September 05, 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 announcements from August that caught my eye in the hope I might highlight something you have missed!

Various releases - from RT Diorama
RT-Diorama
No. 35314
1:35th scale
Creating bases or dioramas for your models is a completely different skill set to building the model itself, and there can be no argument that presenting your models in this way helps tell a story and present your model in scale and context.
If you haven’t heard of RT Diorama, I’d urge you to go check them out because they are releasing high-end diorama accessories that help you fast-track your diorama experience. They have some amazing 3D-printed foliage in their line and this month sees more interesting releases in the same vein. Head on over to their website and get inspired – you won’t regret it.


M1A1 Abrams – War Thunder – (includes Special Bonus for War Thunder Game)
Italeri
No. 35108
1:35th scale
OK – hear me out. I have added this Italeri M1A1 not because it is going to set the modelling world on fire but because of the tie-in with the online game – War Thunder. Italeri first released this kit back in 2003 and it has seen a few upgrades since then, but the appeal of this kit will be to the gaming community, where they can get upgrades and bonuses in the game.
It’s a great way to introduce the gaming community to the hobby, as well as this hobby to that gaming platform. This isn’t the first time this pairing has happened, and I am sure it won’t be the last, and any opportunity to connect these two hobbies and get more people building models is a good thing in my book.


Jagdpanzer 38(t) Hetzer - Mittlere Production
Vespid Models
No. VS720023
1:72nd scale
It’s a tiny model in 1/72, but don’t let that fool you because these Vespid kits are absolutely stunning little kits and are anything but an afternoon project for a bored school kid. Yes, Vespid have previously released the Jagdpanzer 38(t) or Hetzer if you prefer, in 2023; however, they were the late and early production vehicles, so this release of the mid version rounds out their collection.
There are noticeable differences between the versions, notably the exhausts, gun mantlet and commander hatch, but probably for the average modeller it was the schemes that varied over the production run. I am a massive fan of everything Vespid is releasing and will be looking to add this to the collection when it becomes available.


10.5cm scale leFH-18/4 auf Geschutzwagen Lrs.[f] [Becker] German 50-ton Type SSy45 flatcar schwerer platformwagen
Zimi Model
No. ZM35077
1:35th scale
The Zimi model seems to keep popping up on my radar and this month is no exception. Whilst technically this isn’t a Zimi kit as such… It’s a rebox of the 2020 Panda kit of the 105mm Lorraine Schlepper 37L and it’s paired with the T‑Model SSy45 flatcar. I’ve built that railcar previously, as it was paired with a Takom kit and can tell you it’s a lovely kit in itself, and while I haven’t built the Panda kit, I believe it is regarded as being of a reasonable quality and accurate shape, with the biggest gripe being the individual track links.
From what I understand, Zimi acquired a large portion of Panda Hobby’s moulds and is looking to expand their line by reboxing and repackaging the offerings.


Lockheed Martin Hopeless Diamond
MikroMir
No. 72-031
1:72nd scale
I seem to have this thing for odd-looking geometric aircraft at the moment, and whilst the manufacturer, MikroMir, scares me a little, I can’t help being attracted to this release.
So, what’s a Hopeless diamond? I hear you ask… well, it was a 1970s Skunk Works project that was the precursor to the F-117 Nighthawk. It earned the nickname of ‘Hopeless Diamond’ due to its ungainly and impractical shape. It was almost invisible to radar; however, it never made it to flight. It did, however, lead to the first flight of the ‘Have Blue’ project that then led to the F-117. Interesting subject and an important piece in the history of stealth design.


M1128 MGS Stryker After 2010 w/MILES (Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement System)
Rye Field Model
No. RM-5148
1:35th scale
RFM seem to be releasing a kit a month, and as a scale modeller, I’ve got to say I’m here for it! This month’s sees RFM announce the M1128 MGS Stryker… The Stryker is a family of 8×8 wheeled armoured vehicles developed for the U.S. Army in the early 2000s. It was designed to fill the gap between heavy tracked vehicles like the Abrams tank or Bradley IFV and lighter, more deployable Humvees.
The Stryker saw many variants, so I can only assume this release has opened the door for Ryefield to explore some other variants. Another thing RFM have been doing is offering different upgrades for their kits and it looks like that is going to be the case with the Stryker with sagged wheels and other upgrade sets soon to be available. AFV Club have many Strykers in their range, but with the quality of RFM improving with every release, I am keen to see how this one stacks up.



P-47N-1RE Thunderbolt - Basic kit
MiniArt
No. 48064
1:48th scale
Of all the WW2 Allied aircraft, the P-47 has to be the coolest. For me it is like a tank with wings, with some of the stories of its survivability and resilience being mind-blowing. MiniArt brings us the P-47N this month, which is a welcome release, as options for the N version of the aircraft are limited to Pro Modeller and Academy under numerous reboxings.
Modern-day MiniArt kits build into beautiful display pieces but have been known to have an excessive parts count… but this boxing is what they are calling their ‘Basic Kit’
So, what does 'basic' actually mean? Well, I’m not really sure, but the renderings look very good, so I’d suggest it might be a case of limited weapons and perhaps reduced decal options? The concept is designed to offer a budget kit for the modeller without skimping on quality. There are ‘Advanced kits’ available with all the bells and whistles, but it was the basic kit that appealed to me the most.


German 5 cm Anti-Tank Gun (PaK 38)
Tamiya
No. 35392
1:35th scale
I was so excited about this one and I featured it in a short here on the channel, and while the thought of a German anti-tank gun won’t thrill everyone, for me it is another Tamiya release that you know will be buildable and very useable in so many scenarios. You could have it in a firing position or being towed behind a vehicle. It could be in a diorama or a stand-alone vignette with the beautiful figure set it comes with. This is a kit you can build in an afternoon and get a quick fix.
The Pak 38 rounds out Tamiya’s collection of anti-tank guns, with the Pak 35/36 and Pak 40 having been in their collection for quite some time now. Really looking forward to this one even though some modellers were hoping for more significance. Anything with a Tamiya badge works for me.


General Electric GAU-8 Avenger 30mm Cannon
Mojo Model works
No. 250040012
1:12th scale
If the P47 was a tank with wings, then the A10 was the whole battalion. I love the Warthog. It's ugly and brutish, but without a doubt the coolest thing about it is the thumping great Gatling gun protruding from its nose.
This is a really interesting release from Mojo Modelworks and is the General Electric GAU-8 Avenger / 30mm cannon, which of course is the gun housed in the A10. Developed in the 70s specifically for the A10, it weighs in at 1800 kg and can fire 3900 rounds per minute, generating around 10 tonnes of backwards thrust.With the invention of 3D printing and people's skills around computer-based design constantly expanding, it has opened our hobby up to some incredible releases that could only be dreamt of in the past.
The A-10’s Gatling gun isn’t just a weapon—it’s the heart of the aircraft, famous for its devastating firepower and unmistakable roar. I know I say it a lot, but what an amazing time to be in the hobby!


Handley Page Halifax Mk. II
KOTARE
1/48 Scale
I guess this isn’t an announcement so much as an intent to announce… But I’ve included this Kotare Halifax MkII in the list because of a few reasons. Firstly, Kotare, who essentially formed from the ashes of Wing Nut Wings, has gained a reputation for creating high-quality 32nd-scale aircraft, and this is their first venture into 48th scale.

Secondly, this project is promoted as a crowdfunding opportunity, where people can have a say in the development and early adopters also will receive bonus items and upgrades. The concept of crowdfunding has been around for a while, but it seems to be gaining more traction in the hobby.
This is a limited-edition kit and not expected to be available until 2028… and I don’t have a lot to show you, unfortunately… But I suspect there will be great interest for this release based on Kotare’s reputation for delivering high-quality model kits.

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