SHIZUOKA 2012 - HOT STUFF FROM TAMIYA

SMN update:

Shizuoka 2012 sees the Japanese model companies at their best, showing off a fantastic range of new and retooled products to delight us all. And leading the charge is Tamiya, with a galaxy of mouthwatering models.

Speed and power

First off, the latest lightweight affordable 1:24 scale sportsters from Toyota and Subaru, respectively the GT 86 (top pic) and BRZ (above). They’re the same car, apart from badges, trim and the odd minor tweak, and road testers the world over reckon they’re the dog’s bits to drive. 

Transparent body

Also on release is the Toyota LF-A, a far more sophisticated vehicle, though I’ll take a BRZ from choice. Tamiya’s Shizuoka take on the LF-A is a very tasty see-through model, with transparent bodyshell. Nice... and offers the opportunity to do a 50:50 see-through/paint job if you wish.

Big cruiser

The Japanese World War II heavy cruiser Chikuma is a 1:350 scale biggie, 576 mm (22.7 in) long, and comes with its own seaplane squadron on the rear deck. The six catapult-launched biplanes make this ship very different from other cruiser models, and with careful painting, a showpiece conversation-stopper will be the result. Gorgeous stuff, Tamiya.

Chopper kits

Helicopter fans will be well pleased with the 1:48 scale Bell AH-1 Cobra gunship. It’s equipped with Hellfire missiles, ventral gun, and a fully-detailed cockpit interior. 

Banana machine

Another helo on show is a delightful Vertol H-21 Workhorse. Always one of my faves, if only for its wango-tango ‘flying banana’ looks, the H-21 here is to 1:72 scale and comes in Japanese Self-Defense Force markings.

Russia’s finest

Here’s the new Ilyushin Il-2 Shturmovik in the flesh - well, plastic. It looks fantastic, and the figures are truly excellent, especially the back-seat gunner. Actually, there was no rear seat in this aircraft - instead, the gunner was supported by a canvas sling arrangement.

British tank

Armour fans haven’t been left out, for here’s the 1:48 scale British Matilda tank, proved for its sterling World War II duty in North Africa, fighting the forces commanded by the ‘Desert Fox’, Erwin Rommel. Although significantly smaller than the standard 1:35 scale, 1:48 is a good one for AFV kits, as it links with the uber-popular aircraft scale. In fact, the engineers at Tamiya seem to be on the road to making it their own, with many military releases to this scale. Excellent.

Visit the Shizuoka Hobby Show 2012 here.

Tamiya kits on show here.

'DESERT QUEEN’ MATILDA TANK FROM TAMIYA

AFV model builders will be pleased with the effort that Tamiya has put in to this 1:35 scale British Matilda tank. In its World War II fighting days, the Matilda became known as the ‘Queen of the Desert’ for action in North Africa, though it was in service throughout the war. In all, 2987 Matildas were built, but the tank did have some weaknesses, including a complex suspension system that demanded heavy maintenance, as did the two diesel engines.

Tamiya’s model captures the look of the 25-tonne machine well, and is beautifully detailed, scaling out to a length of 174 mm (6.8 in). There are three nicely sculpted crewmen, a commander, loader and driver; the first two are figures, the driver is just a head and torso, poor chap. A useful little extra in the box is a pair of photo-leaflets featuring more than two dozen close-up shots of the real thing - a nice touch for us super-detail freaks.

The surface finish of the tank deserves a mention - the dimpled armour-plate has been captured very well indeed, and you can feel the texture when you run your fingertips across it. Well done, Tamiya.

The Tamiya 1:35 scale Matilda tank is available now from stores and online suppliers, including Amazon here.

Pictures courtesy Tamiya.