August 08, 2025

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

It's that time again where Clayton Ockerby treats us to his top ten of upcoming releases that caught his eye this past month in his video preview...

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

Here are some of the new announcements and releases that caught my eye from July in the hope I can shed some light on some of the stuff you may have missed! They come around fast, don’t they? and I think there will be a few surprises in this list too… So let’s get started!

Armor Suit Exoskeleton
Spalah | No. SP-15135 | 1:35
I am not a gamer and have never been, but from what I understand, STALKER is a big hit in the gaming world. S.T.A.L.K.E.R. is a series of atmospheric, post-apocalyptic first-person shooter games set in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, blending survival horror, open-world exploration, and immersive storytelling inspired by the novel Roadside Picnic and the film Stalker.
Last month SPA LA announced a whole heap of 35th-scale 3D-printed figures inspired by the franchise. That whole post-apocalyptic universe is massive in the modelling world so this line will cater to those modellers and will be a nice draw for the fans of the gaming franchise. 


Pilatus PC-9/A
“RAAF“
Kovozávody Prostějov | No. KPM0508 | 1:72
The Pilatus PC-9/A is an Australian-modified version of the Swiss-designed Pilatus PC-9, used primarily by the Royal Australian Air Force for advanced flight training…which is why I have included it. It served as the RAAF’s primary trainer from the early 1990s until its gradual replacement by the PC-21.
I’ll let you get your tongue around the manufacturer; however, KP Models is part of the Czech AZ Models brand. 
This 72nd-scale kit was newly tooled in 2024, with this boxing including the decals for the RAAF, so you would like to think that, being a modern tooling, the kit should build up nicely. 
AZ Models can be a little hit and miss, but I have high hopes for this one. 


Iron Man Mark XLV
MK45
FondJoy | No. | 1:12
I love a movie tie-in with my modelling and I love the simplicity of these releases. I am talking about the 1/12th scale figure sets of some of the Marvel and DC heroes we have all come to love. FondJoy specialises in this field, with their kits including coloured plastic parts that offer articulation in the models. They have also adopted the snap-fit style of construction. July saw the announcement of a few different characters, but I do have a soft spot for Iron Man and most of all Deadpool. 
Kits like this appeal to such a broad audience and are a great way to introduce your non-modelling friends or children to the hobby. 


Unmanned Ground Combat Vehicle Uran-9
Amusing Hobby | No. 35A073 | 1:35
The URAN-9 represents one of the earliest attempts to integrate robotics into conventional military operations, acting as a remotely operated mini-tank intended for urban combat support, reconnaissance, and firepower delivery. It’s a glimpse into the future of ground warfare—it’s a blend of robotics, AI, and remote firepower. 
Amusing Hobby like to dip their toes into prototype and what-if subjects, but I can tell you this little creature is very much a real vehicle, which, after recently watching The Terminator is starting to make me a little uncomfortable…


German AA Gun FAUN 1500 F Flakträgerwagen
F&A Miniatures | No. FA-48045 | 1:48
I’ve called out F&A Miniatures a couple of times this year, simply because they are producing some extremely cool subjects that simply no one else seems to be. F&A is a 3D print producer and from everything I have heard, they are producing fairly high-end kits—with any luck I’ll get my hands on one and qualify that for you. The FAUN 1500 F Flakträgerwagen was not an official or mass-produced military variant, but field conversions of FAUN trucks into flak carriers did exist. So, I guess it’s historically plausible—I just couldn’t find anything to support the claim… So if you had a pic, I’d love to see it! This release has been announced in 72nd and 48th scale—so fingers crossed for something in 1/35!


Soviet destroyer PR.7 Gremyashchiy 1942
Takom | No. 6017 | 1:350
Takom continues to throw us something different and new in the way of genres they are willing to dabble in, and this month sees them release the 1/350th Soviet WW2 Destroyer, The Gremyashchiy. 
The ship was inspired by Italian designs but reworked to meet Soviet naval doctrine. Sleek and fast, yet lightly built, the ship featured a powerful armament of 130 mm guns, torpedoes, depth charges, and later, anti-aircraft upgrades—all packed into a narrow hull that prioritised speed and aggression. 
I really like that disruptive, dazzle-type scheme on the box art and the compact nature of the release. 
Interestingly, the Chinese purchased 4 of these destroyers in the 50’s and renamed them the Anshan-class. These were the first modern warships in the Chinese Navy and served well into the 80s. Takom has cashed in on this kit with a boxing of those Chinese vessels.


PLA AFT-10
Zimi Model | No. ZM35043 | 1:35
I was completely blown away with the quality and refinement in the Zimi Model kits when I was recently at the Shizuoka Hobby Show, which is why, when I saw the brand name on this release, I had to include it. The AFT-10 is a Chinese-made vehicle-mounted missile system and was approved for use in 2012.  It's a modern, versatile platform designed to hit tanks, bunkers, or low-speed targets at ranges up to 10 km. Over time it has expanded onto wheeled and amphibious chassis, signalling China's emphasis on flexible, precision land strike capabilities.
Like I said, this one was more about the manufacturer than the subject… But there is definitely something appealing about the Chinese digital camouflage.


German Navy Defence Ferry Full Hull SF40 Siebel Air
SSMODEL | No. SSC144577S | 1:144
It never ceases to amaze me how I still manage to stumble on subjects I knew nothing about from the Second World War, and this is one of them. This is the SF 40 Siebel Ferries, of which there was a significant number. They were modular, constructed from standard bridge pontoons and powered by aircraft engines, which made them quick and cheap to produce—ideal for Germany’s wartime logistics. Initially intended for Operation Sea Lion, Germany’s planned invasion of Britain, but after that plan was cancelled, they were reassigned to roles across Europe. Many were equipped with 88 mm Flak guns or multiple 20 mm AA cannons, turning them into formidable mobile flak platforms.
SS Model are another 3D print maker creating high-quality kits of these interesting subjects. 144th is probably on the small side for me, but I am hoping we might see this one upscaled to 72nd scale. 


U.S. Air Force A-12 Avenger II
Modelcollect | No. UA72233 | 1:72
Becoming the most expensive ‘cancelled’ aircraft project in the history of the Pentagon, the A-12 was planned to be the US Navy’s next-generation stealth attack aircraft and was poised to be the replacement for the A-6 Intruder.

This was a joint development between McDonnell Douglas and General Dynamics through the 80s and early 90s, with the plane becoming known as the ‘Flying Dorito’ due to its rectangular shape. 

Modelcollect's alternative 1/48 UA48006 U.S.Navy A-12 Avenger II “JOLY ROGERS” Special Ver.
The project was overbudget, behind schedule and never met expectations and unfortunately never saw an operational prototype, but I still find the plane and the potential of such an airframe truly interesting, which is why this Model Collect Avenger II has made the list at Number 2. 


Matilda 1
British Infantry Tank Mk.1 (A11 Type 1)
Gecko Models | No. 35GM0063 | 1:35
I appreciate that the Matilda 1 isn’t going to be everyone’s cup of tea, but there is something about this tank that really appeals to me. It firmly has one foot in shadows of the first world war and the other in trying to design something innovative… But in terms of a tank, it was a bit of a bludger. 
Designed in the 30s, its heavy armour was really the only thing it had going for it. Given it was only armed with a machine gun, it lacked any sort of impact on the battlefield, and it was painfully slow. 
It did see action during the early stages of the war and, other than its namesake, has nothing to do with the Matilda 2 that would supersede it.
I was excited when Vargas Scale Models released this a few years ago but never got around to picking one up, so I am happy to have the opportunity to now pick this up as an injection-moulded kit. 

Other notable mentions are the D-Day Miniatures–Rommel figure set that will pair perfectly with the Takom Halftrack release. Meng’s Leopard 1 in 1/72 continues their journey into that vehicle frame in that scaleAirfix imposed another 24th-scale Spitfire on us, but at least there was some reference to beer
And V&K announced their Lebedenko tank in 1/35 (the one I mentioned in 1/48th in a previous video). This kit will be around half a metre long…
So that’s it! What did you think? Did you agree? Did I miss something? Please let me know in the video comments.

Check out Clayton's video that accompanies this story on his YouTube page—Workbench Hobbies.

Clayton Ockerby.

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