AUTOMODELLISMO 2012 SHOW REPORT

Show update from Mat Irvine:

The second Automodellismo Show - the show that features model cars inside and 1:1 scale classic cars outside - was very successfully held last Sunday, April 15, 2012. This is the second year under its new banner and location, in Hanslope village, Buckinghamshire, UK.

Tasty auto lineup included, left to right: Ford Mustang, Chrysler PT Cruiser, MG-TF, Lotus Elan 2, Bond Bug, Triumph Herald, TVR 350C, Morgan Plus 4. 

HaMeX model shows

Automodellismo is held under the HaMeX banner - Hanslope Model Expos - that now runs three model shows a year. Automodellismo 2 drew a wide range of visitors, and had a fascinating range of full-size display cars for them to drool over. Although this aspect of the show was really a ‘taster’, it immediately caught the attention of passers-by, and confirmed to anyone arriving that: “Yes, you are in the right place!”

The PT Cruiser brought its very own mini-model show in the back.

Auto visitors

A dozen cars graced the car park, though not all at the same time, as some had to go early, others could only arrive late. It was an eclectic mix, ranging from a brand-new Morgan Plus 4 to a 1928 Austin 7. Add to that a Bond Bug three-wheeler (any colour you like, so long as it’s orange), a subtle purple BMW M3 convertible, and a Lotus Elan S2, and let’s not forget - as it was difficult to miss - a tricked out Chrysler PT Cruiser, complete with a wild flame job down the sides. So, if anyone had any doubt that something was happening at Hanslope Hall, well…

General view inside the Hall, which got pretty packed at times.

Miniatures on display

Inside, displays from model clubs in the surrounding area filled the main hall, and this year’s Automodellismo Award was presented to Simon Taylor, for his exacting build of a 1:12 scale  Tamiya Formula 1 McLaren MP4/6 in Team Marlboro markings. Simon’s model had been a labour of love, taking some two years to complete.

Simon Taylor (above) won the 2012 Automodellismo Award.

Les Garagistes club contradicted the sound of their name, and (below) celebrated a Diamond Jubilee of British motor sports.

Links and next show to visit

More on Automodellismo 2012 can be seen on the HaMeX website, link below. There are also details of the next show - smallspace - featuring models on the linked themes of space, science-fiction and fantasy. Make a note in your diary - it’s another one-day special, to be held on July 1, 2012.

Heaps more info and pix on Automodellismo 2012 here.

'DARK SHADOWS' FIGURE KITS FROM ROUND 2

Mat Irvine reports:

Here we have a pair of figure kits from the old TV gothic soap opera ‘Dark Shadows’, joining the recently-introduced Vampire Van. The reissued MPC kits represent two stars of the show, the vampire Barnabas Collins, and the werewolf Christopher 'Chris' Jennings.

New boxes are reproduction of the originals.

Supernatural stars

Barnabas is the more important Dark Shadows character, having starred in 594 episodes from 1967 to 1971, the werewolf appearing in just 97. The kits are reminiscent of Aurora kits, in that the subject matter is what Aurora excelled at, though overall they aren’t quite as well executed. Round 2 - current owner of the MPC brand - has reissued the two kits in virtually original MPC form, but with one major change. Originally the arms of both kits were supplied only in flexible plastic, with a metal rod bent into shape using a supplied armature, so they were ‘posable’. It’s an interesting idea, but it doesn’t really work - the ‘flexible’ parts are not flexible enough. I suspect a harder grade of plastic was used here than in the originals. 

The jig, wire and vinyl arm parts (above) were also features of the original kits, but are really not worth using.

Using putty (above) to fill the gaps round the movable arms. Below, standard black and duplicated luminous parts.

Luminous parts

Fortunately Round 2 realised this as well, and acknowledged that most modellers these days would prefer a kit without any compromises. Consequently, arm components are also included in standard styrene, so you can go either route. However, one original feature that matched Aurora is that some parts are supplied twice - as well as standard black styrene, you get the same parts in luminous plastic. This feature Aurora used in many of its own reissued figure kits. The luminous parts can be used or not (or used and painted over), but the arms, hands and legs are also supplied as movable limbs. However, this leaves gaps, so my recommendation is to fill these with putty and build the whole figure as a static model.  

Base and critters supplied

Just as with Aurora kits (and the new Aurora-style Moebius figures, for that matter) Round 2 supplies you with a base and a few ‘additions’, here in the form of a spider, a rat, and a bat. A problem with the last creature is that whereas Aurora would probably have  supplied a tree branch from which to hang your bat (this was actually done with Aurora’s own Dracula kit), here there’s nothing for the bat to cling on to, and bats don’t tend to stand upright on their little legs.

Component-count

The Barnabas figure is simple enough, consisting of 25 components, seven more if you include the ‘posable’ option, with 13 more if you include the duplicate luminous parts. The face does look somewhat like Jonathan Frid, the actor who played Barnabas Collins, though I can’t say the same about the werewolf, which just looks like a werewolf. The figure has 22 basic parts. Both figures stand around 210 mm (8.5 in) high. There’s no actual scale quoted, but this works out at approximately 1:9 scale

Box art shows a rampant spread-eagled bat!

Dark Shadows history

Interestingly, though current talk relates to the new Dark Shadows movie, there was also one made in 1970. It used the same cast as the TV series, was made in colour, and related the same story, albeit with some changes. There were also remakes, with new actors, in 1991 and 2005. 

However, and as a final piece of trivia, the 2012 movie lists four of the original Dark Shadows actors in the cast including Jonathan Frid, though so far we don’t know what characters they play.

RIP Jonathan
Jonathan Frid passed away recently, on Friday 13th. He was 87 years old. Thanks Jonathan for those hundreds of episodes. We're looking forward to seeing Johnny Depp's reinvention of your role.

Barnabas kit here.

Vampire kit here.

Vampire Van kit here.

The three Dark Shadows kits, as listed in the 1971 MPC catalogue.

The attractive new box bases are packed with information.

CONTEST - DESIGN A STEAMPUNK FIGURE CONTEST, WINNER GETS IT MADE AS A MODEL KIT

SMN report:

The Industria Mechanika sci-fi model outfit is going from strength to strength, and now there’s a contest on to spice things up. If you’re a steampunk fan (and we are) then IM’s invitation to send in figure designs in the genre is a tempting one.

Steampunk range

Industria Mechanika has some interesting 1:35 scale steampunk-style model kits already, including the fish-shaped Submersible, insectoid Hornethopter, and the upcoming Steam Car and Squid-Shaped Submersible. As for the contest, in IM’s words: “Wouldn’t it be cool if we got the community involved?” And that’s how the idea came about. Again, from IM: “You can now have the chance to become immortalized in your best Steampunk attire as a scale model kit!”

Dress for Success

Many people in the Steampunk community create fantastic outfits which they wear to conventions and shows, so emailing pix of your outfit means you could be chosen to “become” a figure model kit. Accessories count too, so rayguns, backpacks, electro-swords and the like could all be part of a winning outfit.

Full details of the competition are given at Industria Mechanika’s website, link below. Cutoff date is June 1, 2012.

Immortalized in kit form

Oops, nearly forgot the prizes - the Grand Prize is the winner’s likeness in costume, made into a 1:35 scale figure kit. You get two of these, including the option of having one pre-painted by an expert (yes please). You also get a squid-shaped Submersible model kit. Runners-up may make it into IM’s kitworld of fame too.

History of Science

The pix we show here were taken at a curated steampunk exhibition at the Oxford Museum of the History of Science. And what a show it was: the first of its kind, and in a perfect backdrop of early scientific instrumentation. In fact, it was difficult at times to distinguish between the genuine old stuff and the fantasy exhibits. A great show, and one we hope to see return sometime soon.

Summation

Interesting contest for sci-fi and fantasy fans from Industria Mechanika. Get cracking if you want to win!

Museum of the History of Science here.

Industria Mechanika here - scroll down to find the contest.

GOLD AND SILVER MODEL DROIDS CELEBRATE 35 YEARS OF STAR WARS

SMN report:

Coming up soon is the 35th anniversary of Star Wars Episiode IV: A New Hope, the first movie in the epic science-fiction movie saga, first shown on May 25, 1977. We’ve been fans ever since experiencing that mighty roar of an Imperial Star Destroyer sliding down the screen after the text-crawl intro, one of the best movie-openers ever made. Now here’s your chance to buy a bit of history, in the form of precious-metal miniatures of the famed robotic pair, 3PO and R2D2.

Droids ahead

Over the years there have been hundreds (if not thousands) or kits and collectibles, toys and trivia, all celebrating the famed science-fiction series. And two of the best-known names from Star Wars are the the two robots or droids: the tall, golden C3PO and the tubby little R2D2.

Display dome

The movie’s maker, Lucasfilms, has licensed the collectible to end all collectibles - a pair of 1:35 scale miniature droids, one coated in gold, the other silver. And each is placed inside its own glass display dome, for an excellent dust-proof presentation.

Cost considerations

These droids are hardly cheap, as they are designed to be a highly limited pair - scale: 1:35, weight: 35 gr (1.2 oz), edition: 35. It’s a pity the prices don’t more nearly match those numbers though, as the silver R2D2 costs some $1800 USD, the gold C3PO more than triple that, at $6000 USD.

Summation

These look a terrific little pair of collectibles, and we love the military model scale, but the price means they won’t arrive for decoration-duty in SMN Towers. A pity - still, at least we’ve left the way open for a hard-core Star Wars fan who wants to complete a collection.

Star Wars kits and collectibles here.

There’s more

SMN is a screen-only read, yet the desktop computer itself dates back only to that first Star Wars year, for the Apple II and Commodore PET computers (below) were both launched in 1977. They were state of the art machines, yet had small mono screens and no mouse, for the plastic rodent wasn’t yet a part of the mainstream computing landscape.

BLAST FROM THE PAST - AIRFIX BLOWER BENTLEY ROARS IN AGAIN

SMN report:

It’s Airfix news again today, with a look at the re-release of the 41-year-old (Yes, forty one years!) 4.5 litre Bentley to 1:12 scale. The kit’s certainly been around the block a few times, and here it is again - yet it still assembles to make a handsome replica of a fantastic race-winning car.

Vintage kit

First time around for the Airfix 1:12 scale Bentley (above) was from 1971-1985, later reissued from 1990-2007. And now here it is again, not forgetting the US MPC version, produced in the early 1980s.

Big model

But of course, there’s no competition at all to this scale, so it’s a pleasure to report that the kit manages to stand up pretty well, for all its four-decade-plus vintage. And it’s a big model vehicle when assembled, measuring some 365 mm (14.4 in) long and 135 mm (5.3 in) wide, with 278 components that are still crisp and detailed.

Plastic or metal?

And you certainly can work on this kit to produce a beautiful display model. We came across the work of ‘modelmaker’ on the website scale-models, who had this to say of his build of an earlier release: “For those that know me will know that I really only scratchbuild all my models in metal and it's not often I build a plastic based kit but lately I've had a calling to do so, so I've decided I will document the build of this Bentley.” 

Extra detail

Modelmaker adds: “...on this build I have been asked to incorporate all the parts that were removed from the last build such as fenders headlights windscreen etc.” Modelmaker goes to town with his models, plastic or metal: “I have already built up and detailed the chassis, floor suspension, layshafts and fuel tank, I've also just finished turning up a new dashboard and wheels.” SMN reckons that’s all excellent stuff, and worth a visit to the website, address below.

Summation

Welcome back to a good old stager. However, we reckon that next time round, Airfix would do well to put some effort into the exercise, by adding some super-detail components, such as photo-etch metal parts, perhaps a handsome display stand, maybe even some period racing driver figures. Dare we add that a soundchip with engine noise would be good? And an LED set for lighting? And... and...

Visit Airfix here.

Modelmaker at scale-models here.

Airfix Bentley kit available here.

More car kits here.

There's more

Here are some views of modelmaker's Bentley. For more info, visit the site - it's packed with impressive material.

The real thing

And here are a couple of shots of the Bentley in the metal. Note the string wound around the steering wheel rim, to provide the driver with extra grip - simple, yet highly effective.

TITANIC HIT THE ICEBERG 100 YEARS AGO

SMN report:

Yesterday marked the centenary of the infamous sinking of the White Star liner Titanic, after colliding with an iceberg on her maiden transatlantic voyage. And to mark the 100th anniversary, Airfix has a pair of Titanic models to build, in two scales.

Little and large

The smaller of the two Airfix RMS (Royal Mail Ship) Titanic models is to 1:700 scale, and has 141 components. As the ship is in a ‘Gift Set’, targeted primarily at younger modelmakers, you also get 12 pots of Humbrol paint, two paintbrushes, and a tube of cement. When assembled the kit measures 385 mm (15.2 in) long.

Extra paints

The larger Airfix Titanic is to 1:400 scale, and builds to an impressive length of some 670 mm (26.38 in) or more than two feet in Imperial measurement. Like the smaller kit, brushes, cement, and paints are included in the box. However, this larger kit has a trio of brushes and 20 pots of paint.

Airfix comment

Of the two ships, Darrell Burge, Airfix marketing manager, says: “The RMS Titanic sets are a fantastic way to own a piece of history, and we’re thrilled to be able to offer two beautiful replica models to be collected, built and painted.”

Interesting idea

Either kit will look good built as a stock shelf-display model. But what’s to stop you breaking with tradition and building a set-piece disaster model? There’s heaps of information available to help with a project such as this, so assembling enough reference shouldn’t be difficult.

Going down

Perhaps the most spectacular display could be an aquarium-style model, featuring the doomed liner on her way to the bottom. Sydney-based digital artist Nick Kaloterakis worked with National Geographic on a project to visualise the last hours of the ship, and his website has some fine graphic interpretations of the event.

Or for a spot of fun, howzabout something like this Godzilla monster-bash?!

The Titanic Experience

A reminder that for Titanic enthusiasts, Belfast in Northern Ireland should now be top of the ‘must-visit’ charts. For the liner was built at the Harland and Wolff shipyards there, and the latest mega-museum is now open for business.

New museum in Belfast

The Titanic Quarter is ground zero for a massive regeneration project, where unused shipbuilding areas have been transformed with new developments. Spearheading the operation is the Titanic attraction, complete with its own spectacular building. Looks great, and if you needed a reason to visit Northern Ireland, this could be it.

Visit Airfix here.

Various Titanic kits available here.

Nick Kaloterakis has a website called ‘Kollected’ here.

Titanic Experience here.