June 15, 2025

Kit countdown... Clayton's top ten upcoming releases of the month...

From (another) Tiger to a tug, a FAB kit to Zero, a Kangaroo, a RSO FLAK, Tzar tank, a Leo & some kids just having fun. Clayton Ockerby treats us to his top ten of upcoming releases in his video preview...



Kit countdown... Clayton's top ten upcoming releases of the month...

G’day guys, here we are again taking a look over at some of the releases that caught my eye in the hope it might highlight something you missed!

Sd.Kfz.181 TIGER I EARLY PRODUCTION KURSK 1943 (with Wittmann resin figure)
Rye Field Model
Kit No: RFM5139
Price: $54.67 USD
OK, hear me out... 
We probably didn't need another Tiger, but before you all start screaming at me, let me explain. I've slipped this one in at number ten because I believe Rye Field Model kits are setting a new standard—and they're just getting better and better with each release. More than that—and I’ve mentioned this in a previous new release video—I like the way Rye Field is introducing different boxings. They did this with the Sherman a few months ago. 
You can get a full interior option, a premium set with all the bells and whistles, or just a standard version. I really like having those options. As the modeller, if you don't want the interior, you've got the choice. You don't have to spend extra—you can put your money elsewhere. I really like that philosophy, and I hope this one's a winner for Rye Field.

These kits are available in standard and detailed versions, making a kit for every type of modeller and budget.


 BMK-150 Towed Tugboat (for URAL)
1/72nd scale
Resin kit.Price: $41 USD
A bit of an obscure one here: a Soviet tugboat—the BMK 150—from Armada Hobby in 1/72 scale. I think in a past life I must have been a nautical modeller because there's something that attracts me to support craft, torpedo boats, U-boats—anything water-based. This one caught my attention. 
The BMK 150 was a little Soviet Cold War–era mobilised tugboat with wheels on the side that came down so it could be towed and deployed. From what I understand, these tugboats were used to deploy and assemble pontoon bridge sections for river crossings. It's a shame it isn't in 1/35 scale because I reckon it would be popular. But if this quirky little niche subject interests you like it did me, keep an eye out for it.


"Kids Make Their Own Fun—World War II Era."
Stalingrad Miniatures
1/35th scale set of figures
Cast in grey resin
Next up is a 1/35 scale figure set from Stalingrad called "Kids Make Their Own Fun—World War II Era." I like this set because of the dynamic poses. It's a multi-figure set, but you don’t have to use them all together—you could pair them off or use them individually to help tell a story. Stalingrad figures have a unique look and style, and the sculptor has really managed to capture expression and movement. 
That’s why it’s on my list—it offers a way to tell a story in a wartime setting without needing tanks or guns. Keep an eye on this one; I think it'll be popular.


IJN A6M5a Carrier Fighter ZERO Model 52 Koh (Manufactured by Mitsubishi or Nakajima)
From Fine Molds
From Fine Molds
1/48th scale
Price: $29.84 USD
I have a soft spot for Fine Molds, and these next two releases probably made the list because of that bias. I’m talking about the A6M5 Zeros. They've released two boxings: one from Mitsubishi and the other from Nakajima. Unless you're a Zero connoisseur, you’d be hard-pressed to spot the differences between them, but they are there. 
These kits were recently announced at the Shizuoka show, which I attended, so I got to see them up close. That’s likely why they made the list. There are other Zeros in the same range, but these are newly tooled and include new parts. What those parts are, I’m not entirely sure—but I saw them in person, and they looked absolutely lovely.


WWII German RSO/3 & 2cm 4-barrel Flak38 anti-aircraft gun mounted Magic Truck/4 figures inc.
From Dragon 
1/35th scale
Plastic & photo-etched kit
Price: $49 USD
Another I saw at the show was the new Dragon RSO variant with the 2 cm Flakvierling anti-aircraft gun on the back. I hope I’ve pronounced that right! I've built both the MiniArt and Dragon kits before. Dragon has come under some scrutiny for proportion issues with their RSO boxings, but this is the RSO/3—it has an open cab and is a mashup of older Dragon kits, plus a figure set thrown in. 

The product sheet showing all the features of the kit.
Dragon says there are new parts in this box, though I’m not sure what they are—possibly mounts for the AA gun. It might be as simple as that. In any case, it’s a really interesting vehicle—absolutely badass and vulnerable at the same time. I think posed with figures in a diorama, it could be a real beauty.


Maschinen Krieger P.K.A. Kangaroo (2 Kits) & Maintenance Crew
ARTPLA 
1/35th scale
2 kits in the one box.
Price: $54 USD
PAK Kangaroo—There’s not a month that goes by where I don’t push my Maschinen Krieger agenda—so why stop now? Kotobukiya has released their Kangaroo with a maintenance crew. This is the same company that did the Käfer that I reviewed, oh jeez, about 18 months ago now. The kit comes with two different-coloured plastics in the box—the exact same sprues, just two colours. If it’s anything like that Käfer boxing, there will probably be another release with two different colours as well.
That’s going to appeal to collectors, because there are people who just collect these things and keep them on a shelf. No doubt they’ll want one of each colour. If the Maschinen Krieger universe interests you at all, like it does me, you’ll be able to buy these from places like HobbyLink Japan and other Japanese distributors. With luck, they might even find their way to your country. But they will go quickly—Maschinen Krieger stuff always does, and the runs are always limited. This one is definitely going on my buy list.


British CVR(T) Spartan light tank w/ Extra Armored Gun Turret (Russian-Ukraine war)
From Gecko Model
1/35th scale
Gecko Models announced their Spartan in May, and from what I know, this is the first time the Spartan has been released as an injection-moulded kit. Accurate Armour had done them before, but those are rare and very hard to find. 
This is a completely different beast. The Spartan is a Ukrainian vehicle, so there’s nothing stopping you from pairing it with some of the other interesting releases currently available from that conflict.


TSAR Tank (Lebedenko Tank)
From V&K Productions
1/72nd scale
3D Printed Model Kit
Price: US $40.71
Number three on the list is the weirdest-looking thing of all time. And surprisingly, it’s real. It’s the Tsar Tank, or the Lebedenko Tank, in 1/72 scale from VNK Production. I remember the first time I saw this tank online—I thought it was made up. Just a "what if" someone concocted after a bad dream. But believe it or not, the Tsar Tank made it to the prototype stage, though it never went into production. Its front wheels had a diameter of nine metres! It was designed to roll over World War I trenches, but it was massive, and as you’d expect, it had serious power and weight issues.
It’s an oddity, but an interesting part of history and a real conversation piece. Even in 1/72 scale, it’s a big model. It's just a shame Copper State Models never went ahead with their 1/35 scale version—that would’ve been absolutely awesome.


Stridsvagn 103 (S-Tank)
From Hobby Japan
1/35th scale
No links yet...
This next release actually snuck past me the first time—I glimpsed it in my Shizuoka Trade Day video. I saw the model on a display table and wanted to go back to get better photos because it looked incredible, but I got side-tracked. The model is from a company called Hobby Japan, which I’d never even heard of until my trip to Japan.
It’s a model of the Swedish S-Tank—or the Stridsvagn 103, though I won’t attempt the pronunciation. The S-Tank was highly innovative and played an important role in Sweden’s defence. It was designed for ambushes and defensive operations, taking advantage of terrain by digging in and firing from hidden, fixed positions. It could also adjust its suspension to elevate the gun, reducing its silhouette at the same time.
From what I’ve seen, Hobby Japan looks like a new player on the scene, but they’re exploring all sorts of subjects. Judging by the engineering, design, and detailing, I really hope these kits make their way to the Western world. This little S-Tank is absolutely stunning.


Thunderbirds Mechanic Selection (Part 1)
From Bellfine
Several different scales in the box.
Price: $62.70 USD
And at number one—yes, massive nerd alert—I’m a sucker for Thunderbirds. I highlighted these kits in my Trade Day video from May, and I was thrilled to see them announced. As dorky and ridiculous as it may look today, the Thunderbirds bring back so many memories from my childhood: sitting in front of the telly while Mum and Dad were still in bed, eating sugary cereal I wouldn't dream of giving my own kids.
These designs still hold up. The kits all appear to be in 1/144 scale and look delicate but detailed—a genuine option for scale modellers. Thunderbirds kits have been available in the past, but they always looked a bit toy-like and didn’t really appeal to serious builders—at least not without a huge amount of effort. I’m just hoping these Bell Fine kits find their way into a reliable distribution channel so those of us in the Western world can get our hands on them. I reckon they’re going to be popular—and I’d love to sink my teeth into them.
Thunderbird No. 1—1/250 scale, total length approximately 14cm when completed; can be recreated in both flight and landed forms, display stand included. Fireflash -- 1/500 scale, total length approximately 23cm when completed; can be recreated in both flight and landed forms.


Honourable Mention -  Meng's Leopard 2 A6 MBT in 35th scale
From Meng Model
1/35th scale
Kit No TS-055
Honourable Mention – Meng Leopard 2 - One last notable mention I haven’t included in the top 10, but I really love the look of it—the new Leopard 2 released by Meng. I saw it at the show and it just looked different. There was something finer, a bit more delicate in the detailing. Now of course, Meng have released plenty of Leopard 2s in the past, but this one really appealed to me. So I wanted to give it a quick shoutout.
- The one-piece road wheels manufactured by precision tooling feature easy assembly and outstanding results. A paint mask is provided for easy painting.
- Lights, observation windows and optical sights are represented with clear parts.
- The engine grilles and storage basket details are represented by PE parts.
- This model precisely replicates the real vehicle’s torsion bar suspension.
- The gun barrel can elevate and depress.
- The add-on armour on both sides of the turret can open and close.
- Optional combat training system parts are available.
- All crew hatches can be built open or closed.
The cement-free, double-pin, workable tracks have excellent mobility and are easy to assemble.

So that’s it for May—did you see anything you like? Did I miss something? Let me know in the video comments!

Clayton Ockerby

See more of Clayton's amazing works on his YouTube Channel, his modelling portal "Workbench Hobbies,"or his Facebook page