Airfix Model World February 2021
Welcome to Airfix Model World February 2021 featuring full coverage of the Airfix 2021 catalogue launch, exclusive model builds, the latest news, product reviews and more. Read the full issue in PDF format here or dip into our reformatted online features for KeyModelWorld at your leisure.
AIRFIX 2021: DE HAVILLAND DELIGHTS!
Modelling as a hobby appears to have undergone a renaissance last year, and if Airfix’s release schedule for 2021 is anything to go by, it will continue to strengthen.
Airfix Model World January 2021
Welcome to Airfix Model World January 2021 featuring model builds, the latest news, product reviews and more. Read the full issue in PDF format here or dip into our reformatted online features for KeyModelWorld at your leisure.
BIRTH OF THE RAVEN
Hasegawa’s ageing 1/72 EF-111A Raven still earns its stripes, as Massimo Santarossa discovers.
CROWDFUNDING SUCCESS
Following an appeal to its supporters, The Tank Museum has announced generous donations have meant £5,000 has been raised to fund the repair of the World War Two Churchill Mk.III* tank in its care.
MORE MERLIN SPITS!
Hot on the tail of its new guide to the Hawker Hurricane, Valiant Wings has announced its Airframe & Miniature reference to the Merlin-engined Supermarine Spitfire is to be re-released as an expanded second edition.
SAFER SPRAYING
Airbrushing can be a messy business, but Sparmax’s highly regarded spray booths are superb at extracting aerosolised paint and thinners from a room.
SEVENTH GEN FIREBLADE
Tamiya has been quick off the mark with its newly tooled Honda CBR1000RR-R, as it replicates the 2020 version.
HEAVY-HITTING ARTILLERY
Just as there has been a revitalisation of small-scale aircraft kits, there’s been a similar renaissance with 1/72 armour, as evidenced by Revell’s M109 self-propelled howitzer.
EAGLE-DAY ZERSTÖRER
It's a welcome return for Eduard’s splendid 1/72 Bf 110, now repackaged as a limited-edition ‘Adlertag’ (eagle day) offering to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Britain.
ALL-NEW ‘EMIL’
Special Hobby's announcement of a newly tooled 1/72 Bf 109E has delighted many aficionados and the first release features the E-4.
HARRIER DUO
Having already issued naval and trainer versions of the venerable first-generation Hawker-Siddeley Harrier in 1/48 scale, Kinetic has now released the earliest sub-types, with RAF and US boxings of this revolutionary aircraft.
CZECH BUMBLEBEE
Modellers seeking something different might consider Eduard’s newly tooled 1/72 Z-37 Čmelák (bumblebee) agricultural aircraft.
HERRICK PATROLLER
The past few years have seen a resurgence in British Army kits, with this brand-new tooling of an Operation Herrick-standard FV510 Warrior from Meng just the latest.
THE PERFECT PHANTOM?
Japanese Manufacturer FineMolds has a reputation for accuracy and detail, with its kits being highly sought after – this will definitely be the case with its newly tooled 1/72 F-4EJ Phantom.
DISPLAY CASE
Inspiration from previous issues of AMW, family history and custom mobility make for a varied selection of projects in this month’s reader showcase.
FLYING IRON
The re-release of Airfix’s 1/48 Gloster Javelin has been awaited eagerly by modellers; it is a direct reissue comprising nine styrene runners packed with crisply moulded parts.
FRENCH FIGHTER
Eduard’s 1/48 Nieuport 17 has been updated with the inclusion of photo-etched (PE) metal enhancements plus a pre-cut painting mask in this ProfiPACK Edition.
HIGH-BACK RETURN
Here’s a welcome return for Brengun’s 1/72 early-model Yakovlev Yak-1, this time provided with markings for the ‘mounts’ of four Soviet aces.
COLOURFUL SUPER BUGS
Modellers seeking a budget-level 1/48 F/A-18E Super Hornet may wish to consider Italeri’s re-released version.
SPITS FROM DOWN UNDER
Modellers who missed out on Eduard’s limited edition ‘Aussie Eight’ dual-combo boxings of its 1/48 Spitfire Mk.VIII will appreciate this Weekend Edition , as it contains two of that offering's schemes.
RECORD-BREAKER
Special Hobby appears to be working gradually through the X-15 airframes with its 1/32 releases, with this fourth boxing portraying the second machine late in the test programme with a white finish.
REPACKAGED STEALTH
Revell has re-boxed Italeri’s 1/72 F-35A – depicting the conventional take-off and landing variant of this stealth multirole aircraft.
UP-ENGINED GLADIATOR
The second large-scale Gladiator offering from ICM adds a new runner F to the standard components, allowing the later Mk.II variant (with its three-bladed propeller and changed instrument panel) to be built.
PANZER NEMESIS
Comprising ten styrene runners plus separate upper and lower turret halves and hull, with single-piece vinyl tracks, a small photo-etched (PE) brass fret and a length of thread, Airfix’s M36B1 is a direct re-boxing of the Academy kit (based on that firm’s 2001 tooling of the M10), albeit with new decals.
DRY STOWAGE
There’s a seemingly never-ending flow of new Sherman tank releases, such as this tooling from Zvezda.
FOUR-IN-ONE PACKAGE
Although 1/56 is more commonly used for wargaming with 28mm figures, many modern offerings in this scale are just as suitable for modelling projects, such as Rubicon’s superb Sd.kfz.2 Kettenkrad, Infanterieanhänger 8 trailer, Goliath tracked mine and crew package.
FRANCO TANKS
A classic Matchbox gem returns with Revell's Char B1 Bis and Renault FT set, complete with a backing scene and figures for an instant vignette.