LONDON TOY FAIR 2015 - CLOSEUP LOOK AT THE NEW AIRFIX KITS

THE LONDON TOY FAIR was held from January 20-22, and although the event is not primarily a scale model show, the bigger kit manufacturers and distributors mount stands there.

THE RETURN OF MR SPEED - 1:25 SCALE 1953 STUDEBAKER CUSTOMISING KIT FROM AMT

THIS IS A VERY WELCOME REISSUE of one of AMT’s classic Trophy Series kits from the 1960s. The kit has seen several releases in a variety of forms over the years, but this issue returns the kit to the original parts layout, allowing a modeller to build one of three versions - stock, custom or competition.  Our header pic shows the original box (top) with the bigger new release (bottom).

MOVIE STAR STANLEY BAKER PROMOTES REVELL HARBOR TUG

THERE WAS A TIME WHEN model kit companies weren’t averse to bringing in some star names to help push sales, which we saw in an old bound volume of RAF Flying Review magazine, which was loaded with ads for kits old and new.

OLD TIMES REVISITED - VAPOUR TRAILS MINI-JETS FROM HALF A CENTURY AGO

GRAZING THROUGH A BOUND VOLUME of old aviation magazines recently, we came across rare treasure in the form of ads for some barely remembered models and kits. With some scratching of memory cells, some did seem familiar, but we had to work hard to track down the story behind a full-page advert for the 'Vapour Trails' range of model aircraft.

RENAULT R4L AND FOURGONETTE KITS TO 1:24 SCALE FROM EBBRO

FOLLOWING THE EXCELLENT CITROEN 2CV VAN KIT released recently, Ebbro has now come up with two 1:24 scale kits, representing that other icon of 20th Century French motoring, the Renault 4, first introduced in 1961.

MOEBIUS MODELS RELEASE GRANDPA MUNSTER TO 1:9 SCALE - MATCHES EXISTING HERMAN MUNSTER KIT

GRANDPA MUNSTER HAS FINALLY stirred out of his coffin long enough to allow Moebius to finish his likeness in 1:9 scale model form. The box top (above) features Al Lewis, the actor who played Grandpa Munster.

MPC MOONSCOPE LUNAR ROVER POSTSCRIPT - WHY DID THE ORIGINAL BARRIS DESIGN FEATURE SIX WHEELS INSTEAD OF FOUR?

A QUESTION WAS ASKED THIS WEEK: Why did the first Space: 1999 George Barris Moonscope have six wheels? The real-life machine (above) was built by Barris Kustom, and made an excellent basis for MPC kits that have featured both six and four wheels.

SPACE 1999: EFFECTS DIRECTOR BRIAN JOHNSON WALK-THRU ON MAKING THE TV SERIES

HERE'S A BRILLIANT piece of video on the making of Space: 1999.

It's just loaded with fascinating footage, including a righteous concentration on getting rid of the shine on those pesky suspension wires. Enjoy.

THE ALIEN LUNAR ROVER - A 'SPACE: 1999' VEHICLE THAT WASN'T

After Thunderbirds, arguably the second most popular Gerry Anderson production was the live-action TV series Space: 1999, originally aired from 1975-77. The series was based around the unlikely premise that the Moon was knocked out of its orbit round the Earth, to become a wanderer in space.

THE COSMOSTRATOR - FIRST SPACESHIP ON VENUS, 1960-STYLE

 

HERE’S A PUZZLE - WHICH SPACESHIP TAKES THE PRIZE for the most distinctive science-fiction craft ever designed? Star Trek's USS Enterprise or the Blake’s 7 Liberator? Star Wars X-Wing or the Millennium Falcon? A strong quartet for sure, but here’s another, lesser-known design, the sleek multi-finned Cosmostrator which starred in the 1960 movie First Spaceship on Venus.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL

AND HERE'S TO MANY EXCELLENT models to build this coming year.

TREEMENDUS TREES AND OTHER MODEL-MAKING PRODUCTS BRING DIORAMAS TO LIFE

The wonderfully named Treemendus is a company run by Anthony Reeves that really does do 'what it says on the tin', as it is a supplier of all types of foliage, vegetation, and trees for modelling projects.

1914 RENAULT TAXI TO 1:35 SCALE FROM MACH 2 MODELS OF FRANCE

Here’s a neat little item that was first displayed at the 2014 Scale Model World show in Telford, UK. The 1:35 scale Taxi de la Marne was released by French manufacturer Mach 2, to commemorate the centenary of World War I.

HO HO HO - ’TIS THE SEASON TO MAKE MODELS OF SANTA, AND TO WISH ALL OUR READERS A HAPPY CHRISTMAS AND SPLENDID FESTIVE BREAK

HERE’S A QUESTION you could ask a fellow model maker: “Has there ever been a model kit made of Santa Claus?

AIRFIX 2015 - 1:48 SCALE ALBION REFUELLER TRUCK

HERE'S AN UNUSUAL and delightful kit to look forward to, a 1:48 scale Albion AM463 refueller truck. When assembled, the Albion should be suitable for any diorama featuring British warplanes of World War II.