JAPANESE TOBU 2012 MODEL CONTEST

REPORT: DAVID JEFFERIS

The Tobu Department Store is located at the Ikebukuro Station, Tokyo, and is one of the Japanese capital’s largest such stores - and is also venue for the Tamiya Tobu 2012 model contest. Importantly for Tamiya, 2012 is also the 50th anniversary of its first military model, so in the company’s words, “... epic tour de force gathered more than usual.” Well, that’s the Google translation, anyway!

Diorama settings

The models look truly excellent, and the mini-diorama settings really do add to their appearance. As you can see from the pix we show here, there’s been a wide variety of subjects - perhaps our favourite is the Beatles Abbey Road piece (above), mainly for the imaginative vinyl disc mounting arrangement, not to mention the lifelike figures and scooter-mounted music fan.

Vertical format display

The Bristol Beaufighter (above) looks good too, and again we like it especially for the diorama, this time in a curving vertical format, which is particularly neatly done. Note though, it’s not the only one of this kind - the Africa Corps 'Tripoli Sky' has a similar flavour - so perhaps verticals are this year’s thing with Japanese model-makers. No matter - both are terrific models.

'Transformer Problem' (above) and tank preparation (below).

More entries in this contest to look at here.

Tamiya kits here, plus the beautifully produced current catalogue.

 'Testing the Water' (above) with wall-mounted Space Shuttle Atlantis (below).

  

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.

ROUND 2 TAKES OVER AMT, POLAR LIGHTS, MPC - BEATLES, STAR TREK KITS IN 2012

SMN report:

The Round 2 model company recently acquired all rights to the leading model kit brands AMT, MPC and Polar Lights from Tomy, the Japanese toy, merchandise and entertainment name.

Buying brands

Round 2 has acquired the brands from Tomy after manufacturing branded model kits under license since 2008. “We’ve had a great relationship with Tomy International for a long time and it has been a pleasure working with them as a licensee and now as a buyer,” said Thomas Lowe, President of Round 2. 

Iconic brands
Lowe added: “These are some of the industry’s most iconic brands and our acquisition represents a significant strategic fit with our initiatives and where we believe the industry is headed, in the near and long term.”

History of kit building

AMT, MPC and Polar Lights have histories that go way back. AMT (Aluminum Model Toys) was founded in 1948 as a promotional toy company. MPC (Model Products Corporation) dates from 1963, focussing on creating automotive kits. The youngster of the trio is Polar Lights, founded in 1996. It has found an excellent niche in genre kits, such as figures, horror, and pop culture. 

Retro kits

It’s a brilliant buy for Round 2, as some of the tooling and materials date back to the 1950s. And of course, this allows fresh opportunities to recreate classic kits in original-style packaging - which means a retro-look, with hugely desirable nostalgia built in for a new generation of model fans. 

A builder from the beginning
Thomas Lowe has an enthusiast’s attitude to the buy: “I grew up building models. Not in my wildest dreams would I have ever imagined I’d someday own the brands I was building as a kid.” The SMN take on all this? Excellento!

Sergeant Pepper Beatles figures

There are some terrific kits coming up, such as the Polar Lights Sergeant Pepper Beatles figures. Due March 2012, these are pre-painted and offer Beatles fans the chance to have classic kits of the Liverpool rock group, as the members starred in the 1968 animated movie Yellow Submarine. You’ll be able to finish the figures as they appeared - as Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band members, or in their cartoon Beatles look. The figures are to 1:8 scale, and will come in handsome collector packaging.

MPC Yellow Submarine kit

The Yellow Submarine itself will be released under the MPC label, and it’s due out very soon, in January 2012. The model is moulded in yellow, but requires normal assembly and paint finishing. There’s also a decal sheet, and it will be docked in an extremely nice hippie-style collector’s tin box. Measuring some 230 mm (9 in) long, the Yellow Submarine will include an extra feature - ‘wind-up action’. Nice! A real bathtub navy item then, complete with a spinning prop that will send the sub surging through the suds, though you’ll have to waterproof the paintwork!   

Star Trek adversaries

From AMT comes another March 2012 release, a Star Trek Adversary set (top pic). These are mini-models, with a Klingon Bird of Prey measuring just 83 mm (3.25 in) long, while the slightly larger Ferengi Marauder is 95 mm (3.75 in) long. Oddly enough, and especially for small craft in a duo kit, stands are not included. Still, if you’re a Trek fan, this will be a chance to add another pair of starships to your display fleet.

More Round 2 incoming
Watch out for Mat Irvine’s in-depth look at Round 2’s latest kits and 2012 announcements, online soon.

Visit Round 2 here.

Nifty AMT stuff here.

REVELL LONDON BUS KIT MAKING PROGRESS

David Jefferis reports:

Looks like the Revell 1:24 scale London Bus is making good progress. These newly released pix should make any public transport model maker raring to go. It looks good, especially the engine detail under that lift-up cover, plus those seats, and lots of ’em.

Details, details

At the business end, there’s neat detailing to the diesel engine pipework, while the trademark steering wheel looks to be at the correct nearly-flat angle. Upstairs, vertical handrails are included as are the built-in grabrails on every seat back. The step-on step-off open platform at the back is there, complete with waste bin for ticket stubs, and the under-stair hole for storing prams and other paraphernalia.

Ready and waiting

The rear view shows a few problems remaining with fit on the roof, but doubtless these will be sorted before the model is cleared for production. All in all, it looks like a good one, and we can’t wait.

More on the subject here and here.

Have a look at Sun Star’s handsome 1:24 RT double-decker here.