Striving to be the ultimate resource for model makers in the UK.

Technorati tag: Scale Models

As a follow on to the rusty old cars pool, another resource for abandoned motors.

Technorati tag: Cars

Funicular railways of the UK and Crown Protectorates within the British Isles.

Technorati tag: Funicular railway

The rusty old cars pool on Flickr should provide plenty of reference material for weathering vehicles.

via Jalopnik

Technorati tag: Photo Reference, Rust, Old Cars

This review of the new HaT models of the Renault FT 17 WW1 tank mentions that a couple were recently found in Afghanistan by US troops. I had visions of the little beasts puttering around the streets of Kabul with Talibanis in them, but the truth is they were found in a field of scrap.

One or both of the tanks were sent back to the States to be restored and displayed. I think the discovery of the little treasures amidst so much rubbish is worthy of a diorama. It would probably require the more detailed RPM versions (1, 2) and could utilise Preiser’s modern US infantry.

More information on the find, and other Afghan FT 17s here (bottom of the page, but the other stuff’s interesting as well.

Some FT 17 photo reference

Technorati tag: Scale Models, Afghanistan, Tank, Renault FT 17

Judging by the front page the Scale Modelling Aviation Wiki seems to be dedicated to 1:48th scale models of Second World War German aircraft. Not my area, but I’m sure there are a lot of you who will be interested in it.

Technorati tag: Scale Models, Aviation

Does exactly what it says on the tin. Articles about building model ships and finding plans and historic information to make them more detailed.

Technorati tag: Scale Models, Model Ships

For the First World War modeller, this Flickr gallery contains official and personal photographs of the Eastern Front from a German officer’s collection. Many of them are previously unpublished and offer up details of uniforms and architecture.

Technorati tag: Scale Models, First World War

Take a look at the showpics section of the Primer Nationals site for loads of hot rod photos to mine for inspiration.

via Jalopnik

Technorati tag: Hot Rods, Scale Models

There are a lot of sites out there like Jalopnik that regularly serve up links to images and articles of interest to car modellers.

Recent highlights include-

A 1,000 horsepower Toyota Supra, which would put those Fast & Furious models to shame.

A customised ’35 Ford pickup from Australia. It’s powered by LPG, but the interesting thing for any modeller is that they’re right hand drive- probably a major modification on any of the kits available.

The “Big T” model T that inspired a classic kit.

Building the perfect Demolition Derby car Anyone who got this right on a model could be looking at a show winner.

The Asphalt Invitationals. Lots of lovely rods to inspire you.

Automotive interiors from the ’70s on.

And more and more. Jalopnik’s the only car blog I subscribe to, but I bet there are a load more out there serving up this sort of inspiration as well.

Technorati tag: Scale Models, Model Cars

A site dedicated to reference photos for spaceship modellers.

Technorati tag: Scale Models, Spaceship

Because some of the original equipment was replaced or replicated from scratch, you can’t really use this rebuild of an M22 Locust air portable tank as a source of internal reference photos. However, from the outside the rebuilt tank is nearly identical to the original and is used in Second World War re-enactments.

More reference pictures here. 3D model here. Profile here.

But are there any models of it? A 1997 issue of Finescale Modeller has an article about building a model, but it’s not online. Spirit Games do them in 1:300th scale for wargaming. And Commanders Series were thinking about it but shelved the project.

via Jalopnik

Technorati tag: Scale Models, Tank, M22 Locust

Summer is here, so there’s little modelling being done. I’m too busy with things like the allotment. However, as I am guesting on the UAV blog, I thought I’d see how this relatively new type of plane was represented for modellers.

The first stop on this tour is Unicraft, which is pretty much your one stop shop for UAV modelling needs. They have 1/72nd scale models of-

Bell EAGLE EYE, Boeing X-45A UCAV, Boeing X-36 UAV, Boeing BIRD OF PREY, “Piloted UCAV”(?), DRAGON WARRIOR, Northrop-Grumman X-47A Pegasus UCAV-N, GA Prowler II, RQ-1 Predator, RQ-2 Pioneer, RQ-3 DarkStar, RQ-4 Global Hawk, RQ-5 Hunter, MQ-9A Predator B / ALTAIR, ALTUS and Aurora THESEUS. They also do the Boeing SENSOR CRAFT in 1/144th (though that link wasn’t working when I tried). For British modellers, Hannants stock a few Unicraft kits.

With that fairly exhaustive list you hardly need to go anywhere else, but I thought I’d have a look anyway.

French company Sharkit does a NASA HyperIII, actually a remotely piloted test bed for lifting body designs, but a UAV precursor of sorts. They also have a few other UAV grandparents in the North American X10 and Vought Regulus 1 (more of an early cruise missile really). And there are a number of unrelated but interesting models such as the Davy Crocket atomic gun and Bell rocket belt (in either 1/12th or 1/35th).

Wings models do 1/48th and 1/72nd scale vacform model of the GTD-21, a Kennedy era reconnaisance drone.

I’m sure there are more, but if I carry on looking I’m going to lose a day to finding ever more obscure and fascinating model companies.

Technorati tag: Scale Models, UAV

Two items originally posted on Spinneyhead-

The Nest of Dragons, a great resource for oddball planes.

Lone Sentry– “Photos, Articles, and Research on the European Theater in World War II”

Technorati tag: Scale Models, Reference

Early aircraft designs. Some of these are positively bizarre, whilst others went on to the prototype, if not full production, stage.

via Drawn

Technorati tag: Aircraft, Oddities

The tale of a T-37 training jet’s retirement.

The commander of the 8th – Navy Cmdr. Brian Osborn – is an old friend of retired Navy Capt. Rance Dunmire of Pueblo. Osborn also knows Dunmire is vice president of the Pueblo Historical Aircraft Society and is always on the lookout for classic military aircraft for the Pueblo museum.

So telephone calls took place, paperwork was filed, and last Friday, Dunmire was at Vance having a sparkling T-37 loaded on a trailer for shipment to Pueblo. The little Tweet had been in use training pilots as recently as last month.

Trainers don’t have the glamour of combat planes, but they’re still an interesting subject. The Tweet was modified into the A-37 light bomber, so you could have the siblings sat next to each other on the runway.

T-37/A-37 models and detailing sets (all via Hannants)-
1:48th Revell Cessna A-37A/B Dragonfly
1:48th detailing set (for Monogram model)/ Weighted wheels
1:72nd Academy A-37 Dragonfly
1:72nd Academy Cessna A-37B “Black Eagle” R.O.K.A.F Display team
1:72nd detailing set (for Hasegawa kit)
1:72nd decals, including Vance Air Force base T-37

T-37 pages on Google.

Technorati tag: Scale Models, Cessna, Jet Trainer

WarWheels.Net is a comprehensive online resource for modelers and enthusiasts of armored cars and wheeled fighting vehicles from all eras. Not a lot there yet, but they are looking for contributors if you have anything for them.

via Hyperscale.com

Technorati tag: Scale Models, Reference, Armoured Car

Luftwaffe planes in British liveries. Part of a larger message board that’s bound to be a great source of pictures and information.

Technorati tag: Scale Models, World War 2, Luftwaffe

One of the joys of car modelling is coming up with vehicles that are rare or non-existent in the real world. But sometimes the real world produces oddities that look like they came from someone’s parts box after a little too long breathing glue fumes. Inspiration for your next project-

101 things to do with a 2CV.

Big block Chevy powered Ferrari.

True beauty- a hot rod inspired by board track racing.

All via Jalopnik

Technorati tag: Scale Models, Custom Cars