Scale Modelling news, reviews, features and more...
‘I LOVE KIT’ DEBUT BOXINGS
There’s a new kit brand in town and it’s chosen fresh 1/35 military toolings for its inaugural releases.
FORTHCOMING NEW TRUMPETER KITS
The UK importer of Trumpeter, Bachmann Europe, has advised us of these pending military and naval kits due late August/early September…
PRUSSIAN KNIGHTS OF THE AIR
German publisher Luftfahrtverlag START has produced a stunning new book on a lesser-known World War One German fighter unit… and there are accompanying decals too!
Eduard 1/48 Hawker Tempest Mk.II review
Special Hobby has relied on fellow Czech manufacturer Eduard to provide us with a new 1/48 Hawker Tempest Mk.II, as CHRIS CLIFFORD explains.
BIG SNAKE DEBUT
At last… we have a modern 1/32 tooling of the Bell Cobra helicopter, with ICM’s new AH-1G. CHRIS CLIFFORD finds out more.
BUSH WAR DASSAULT
Special Hobby hit on a real winner with its 1/72 Mirage F1 tooling, which has been released in various versions – but is now available as a South African Air Force AZ/CZ airframe
Are you a Phantom Phreak?
Find out how much you know about the mighty F-4, and modelling it, with our brain-teasing quiz.
BALKANS SCOURGE!
Airfix's excellent 1/72 Stuka makes a welcome return, with this Balkans-theatre version built by Huw Morgan.
Border Model 1/35 Messerschmitt Bf 109G-6
The hotly anticipated Bf 109G-6 from Border Model is notable for its scale – 1/35 – which is usually the preserve of military vehicles. Join CHRIS CLIFFORD as he delves into this novel limited-edition package.
Eduard spACE F-14 Detail Set
Is Tamiya’s F-14A Tomcat sitting in your stash? If so, it’s worth considering Eduard’s bespoke mixed-media cockpit upgrade.
FLUSH-WINGED ‘DOODLEBUSTER’
Following the release of its newly tooled 1/48 Hawker Tempest in 2018, this is the first of Eduard’s styrene-only Weekend Edition versions.
ULTIMATE FISHBED DEVELOPMENT
This Italeri MiG-21bis is a re-boxing of Fujimi’s 1991-tooled 1/72 kit, and while hardly long in the tooth, it faces competition from more modern offerings from Eduard and Zvezda, among others.
AVIATION SCENE
Here’s another great multi-set ensemble from ICM, comprising the firm’s 1/48 Bf 109F-4 (48103), Hs 126B-1 (48212) and German Pilots and Ground Personnel set (48082) – and for almost 20% less than the cost of these items separately.
DESERT VISIONS
Special Hobby’s 1/72 Mirage F.1s have been hugely popular since their initial release, and this has been so true of the EQ/ED version (as used by Iraq, Iran, Qatar and Libya) that it has been reissued.
LARGE-SCALE ‘EMIL’
Arguably, Airfix revolutionised large-scale modelling with its 1/24 ‘Super Kits’; its Bf 109E was one of the last of the initial batch released between 1970-73, making it a logical inclusion in the firm’s Vintage Classics series.
SIRENS AND SKIDS
Zvezda has reworked its recent 1/72 Junkers Ju 87 Stuka snap-fit offering to depict the type as fitted with skis on World War Two’s Eastern Front.
AVENGING RETURN
As the only injection-moulded quarter-scale depiction of the type, Dragon’s 1/48 Junkers Ju 188A-2 Rächer (avenger) is highly sought-after, because it has not been available since the 1990s – happily, it’s been re-boxed by Revell.
SHOOT AND SCOOT
Academy’s M12 returns in Airfix packaging with a new set of markings for two late-war machines.
PETITE DEFENDER
French armour subjects are gaining in popularity, with the Forges et Chantiers de la Méditerranée (FCM) 36 light tank being ICM’s latest new-tool offering.
ARMOURED DEMAG
On a theme of small-scale German half-tracks, Special Armour has re-boxed MK 72’s 1/72 Sd.Kfz. 250/1 Ausf.A Demag-built troop-carrier, which features a hexagonal cross-section.
DINKY-SIZE GENERAL
Intended for wargaming via the Art of Tactic linkup, this 1/100 snap-together M3A1 is ideal for those just entering the hobby, with low parts count - just 11 items on the single styrene runner - and ease of construction.
TANK AND ‘BATTLE TAXI’
Having surprised and delighted modellers with its newly tooled 1/72 Chieftain Mk.10/11 combo, Takom has included different parts to allow an earlier Mk.5 tank to be built, plus original components for a same-scale FV432 Mk.2/1 armoured personnel carrier.
DOWNSIZED DISH
Brengun appears to have ‘downsized’ the ex-Extratech 1/72 FuSE-65 Würzburg-Riese radar system in subsidiary firm Hauler’s range to produce this 1/144 version.
THE LEADER’S HEAVY HITTER
Dragon’s 1/35 JS-2 Stalin II Soviet heavy tank includes parts for three options: either a JS-1 early model with 85mm gun, a JS-2 with 122mm weapon or a JS-2m with a late-production simplified hull front.
TOW-CABLE SPEEDER
Released to celebrate the 40th anniversary since The Empire Strikes Back first appeared at the cinema, Revell’s 1/29 Snowspeeder has returned in Model Set packaging, with six pots of own-brand acrylic paint, a Contacta Professional Mini liquid cement applicator and a paintbrush.
SCOTT TRACY'S RESPONDER
Modellers have been eagerly awaiting Adventures in Plastic’s Thunderbirds kits, and these re-boxed Aoshima/Imai offerings have now been released.
READY FOR RESCUE
Fans of the 1960s TV series Thunderbirds are in for a treat with this 1/350 set from Adventures in Plastic, which is a re-boxing of the IMAI/Aoshima kit.
POD-DEPLOYED DRILL
International Rescue’s specialised pod vehicles are arguably more fascinating than the main Thunderbirds themselves, with The Mole tunnelling machine being a firm fan favourite.
PICK-UP THE HOBBY!
Here’s another Quickbuild release aimed at drawing younger modellers to the hobby, in the form of a Ford F-150 pick-up truck with a deep blue finish and ‘Raptor’ branding, denoting this is the high-performance version.
LOTS OF TROUBLE, USUALLY SERIOUS
EXTRA IMAGES INSIDE: Tamiya’s 1/24 Lotus Europa has returned with a newly tooled runner containing RS Watanabe wheels (similar to Minilites) and optional rear wing – both were popularised in Japan by The Circuit Wolf manga.