ‘Starbuck’ Thrace – played by Katee Sackhoff in the re-imagined Battlestar Galactica.
TRAINING AVIATORI
Intended to supplement parent firm Special Hobby’s recent SF.260 kits, CMK’s pair of resin figures provides pilots in Italian Air Force garb – the country operates EA and AM variants of the type.
OPEL TRIPLE PACKAGE
ICM has released another diorama set combining several 1/35 kits: its trio of Opel saloons, 35742 Admiral, 35475 Kapitän and 35478 Kadett K38, in the guise of World War Two-era German staff transport cars.
ROOFED TROOP CARRIER
Chinese firm Toxso may be no more, but it’s great that Revell has re-boxed the former’s 1/72 armour kits, with a recent offering being a BTR-50PK (the K means krisha – roof) armoured personnel carrier.
UNCOMMON FLAK
Germany-based 16.02 is a new firm to AMW, and if its first kit – of the little-known 5.5cm Flak (VG2) Gerät 58 (which reached just prototype status) – is anything to go by, then it’s going to be popular with military modellers.
STANDARD CHALLY 2
RyeField has taken an unusual approach with its Challenger 2 kits, first releasing the TES ‘Megatron’ variant with all the urban-defence ‘bells and whistles’; with this standard variant being a recent addition.
ARMOURED ESCAPADE
Following a newly tooled 1/72 depiction of the Australian-built Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicle, Dragon has catered for a British Special Forces version – known in service as the Escapade.
DOOR-KNOCKING GUN
Special Armour has produced a newly tooled 1/72 PaK 36 anti-tank gun – nicknamed the ‘doorknocker’ when facing heavier armour.
BEST EVER PZ. IV?
Having whetted appetites with ‘baseline’ Panzer IV offerings, MiniArt has recently released an Interior Kit version of the Ausf.J.
Zvezda expanded C-130 Hercules kit
Unused parts in the first release hinted that Zvezda was planning this ‘stretched’ version of its 1/72 Lockheed C-130 Hercules.
NATIONALIST SEAGULL
ICM’s ‘Guomindang’ (alternatively spelt Kuomintang and referring to the government that established the Republic of China Air Force – ROCAF) version of its 1/72 Polikarpov I-153 offers modellers a different take on the Soviet biplane fighter.
ROUND SPINNER 'SPITS
Polish firm Hobby 2000 is well-known for its re-boxings, which now include tweaked versions of the Revell 1/32 Spitfire.
'BEST OF' BOOM JET
Special Hobby’s 1/72 de Havilland Vampire arguably marked the firm’s departure from limited run to its ‘new’ era of superb offerings, and has now been re-issued.
TAME IMPALA
Despite having been tooled as long ago as 1981, ESCI’s 1/48 Aermacchi MB-326 is still a more than acceptable replica – hence its re-issuing by Italeri.
PLASTIC PEREKHVATCHIK
Here’s Eduard’s styrene-only Weekend Edition 1/72 MiG-21PFM (Perekhvatchik Forsirovannyy Modernizirovannyy – interceptor uprated modernised) – otherwise known as Fishbed-F.
PUGNATIOUS PERSUER
Having delighted modellers with a 1/48 P-43, it’s now the turn of 1/72 builders to celebrate; as with its larger cousin, the styrene parts are accompanied by a small photo-etched (PE) brass fret and a vinyl canopy mask set.
WINGED 'WHAT-IF'
There’s something about Horten’s flying-wing designs that appeals to modellers, so it’s great to see Dragon’s 1/48 offering back, this time in Revell packaging.
SHARK-MOUTHED SNAKES
ICM has been quick to follow its gorgeous early model 1/32 AH-1G with this late-production airframe that also includes an external M195 20mm cannon, plus associated ammunition storage.
ALL AT SEA SPIT
While the box-top alludes to this being a new tooling, KP’s Seafire Mk.Ib is actually a major re-work of the Spitfire Mk.Vb kit, with a replacement fuselage incorporating the ventral arrestor hook configuration.
EYE IN THE SKY
This is a revised boxing of the original MPM PR.10, with new resin parts to correct the trailing edge of the wing root – otherwise, the styrene parts are identical.
SECOND-GEN FIRE SCOUT
While, at first glance, this may appear expensive, it’s a lot of resin – notably the main fuselage, which comes as a single solid component.
GULL-WING GUIDANCE
With new kits from Polish firms IBG Models and Arma Hobby drawing modellers’ attention to the type, the country’s PZL P.11 fighter is a popular subject and MMP books has capitalised with its Yellow Series publication.
LUFTWAFFE SHOOTING STAR
Available previously as two separate volumes, this revised and updated book on the Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet rocket-propelled interceptor packs a wealth of information into its 406 pages.