Scale Modelling news, reviews, features and more...
FARE TO THE FRONT
ICM regularly pairs its automotive kits with figure sets, but this example is slightly unusual, combining the firm’s 1/35 Renault Type AG taxi with a driver and three French infantrymen.
CLASSIC BUS
Having started with the VW T1 Samba and subsequently released cargo and Kombi versions, Revell has come full circle with the original T1 Microbus, recognisable via its 11-window configuration.
KATYUSHA CREW
While intended to accompany the firm’s own Katyusha multiple rocket launchers, this four-man crew is depicted in the process of loading the next batch of ready-to-fire missiles (although none are included).
COMMUNIST CARICATURE
The fourth and final entry in ToRo’s Two Types caricature series depicts a Soviet Army officer in Vienna (as per the original cartoon), walking along with his hands in his pockets.
DEFENDING FROM THE SKIES
Released to coincide with the 70th anniversary of the Korean War, this three-figure set depicting two Chinese People’s Volunteer Army soldiers operating a 12.7mm DShK heavy machine gun as an antiaircraft weapon, with a third pointing towards the approaching threat.
ARENA SWORDSMAN
Following its 1/16 Roman Centurion (see here), ICM has produced a new-tool Gladiator in traditional attire for the empire’s Murmillo class – though the sword appears to be a kinked Sica, rather than a Gladius.
HANGING ON TO A HETZER
Although specified for use with a same-scale Sd.Kfz. 138/2 Hetzer tank-destroyer, CMK’s 1/35 later-war Wehrmacht infantryman should be suitable for posing on numerous German armoured vehicles.
TEUTONIC HEAVY MORTAR TEAM
Zvezda’s Art of Tactic sets continue to impress, with this 1/72 Granatwerfer 42 mortar and associated team being another package ideal for producing an instant diorama.
PRUSSIAN KNIGHTS OF THE AIR
German publisher Luftfahrtverlag START has produced a stunning new book on a lesser-known World War One German fighter unit, along with accompanying decals.
HUNTING BY NIGHT
The first in a two-part series, this Classic Colours volume describes the changes in camouflage worn by Luftwaffe night-fighters between 1939 and 1945, while also providing valuable insight into how these aircraft were designed, organised and operated.
WONKY WING
Known for unconventional designs, German manufacturer Blohm & Voss arguably surpassed itself with the Bv 141, producing an asymmetric design in response to a reconnaissance requirement (eventually filled by the Fw 189).
RUSSIAN CLOSE-AIR SUPPORT
The Duke Hawkins series of photo studies is now in its 17th edition, which is devoted to Sukhoi’s Su-25 Frogfoot ground attack aircraft. Packed with high-quality colour photos throughout, it showcases the type magnificently, with examples included from the Soviet Union/Russia, Ukraine, North Macedonia, Bulgaria, Belarus and Georgia.
MARITIME 'HOW-TO'
Written by experienced modelmaker Mike McCabe (perhaps better known as the owner of Starling Models), this is a one-stop shop for anyone interested in building maritime subjects.
A RISING POWER
Yefim Gordon and Dmitriy Komissarov have turned their attention away from their usual Soviet/Russian subjects to focus instead on China’s burgeoning air power as it has transformed from relying on types bought from Moscow with indigenous designs.
STRINGBAGS VS BATTLESHIPS
Renowned naval historian David Hobbs examines the roles and contribution of the Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm to actions in the Mediterranean during World War Two.
MEDITERRANEAN LEVIATHANS
Comparatively little has been written on Italian warships compared to those of other nations, but this Kagero volume on the Vittorio Veneto-class battleships seeks to address that shortfall.
PINE-PRODUCED PURSUER
While it has been the subject of numerous kits over the years, few MiG-3 offerings have been tooled recently and thus feature minor inaccuracies or generic detailing.
PENINSULA AIR BATTLES
For some reason, the Korean War tends to be overlooked by aviation historians, despite its significance of marking the transition between propeller- and jet-powered aircraft, resulting in the first jet-versus-jet combat.
SILVER WINGS OVERSEAS
This third volume of a mini-series dedicated to charting the rise of combat air capability in the Arabic area of the Middle East charts colonial operations by France, Italy, Spain and Britain between 1918- 1936, plus the formation of homegrown forces.
DAZZLING GREAT WAR BIRDS
Stunning colour schemes define Eduard’s Weekend Edition re-release of its splendid 1/72 Albatros D.V biplane fighter. Check out the four liveries here...
Airfix Model World July 2021
Welcome to Airfix Model World July 2021 featuring full coverage of Airfix's re-released 1/72 Ju 87B-1 Stuka, AMK's stunning 1/48 F-14D Super Tomcat, Airfix's 1/35 US Military Tractor, exclusive model builds, scale modelling news, reviews and more. Read the full issue in PDF format here or dip into our reformatted online features for KeyModelWorld at your leisure.
TONKA DETAILS
Modern aircraft are often covered in a bewildering array of stencils, warnings and labels, and these items are either omitted from kits for simplicity or replicated poorly, so Eduard’s bespoke decal set, for those with Tornados GR.4s from Revell, Italeri or Hobby Boss, will be a boon.
IRAQ/SYRIA COUNTER-INSURGENCY OPS
Here’s another massive collection of markings from Air-Graphics, with the theme being aircraft involved in counter-insurgency operations against ISIS/ISIL between 2014 and 2020.
TESTBED CHECKERS
Modellers wanting different schemes for their Canadair Sabre Mk.5s will find Vingtor’s splendid Boeing Chase Planes sheet ideal, providing two liveries worn by Boeing’s test fleet.
INITIAL RESCUERS
Paulus Victor is a new decal firm to AMW, but its well-researched and highly detailed products, such as this superb set dedicated to US Army first responders at the Pentagon on September 11, 2001, are sure to be popular with modellers.
GOING ON A SUMMER...
Decales Global offers up yet another unusual airliner scheme, this time in the form of the short-lived (1994-96) Turkish charter company Holiday Air, with its smiling four-tone ‘sun’ logo on the tail.
TRIPARTITE ALLY
This is the first in a series of decal sets covering Axis forces from World War Two, and concentrates on Bulgarian wheeled and tracked armour.
ARMOURED ROCKETRY
ToRo’s collection of Polish rocket-launching machinery continues with this third offering, which includes both surface-to-air and surface-to-ground systems.
COLOURFUL SUPER SLEDS
The second batch of F-100D schemes from Euro Decals provides four more colourful liveries as worn by US Air Force aircraft during the late 1950s.
CAPTURED MATERIEL
Perfect alternatives for the schemes supplied in Tamiya, Bandai or Hobby Boss kits, Star Decals’ 1/48 Finnish T-34s depicts vehicles captured from Soviet forces or purchased from Germany and operated by the Scandinavian country.