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Automodellismo is the only UK show specializing in model cars, and 2012 sees the second day-event held at Hanslope Village Hall, north of Milton Keynes, Bucks. Automodellismo 2012 is run by SMN Model-Meister Mat Irvine, and Auto-Ace Paul Fitzmaurice of little-cars. Mark your diary now, as the show runs for just one day only, Sunday April 15, 2012.
Tools for modelmakers
Mat and Paul will be at the show with various displays, and a galaxy of modelmaking tools and accessories, plus heaps of kits for sale.
Club displays
Who’s showing stuff at Automodellismo 2012? There’ll be displays from the Milton Keynes Scale Model Club and the Watford Scale Model Club. The UK Car and Motorcycle SIG (Special Interest Group) will be showing too, as will the websites ‘Britmodeller’ and ‘Locate and Cement’. The intriguing ‘Beyond the Box’ SIG will be there too, featuring Wallace and Gromit models.
Winning models
Last year’s winning model duo, Ian and Rod Knott, will be there with their amazing Model Car Garage. You’ll be able to buy model cars from Vince Brown, from Models for Sale, and also from the huge collection of rare and desirable stuff from co-organiser Mat Irvine.
Scale Car Modelling book
Mat will also display his hefty hardcopy model car book Scale Car Modelling. Many models built especially for the book will be on Automodellismo 2012 display.
Mega-Mustang on show
As well as little cars, there’ll be some big cars to make you drool. Parked up around the hall should be plenty of tasty sets of wheels including a racing Morgan, classic convertible BMW, Lotus Elan S2, and if you missed it last time around, the 2009 Roushcharged Mustang, which is one big tasty motor - IWOOT.
Due soon from OttOmobile of France is a 1:18 scale model of a “complete animal” of a mid-engined British race car, the MG Metro 6R4 from the 1980s.
What’s in the OttOmobile model?
OttO has modelled the all-racer nature of the 6R4 very well indeed. Race markings are the most obvious external giveaway and these all seem to be present and correct. Inside, the most obvious difference between the MG road car and the racer was that the engine was taken from between the front wheels to a midships position, behind the crew - and grew to a massive race-winning 3-litre V-6 lump. And OttO has produced a very good looking engine, so that’s all right then.
Metro 6R4 on the track
For a taste of 6R4 driving, have a look at this test drive video from the specialist Autocar motoring magazine. It’s a shortish clip, but includes lots of speed and power, background and tech-talk. Yum! Bright and bold, the OttO 6R4 will look terrific on the display shelf, so if you like the car, pre-orders are open for the limited 2000-item run now.
Other May models from OttO
Along with the Metro 6R4, OttOmobile are releasing a pair of eurocars - the unusual Renault Avantime, and a Volkswagen Golf MkII. The Avantime was a designer exercise in weirdness, a semi-luxury four-seater the size of a largish MPV. Rubbish to drive, mind: I tried one to see what it was like, and felt a bit like a sea captain in charge of a land yacht.
The Avantime was big, unwieldy, and rolled like a pig in corners if you tried taking them at anything more than a leisurely afternoon stroll. However, let’s not be too down on the Avantime - it may have been odd and eccentric, but at least Renault tried something different!
Limited edition
As for the model, it’s up to OttO’s usual standard, though we reckon that something like this needs a few working parts to add interest. We’d love to see opening doors, windows, and more to give the Avantime a lift. However, for Avantime connoisseurs out there, it’s a must-have model. And for this limited audience, OttO’s production run of just 1250 models is probably about right.
Volkswagen Mk II Rallye
We’d say similar things of the Volkswagen Golf Mk II Rallye - this writer owned a sprightly Mk I GTi for a while, and the Mk II that replaced it was like dreary November, after the Springtime get-up-and-go of the original. Still, OttO has produced a decent enough model of the Mk II, so if you’re into this breed of VW, get on down to OttOmobile and bag yourself one. The Golf Rallye is limited to 2000 items so order soon.
Competition
A reminder that OttOmobile runs a monthly competition. Enter by March 31, and you stand to win a BMW E39 M5, or a Citroen 2CV 4x4 Sahara - in fact, the 2CV’s main run has sold out, so the comp is your best choice if you want one!
Here's the MG Metro, a small city car that sold well in its home UK market for a decade or so. This was the sporty version of the original Austin vehicle, but of course the super-power 6R4 took little more than the basics from the plain-vanilla cars you might have seen nipping about British towns and villages of the time.
Netherlands-based LVM Studios has a treat in store for real-space fans in April, with an interior super-detail package, designed to fit the 1:24 scale Revell Gemini space capsule kit, itself a recent ‘Classics’ re-release.
About LVM
LVM Studios - the initials are from guiding light Leon van Munster’s name - is a small company based in The Netherlands, whose aim is to design, manufacture and sell model kits and detail-up kits for mainly factual-space subjects such as the Space Shuttle, Gemini, and Soyuz. Sounds like an interesting plan for LVM and we’ll follow progress with interest.
Stats from LVM:
*1:24 scale to match the Revell Gemini space capsule kit
*Highly detailed ejection seats to go with the kit’s astronauts
*Detailed instrument panels, including overhead and circuit breaker panels
*Lots of detail, including rivets and switches
*Detail parts for the hatches
*Frames for the windows, including clear plastic components for the panes
*Price €23.11 Euro (plus VAT for EU residents)
*Product code: GEMI24
*Release date: April 12, 2012
About the 1:24 scale Revell kit
It’s a real golden-oldie that features the second US manned spacecraft design, following on from the single-seat Mercury, and presaging the three-man Apollo capsule built for the lunar landing missions. As kits go, the 254 mm (10 in) long model is surprisingly good for its years - the original release was back in 1968 - and has capsule detail that includes the characteristic corrugations in the spacecraft hull.
Old astronauts, new decals
Probably the weakest point concerns the astronaut figures (below), which lack definition, and could do with separate poseable components for head, torso and limbs. A bit of a shame Revell couldn’t have given them an update, especially as at this scale they are a fair size, even in seated position.
A good plan would be to keep the legacy figures for those who want to build the kit as it was originally released, but then also include a newly-sculpted set for those who wish to feature decent astronauts for display. Better crew members would definitely improve a future Gemini re-release, but we’re pleased to see that Revell has provided a new decal sheet with many small markings now included.
Hobby Master of Hong Kong makes a wide and expanding range of diecast models, of both aviation and military armour subjects. The aircraft in particular hit a sweet spot, with sizes that range in scale from 1:200 airliners to 1:32 combat types.
Huge range of models - and collectors
Latest aircraft on 2012 sale include a Duxford ‘Flying Legends’ Spitfire Mk. XIV, ‘City of Jacksonville’ F-106 Delta Dart, and a MiG-17 in Cuban Air Force markings. So there’s variety for you, a miscellany reflected in the widespread nature of the buyers, collectors living in dozens of countries. Hobby Master runs an interesting fans page, with profiles of enthusiasts and their collections - and if you get accepted onto the site, hey, you get a free HM model.
Introducing HM collectors
We’ve taken just three enthusiasts at random to give you a fix on the HM Brigade - but there are many more on the HM site, and it’s well worth going over to have a look.
Australia: Chris Hansen
Occupation: Security officer, part-time soldier
Collection: Approximately 300
Favourite HM models: F-111, F-4 Phantom II, A-4 Skyhawk, Bell Huey Iroquois
Reason for collecting: “I’m ex-regular Army, flew in army and air force aircraft, and developed an interest in military aviation."
Most anticipated models: Corsair II, F-5 Tiger
USA: Drew Gambill
Collection: About 35 HM planes on display, 25 boxed. Whole collection is over 400 planes.
Reason for collecting: “My father was in the US Air Force during Vietnam, so especially interested in Hobby Master's South East Asia (SEA) camouflage jets like the F-4, F-100D, F-105 and F-111. Drew recalls building a kit of an F-4E that was very similar to the Arkansas Traveler from Hobby Master. Another interest is the Pacific Theatre of Operations (PTO) and HM’s fine Helldivers, Hellcats and SBDs are welcome additions to some of the Corsairs and Wildcats already in the collection.”
Most anticipated models: The new B-26 Invader and hope Hobby Master makes a P-61 Black Widow in 1:72 someday, too.
Reason for collecting: “I started to collect metal models when I was around 16. By that time I was in love with the Spitfire, that to me was the most beautiful aircraft ever. My collection began with a Spitfire and a Bf 109, and today I have more than 278 aircraft of all scales. HM´s appearance on the market was a nice surprise to me; the diversity of models and nationalities has no equal in other trademarks, not to mention the models’ quality.”
Most anticipated model: Polikarpov I-16 Mosca
SMN note:
The I-16 was a revolutionary type when introduced in 1934, having a cantilever wing design, coupled with retractable landing gear. In service it had many nicknames, including Ishak (Donkey) by Soviet flyers, Rata (Rat) by Spanish Nationalists, Mosca (Fly) by Spanish Republicans, and Slipiorava (Flying Squirrel) by the Finnish Air Force. Take your pick!
After posting news on LEGO’s upcoming R2D2 last week, we were sent a link to LEGO in space, for real this time. Astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) recently assembled a one-off model as part of an education linkup between the space agency NASA and the Danish LEGO company.
Japanese space builder
Building a Lego model in the weightless conditions of the ISS wasn’t exactly child’s play, as untended bricks would float around, free to clog up vital vents and hatches. Also, plastics can be a fire-risk, especially if they drift close to warm machinery. So, the solution adopted by Japanese astronaut Satoshi Furukawa was to build the biggish - 600 mm (24 in) - Lego ISS using a scientific glovebox. Inside the transparent walls of the box went the Lego bricks, while Furukawa built his model using special manipulator gloves, a bit like the Marigolds used for kitchen sink washing-up duties.
Floating away
Furukawa managed to complete the Lego build in only two hours or so - a far cry from the dozen years the real thing took to assemble. Mind you, the ISS is nearly 110 m (360 ft) long and took the combined efforts of a dozen countries to put together! When the model was built, Furukawa took it out of the glovebox and used it in a series of educational videos, beamed down to school classrooms back on Earth.
Fragile model
The finished model floated about nicely in the micro-gravity environment of the ISS, but was a fragile thing that would have not have survived a return to Earth, where it would most likely have collapsed under the gravity pull here. After the show was over, Furukawa took the ISS model apart, and stored the pieces safely away.
More models
The ISS was just one of a number that Furukawa built in orbit. He also built Lego models of Moon and Mars rovers, the Hubble Space telescope, and a GPS satellite. Lego has a strong presence with its Space range, and it’s worth having a look, especially if you know some younger space enthusiasts.
Summation
The mini-ISS was a one-off model, designed for the NASA-Lego linkup, and it’s a pity that Lego don’t do an Earth-gravity version. The best bet if you want a decent model of the ISS comes from Revell, which makes a 1:144 scale version, shown below.
Oops, this Vampire Van has been in the ‘passed us by’ department for a while. It’s a fun kit that was released a couple of months ago by Round 2 under the MPC name, and is now generally available. The Vampire Van is well worth a look, not least because it paves the way for the upcoming vampire movie Dark Shadows, starring the excellent Johnny Depp and bodacious Michelle Pfeiffer.
Creepy Classic kit
The kit is for anyone with a thing for the undead or for retro-style subject matter, and is themed on the Dark Shadows TV series that ran from 1965-71, then again in re-imagined format in 1991. The MPC kit we’re looking at here is a 1:25 scale MPC Creepy Classic, featuring a Vampire Van that might have been used by the series protagonist, Barnabas Collins.
Excellent details
The model is basically a hot rod-style hearse that’s been customized with heaps of suitably vampirish details. It’s got curtained windows, old-style carriage lamps, an ornate roof rack, and positively drips with chrome details. The main feature though is the U-Haul trailer, revealed as a plush-lined coffin when you take off the wood-effect lid. And what do you see inside? Barnabas the Vampire having a snooze, of course! All in all, quite a cute kit, and one that will look even better with careful painting, especially to the vampire figure.
Brief stats:
*Scale: 1:25
*Skill Level: 3 suitable for 12 years and up
*Cement and paint required
*Components supplied in white, clear, and chrome, with vinyl/rubber slicks
*Includes 1:25 scale Barnabas figure, lying in the coffin trailer
*Oversize rear drag slicks with pad-printed lettering
*Original box art packaging
Simply produced, but comprehensive assembly instructions.
Summation
An interesting star-car kit to a standard scale. Well worth having if you’re into retro TV or fantasy.
There’s more
The Dark Shadows remake is coming to the cinema this summer, and the good news is that it looks like being an entertaining way to pass a couple of hours. I’m a huge fan of both Johnny Depp and Michelle Pfeiffer, and also the movie’s fantasy-meister director, Tim Burton, who always manages an original take on his subject matter. There is no sign of the Vampire Van in the trailer (below), though the human family does run a Chevy! Looks like a laugh-and-a-half. Enjoy.
Note from Mat irvine, aka ‘The Knowledge’
We should point out that this Barnabus Vampire Van actually has nothing to do with 'Dark Shadows’, the original TV series, or - as far as we are aware - the up-and-coming movie. It just 'borrows' the name.
When MPC first issued this kit in 1969, it had a license for the then-current Dark Shadows TV series, and also made kits of the Werewolf and Vampire figures, much along the lines of the old Aurora monster figure kits. The Vampire Van was added under the same name - maybe MPC thought it was like the George Barris-built Munster Koach from 'The Munsters', which certainly did exist, and was used on-screen. However, the Vampire Van was a product of the MPC designers' imagination, created using some tooling from MPC’s 1932 Chevy kit, the modelling world's first - and to date, only - ’9-in-1’ kit. This though, was much to the annoyance of purists, as the panel van section was re-tooled, consequently losing the ability to reissue the Chevy in stock form.
The MPC Vampire Van kit was first issued in 1969, and reissued under the AMT name in 2002, with different box-art. This current issue returns to the original box design.
