January 18, 2026

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

It's that time again when Clayton Ockerby from Workbench Hobbies 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...

Gday guys – Happy New year and welcome to 2026. I hope you managed to get some sort of a break and recharge those batteries. I’m predicting big things for you and your modelling this year so without delay let’s take a look at some of the announcements that caught my eye in the hope I can show you something you may have missed.

 Bamboo 3D Printed (& various assorted  groundwork)
AK Interactive
No. AK8309
Product Link
Not a kit but a range of diorama accessories and they came from our friends at AK Interactive. Now hear me out…the thought of paying for essentially rocks in a pot may seem absurd to some however having access to different rock types and graded sizes and colours extremely handy and takes the guesswork out of the landscaping process.  Not only have they released a range of stones and pebbles, but they are also making 3D printed elements like bamboo sticks. VMS has a similar range of graded material of which I love, so to have another option is going to be really handy for all of your diorama modellers out there.


German Heavy Tank Sd.Kfz. 182 King Tiger (Porsche Turret)
Meng Model
No. 72-01
1:72nd scale
Meng is a company most of you would be familiar with and December saw them extend their range of 72nd scale armour to see the Porsche Turret as well as the more common Henschel turreted King Tiger make its way onto the shelves of your local hobby shop.
Meng seem to be putting a lot of energy into this smaller scale and from what I understand the kits are accessible to modellers of most skill levels without compromising on details and quality. So, to see these iconic tanks available in the range comes as a welcome addition.
Whilst Meng have released both turret types here it is the Porsche Turret version I am drawn to the most. That is the turret that has the more rounded profile and saw only 50 units produced. Interestingly ‘Porsche had nothing to do with the actual turret design or manufacture… It was in fact designed and produced by Krupp for a Porsche hull design that never made it past the prototype stage. The turrets premature production run could be repurposed and used on the actual approved Henschel hull design, creating an interesting variation on the tank we know as the king tiger.


JS-2 Model 1944 Heavy Tank
Rye Field Model
No. RM-5160
1:35th scale
Late War soviet armour gives us a unique opportunity to execute techniques and generally have some fun with bashing our models up and expanding the pallet without painting and weathering which is why I live this next release, and that is the JS-2 from RFM. RFM have dipped their toes into the water with the KV series of tanks, which have been very well received by all accounts, but this is the first of the super heavies in their range.

The JS-2 (also known as IS-2, for Iosif Stalin) was a late-war Soviet heavy tank introduced in 1944 to counter German Tigers and Panthers. Armed with a powerful 122 mm D-25T gun, it combined thick sloped armour with devastating firepower, making it especially effective in breakthrough and urban fighting.
The JS-2 spearheaded Red Army offensives in 1944–45, most famously during the Battle of Berlin, where its ability to destroy bunkers and heavy armour proved decisive. Though its large gun had a slower rate of fire, the JS-2 became a symbol of Soviet heavy armour dominance at the end of World War II. Detail around this kit are sparce however if the recent run of RFM kits is anything to go by this should be a goodie!


AV-8B Harrier II Plus
Uma Model
No. D1003
1:48th scale
Now I am far from an expert around the Harrier, but I think the Gr3 and the AV-8B Harrier II are two of the most attractive jets around and paired with the good wrap the Uma Model kit received when it was first released, I felt compelled to include this on the list.
The AV-8B Harrier II is a second-generation V/STOL attack jet developed for the US Marine Corps, featuring a larger wing, improved avionics, and greater payload than earlier Harriers. Entering service in the 1980s, it proved its value in conflicts from the Gulf War to Iraq and Afghanistan before being replaced by the F-35B.
Although this release is promoting ‘new parts’ I suspect that may well be an alternative decal sheet to the initial release, so I guess tine will tell… But after hearing the build experiences and seeing some of the finished kits of that initial release I will be keeping my eye out for this new one to add to the stash for a rainy day.


Pz.kpfw.VI
Full interior
Very Fire/Beaver Corporation
No.
1:35th scale
Love them or hate them the Tiger is still one of the most recognisable and infamous tanks in the history of the world. It’s not like we don’t have a plethora of options when it comes to tigers, however this release intrigued me because of the manufacturer. 

After a bit of digging I found this about the manufacturer -  In essence, Very Fire and Beaver Corporation are two different entities – Very Fire provides high-end, feature-rich model kits aimed at serious hobbyists who appreciate significant detail and accuracy in their builds, often incorporating modern 3D printing for intricate parts. In the past they have focussed on 1/350 and 1/700 scale Japanese Warships. Beaver Corporation however is the importer / distributer and brings that skill set to the table in this collaboration. It seems like a brave thing to do to go up against some of the more established brands with a full interior Tiger, but the Tiger is one of those Tanks that always seems to sell and never fails to show up on the display tables around the world. Given the reputation that Very Fire has it will be interesting to see exactly what this Full interior Tiger is going to look like.


USS Fletcher DD-445
I Love Kit
No. 65309
1:350th scale
Who else out there saw and loved the Tom Hanks Movie – Greyhound ? In Greyhound, the ship commanded by Tom Hanks’ character is the USS Keeling (DD-548), a fictional Fletcher-class destroyer. While Keeling herself never existed, she’s portrayed as a typical early-war Fletcher – and that is probably the thing that drew me to this model. Over 175 ships were built between 1941–1944, and they served in every major US naval theatre, from the Atlantic convoy battles to the Pacific island-hopping campaign. They were valued for their balance of speed, firepower, range, and survivability.
Fletcher class ships saw service with many navies around the world, including the Royal Australian Navy, which is another reason I like this as a subject. I love Kit is a Chinese manufacturer that came about in the late 2010s and quickly gained attention for producing highly detailed, modern-tooling kits—particularly in 1/35 armour and 1/48 aircraft. 
The brand is closely associated with (and often thought to be a sister company of) Trumpeter and Hobby Boss, sharing a similar engineering philosophy and tooling standards. So, take that for what it’s worth.
A 1/350th scale ship on the radar ? You just never know…


Sherman VC Firefly
Late Production
Rye Field Model
No. RM-5153
1:35th scale
The Firefly has been on my radar ever since reading the James Holland Novel Brothers in Arms – a story that follows the Sherwood rangers from the D Day landings to the German surrender. I recall when the Firefly’s arrived, they didn’t really know how to use or what to do with them and they were held back on a lot of occasions, however the Firefly could not be denied for its fire power and effectiveness against the German heavies.
The British Sherman VC Firefly, saw the US M4 Sherman fitted with the powerful 17 pdr (76.2 mm) anti-tank gun — The modification was carried out because standard Sherman guns struggled to defeat German heavy tanks, prompting the British to shoehorn the powerful 17-pounder anti-tank gun into the turret. This required major internal changes—removing the loader’s position, relocating the radio to an external armoured box, and redesigning stowage—but it gave Allied units a weapon capable of killing Tigers and Panthers at range. Ryefield released their first Firefly back in 2019 however this is the Late Production version and will benefit from 5 years’ worth of advancement in design and moulding technology. 


US M24 Light Tank “Chaffee” (WWII Version)
Gecko Models
No. 16GM0038
1:16th scale
Gecko Models continue their journey into large scale armour with the M24 Chaffee. The M24 Chaffee was armed with a 75 mm gun similar to that of early Shermans, giving a light tank unusually strong firepower for its class. Although it arrived too late to see widespread combat in WWII, its excellent mobility and reliability meant it served on for decades, including extensive use in the Korean War and by many post-war armies.
Around 1,100 Chaffee’s reached U.S. Army units before the end of World War II, with several hundred seeing actual combat in Europe in late 1944–45. This is a WW2 version and includes decals for WWII US Army & Free French Army versions. It includes a Turned metal gun barrel, including rifling in the bore as well as workable track links & suspension
The fighting compartment comes with interior detail, and it looks like include limited stowage.
The Chaffee weighed about 18–19 tons, while a Sherman weighed around 30–33 tons with a much wider hull and turret. The Chaffee was designed for a reconnaissance and light combat role rather than a front-line brawler like the Sherman, making this an interesting option for those armour modellers out there looking for something a little different.


McDonnell Douglas F-4E AUP Phantom II HELLENIC AIR FORCE
Meng Model
No. LS-021
1:48th scale
For a plane that was developed in 1958 it’s hard to believe but the Greek Air Force still fly Phantoms to this day. Granted the Phantom they fly today is very different to the one from 1958 however it speaks volumes into just how amazing the Phantom is. Meng released their first 48th scale Phantom back in 2022 (an F4-G Phantom II) and the kit achieved high praise from modellers around the world as they were generally well-engineered, with good fit and a high level of detail straight from the box. Meng have then built on that base kit with various modifications representing different variants of this beast of a plane. 

This latest release is of course the  F-4E AUP Phantom II from the Hellenic Air Force. These Phantoms are unique mainly because they have been extensively upgraded and kept combat-relevant far longer than almost any other Phantom fleet.
But the thing that appeals to me the most if that beautiful Aegean Ghost camouflage scheme. It’s not just visually striking but purpose-designed for the maritime environment, and it has become one of the most recognisable Phantom liveries in the world. The Greek Phantoms were worked hard in demanding operational conditions, giving them a very “lived-in” appearance—something modellers will especially love.

Pretty excited for this one!


Mil Mi-35 Alien
Limited Edition
From Eduard 
No. 11173
1:48th scale
Eduard has released a limited-edition 1/48 Hind kit in a striking “Alien” special livery, based on the Zvezda Mi-24/35 Hind plastic kit with a huge custom decal sheet and extras that let you faithfully recreate a real-world Mi-35 attack helicopter painted in the unusual 2016 “Alien” scheme used at a Tiger Meet in Zaragoza, Spain. 
What’s a Tiger Meet I hear you ask – Well A Tiger Meet is the annual multinational military aviation exercise officially called the NATO Tiger Meet, where squadrons with a tiger in their name or emblem train together and showcase eye-catching special paint schemes. How’d have known….

Eduard claim is their largest decal sheet ever for a single scheme. The kit also comes with photo-etch detail, masks, and extra resin bits, plus a booklet on the history of the actual helicopter and its “Alien” paint job — making it more of a showpiece limited edition than a standard release. 
I believe this is a limited to 1,000 kits, so it’s aimed at collectors and modellers who want something eye-catching and out of the ordinary rather than a basic production scheme.
I adore the Hind as a subject and Aliens left a lasting impression on me, so what’s not to like about this one !

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