INCOMING FROM THE EAST: TRUMPETER KITS FOR APRIL

Now established as a mainstream manufacturer, China's Trumpeter has a fascinating range of kits, and here’s a ‘Lucky Seven’ listing of April 2014 releases.

FANS OF TINTIN START COLLECTING HERE: FINELY ENGINEERED 1:43 SCALE DIECAST VEHICLES BASED ON ART IN THE ORIGINAL BOOKS

We don’t cover a great many diecasts at SMN, as this is primarily a model making site, rather than one designed for collectors. But there are justifiable exceptions, and the Moulinsart Tintin collection from France is one of them.

CAPTAIN AMERICA: PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR KITS AND COLLECTIBLES

Watch Captain America and Black Widow infiltrate an ocean liner, taken over by the dreaded Batroc in this special extended, four-minute look at Marvel's Captain America: The Winter Soldier due for release on April 4, 2014.


We mentioned the Fantastic Plastic 1:1400 scale Helicarrier kit last week, and this clip gives you an idea of what else is in the movie. As big fans for the first Captain America release, this one seems a little less exotic, but will doubtless manage to be an action-stunner, worthy of an evening's popcorn-chomping.


And then there is the tasty Fantastic Plastic 1:72 scale S.H.I.E.L.D. Quinjet to model. Visit here to have a look.

LIVE FIRING: TARGET SHOOT WITH A SIDEWINDER MISSILE

You keen on modelling the F-16? Ever spent time painting and positioning the wingtip missiles? Well, here's a chance to see what one looks like for real as it flies 'off the rail' at a target.

BLAST FROM THE PAST: ‘RED BARON’ VON RICHTHOFEN FLIES BACK TO THE MODEL BENCH IN HASEGAWA’S BIG-SCALE BEAUTY

First produced by Hasegawa decades ago, the 1:8 scale structural-build Fokker Dr1 Triplane now earns the title ‘Hot Product’ from Hasegawa USA.

A TALE OF TWO BEETLE KITS: WOULD YOU LIKE TO BUILD ONE IN PLASTIC OR METAL?

Here we have two 1:24 scale Beetle kits, the Revell item a traditional plastic injection kit, the other a Maisto offering in a mixture of diecast metal and moulded plastic. Which one is best?

MASSIVE SCI-FI AIR POWER BASE: S.H.I.E.L.D. HELICARRIER TO 1:1400 SCALE FROM FANTASTIC PLASTIC

Good news for sci-fi and movie buffs, the huge Helicarrier from the 2012 Disney movie The Avengers is the latest release from the fiction and what-if specialist, Fantastic Plastic.

MODEL MAKER HEADS-UP: CLANGERS TV SERIES COMING BACK TO THE SCREEN, STARRING PINK, MOUSE-LIKE ALIENS

The Clangers, a cult-classic animated children's show is due to return to TV screens after - wait for it - more than 40 years absence, after the original series from 1969-72. The series should see a return to classic model-making, with old-fashioned model skills replacing smooth as silk, but perhaps rather characterless, computer graphics.

LEONARDO’S MARVELLOUS MACHINES: FLAPPING-WING ORNITHOPTER FROM ITALERI, AS DESIGNED BY THE RENAISSANCE INVENTOR AND PAINTER

This is one of the second batch of Leonardo creations, originated by Academy in South Korea, then repackaged for the European market by Italeri.

HASEGAWA BLOWS IN WITH 1:72 SCALE F-35A MULTIROLE STRIKE FIGHTER

In a year or two’s time, we may be inundated in Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II model kits; for now though, they are hardly two a penny, so a new 1:72 scale Hasegawa kit is more than welcome.

VAN DAMME: ZERO GRAVITY SPLIT REVEALS LINK TO SCALE MODEL DIORAMAS

Aaah… the 'Little Belgian' aka 'The Muscles from Brussels' strikes the Internet again with this oh-so-fun CGI splits-in-space. Last time we looked, it was heading toward the million-hits mark, with no end in sight.

DIORAMAS ON DISPLAY: ARTISTS SHOW OFF MINIATURE WORLDS, BUT ARE THEY ANY MORE ‘ARTY’ THAN A WELL-MADE SCALE MODEL?

These small artistic pieces were shown at the Ronchini Gallery, London, and use figures and materials that you can pick up at most hobby stores. With creative imagination, the microscopic scenes are taken well beyond scenic representation, and into new worlds of expressive thought. Or are they? Are they really art, or just artistic woffle?

WORST MOVIE EVER? ‘PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE’ PROVIDES INSPIRATION FOR 1:48 SCALE DIORAMA BASE, COMPLETE WITH POLICEMAN-GHOUL RISING FROM THE DEAD

The 1959 movie Plan 9 From Outer Space is often described as the worst science-fiction movie ever made, or even the worst movie - period. However, it has gained a certain cachet of its own, witness this Skyhook Models 1:48 scale diorama base, designed to be used with the Lindberg Flying Saucer, as used in the movie.

FORMULA ONE CHAMPIONSHIP RACER: SEBASTIAN VETTEL’S RED BULL RENAULT TO 1:24 SCALE

Another excellent motor racing kit from Revell, this is a neatly-executed 1:24 scale Renault Red Bull Racing Formula 1 car, as driven by World Champion driver, Sebastian Vettel.

MORE RARE GEMS FROM THE FLIXTON AIR MUSEUM

Part Two of our visit to Flixton's Air Museum, deep in the heart of Suffolk, UK. Above, shades of the early Airfix kit, a Bristol Bloodhound missile stands aimed at the sky, looking ready for its original task, knocking Soviet bombers out of the air.