Paint, Glue And Patience: 
Models Are Life In Miniature.

 

Home   Comic Books   Books   Magazines   Games   Video Games   Misc   Models

Trading Cards   Toys   Movies/DVDs  Sports   Anime/Manga   Diecast   Computers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Drive Or Fly

Ford Mustang enthusiasts are sure to love Revell's two new Shelby releases: a '06 Shelby GT-H and a '07 Shelby GT500.

The '06 Shelby GT-H is a sweet little (not if you count its horsepower) two-door sportster painted in black with twin gold stripes running down its middle the entire length of the vehicle.  The model comes in white.  It's up to you to add the paint, glue and decals. 

Part of Revell's Muscle series, this 1:25 Scale Shelby was created to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the car's first appearance.  It's classic Shelby with hood mounts, heavy alloy wheels, oversize tires, low to the ground and fully equipped with a realistic engine that even includes tubing, chrome parts and belts.  Now that's detail!

The '07 Shelby GT500 is no slouch when it comes to horsepower and body design.  Slightly more aerodynamic than the GT-H it sports a similar body design only with a white paint job and blue stripes.

It's wheels are chromed, windows and mirrors are trimmed in black and it boasts full taillight and engine details.  Open the hood and be treated to a 32 valve V8 stock engine topping out at 500 horsepower. 

Pre-decorated, molded in color and requiring no glue or paint, the Revell P-51D Mustang WWII American fighter plane was the terror of the skies to the Axis powers.

Able to clock in at 437 mph, this most widely produced fighter of the war was loaded up with six .50 caliber machine guns for lots of firepower.

The model has a propeller that spins and wheels that turn.  It's part of Revell's SnapTite line.

    

 

Star Wars Selection

 

Revell introduces three new spacecraft models in their Star Wars line taken from the first trilogy of the Star Wars epics.

 

I find it fascinating that the first trilogy, made after the second trilogy, and taking place before the second trilogy features spacecraft, civilizations and technology that appears much more advanced.  It has been theorized that since the Empire had taken over by the second trilogy that technology and the like had descended to a more utilitarian form.  Gone were the ascetics and sense of comfort.  War striped everything down to its essentials, giving everything a more worn and used appearance.  I digress.

 

Revell sent me three more Star Wars spacecraft.  The first: The Republic Star Destroyer is a precursor of the larger Star Destroyer seen in the second trilogy.  The Republic Star Destroyer is a mechanized marvel with its triangular shape, twin extended rear bridges, sandwich detailing between the upper and lower surfaces and its blood red hull paint accents.

 

Its hull is bristling with laser cannon and engine details.  Graded at Skill Level 2, The Republic Star destroyer model measures nearly 20 inches long and consists of 74 pieces. It comes with decals and must be painted by the  modeler.

 

Two Star Wars SnapTite models, that come pre-painted and pre-decorated with fewer pieces, require no glue and easily snap together are the Arc-170 Starfighter and its descendant, Luke Skywalker's X-Wing Fighter.  Both spacecraft are nicely detailed, replicate their movie namesakes and allow modelers to position their wings in open and folded position.  The X-Wing also comes with landing gear. 

 

It's interesting to see the similarities and differences between the two spacecraft, especially after having assembled them and placing them side-by-side.

 

Spitfire

 

Another SnapTite kit from Revell features an aircraft from a different war and era.

 

Great Britain's Spitfire fighter aircraft was a nimble and highly-maneuverable fighter that kept the Nazi hordes at bay.

 

The Revell model kit captures the sleek look and detailing of the originals.  Easily assemble, requiring no glue, the Spitfire model is also pre-painted and decorated with decals and features turning wheels and propeller.  World War II buffs are sure to appreciate the authentic look of the model and will proudly add it to their model collection.

 

AC-47 Vietnam

 

Gunship

 

Jump ahead 20 years or so after the end of WWII and a different kind of war was being fought by American soldiers.  The jungles and lowlands of Vietnam made hand-to-hand combat fighting difficult if not impossible.  because of its geographic location, American soldiers had a difficult time knowing who their friends and enemies were.

 

Fought as a guerilla war, the Vietnam War was a hotbed of political controversy and was the first war that many American civilians did not support.  I came dangerously close to being drafted into the war and I can attest at how it had a profound effect on returning veterans.

 

Be that as it may, Revell/Monogram has recreated one of the workhorse aircraft used during the Vietnam conflict in 1:48 Scale and suitable for assembly by 10 years olds and older.  The model measures a full 16 inches in length with a 23 by 5/8 inch wingspan.

 

Consisting of 118 pieces, the model must be glued together, painted and decals applied.  This is model for the veteran modeler.  The model features full interior details, a side hatch that opens, turning wheels and propellers, clear cockpit and side widows and comes with landing gear for displaying.

 

Interior details include guns, equipment containers, drew seats and complete cockpit details, including an instrument panel while the exterior boasts larger propellers, antennas, fin light and gun sight.

 

To truly appreciate the incredible amount of detail and to-scale construction of the model you have to view it out of the box and completely assembled.  Revell/Monogram has done an outstanding job of bringing a Vietnam era aircraft to 3D form.

 

'69 Chevy

 

Nova SS

 

Growing up in the 1960s and 1970s close to Detroit, Michigan made me a muscle car fan by birth.  One of my favorite cars was the Chevrolet 1969 Nova SS.  Slightly shorter in body length than most muscle cars of that era, the '69 Chevy Nova was still a powerhouse of energy with its 300 horsepower Turbo-Fire 350 cubic inch engine.  It could move!

 

Revell has recreated the '69 Chevy Nova SS in 1:25 Scale and released a new Special Edition Series vehicle with optional parts and new tooling.  You'll marvel at the awesome body, engine and wheel chrome accents, choice of engine types and body paint and decals.

 

Measuring in at 7 and 5/8 inches, consisting of 136 pieces and a body molded in white, the '69 Chevy Nova SS is all yours for the painting, decaling and assembly.  It's like striping down an actual Nova and putting all together-in miniature!

 

   

 

PT 212 And Cessna 180

I loved making ship and airplane models when I was a kid.  there was something exciting about putting together something that represented nautical and aeronautic engineering ingenuity that fascinated me.  I didn't know what all the parts were for, but I sure loved gluing them together (after I painted the parts of course) and winding up with something I could display proudly on my dresser or hang from my ceiling by string or wires.

Revell remembers those days and produces some of the finest classic ship and airplane models in the world and they were kind enough to send me two.

The PT 212 Torpedo Boat from Revell's Picture Fleet line comes with a battle portrait box top for framing and lots of charm. Part of South Pacific Fleet during WWII, the PT 212 was a fast and maneuverable gunship that guarded America's interests.

The model captures the ship in full detail.  Made for speed the boat has lots of deck armor and weapons, deck-mounted torpedoes and plenty of punch.  This is not a model for small kids.  Veteran model makers will love painting, assembling and displaying this model.

Perfect for cruising, skydiving and fun, with a single engine and stationary landing gear, the Cessna 180 is a reliable aircraft popular with pilots and has a high rating for safety.

Paint it up in yellow and orange and let your imagination soar, just like the Cessna.

 

 

 

Tuner And Street Burner

For all you car fanatics out there, Revell has produced a couple new cars you've got to check out.

The Subaru WRX STi 3 'n1 is a 1:25 Scale rocket on four wheels with its gold wheels (plus two other sets), oversize engine air scoop and spoiler (and an extra).

Cobalt blue with black interior and trim, this baby is all attitude and lots of flash and dash.  Pay particular attention to its hood that opens and hides an impressive solid black engine with red trim details.  Four door, gas to the floor and what's not to adore?

A little less flashy but still impressive is Revell's '70 Chevelle Baldwin Motion Street Burner.  "It gets mean when the light goes green!"

Although the model comes in white with black trim, it can be customized to fit your tastes.  Its chromed out engine, flat body styling and heavy duty wheels, headlights and squared off front end and rear makes it a classic to behold, rode and ready for the road!

  

 

Star Wars

As part of its SnapTite Model Kit series, Revell presents two small spaceships for the first trilogy of Star Wars films. Fully decorated and painted and easy to snap together, the kits are the Droid Tri-Fighter and Obi-Wan's Jedi Starfighter.

With its stationary cockpit, Droid brain and rotating outer-shell, the Droid Tri-Fighter is a nimble and deadly fighter. White with blue trim on its triple wing formations, the Tri-Fighter is sleek, stealthy and carries enough fire power to stop many other spacecraft.  Revell has captured the craft with all of its impressive ferocity and firepower.

Obi-Wan is a powerful Jedi and his Jedi Starfighter echoes his fighting prowess.   Its cockpit is set behind its front stabilizers that widens to wings in the back with vertical steering wings on each side.

Red trimmed with a dull gray body, the Starfighter  comes with a navigational Droid and Obi-Wan figure.

  

 

Battlestar Galactica 30th Anniversary

 

The new Battlestar Galactica TV series is a certified hit.  Its powerful storylines, killer graphics, stellar cast and avante garde film technique have elevated to sci-fi cult status.  It has redefined what TV science fiction is all about.

But, there is something appealing about the classic TV series.  Quaint and somewhat stilted and naive by today's standards the show was still cutting edge at the time it was released.  As dated as the sets and costumes are, the show is still watchable and enjoyable.

To celebrate 30 years of Battlestar Galactica, Revell models has released three BG plastic model kits: the Cylon Basestar, Cylon Raider and Colonial Viper.

The Cylon Basestar is the largest of the three models.  It has been updated with newly tooled details and is ready to assemble and paint.  Rated at Skill Level 2 and forages 10 and up, the Cylon Basestar is a double-decker delight with all sorts of surface details and surprises.

The Cylon Raider looks like a flat winged predator-sort of like a stingray.  It bristles with weapons and is retooled and rated like the Basestar. I especially like the segmented wings and cockpit and surface details.

The Colonial Viper is the hotrod of outer space.  Packed with plenty of fire power and get up and go, the Viper is highly maneuverable, sleek with its tri-wing design and a real hunter.  A pilot is included. It too is retooled and updated and rated for 10 and up.