Scale aviation modeller international

The Biggest Aircraft Model!

W

ell the biggest aircraft

model in 1/144 scale

was on display on the

Revell stand at Telford in the

shape of Antonov AN-255 Mriya.

This aircraft was originally

designed to carry the Russian

space plane “Buran” and it’s

associated rockets. The sole

example is now used to transport oversized

load around the world by Antonov Airlines.

In 1/144 scale this kit of the worlds largest

aircraft is huge and was not a lot smaller

than the 1/32 scale Tornado it was parked

next to in the cabinet. This kit will arrive in

your local Revell stockist in Europe before

Christmas and around the world in early 2019.

French Beauty

W

e have been eagerly following

the development of the

Copper State Models 1/32

scale Nieuport Ni.17 and at Telford two

boxings of this new kit were released

covering the early and late version.

This manufacturer

has been on a steep

learning curve and

is now producing

plastic kits that rival

far more established

manufacturers.

All of the tiny

diferences between the

early and late version have been incorporated

into these two kits and their use of pre-cut

acetate panels for the large clear sections

of the early Ni-17s upper wing is ingenious

and they have also listened

to feedback on their earlier

models and etched brass

has replaced the hard to fold

etched steel used previously.

We hope to cover these new

kits in more detail in a future

issue and we can also conirm

that Copper State Models are already working

on a Nieuport 21 and they are already working

on decal sheets that will include some Russian

examples with attractive female nose art!

Choppers R Us

W

hirlybird Models have been

producing 1/72 scale multi

media Helicopters for a

number of years and at Telford they

added a few more. Including two version

of the Puma with British and French

markings and Sikorsky HO3S-1G in US

coastguard markings. If that was not

enough, we also have two boxing of

the Westland Wessex in either HAS.7

Anti-Submarine aircraft or the HAS.7

Commando, the delivery method of choice

for the Royal Marines in the 1960s.

The Big Surprise

W

ingnut Wings waited till

the last day of the show,

which coincided, with

the 100th anniversary of the end

of the First World War to announce

their latest World War One Kit.

In fact the announcement was

a big surprise as not many were

expecting a Handley Page O/400

Bomber. Another surprise for those

of us at the show is how large this

aircraft was when posed next to the

1/32 scale Avro Lancaster Bomber.

In fact the HP O/400 is only 2 scale

feet shorter in both length and

width and nearly identical in height.

The example on display was a

very early test shot but shows all

the detail typical of the Wingnut

kits and many will appreciate

that just like the real thing the

wings can be posed folded.

The HP O/400 is planned for

release in late 2019 or early 2020

and we will provide more details

as we get them. It’s not expected

that the markings options will

include the one converted to carry

passengers and painted pink with

blue engine nacelles by a Maharajah

in India after World War One,

but it would be fun if they did.

My apologies

I

am sure that there

are some new

releases that I have

missed despite walking

over 10 miles around

the three halls over

the course of the show.

If any manufacturer

wants to send me the

details to the editors

address at david@

sampublications.com

I will include them

in a future issue.

38 • DECEMBER 2018 • SCALE AVIATION MODELLER INTERNATIONAL