Some models are very large. Well, some that I like anyway.

Here we have a 40-foot Rocket, a design to reflect the 1930's - 1940's imagination, hand built and ready to make any adult an instant kid again.

It features a full space ship interior true to form, including a pilots bridge and alien lab. With gadgets galore on the inside to tinker with, it takes cool to a whole new level. I recommend the video below, which gives you a tour of the inside. You won't be disappointed. No space suit needed.

Space Ship Model Kits | NASA Model Kits |

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Speed City Resin has just released their new resin Flying Dutchman Charger III Funny Car kit.

This is not a copy of the plastic molded "incorrect" MPC kit. This new resin model has been re-mastered almost from scratch with a new accurate body and altered chassis.

This resin kit includes an accurate: Body, Floor Pan, Interior Tin, Firewall, Rear Hinge, 2 seperate Frame Rails, Splash Pan, Rear Valence, and Roll Bar. Speed City Resin recommended the "Model King" Kenz & Leslie Cougar Funny Car (or a) "Model King" GTO Funny Car as possible donor cars for the rest of the parts needed to complete your build.

This kit can add a unique subject to your drag racing model collection, and will stand out on any model show table.

Drag Racing Model Kits | Diorama Model Kits |

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Round 2 continues to create models that people have wanted for years.

For the first time ever, and I'm talking about a model no other plastic company could make a reality, we will finally get a 1:25 scale 1966 George Barris Batmbile.

Oh, there have been close calls numerous times. Aurora made a 1:32 scale kit in the 1960's (which Round 2 will also be issuing their version any day now). Corgi made a 1:25 diecast Batmobile. Danbury Mint came within mere inches of having a 1:25 scale diecast. Several resin companies have produced a 1:25 kit, from Scale Replicas to Jimmy Flintstone. Not to mention a vast variety of various scale toys, tin cars, and slot cars. And recently, Hot Wheels has made a great 1:18 scale Batmobile. But there has never really been a 1:25 tribute to that car.

Per their blog, there will be two versions, a snap and a glue. But either one will be destined to fill the hands of many a model builder. I can't wait to buy a case or two myself.

Batmobile & TV Model Kits | Super Hero Model Kits |

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Revell has reissued it's kit for the Creature of the Black Lagoon.

This builds into a very good model display, which includes a swamp creature on a rock by it's foot, a base, and some kind of branches. There are seams to deal with, but with some patience, they can be filled easily. I built one of these years ago. While painting it, I used a dark green base, and dry brushed a gold color paint over it to accent the highlights. I think it worked out well. The original movie was in black and white, so the correct color is pretty much up to you and your imagination. The production staff probably used colors on the suit to look good on camera, rather than actually worrying about what might look realistic in normal color daylight.

This figure kit adds a great addition to your Universal Pictures monsters collection.

There are actually two actors who played the creature, one being Ricou Browning, who did the underwater work. I met him years ago, he's a nice fellow, and always eager to talk about his work.

Monster Model Kits | Submarine Model Kits |

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Time for some more recent model shows, for March 2010.

Check them out for some new ideas for your own projects.

• 26th MTMA Model Show March 13, 2010
• Citus National Model Car show.....Riverside, California
• Model Car Show 2010
• Kickoff Classic 2010
• Cedarville 2010
• Showdown 2010



Model Car Books

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Time for some recent model shows.

Check them out for some new ideas for your own projects.

• DP NNL 2 February 28 Omaha
• 2010 Mt Vernon show
• Model Car Show 2010
• NNL West Santa Clara, Ca
• NNL West Santa Clara 2010



Model Car Books

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The new model kit, Lunadiver Stingray, has been released.

This model is part of the continuing set of model kits and characters called Maschinen Krieger, created by Mr. Kow Yokoyama.

This new model design includes 2 Space battle powered suits (Fireball SG & SG Prowler) and 2 Stingray pilot figures, along with a display stand. Like most of the models in the series (but not all), this one is also 1:35 scale. The Stingray itself is 303 mm in length, and 163 mm wide. These kits usually sell pretty quickly, and are highly sought after once a production run has made it's course. This can drive the values up, some of the older kits in the series are hard to come by, and expensive. These kits appeal to both military and science fiction builders. But can be a fun build if you just want to do something different for a change.

The previous kit release, the Antigravity Armored Fighter, is stil available while it lasts. If you want to learn more about the Maschinen Krieger series of models, I recommend MAK in Action, a good site on the kits.

Lunadiver Stingray Kit | Scifi Model Kits | Military Model Books |

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Here are some pictures, from the 2010 Nuremberg Toy Fair, by Thomas Voigt.

It looks like there are quite a few new kits, especially aircraft and military items. (or maybe that is what Europeans prefer in their model subjects). Either way, it's worth browsing through and seeing what products are coming up this year. If you click on his thumbnail pictures, you get to see a much larger image, which offers great detail.

Which do you prefer? A new model that has been assembled and not painted? So you can see how the various parts fit together in their raw form? Or do you like new models already assembled and painted, so you can see how the end product looks? (or, at least, one version painted).

2010 Nuremberg Toy Fair | Unusual Aircraft Models | Military Model Books

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Good morning! Let's grab a cup of coffee and look over some recent model shows.

Lot's of great modeling and great ideas !

• Mid-Michigan Model Makers 2010 Contest
• Hope It Don't Snow Show 2010

Plastic Sno Dragster Model Kit | Show Car Models | Show Car Models

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Ford Cobra Daytona. It's been a model Ford builders have wanted for years.

It's been done in 1:43 scale, in a plastic or slot car kit. Gunze Sangyo did a very good 1:24 curbside kit, which included metal parts. Recently, Scale Motorsports has produced a great 1:24 curbside in resin. But of course, what modelers want, is a full detail kit. The cars are historic, the real ones worth millions of dollars. Now it looks like Academy Models just might all those modeler's wishes come true.

Check out this Academy Europe site. Look through the catalog there, just grab a page and turn it, like a book. And right there, on page 29, is a 1:24 scale Daytona Coupe. Is it all new? A reissue of the Gunze Sangyo kit? Details are sketchy at this point. As of this writing, there is no mention of it on the main Academy Site. Still, it's worth noting, and keeping an eye out for more news on this model car kit.

Plastic Daytona Coupe Model Kits | Daytona Cobra coupes: Carroll Shelby's 1965 world champions | Cobra: The First 40 Years

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Just a heads up, that Lindberg has released two new truck kits.

The L-700 has been issued several times, but it is now combined with a new (old IMC) chrome tanker trailer, as well as a box trailer with new Coke decals. Both in 1:25 scale.

You can find them in the heavy truck model section here at Rocketfin.

Truck Model Kits | Dodge Heavy Trucks | Beverage Trucks Photo Archive

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How many of you out there have built The Invaders flying saucer ship?

Myself, I built one of Monogram's reissues the last time it came out. It's not a bad model, and it's a fair subject, especially since I like TV and movie model kits. Whether you have built one or not, you may want to check out this website that talks about the history of The Invaders models. It's quite interesting.

There's a lot of tid bits with cool information. I like where parts of the Aurora Invaders kits were used on the original TV Battlestar Galactica Cylone Raider ship! There are also some other its of this craft from other manufacturers. Check it out and see what you think.

TV Invaders UFO Model Ship History | The Invaders TV Show| Spaced Invaders

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Fantastic Plastic has released their new resin kit for the Boeing X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV).

The kit is 1:72 scale, and is composed of 8 parts. The decals are by JBOT. This would be a good kit to go with your Monogram / Revell 1:72 Space Shuttle. This spaceship is one of NASA's new replacements for the aging Shuttle, though this one is unmanned, and not the only replacement. In a cost cutting move for the future, this one can launch a sataellite, but be reused over and over.

The kit looks crisp and clean, and a little painting should really bring out the details without much fuss.

Boeing X37B Model Kit | Nasa: The Complete Illustrated History | NASA Apollo 11 Owners' Workshop Manual: 1969

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Whoops ! Don't be so quick to throw out those soda and beer cans. Heck, you might have a new model there.

For instance, a modeler in New Zealand, Sandy Sanderson, has been building some of his favorite vehicles using tin / aluminum cans of all sorts. From Dune Buggies to custom Hot Rods. Check out his detailed photo splash at Jalopnik.com to see his creations. I especially like his Guinness car, it reminds me of a Tom Daniel style vehicle.

Cool Beer Can Cars | The Big Book of Tin Toy Cars: Commercial And Racing Vehicles| Tinplate Toy Cars: of the 1950s & 1960s from Japan

Check out some photos of the 2009 18TH Annual Yokohama Hot Rod Custom Show in Pacifico Yokohama, Japan, and presented by Mooneyes. There are some interesting and great kit builds. Which shows car modelers tend to be passionate about the hobby no matter what country they are in. Very cool !

Mooneyes Show | Roy Brizio Street Rods: Modern Hot Rods Defined | Hot Rod Garages

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I am posting this simply because Gigantor is just plain cool. I remember watching the early cartoon (black and white mind you) as a kid. This 3 story sculpture is impressive, and the photo (by Motohiko Hasul) really gets across the scale. I can just imagine how much kids want to have their parents drive past it.

Official Gigantor Site | Gigantor: The Collection | The Official Gigantor Episode Guide and Compendium by Fred Ladd

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How abut a 28-inch Star Wars Star Destroyer from the Imperial Fleet?

Anigrand is now producing, in limited numbers (100 kits), a resin kit of the Imperial Avenger-class destroyer, a prominent symbol of Imperial Navy. The kit is 1/2256 scale, which sounds small, but this scale has the kit ending up to be around 28 inches long, and that's quite large. The parts are covered in fine detail and appear to be very accurate, including the docking bay and turbo lasers.

If you ever wanted to add a unique (and large) kit to your Star Wars model collection, this would be an impressive kit to have and build.

Star Destroyer Resin Model Kits | Sculpting a Galaxy: Inside the Star Wars Model Shop | Building Star Wars Models - A Galaxy Far Away Book

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Here is a sculpture / artist who makes vehicle projects out of metal.

There are some interesting transportation subjects. The creative weathering on these examples is stunning. I am guessing the text is in German, but the the pieces pretty much speak for themselves. I especially like the "Salt & Pepper" hot rod. There is no mention of a specific scale, though they seem large, maybe around 1:8 or larger.

Car & Truck Metal Sculptures | Large Scale Model Kits | The Complete Car Modeller by Gerald Wingrove

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Some people combine great model builds with great photography. One such person would be Peter Lepold.

I recommend you check out his site. He builds some stunning model projects, factory stock style, but with great details and imagination. The "Just Married" Cadillac is stunning. Poke around on his site, you won't be disappointed.

Factory Stock Models | Model Car Books | Dodge Model Kits |

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