Hello modellers! This week's modelling news contains some buildings (fenced) from the Ukraine, some more colourful horses, brand new figures from the Alpine region and new tail for Master details? Anyone on the preview list for MiniArt this week would have gotten lots of updates on new kits they are planning. I'll take you through a few I thought were of interest.
The first which caught my eye was the 5132 GERMAN TANK CREW (Normandy 1944) This kit contains 75 parts. The box contains the parts to model five figures, all of which look pretty animated in their poses and would "add value" to any German tank kit that you had planned to make. The figures are at rest, and as is usual from MiniArt, can be mixed and matched or some left out. I really will like to see a 1/35 piano accordion as one player is seen playing!!
The second kit from MiniArt I like this month is 35556 "Shed with Wooden Fence" This is one of their plastic style vac-form kits which once you have the hang of building are pretty nice and definitely cost effective to build. This one has nice detail and contains 235 parts, including the building structure and outside seating with the wooden fence. This could look good with the tank crew above and a panzer parked out the front!
The completed kit...
The last kit of interest this month is the latest in a series of small cars which are seemingly being produced by many companies this month, ICM and Masterbox are having a crack at it - so why not MiniArt??
The 35095 MB TYPE 170V Personenwagen kit looks to be a great addition to any diorama needing a staff or civilian car. This car looks very much a competitor to the cars from other manufacturers, a combination of photo-etched parts, the inclusion of their earlier set of civilians (5 figures) and four different colour schemes make this kit worth the look. Luftwaffe, ambulance, army and the kit 35086 German Civilians Is included in the colour schemes so at last the cries of modellers for a vehicle that ISN'T a Panzer in front of a bunch of troops is heeded - nice work!
Eagle Editions have hit the ground running this month with twelve new making schemes for the hotly anticipated Tamiya P-51D kit that is coming our way. ( And any others in 32nd, 48th and 72nd scales). The Crandall's have released to the public seven of the twelve schemes for this new kit - In all three major scales for aircraft they look like some classic aircraft in amongst some other colourful types not yet released (which is a mean feat with Mustangs as they all seem to have been "done")
EagleCals #139 to #142 decal sheets cover such classics as "thunderbird" from Captain Ted Lines, "Big Beautiful Doll" piloted by Jon Landers and "Ridge Runner II" flown by Pierce McKinnon. I for one can't wait to see the rest of the schemes - keep on checking Eagle Editions website to see more as they come out - but we will bring you the new colours when they arrive.
Master Details from the USA have come continued on their great start at the re-launching of their brand with their WWII Pilot we reviewed last month to produce a new addition to the newer tool Hasegawa kit in the ST27 range. They already have an EXCELLENT cockpit set for the Thunderbolt kit in 1/32, and now they add to this kit this month when they release kit "32028 P-47D Thunderbolt Horizontal Stabilizer and Elevator Assemblies" Look at the blurb on the site and we can see the benefits of this kit
"Hasegawa's new tool 1/32 scale P-47D Thunderbolt kit, while an excellent rendition of the real aircraft, contains one-piece horizontal tail surfaces when assembled. The real aircraft had control surfaces actuated by cables and, unless control locks were in place, the elevators would react to gravity and droop. Now this detail can be easily and quickly reproduced with our new kit. Flawlessly cast in premium polyurethane resin, this kit not only allows the posing of the elevators but also replicates details not found on the Hasegawa kit parts, such as corrected hinges and the small antenna mounting flange commonly found on the leading edge of the stabilizers. Minimum alteration of the kit's fuselage halves is required for mounting these replacement parts. Complete installation instructions are included. For more information or to purchase your kit please go to www.MasterDetails.com"
Well there you have it - I could not explain it any better so I left it to them. Above is the donor Hasegawa tail from the original kit -straight as an arrow. So you can see by having actuators and movable control surfaces what a benefit this kit would be to the modeller.
Last but definitely not least are the June releases for Alpine Miniatures. One of my favourite figure makers in 1/35th and larger sizes, this month they have what is sure to be a big selling kit for them. Two Single - or one combined kit and a larger 1/6 kit with astonishing detail.
The first is a Combination (or as singles separately packaged) amalgamation of new kits 35120 1/35 Michael Wittmann 1944 + 35121 1/35 Balthasar "Bobby" Woll 1944 to make kit 35122 1/35 Tiger Aces in Normandy (2 figs)
These are sculpted by Taesung Harmms, and as you can see by the figures here which are painted by Man-Jin Kim, these figure are excellent! We have for review next week the Soviet AFV Crew to show you, and if these can compete with that kit I will be very impressed.
The fit and the engineering of these kits, combined with the soft resin and the detail and research gone into their development makes me always check back to see what is coming out from Alpine every month.
The other larger scale release from Alpine this month is something for English special forces fans, the 16013 1/16 WW2 British S.A.S. Commando kit comes with a choice of two different heads, one with the red beret and one with an officer's cap. Of interesting note is the choice of weapon with the US Carbine on this soldier which is an uncommon choice and therefore a good addition.
Please do have a good week - be assured that next week we will have an interesting review of a great few decal sheets with the history attached to the aircraft and hopefully the Russian AFV crew from alpine. Of course will keep bringing you the new modelling news to keep your interest (and to keep you going to the hobby shop!)
Have fun with your modelling!
Adam Norenberg