Airfix Model World April 2021
Welcome to Airfix Model World April 2021 featuring full coverage of Airfix's new 1/48 Sabre F.4 a new tool 1/32 Junkers EF-126 from Das Werks, NuNu's 1/24 Volvo 240 Turbo, the latest product reviews, exclusive model builds, scale modelling news and more. Read the full issue in PDF format here or dip into our reformatted online features for KeyModelWorld at your leisure.
FLYING CLASSROOM
Airfix's first major new tooling for 2021, a 1/48 de Havilland Chipmunk T.10, is sure to delight modellers, and here’s a sneak peak of the parts in advance of next month’s exclusive build – just in time for the 75th anniversary of the type’s first flight.
BACK INTO THE DANGER ZONE
With the release of movie sequel, Top Gun: Maverick delayed until the summer, Airfix gives modellers a chance to experience “the need for speed” with the release of five 1/72 aircraft kits from the original film and its follow-on.
CONTRA-ROTATING ATTACKER
The latest new tooling from Ukrainian firm Clear Prop is a gorgeously detailed 1/48 XA2D-1 Skyshark, which was intended to be the US Navy’s first turbo-prop-powered attack aircraft.
2021 RELEASES
EXTRA IMAGES INSIDE: With the postponement of this year’s Nuremberg Toy Fair until July, the usual AMW round-up of announcements is being replaced by a series of separate articles, the first covering product lines from Revell, ICM and Tamiya.
SUPERLATIVE SUKHOI
EXTRA IMAGES INSIDE: Chinese newcomer Minibase’s first offering is a stunning 1/48 Su-33 Flanker-D naval fighter, with the box positively full to the brim with high-quality components.
RELICS OF ITALY
The third Panzerwrecks volume to focus on combat casualties in Italy offers yet another marvellous collection of previously unpublished photos for modellers to savour.
DISPLAY CASE
EXTRA IMAGES INSIDE: There’s a definite Airfix theme running through this month’s selection of reader-submitted projects, involving examples from the firm’s range of aircraft kits in each of the major scales.
DISASTER SPRAYERS
Here’s another addition to ICM’s selection of packages inspired by the TV mini-series Chernobyl, in the form of its 1/35 Deactivators, clothed in protective gear and spraying areas with chemicals or water to prevent the spread of radioactive material.
READY FOR TAKE-OFF
Ideal as an accompaniment for Eduard’s recent MiG-21PF/PFM kits, this beautifully detailed resin set comprises a standing pilot figure and a member of the groundcrew.
LEADER OF THE PACK
The second figure in Master Box’s post-apocalypse Desert Battle Series depicts a ‘new leader’ of the Skull Clan: Hanna.
WATER-COOLED OPERATORS
ICM has combined its 1/35 Vickers machine gun (35712) and WWI Weapon and Equipment set (35683) with newly tooled figures to form a package suitable for producing an instant World War One vignette.
DRAUGHTMAN'S DRIVE
VW’s Golf GTI is one of those classic car designs, and Revell’s latest version offers a different take on the sporty three-door hatchback, in that the colour scheme is on an ‘X-ray’ theme, showing internal components in white.
DESERT TWO-WHEELER
Italeri has continued to re-release ex-Protar kits with new packaging and decals, with the latest being a Paris-Dakar Rally BMW R80G/S 1000.
OPEN-TOP KADETT
As was the case with its 1/35 Moskvitch 400/420 soft-top, ICM has waited seven years since reworking its 1/35 Opel Kadett K38 to depict the cabriolet ‘Spezial’.
HEAVY HAULAGE
Here’s the perfect accompaniment for Italeri’s range of 1/24 truck kits, in the form of the firm’s same-scale 40ft container and trailer.
VOLUNTEER LIFE-SAVERS
Despite only being released in 2007, Airfix’s RNLI Severn-class lifeboat seems to have been around for much longer, and always proves popular with modellers.
RIVER PLATE PANZERSCHIFF
Airfix’s 1/600 Graf Spee might be an older offering (first released in 1971) but it is regarded as one of the better kits in this scale.
BLOOMING AFLOAT
Black Cat’s first foray into Royal Navy subjects features HMS Begonia, one of the earlier shortfoc’sle Flower-class corvettes that had the mast directly located directly in front of the bridge.
TRAWLING THE SEAS
Who says model subjects must be mighty leviathans? SSN Modellbau thinks otherwise, as evidenced by this delightful 1/350 Kriegsfischkutter (war trawler) auxiliary warship.
LARGE-SCALE 'SCHMITTS
Modellers seeking an unusual scheme for 1/32 Messerschmitt Bf 109E kits should consider Euro Decals’ superb collection of markings.
ZERO FLOATPLANE
Intended for Hasegawa’s out-of-production 1/72 A6M2-N kit, this splendid collection of Rufe floatplanes offers sufficient insignia and unit markings for four complete models.
DAZZLING DELTA
Syhart is known for its meticulous approach on its decals, and this three-sheet package for a 2017 Rafale C display aircraft is no exception, as it also provides two sheets of vinyl pre-cut self-adhesive paint masks to assist in recreating its striking livery.
JUMP JET LIVERIES
With the arrival of Kinetic’s 1/48 Harrier GR.1/3 kit, alternative schemes will be desirable and Xtradecal’s collection of early RAF airframes is ideal for this offering plus any other quarter-scale representation of the type.
SMALL-SCALE IMPERIAL
Here’s a great way to add refinement to Bandai’s gorgeous 1/14500 scale Imperial Star Destroyer, courtesy of Greenstrawberry’s bespoke decal set.
MULTI-TONED FIGHTER STRIPS
If recreating a five-colour lozenge on World War One biplanes wasn’t challenging enough, the addition of slightly different tone ribbing and edging strips can be just too much, so Eduard’s pre-printed versions for its splendid Fokker D.VII will be welcomed.
NORTH OR SOUTH AMERICA?
Brazilian firm LPS Hobby has produced a range of aftermarket decals for 1/72 Curtiss P-36 Hawks (also known as the Hawk-75), and this pair of schemes includes an example operated by the company’s home country.
MARKSMAN TEAM
Part of Greenstrawberry’s Recon Unit – Robot series, this two-figure set comprises a sniper and scout trooper.
SOVIET STARS
Begemot’s two-sheet collection of post-1955 Soviet Air Force national insignia is a superb resource for depicting Cold War aircraft from this country as it provides decals plus information about the placement and size of the revised motifs.