Scale Modelling news, reviews, features and more...
SOVIET ANTI-SHIPPING
As with most of its offerings, MisterCraft’s 1/72 Ilyushin Il-4T torpedo-bomber is a re-boxing; in this case a 1995-tooled TOGA kit that’s also been released by Zvezda – the four styrene runners still bear the latter’s logos.
MINISCULE FISHBEDS
If there’s a common thread to Eduard’s recent Super44 releases, it’s the generosity when it comes to the markings and its MiG-21bis includes five multinational schemes.
EASY-BUILD ARMOUR
It has been a long time since Airfix released any small-scale military kits, and its newly tooled 1/72 Tiger I Ausf. E is an absolute gem.
GUTTRIDGE'S GUN-CARRIER
ICM has added to its range of 1/35 Model T Ford variants with this armoured car version – built to Chief Petty Officer L Gutteridge’s design for service with the Royal Naval Air Service.
SOVIET 'MICKEY MOUSE'
Zvezda’s 1/35 T-34/76 returns with the late-style hexagonal turret – nicknamed ‘Mickey Mouse’ by German forces as the round hatches resembled the cartoon character’s ears.
GERMANY'S 'SPORTY' TANK
Revell’s Leopard 1A5 follows from its 1A1 variant, adding two runners to the original seven for this sub-type’s characteristic bolt-on armour, fire-control optics and mantlet shield.
ROCKETS ON HALF-TRACK
While the original Esci kit for Italeri’s Sd.Kfz. 251 half-track might be approaching 50 years old, it’s the base for a lovely model.
'AUSSIE' TRANSPORT
Here’s another Model T Ford variation with ICM’s 1/35 offering depicting a ‘Touring’ model used by Australia’s Mounted Division during World War One.
PANZER NEMESIS
Academy’s M18 returns in Airfix packaging and new decals, with eight styrene runners and a choice of single-length vinyl or link-and-length styrene tracks.
INTERIOR DELIGHTS
As with its Ausf.E model Sturmgeschütz III (see here), Dragon has modernised its Ausf.G with the addition of NEO link-and-length tracks, and bonus parts for the interior.
DARRELL BURGE 1961-2021
Modellers were saddened to hear the news that Darrell Burge, for many the public face of Airfix as its marketing brand manager, passed away suddenly on February 10, 2021.
FLYING CLASSROOM
Airfix's first major new tooling for 2021, a 1/48 de Havilland Chipmunk T.10, is sure to delight modellers, and here’s a sneak peak of the parts in advance of next month’s exclusive build – just in time for the 75th anniversary of the type’s first flight.
BACK INTO THE DANGER ZONE
With the release of movie sequel, Top Gun: Maverick delayed until the summer, Airfix gives modellers a chance to experience “the need for speed” with the release of five 1/72 aircraft kits from the original film and its follow-on.
2021 RELEASES
EXTRA IMAGES INSIDE: With the postponement of this year’s Nuremberg Toy Fair until July, the usual AMW round-up of announcements is being replaced by a series of separate articles, the first covering product lines from Revell, ICM and Tamiya.
SUPERLATIVE SUKHOI
EXTRA IMAGES INSIDE: Chinese newcomer Minibase’s first offering is a stunning 1/48 Su-33 Flanker-D naval fighter, with the box positively full to the brim with high-quality components.
RELICS OF ITALY
The third Panzerwrecks volume to focus on combat casualties in Italy offers yet another marvellous collection of previously unpublished photos for modellers to savour.
DISPLAY CASE
EXTRA IMAGES INSIDE: There’s a definite Airfix theme running through this month’s selection of reader-submitted projects, involving examples from the firm’s range of aircraft kits in each of the major scales.
DISASTER SPRAYERS
Here’s another addition to ICM’s selection of packages inspired by the TV mini-series Chernobyl, in the form of its 1/35 Deactivators, clothed in protective gear and spraying areas with chemicals or water to prevent the spread of radioactive material.
READY FOR TAKE-OFF
Ideal as an accompaniment for Eduard’s recent MiG-21PF/PFM kits, this beautifully detailed resin set comprises a standing pilot figure and a member of the groundcrew.
LEADER OF THE PACK
The second figure in Master Box’s post-apocalypse Desert Battle Series depicts a ‘new leader’ of the Skull Clan: Hanna.
WATER-COOLED OPERATORS
ICM has combined its 1/35 Vickers machine gun (35712) and WWI Weapon and Equipment set (35683) with newly tooled figures to form a package suitable for producing an instant World War One vignette.
DRAUGHTMAN'S DRIVE
VW’s Golf GTI is one of those classic car designs, and Revell’s latest version offers a different take on the sporty three-door hatchback, in that the colour scheme is on an ‘X-ray’ theme, showing internal components in white.
DESERT TWO-WHEELER
Italeri has continued to re-release ex-Protar kits with new packaging and decals, with the latest being a Paris-Dakar Rally BMW R80G/S 1000.
OPEN-TOP KADETT
As was the case with its 1/35 Moskvitch 400/420 soft-top, ICM has waited seven years since reworking its 1/35 Opel Kadett K38 to depict the cabriolet ‘Spezial’.
HEAVY HAULAGE
Here’s the perfect accompaniment for Italeri’s range of 1/24 truck kits, in the form of the firm’s same-scale 40ft container and trailer.
VOLUNTEER LIFE-SAVERS
Despite only being released in 2007, Airfix’s RNLI Severn-class lifeboat seems to have been around for much longer, and always proves popular with modellers.
RIVER PLATE PANZERSCHIFF
Airfix’s 1/600 Graf Spee might be an older offering (first released in 1971) but it is regarded as one of the better kits in this scale.
BLOOMING AFLOAT
Black Cat’s first foray into Royal Navy subjects features HMS Begonia, one of the earlier shortfoc’sle Flower-class corvettes that had the mast directly located directly in front of the bridge.
TRAWLING THE SEAS
Who says model subjects must be mighty leviathans? SSN Modellbau thinks otherwise, as evidenced by this delightful 1/350 Kriegsfischkutter (war trawler) auxiliary warship.
LARGE-SCALE 'SCHMITTS
Modellers seeking an unusual scheme for 1/32 Messerschmitt Bf 109E kits should consider Euro Decals’ superb collection of markings.