Model Kit Report - Hobby Merchandiser

Model Kit Report
Keith Pruitt
Keith’s Picks
of the Month
There are many new models, but little
space to list them all.
A
The Cyber Hobby Sea Venom includes a number of features
MT has released its 1/25 1958 Plymouth Fury
such as a highly detailed engine and a Blue Jay Missile.
Christine kit #AMT840. “Born bad, plain and
simple” was the tagline used to describe Christine,
structure. With a larger more powerful engine, folding
the title character in the classic Steven King-John
wing, strengthened undercarriage, tail hook and modified
Carpenter horror film that featured a custom 1958
canopy, the Sea Venom easily fulfilled the Air Ministry
Plymouth Fury as the embodiment of psychopathic evil.
requirement for a fast, maneuverable and capable fighterThe Plymouth Fury was a special trim version of the
bomber.
Plymouth Belvedere, which was produced from 1956
Becoming operational in 1956, just in time for the
through 1958, that included a special interior package,
Suez War, the Sea Venom served both the Royal Navy
bumper guards, and an option for the Golden Commando
Fleet Air Arm and the Royal Australian Navy. During the
350 cubic inch V8 engine
1950s, a new type of
with twin 4-barrel carbuweapon, self guided air-toretors.
air missiles, were develThe AMT kit is a new
oped. One of these was
tool production and feathe Blue Jay Missile,
tures vinyl tires with
which had infrared heatwhitewall inserts, detailed
seeking targeting with a
chassis, a nicely detailed
20 degree field of view.
Golden Commando 350
The Cyber-Hobby kit
V8 engine, and interior
contains over ninety plasassemblies. The kit is
tic parts as well as phooffered with the plastic
toetched metal detail
molded in two colors,
parts. In addition to the
either red or white, and it
Blue Jay Missile, the kit
includes illustrated
features include a highly
instructions with painting
detailed engine, with
and decal placement
bifurcated intakes and
guides.
The AMT Christine kit is a new tool production of the famous, “Born bad, exhaust manifold, as well
As an added bonus,
as options for the wings to
plain and simple,” Plymouth Fury that embodied psychopathic evil in the
the kit parts allow the car Steven King-John Carpenter horror film classic.
be displayed folded or
modeler to build a stock 1958 Plymouth Fury, Belvedere,
extended and the landing gear retracted or extended.
or the famous movie car.
The kit comes with illustrated instructions, with
Cyber-Hobby has released its 1/72 Sea Venom
painting and decal placement guides, and decals for one
FAW.21 with Blue Jay Missile kit #5108. The Sea Venom
aircraft from the Royal Naval Air Station at Ford in
was derived from the DeHavilland DH.100 Vampire,
1958.
Meng Models has released its 1/35 French AMX-30B
sharing the twin boom tail design and composite wood
32 JUNE 2013 HOBBY MERCHANDISER
Main Battle Tank kit #TSThe illustrated instructions
003. In the wake of WW II,
are impressive, printed with
France began planning its
both glossy and plain paper,
next generation of tanks.
which includes full-color
The result was the AMX-30,
painting and decal placedesigned around a 105mm
ment guides. The decals
main gun which was capable The Meng AMX-30B French battle tank features one piece upper
include markings for two
of penetrating 15 inches of
and lower hulls along with individual track links, photoetched metal different camouflage verdetail parts and a length of flexible wire for making a tow cable.
armor. AMX-30 tank prosions, one in overall green
duction began in 1966 and continued for 27 years.
and another in the three-color NATO scheme.
Moebius Models has released its 1/18 Catwoman
The AMX-30B depicted in the Meng kit is the main
with Bat-Pod kit #938. During a scene in the third installFrench army version, which included explosive reactive
ment of the recent Batman movie series, The Dark Knight
armor. The kit features one piece upper and lower hulls,
Rises, Batman enlists Catwoman to help him save
extensive surface detail, individual link tracks, phoGotham City and loans her his Bat-Pod. Catwoman later
toetched metal detail parts, and flexible wire for the tow
uses the Bat-Pod cannons to blow up the villain Bane,
cable on the hull.
who has beaten Batman and is preparing to kill him.
The kit also contains a jig for assembling the individThe kit contains tan plastic body parts for
ual track links to make the tedious job easier and faster.
HOBBY MERCHANDISER JUNE 2013 33
Revell has released its SnapTite 1/350 Black Diamond
Pirate Ship kit #85-1971. One of the best ways to get kids
interested in modeling is to give them subjects that engage
their imaginations. Kids can have fun with the Revell
SnapTite Black Diamond kit, building the ship and playing with the finished model as they storm the seven seas.
SnapTite kits are designed for youngsters aged 8 to
10 years old, with simple snap-together construction that
allows a complete model to be built in less than an hour.
The basic hull comes in three parts consisting of the deck
and two sides, with the guns and most of the deck fittings
The Moebius Models 1/18 Catwoman with Bat-Pod is molded in
overall black, but includes tan parts for the Catwoman body and
two large rubber tires for the Bat-Pod.
Catwoman, black plastic parts for the Bat-Pod, along
with two large rubber tires. In the Moebius tradition, the
boxart has the image of Catwoman racing at top speed,
and the back of the box also includes photos of the finished model with special features highlighted.
Included are illustrated instructions, with notes labeling the parts with both the name and part number. The
painting guide also contains tips on weathering certain
areas for added realism. While fans of the Batman genre
will delight in this kit, almost any scale modeler would
enjoy building the model.
34 JUNE 2013 HOBBY MERCHANDISER
Revell’s SnapTite Black Diamond Pirate Ship is a great way to
get younger children involved in modeling as it will engage their
imaginations while the simple model is snapped together.
molded on.
degrees for better viewing
Assembly calls for clevthrough the expansive winerly trapping the rudder and
dows and sunroofs. Because
rear flag pole as the stern is
the buses were expensive to
snapped together. The cutter
produce, only a few Aero
and the ships wheel are
Blitzbuses were made, and
attached before moving to
these were used mainly for
the masts, which come as
propaganda related to the
one piece and are stabilized
new autobahns. During
by one-piece stays on each
WW II, at least one of these
side. Furled sails are added
is known to have been
before moving to the
pressed into military service
bowsprit as the final assemwith the German army and
bly step.
was adorned in an overall
The illustrated instrucdrab gray paint.
tions include pages of paper The Roden 1/72 Opel Blitzbus Ludewig Aero is a highly detailed
The kit features much
sails and flags that kids can model of a rarely seen concept bus used primarily for propaganda
of the surface detail of the
related to the new German Autobahns just prior to WW II.
cut out and attach with
bodywork molded into the
white glue if they wish. Kids of all ages will enjoy buildside panels and top pieces, as well as the distinctive oval
ing the Revell SnapTite 1/350 Black Diamond Pirate Ship.
front grill. The chassis includes parts for the suspension
Roden has released its 1/72 Opel Blitzbus Ludewig
and drive train, and the tires are molded plastic. Roden
Aero 1937 kit #724. The Ludewig Brothers Truck
includes one sheet of thin clear plastic with outlines printCompany took the basic Opel Blitz three ton truck chased for the windshield and window glass.
sis and created several new conceptual bodies for the
The kit also features a thirteen piece engine, and the
vehicle.
option of allowing the body to be removed to display the
The Aero version featured a futuristic exterior with
unique passenger interior and engine compartment.
luxurious chairs more common to fine hotels than autoIncluded illustrated instructions, with the painting guide
mobiles of the day. The buses were envisioned for excurprinted on the back of the kit box, show the vehicle in its
sion trips, with ten of the eighteen seats angled at 45
original overall ivory color scheme. HM
P.O. Box 315,
Butler NJ 07405-0315
Voice: 973-283-9088
E-mail:
pat.koziol@hmahobby.org
Website:
www.hmahobby.org
HOBBY MERCHANDISER JUNE 2013 35