SALUTE TO FREDERICK I ORDWAY III - A POWER BEHIND THE SPACECRAFT THAT FEATURED IN THE MOVIE '2001 A SPACE ODYSSEY'

One of the major forces behind the designs for spacecraft in the classic science-fiction movie 2001: A Space Odyssey, Frederick I Ordway III, died earlier this month, aged 87.

JAMES BOND CAR - TWO FORD THUNDERBIRDS COMPARED, FABBRI DIECAST AND REVELL PLASTIC KIT

Fabbri have produced a whole range of 1:43 scale diecast vehicles in the long-running partwork series, 'The James Bond Car Collection.' Among them is a Ford Thunderbird, which I've matched here today with a somewhat larger 1:25 scale Revell kit.

EXCELLENT CARRIER VIDEO: RUSSIAN SUKHOI SU-33 DECK ACTION

THE HASEGAWA 1:72 scale Sukhoi Su-33 is a decent kit of Russia's premier carrier warplane, and today's video provides some good detail shots, allowing model makers to add extra sparkle to this kit.

MENG MONSTER TRUCK: FORD F-350 SUPER DUTY CREW CAB TO 1:24 SCALE

THIS KIT WAS A GREAT surprise - and a delight to many model makers - when it was announced. Until now, Meng, one of the newer Chinese model companies operating out of Hong Kong, has concentrated mostly on 1:35 scale AFVs and associated military, with a few aircraft in 1:72, 1:48, and 1:32 scales. Now this 1:24 scale kit - a Ford F-350 Super Duty Crew Cab - has been produced to fill a gap that seems to have been oddly missed by the American manufacturers.

KITS FROM CHINA - TRUMPETER CATALOGUE ONLINE VERSION

Here's the online version of the 2013-2014 Trumpeter brochure, which has plenty to read for the avid model maker.

ROY CROSS, KING OF THE KIT BOXES - ORIGINAL AIRFIX BOX ART FOR SALE AT AUCTION

The auction house Vectis has a sale that will include the last major tranche of original Roy Cross Airfix artwork, selected by Roy himself from his personal collection. The Vectis sale is on Thursday July 24, 2014.

MORE FROM 'MODEL AIRPLANE NEWS' - TERRIFIC READ FOR SCALE RC FANS

There's plenty of excellent reading for radio control (RC) enthusiasts in this online version of the picture-packed Model Airplane News. RC flight is now a good option for scale fans, allowing you to not only build your aircraft, but also to fly it too - and mostly at an affordable price.

iPHONE 6 - WILL THIS HAVE THE BEST CAMERA TO PHOTOGRAPH YOUR MODELS?

HERE IS A NICELY RENDERED iPhone 6 concept that's been inspired by various leaks and rumours. The present iPhone 5s includes an excellent camera - many SMN pix are taken with one - but if rumours are correct, the upcoming iPhone 6 will be even better.

INCOMING: AIRFIX 1:24 SCALE TYPHOON MEGA-KIT HAS LANDED

The Airfix 1:24 scale Hawker Typhoon is now for sale, and looks to be a terrific model, packed inside and out with structural detail. We're looking forward to building this one hugely.

TOP GUN F-14 TOMCAT FROM AMT - A SILVER SCREEN MACHINE WITH SWING WINGS

ISSUED IN THE AMT ‘Silver Screen Machine’ series, this 1:72 scale F-14 Tomcat is the first non-car subject to be included. The kit is also a return to the Tom Cruise movie Top Gun which, although dating back to 1986, still grabs attention.

SUPER-CHEAP LAUNCH MODELS - ATTRACTIVE PERIOD TRAMCARS FROM FRANCE AND BRITAIN

HERE'S A CHANCE TO GET A FRENCH period tramcar at a bargain price. It has to be a great deal at just 2.99 Euros. And if you don't want a French model, how about a British balloon tram?

A MONSTROUSLY GOOD READ - ‘AURORA MONSTER SCENES: THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL TOYS OF A GENERATION’

AURORA MONSTER SCENES by Dennis L. Prince and Andrew P. Yanchus, has been a long time coming, but for anyone even vaguely interested in Aurora and its monster kits, it’s a book that's been worth the wait.

1:32 SCALE XV-1 EXPERIMENTAL SUPER-CHOPPER KIT FROM GLENCOE MODELS

Glencoe Models have started to reissue many of their older kits, and this 1:32 scale experimental McDonnell XV-1 Convertiplane is one of these, making a welcome return for today's model makers.

SMALLSPACE 3 SCIENCE-FICTION MODEL SHOW - LANDING ZONE: SUNDAY, JULY 13, 2014

ARE YOU FREE TOMORROW? Do you like sci-fi themes, models and miniatures? Then smallspace 3 is for you. It's on 10.00-16.00 Sunday in Hanslope, UK.

MEGA KITBASH CONCEPT - BMW ADVERT SHOWS THE WAY TO AN EXTRAORDINARY AIRCRAFT CARRIER

BORED WITH ORDINARY FIGHTING SHIPS? THEN try converting a US aircraft carrier kit to create a TV advert-style racetrack for BMW performance cars.