INCOMING: POCHER KITS RETURN WITH THE LAMBORGHINI AVENTADOR TO 1:8 SCALE

DAVID JEFFERIS REPORTS:
The tie-up between Hornby and the classic Pocher car kit brand has finally turned to modelmaking gold with the upcoming 1:8 scale kit of Italy’s finest - the Lamborghina Aventador LP700-4.

As you might expect from Pocher’s previous kits, the body of this hefty 7kg (15.4lb) 1:8 scale model is made of high quality diecast metal and comes ready painted. The Aventador has more than 600 components, made of materials that include metal, plastic, rubber and various textiles.

Functional parts
Steering, suspension and spoiler mechanisms are functional as are the swing-up doors. Despite that, the car is claimed to be easy to build, and can be assembled in either left- and right-hand drive versions. Despite the large scale, the low-slung Lambo is hardly a massive shelf-filler, as it barely tops 142mm (5.6in) high. Still, size isn’t everything, though looks are, and this one has it in spades.

About Pocher
Arnaldo Pocher was born in 1911 in Trento, Italy. He trained as a goldsmith engraver and went to work in Turin. After World War II, he formed Pocher Micromeccanica, and later Corrado Muratore and Arnaldo Pocher, all producing various items of equipment for model rail buyers.

Fantastic Fiat
In 1966, Pocher revealed the kit that made its name: a 1:8 scale Fiat F2, race-winning car of the 1907 French Grand Prix. The model had a galaxy of components - 144 in plastic, 173 brass, 506 more in steel, copper, leather, rubber and aluminium. The Fiat set the scene for many more Pocher kits, including classics from Alfa Romeo, Mercedes-Benz and Rolls-Royce (below), all based on official manufacturers’ plans and specifications. For the auto model world, Pocher kits represented - and still do - the peak of achievement.

Rivarossi bows in
Things changed with the 1970s sale of the Pocher company to another famed Italian model company, Rivarossi, itself a brand now owned by Hornby. Arnaldo Pocher, meantime, left the company; he died in 1989.

New owner Hornby
Pocher was bought by Hornby in 2004, after its then-owner, the Italian Lima group, had gone bankrupt. The next stages have taken awhile, but at last things are moving forward on the Hornby-Pocher front, with an announcement in December 2012 of a Pocher relaunch, under the promo label, ‘Resurgence of a Myth.’

Presentation
The Nuremburg Toy Fair in January 2013 saw the official presentation, where two lovelies (below) showed off what we hope will be the first of many new Pocher kits to come: the 1:8 scale Lamborghini Aventador.

Movie linkage
In line with Hornby’s media tie-in policy, the Aventador was also trailed as, ‘…coming directly from the set of the new Batman movie.’ They’re talking about ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ and here’s a nifty promo video from Lambo linking the car with the movie soundtrack - speakers to LOUD, people!

The real thing
The video shows the car off as German-owned Lamborghini would like you to see it, blasting along a deserted highway, with moody music as a backdrop. Real life may provide traffic and jams as extras, but I’d have one anytime for Sunday morning fun runs!

Performance specs
It’s not all show either - the Aventador LP 700-4 has a 700hp 12-cylinder engine, delivering a tyre-shredding 0-100km/h time of 2.9 seconds. According to Lambo, the shifter snaps through the gears quicker than you can blink. The Aventador has been timed at 249km/h (217mph) - not bad for a supercar measuring just 1140mm (3.7ft) high!

Visit Pocher’s website here.

If you can’t wait for (or afford) the Pocher kit, but find the Aventador extremely tasty, have a look at gazillions of other models at Amazon here.

BIG COMIC BOOK FIGURES COME TO TOWN

LONDON TOY FAIR REPORT: MAT IRVINE
Amerang is one of the main UK importers for a wide range of companies that make ‘Comic Book Collectibles’, figures of famous fantasy faces, ranging from Batman to Iron Man and many more.



First of these is Sideshow, a US-based company that specialises in producing exacting ready-built scale models of the most iconic science-fiction heroes and villains.

A full-size Tony Stark, aka Iron Man, greeted visitors to the Amerang stand.

Scale clothing
Kotobukiya’s Batman vs. Joker (above right) with (left) Sideshow ‘caricature characters.’ The legs of the Enterbay Joker are visible behind. Kotobukiya is a Japanese company, while Enterbay is a relatively recently established Hong Kong outfit that began operations in 2005, and also produces figures, with many of these having ‘real fabric’ scale clothing.

Two action-pose Luke Skywalkers from Sideshow. Note the robotic opponents at left.

Sideshow Scarlet Witch from the Avengers, and (below) the Incredible Hulk to 1:6 scale.

In comes the Dragon
Dragon, the Hong Kong company whose kits of armour, ships, and spacecraft often feature in SMN, also makes fully-finished movie comic-book characters, including the Avengers. Dragon also has them in kit form, though telling which version is which, even when referring carefully to brochure and photos, is not straightforward.

Something for the fan
Most of these figures are large scale, some very large, and although none are exactly cheap, if you’re a super-keen fan who wants something really distinctive to decorate the mantelpiece, well…

Terrific Tumbler
From a personal point of view I have to say the most impressive of these collectibles was not a figure - it was the Batman 1:6 scale Tumbler, measuring almost 800 mm (30 in) long. Actually, the black finished one on display was labelled ‘discontinued’, and it appears that a new version in camouflage finish will be issued in 2013.

The Dragon Bane figure (below, foreground) is unfortunately to 1:9 scale, so the juxtaposition next to the bigger-scale Tumbler is a bit odd!

Size issue
At two and half feet long however, maybe either version of the 1:6 scale Tumbler is a little large for the average mantelpiece!

SMN Note: Nice chunky detail here, on one of our favourite fantasy vehicles.

BATMAN AUTOMOBILIA UPDATE - MODEL PIX AND FREE iPAD APP

We've got ourselves a copy of the 2013 edition of the Batman Automobilia partwork, and reckon it looks every bit as good as the first version, last published in March 2011. Computer tech has changed a bit since then, so there's now a free App for your iPad that's available to download from the Apple iTunes Store.

We'll let the pix do the talking, but suffice to say that it's a good package, especially if you decide to subscribe. There are a bunch of freebies that include such tasty items as a Batwing model, a 'Batman Returns' armoured Batmobile, a binder, plus that absolute necessity for Batfans, a free numberplate, labelled with  'BAT-1 GOTHAM CITY.'

The free App (below) isn't so dusty either, with flick-thru pages that include a timeline, slideshows and a mini-movie showing the TV ad from publisher Eaglemoss. To get the App for your iPad visit the Apple App Store here.

But of course the meat of the matter is in the 1:43 scale Batmobile model, and it's a pleasure to report that it's an excellent rendering of the original, produced in diecast metal with plastic details. Small screws hold the model to the base, so you can remove it easily if needed. The oil drums are heat-fixed in place, but could be removed in a moment.

The 1:43 scale means that this and following models in the series will sit nicely with other diecast models, so if you'd like to see a Batmobile crushing a Ford Anglia, or hard at work in a shootout with a same-scale Lambo, you're free to make it happen.

BATMAN RETURNS - 1:43 SCALE BATMOBILE PARTWORK REISSUE ON SALE IN UK

Batman lovers - did you miss out on the first-pass of this excellent ready-built series, featuring Batmobiles old and new? If so, then head straight down to your local newsagent, where Number 1 in on sale as a slightly modified series reissue.

Second time around
We reviewed this excellent piece of Batmania first time around when it was issued in March 2011. At first glance the new one looks exactly the same, which is good news as the miniatures were really well done. The first issue features a Batmobile, excellent Batman figure and two oil drums, all sitting neatly on a diorama base, under a clear, stackable plastic dome.

Shape-changer dome
Last time round the dome was a nifty oval shape, here in 2013 it's had a sidegrade to a more conventional rectangular format. Launch price is the same, at £2.99 GBP, though that will doubtless go up after the first few cars have hit the stores. The included 'Batmobile Automobilia' magazine is also included, with a redesigned cover.

Summation
Good stuff all round, yet there is still plenty of opportunity to add some superdetailing and weathering, if you want the model to really come to life. It's nice to see the fortnightly Batmobile Automobilia back in town.

Read the SMN first take on this partwork here. 

This is the first time issue of 2011 - we'll add some of the latest rectangular box version soon.

DOWN IN THE UBER-COOL LEGO BAT CAVE...

SMN REPORT

The LEGO name derives from the Danish words leg godt, meaning ‘play well’, which is an apt title, but in the 63 years since manufacturing started, LEGO has far outgrown its ‘kids-only’ beginnings. Here we have an amazing 20,000-brick Bat Cave, built by adult enthusiasts, Wayne Hussey and Carlyle Livingstone.

As Carlyle (left in the pic, Wayne on the right) puts it, “The works of dedicated Lego builders never fail to amaze. I'm a former professional model maker/visual effects artist, turned iPhone app developer. I still like to build stuff and LEGO lets me get out my creativity without the dust and fumes of traditional model making.

“My company is Lifeform Entertainment. We blend the visual power of video games and the play-anywhere, social edge of mobile Apps with all the fun cool stuff you would normally do with miniatures, dice, cards, and yes LEGO.”

Carlyle’s outfit looks very interesting indeed, especially if you’re up for some App development. Have a look here.

Carlyle goes on, “Wayne is the driving force behind BrickCon and I make mobile apps but I used to make models for films and other purposes.” BrickCon is a fascination all by itself, a four-day annual convention for grown-up brick-builders, known as Adult Fans of LEGO (AFoL) or Adult LEGO Hobbyists (ALH). This is 10th year of the convention, which was which was held this year in Seattle, on October 4-7. You can read all about BrickCon here.

As for the Bat Cave LEGO model, it was first displayed at Emerald City ComiCon in March, 2012, going on to display at Jet City Comic Show, then at BrickCon 2012. The stats on the Bat Cave are pretty cool:

* Construction started early January 2012, finished late March.

* Estimated 20,000 bricks used, but probably much more.

* Finished weight 45 kg (100 lb).

* Roof lifts off, the rest splitting into three sections for ease of transport.

* Four LEGO power function motors.

* Presently runs on battery power, but may change.

* All LEGO, except some lighting and two related items.

SMN Summation

Amazing. For more, visit the Lego Bat Cave at Flickr here.

Batman models and memorabilia here.

TAMIYA STEYR 1500A COMMAND CAR WITH... COUNT THEM: 1-2-3-4-5-6-7 SCALE FIGURES

SMN report:

Latest take from Tamiya on the Steyr 1500A military truck is a neatly crafted 1:35 scale model, with a more than full complement of Wehrmacht staff, even a beskirted female aide.

Lightweight body

The 145 mm (5.7 in) long vehicle is well up to Tamiya’s usual high standard, not that the basics are anything new, as the Steyr has been produced in several versions so far, and will doubtless see more in times to come.

Excellent figures

Let’s not apologize for that though, as this Steyr 1500A is well worth having, not least for the four officers, driver and staffer, plus a uniformed female, presumably in the group to provide secretarial support for the officers. The sculpting of these figures is outstanding, and the final result will be a make-or-break depending on how well you manage to paint them. 

DC Comics figures

As an aside, there’s a set of Batman chess pieces on partwork sale in the UK at the moment, and the figure painting is phenomenal for what is a very competitively priced product - for about the same cost as a couple of magazines, you get a figure on which the eyes even have highlights. Those (probably Chinese) assembly workers must use paintbrushes with a single hair! So we have a standard to match or exceed, all you Steyr builders out there.

Workhorse of Third Reich forces

Back to the Steyr 1500A, the original was a prime workhorse (above) across all fronts throughout World War II, and saw service as a staff car, pickup truck, infantry carrier, artillery hauler - you name it, the Austrian Steyr did it. In all, more than 18,000 were built during the war.

Tamiya Steyr 1500A here.

DC Comics Chess Collection from Eaglemoss here.

Steyr 1500A as low-sided wagon from manufacturer's brochure (above) and as artillery truck (below).

Tamiya Steyr 1500A variations include the Command Car (above) with just two figure. The assembled models (below) look quite excellent but we don't know who made them. If you do, please let SMN know and we can credit the modelmakers appropriately.

SPRING FAIR 2012 - TREASURE CHEST FOR COLLECTIBLES

Spring Fair report from David Jefferis:

Another trade show that’s running this week is the UK’s Spring Fair, held at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC), Birmingham. While not quite as massive as the Nuremberg Toy Fair, Spring Fair is still a major footslogger that attracts more than 70,000 visitors. It’s a mega-roundup of 300,000 offered products, ranging from goodies like coffeemakers and cooking gadgets, to art prints and jewellery. And neatly stirred into the mix are halls dedicated to toys and games, aka collectibles, hobbies, and models.

Ready-builts to the front

Companies I had expected to see were there - Hornby, Maisto, Revell, among them - plus distributors like Amerang and A.B. Gee. But the real eye-opener was the quality of the ready-made collectibles on offer. Seriously, if you don’t have time, skill, or interest to build a model from scratch, then you still have the chance - and usually at highly competitive prices - to build a display collection that need be second to none. And if you want to make a collectible ‘yours’ by some judicious weathering, or minor tweaking with the finish or paint scheme, then that’s the route to having a completely unique item for your display shelf.

Neat collectibles

And it’s a winning combination - for there were dozens of collectible ranges on display at Spring Fair, featuring all the favourite suspects. Alien, Batman, Star Wars - you name the movie series, there seemed to be a collectible range for it. And of course, Harry Potter was there, with some beautifully made sculptures of Hogwarts, Harry, and more. Retro was big too, with Beatles stuff newly minted for the collector market - I just luurved the life-sized Blue Meanie (below), its grin just as mad and bad as when it first appeared in the Yellow Submarine movie, back in 1968. 

London Olympics 2012

For sports lovers, the London Olympics 2012 had its own large trade zone, with some surprisingly interesting stuff on display. Corgi had items like Olympic-themed London taxis and Underground trains. But there also were unusual items like steel-sheet stencil kits, featuring mini-models of the Olympic stadium, and a very nifty (if somewhat mysterious) three-wheeled cycle figure. And naturally enough, super-size figures of the one-eyed Olympic mascots Wenlock and Mandeville (below) lurked here and there to trap the unwary.

Summation

Spring Fair made a fascinating trip, with a huge variety of products on offer, as you’ll be able to see from the slide show. A bonus was that after the model side of things, it was possible to check out such intriguing items as a coffee machine disguised as a Friesian cow!

London Olympics 2012 here.

Spring Fair here.

Some fairly weird Beatles stuff here.

There's more

Here's a bunch of shots I took with the trusty iPhone 3GS. They certainly show that there's plenty of variety at Spring Fair 2012.