METAL SKELETON - BEAUTIFUL BARE-BONES DESKTOP P-51D MUSTANG TO 1:32 SCALE

Following the excellent Desktop Zero model, Tokyo-based imcth is offering a 1:32 scale kit that assembles to make an ultra-detailed structural model of the World War II-vintage North American P-51D Mustang.

Much of the imcth Desktop Mustang is fabricated of metal components, with cast metal and photo-etch parts, plus transparencies, rubber tyres, and much more.

No fuss build
For all that, actual assembly is claimed to be easy, with a minimum of tools necessary. So that’s all right then, as a no-fuss construction system suits this time-short writer very well.

Metal look
As the Desktop Mustang is a see-inside structural model, the bare-metal appearance is excellent as it is, with little or no painting necessary - unless you want to pick out details such as the prop blades or canopy surround, even paint the components in factory-finish anti-corrosion green. In our opinion though, this P-51D really looks best in as-supplied gleaming metal, preferably with a small desk lamp picking out the highlights.

Collaboration
Produced and marketed by imcth, the metal parts are manufactured by Model Factory Hiro, a company with an excellent reputation for accuracy.

About imcth
Imcth is a new kid on the block, dating only from April 2008, and with gratifying aims that ought to make us model fans very pleased indeed.

Try this: “We provide real models made with truly innovative creativity.

“We lead our customers to a new discovery - to their ‘Aha!’ moment.

“Our goal is to create real models which will cause our customers to unconsciously say: ‘Aha! That’s how you do it! Thank you!’

“Hearing these words is our motivation and the meaning for our existence.”

All of which is rather zen, deeply cool, and voices an outlook that bodes well for the future of imcth and its models, so best wishes from Scale Model News.

More on the Desktop Mustang here. Pre-orders have started, deliveries expected in May.

Model Factory Hiro homesite here.

Model Factory Hiro Ferrari here.

WILL XMAS BRING A NEW TYPE OF KIT? MODEL FACTORY HIRO RELEASES 1:20 SCALE 'MULTI-MEDIA HYBRID' FERRARI 312T4

SMN REPORT
Automotive model fans prepare to open your wallets for this 1:20 scale 1979 Ferrari 312T4. Produced by the excellent Japanese Model Factory Hiro, and due in December, the kit is proclaimed as ‘a hybrid injection’ kit. MFH reckons this is a new term to cover the massively multimedia nature of the production, containing components produced in white metal, photo-etch, spun-aluminium, and plastic injection. Sounds great to us, and as the pictures show, the results ought to be spectacular in the hands of a reasonably skilled model maker.

What’s in the box?
* The kit will have parts for 1979’s Belgian Grand Prix, when Scheckter clinched the championship, plus alternative parts to show the car as it raced in the Spanish, German and Austrian GPs.
* The body cowling and other outer parts are plastic, the main inner parts of white metal.

* Monocoque parts are die-cast aluminium - MFH says. “Just brush it and you can have the feel of real metal.”
* Intakes, exhaust end and wheels centres are made of aluminium alloy. Wheel rim and safety bolt are white metal, to be attached to the wheel.

* Metal mesh, for intakes, muffler spring, cords, pipes, seat belts are included.
* Cowl and side pontoons are removable, so that internal parts such as the Ferrari V12 engine can be seen. A neat touch - the body is attached by magnets for easy removal.
* Transparent blue-tinted windshield, provided in vacuum-formed plastic

About the Ferrari 312T4

The car dates back to 1979, when Ferrari introduced it to compete with the successful Lotus 79, making the 312T4 the first Ferrari ground-effect design. With a V-12 for power, the 312T4 first competed at the 1079 South African Grand Prix, where it was a huge success, scoring a 1-2 win with Gilles Villeneuve taking the podium, Jody Scheckter coming in second on his home turf.

Big win
That result was quite an achievement for the 312T4, and the first Formula One 1-2 debut since the legendary Mercedes-Benz W196 of 1954. The 1979 season ended in barnstorming style, with the Italians taking the Constructor Championship, and Jody Scheckter winning the Driver Championship, a double-top not repeated for another 21 years, in 2000.

Driver absent
Note that MFH has not included a driver figure, so you’ll have to go elsewhere for a miniature Jody Scheckter. We can find the Top Model one, though it’s moulded to the slightly larger 1:18 scale. Maybe buy that and fit Jody with platform heels...

Summation
Pictures here are provided courtesy Model Factory Hiro and are of test-shot assemblies, so minor changes and improvements can be expected. However, from the obvious quality seen here, the car looks like a must-have. As for price, the UK retail £137.95 GBP ($220 USD) seems fair value, bearing in mind the sheer quality and close attention to detail.

The Model Factory Hiro Ferrari 312T4 will be available from selected outlets, including the UK-based Hiroboy, not so far from SMN Towers.

We found a 1:18 scale Jody Scheckter figure on eBay here.

Other Ferrari car kits here.

Visit the Model Factory Hiro site here.