Build & Review: Revell Kit No: 07651 London Bus Part I

We have finally gotten around the elephant in the room for many modellers – The Revell London bus – or the RML Routemaster in 1/24th scale. I say elephant because the box is so big – and the fact that it is a really tempting subject to  model for not just bus enthusiasts – but most modellers – whether you are British or not have seen this box and though “I’d like to make that”. Lets have a look at it before we start to build it…

Review - MasterBox MB3589: U.S. Marines in Jungle. WWII Era

MasterBox have sent us the three newest of their March releases so we can pour over the contents – the German housebreakers got a going over the other day – now it is time to scrutinize these four young US marines in the MasterBox kit MB3589: U.S. Marines in Jungle – straight to the point as title suggests - let's get straight on to the kit.

Dragon shows us another StuG

Dragon have sent us pictures of an April release - their version of the tank hunting 1/35 Sd.Kfz.167 StuG.IV Late Production - Smart Kit. Full of slide mould technology and newly-tooled tricks - lets look at the kit in preview..

Mantis Dogs the opposition with their "bitchin" new releases - ohhh & some Cossacks too!

Mantis Miniatures have sent us some great new images of their latest figures and we give you some insight to the great painter who has brought these gems to life!

Aires have some great new correction sets for imminent release

Aires have continually given us new and improved detail sets to rectify some of the issues with our favourite kits – February sees us with more information on new Aires correction sets  in all three major aircraft scales (sorry 1/144^th guys) – one especially here is dear to my heart…

Pegaso reveal their February figures

Pegaso from Italy have sent their usual eye-popping preview of new product released this month which are sure to tempt a lot of modellers - Two more releases compliment the Mongolian archer to round off a more varied collection for February...

Review - Kagero Air Battles: 17 - Thunderbolts of the U.S. 8th Army Air Force March 1944 – May 1945

From Kagero we have the second part of their history of the P-47D units of the “mighty eighth” called “Thunderbolts of the US Army air Force” This book chronicles the operations of this rugged aircraft from March 1944 - May 1945. It is full of great pictures and pilots accounts of the kill or be killed air battles in the last months of the war – click on below to see what we found out about the book when we read it….

Review: Masterbox MB 3584 German Infantry - Western Europe 1944-1945 in 1/35th

MasterBox has three releases for us this month, some US Marines in the Pacific, A troupe of Germans in the biting cold and this kit – MB 3584 German Infantry - Western Europe 1944-1945 Which sees four late war German soldiers ready to do a co-ordinated search of a house. We will look at the quality of the kit and show you pictures and the four troopers and give our opinions of the results.

Review: Eduard Kit no: 1167. The Su-27 Flanker B in 1/48th

Eduard have just released their version of the Sukhoi Su-27 in 1/48^th scale in a limited edition boxing of only 1500 kits. This kit has a past and Eduard has added to the retooling of the kit with several extra detail parts. The kit has not been without discussion on the forums so we thought we would get our hands one of the limited number to investigate for you today, let’s have a look …

Sunday - time for a trip down a quiet country road ?

 - Not if MiniArt has anything to do with it! They want you Model one instead -
To add to their other recent additions of kits MiniArt adds a new kit of a country Road Diorama for your model placement needs - let's look closer..

Never heard of Carl Reid : Figures.....

Figure maker Carl Reid has sent us pictures of the prototype and the built and painted up figure of his WWI stretcher bearer in resin that has just gone on sale -  click the link below for a closer look at this lovely figure..

Dragon's motley crew are looking after the Reich

Dragon form China bring us a new set of soldiers from the late WWII period which is just so undeniably popular with modellers (much to the chagrin of those who it isn’t popular with) anyway their new four figure set is called The New, 4-figure, 1/35th Scale Release is: 6694 - Defence of the Reich, Lets have a look...

MiniArt trucks come in all over the new brick pavement..

The almost Hectic release schedule from Ukrainian model makers Miniart just doesn't stop does it? We have news and pictures of two of their latest kits, a GAZ-AAA cargo truck and a new diorama base of zig-zagged brick pavement (complete with roadside furniture for you to place your new truck on - lets have a look at the new images and details...

Academy releases updated with exciting new tool kits..

Academy from Korea have send more news of their latest two lits in very different styles - a massive new tool B-17G bomber in 1/72 and a diminutive in comparison Korean airforce acrobatics team T-50B from the "Black Eagles" - we have some pictures for you to scour over to try and glean some more information...

Some interesting news for all Revell (and model) fans..

Revell of Germany has ben bought up by Hobbyco in the Unted States - who also are currently one of the leading manufacturers and marketers of model hobby products in the world - this deal brings together Revell of Germany with the Revel USA brand. Hopefully this move will strengthen both companies and together they will be making more and better kits for us, the modellers - read on the press release to find out more..

More new releases "cobbled" together from J's work.

After the announcement (below this post) about the Kabuki style masks for the Hetzer tank we have these - more Do-It-Yourself groundwork debris from the Asian manufacturer of diorama equipment J's Work.

Updated info on the International AFV & tanker crews from MiniArt

MiniArt have sent us some new pictures of a Japanese and their rival american tank crews in different positions all in 1/35th scale. We have some pictures of the latest set to be announced by the model maker from the Ukraine.

J's Work - More new products keep coming..

Today we have more details of new products coming from J's Work in the far east.The first thing we want to show you is the latest set of Kabuki-style masks for your Hetzer tank in 1/35th scale.

Airbrushes.com latest news

Airbrushes.com have sent us news of some of their new release information including info on the new Great Wall hobby Devastator (along with some nice pics of the kit) and the new range of X-acto ranges - they also let slip info on their visit to The "On Track" Model show - Read on...

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Osprey publishing have sent out their monthly newsletter full of new announcements, sales, books back in stock, EBook news and a chance for you to make a difference in their future releases, want to know more? -  you know what to do....

We play "Where's the Birdie?" with Eduard's new 1/35 "Fauna" set

This is one for the birds - a sheet of photo etched coloured brass that is trying to replicate birds and other fauna in 1/35th scale from Eduard.

Sounds like a flight of fancy? Have I gone around the cuckoo‘s nest? Let’s have a look at this small sheet and see what all the flap is about…

Review - from Kagero Monographs – Legends of Aviation in 3D: Fokker Dr.I: the Aces Aircraft

From Kagero we have the newest tittle in their Legends of aviation series this month. We start off with a suitably early aircraft for us to make our way forward in a series – namely the famous Fokker Dr.1 “Dreidecker” made famous by the German ace “The Red Baron (and by SnoopyJ) anyway this boo has had the 3D treatment of which was awarded the ME 262 book we took a look at last week – Is it worth it worth this release? Does it take away from the book or is it the best thing since sliced bread? Let’s have a look… 

Review: F.A.Q. VOL. 2 Frequently Asked Questions of the AFV Painting Techniques by Mig Jiménez

When Mig Jiménez released the first book in this series it soon became a best seller number one and a vital tool to not just Military modelling fans but all genres of model making. It became a constant companion to many modellers and a handy thing to have near the modelling bench.




Since then there have been many new techniques and products to come into our modelling lives – how have the techniques changed? Well Mr Jiménez has released his second book called – yes you guessed it AK Interactive’s F.A.Q. VOL. 2 – to answer these newest but frequently asked questions – read on by clicking the link below…

Hasegawa new releases for February - Extra Pics of kits

We batter through the bad translations to give you the latest new kits from Hasegawa this month. February seems like it has something for everyone. From the excellent P-39 Airacobra in striking black and yellow to the Fw190A-8 and Ju-88 Mistel in 72nd scale to some chairs and tables in 1/12th scale we have all of Hasegawa's new kits here..

Rata Rata! 2-in-a box kits to rival the Bf109's from Eduard

Eduard have a great release of a limited edition kit this month that ISN'T a Bf 109 -  It was the sometime rival of the German fighter actualy - the soviet designed I-16 Type 10 in 148th scale Not just one - but two kits in this Dual Combo box face off with the Messerschmitt kit - Now that seems like more than a fair fight! we will preview the kit for you and show you the contents and marking options (and there are eight!)...

LZ Models fords the gap with another little masterpiece

L.Z. Models have released details of an excellent new truck - the CMP Ford F15 with open Cab in 1/35th scale. With some pretty broad possibilites for swapping and updating the cargo compartment you can add Breda guns and even a flak 20mm (which we are told is coming very soon as a kit from LZ in itself) - Lets have a look at  the information you need to know about this new kit..

HGW New releases a new Skyraider seat harness that doesn't hang on the wing...

HGW have sent the pictures and buying information of the new replacement seatbelt set they have made for the new 1/32 Zoukei-mura Skyraider kit - it sure looks like an impressive add on for an otherwise very nice kit. 

BarracudaCals surface with their new Mustang sets

BarracudaCals Have finally fessed up with the news on their excellent 1/32 scale add-ons to turn your already darn good kit of a P-51D Mustang into a show stopper. With all of the new Mustang kits on the market (and the fact that these can all be adapted to fit them if need be) and the undeniable popularity of this aircraft these are set to be a big seller! Also there are the latest in P-51 decals, cockpit placards and even a book on the thunderbolt!  I will pass you onto Roy from BarracudaCals now to show you the good gear they have coming on sale.

AMS/Zotz new A-4C Skyhawk Conversion and decals strike!

AMS/Zotz 32056 A-4C Conversion set 

We have the latest images from AMS Resin and Zotz of their latest collaboration, a conversion for the Trumpeter A-4E or F kit to turn the model into an either US Navy or an Argentinian A-4C light fighter bomber. This set contains also a great set of decals which cover three US Navy birds and two Argentinian aircraft from the 1982 Falklands War.

I'll let the guys who created it tell the story of first the conversion and then the decals of each of these planes in turn and show you a few pictures i found of the aircraft (or as close as) researching this article that may be handy as well.

Shesto give us more vice to get hooked on

Latest of the new tools from excellent tool suppliers Shesto are some new model holding vices and grips in a few interesting forms and applications for the modeller – some look downright handy and I’d like to have on the bench myself! Take a look below at their new releases for the month to see the pick of the grips!

ICM Preview: build up shots of their Krupp L3H163 German Army Truck

ICM Holding has releases some more pictures of their Krupp L3H163 truck in 1/35th scale. So we thought it was time to show you now there are basic test shot built up pictures..

From the built up shots provided you can see this model has potential - a lot of gear could be added to this to make many different versions as well, and you could load it down with nearly anything to give it that beefier look - click on below to see more...

Review: Revell Kit No: 04670 - 1/72 Handley Page Halifax B Mk.I/II GR II

Revell have sent us a kit of their new tool 1/72 Halifax B Mk.I/II GR II and we have had a long and hard look at it – there has been lots of comment about this kit by all and sundry over the various forums – lets show you what we think in our review…

Cyberhobby Dive in with their latest New Tool Helldiver in 72nd

To add to their "WingTech Series" Cyberhobby have released details of the March release tooling of the famous terror of the Japanese fleet in WWII the  SB2C-4 Helldiver  in 1/72nd scale. 

This new kit promises many new features (too many to list in the preview) but things like the folding wings seperate drop in cockpit and delicate engine details impress straight away - lets dive in and check out what dragon have sent us...

Eduard releases exact details, sprue shots and the price of their new 1/48th Emil..

The release info for the Eduard Bf 109E-1 in 1/48th scale has been releasedt - as we thought it follows its larger 1/32 scale cousin pretty closely, using the same markings but improving the plastic inside to enhance and re-design some of the critical areas which did receive some "attention". You can glean quite a bit from the instructions for the kit here...