Modelling News Round-Up!

First of all, we sink into the world of modelling with Jasmine Model's new kit No: 205001 - 1/350th Scale U-Boat Type VIIC



This rather novel kit of a U-boat of the Kriegsmarine of WWII comes in at 43cm high and just under two metres (192cm) long. It is completely made from Photo Etched – bendable thin metal parts.



From the pictures of the completed model here you can see the detail that has gone into this kit – as well as the results you could achieve yourself if carefully constructed.



The skeleton like construction shows the main external superstructure made to sit together. It comes with a stand but not the base you can see here. The nameplate is included so indeed you have everything you need to make this sit up and be displayed all by itself.



What's really impressive is the fine details of the superstructure and deck area – the way it all holds itself together with such fine detail is awesome. As well as these new kits, Jasmine Model also makes Photo-etched Skeleton Series in 1/48 and 1/72nd Variable Fighters detailing parts as well as 1/48, 1/144 and 1/72 decal sheets. You can get Jasmine Model’s products from their website.



This figure from Miniaturas Fortes comes in grey resin in 75mm or 1/24th scale and features a choice of two different heads – one armoured with a helmet for battle and the other head a feathered wide brim hat. He is a representation of the Spanish soldiers of the Tercio (The Spanish “Third”) fought most bravely and were perhaps known in romantic history (and film) for their part in the battle of Rocroi in 1643.



A Tercio was a Spanish military unit of the Spanish Empire during the era of the dominance of Habsburg Spain in Europe and the Renaissance era. From the 15th to the 17th centuries, this was a unit of 1500-3000 odd soldiers in a combined arms formation of pikemen and musketeers. The Tercio was split up into ranks of pikemen who arrayed themselves together into one large block similar to a pike square with musketeers usually positioned on the flanks. The Tercio soldier is seen with a metal breast and shoulder plates – leather armed underneath with slits in each arm for movement, the soldier’s large boots and flowing garb make for an interesting figure to paint with a lot of depth.

Diego has done a great job of sculpting this limited edition figure. You can purchase them from his site and from his eBay site as well – they are even on “the Facebooks” now for you to follow – but I would suggest checking out his new website first to see everything Diego does; he certainly has talent!



Diego from Fortes Miniatures has been sculpting short run figures for a while now, but time has come to become a professional – man doesn’t live on banana skins alone! So he has set up a website from which to buy from him directly (you can still purchase them on eBay of course) but this is better we think for that personal touch!


The figure sells for €30 Euros, plus €4 Euros of p&p for Europe - €5 to the rest of the world.

News from Meng in the Far East of their latest two releases in their heavy armour line. First up, their 1/35 Israel Main Battle Tank Merkava Mk.3 BAZ w/Nochri Dalet Mine Roller System, item NO.TS-005. Following the Merkava Mk.3D Early MBT kit, Meng has cooperated with Desert Eagle Publishing again to release another heavyweight Israel MBT – Merkava Mk.3 BAZ. This tank is one of IDF’s main equipment in service and has already seen action in many military operations.


The kit features both rubber and all-steel type of road wheels, one-piece TPE tracks, one-piece or separate side skirts options, empty or full basket options, precise reproduction of ball-and-chain armour and periscopes. This isn’t the only monster from Meng this month – they have also set for release the impressive looking AUF1 155mm self-propelled howitzer from the French Army!



This SPG greatly impressed us when we clocked eyes on it in the flesh this year on our trip to the Tank Museum in Samur, France. The tank uses the base of a AMX30 Main Battle tank – already modelled by Meng – with the massive box like structure on top to hold the large gun (complete with auto-loading gun that fires 8 RPM) and it’s crew. It reminded us of an elephant or a Rhino – massive and business-like in appearance – but moved like any other of the vehicles on display. Meng’s new model features include open/closed turret hatches, a detailed internal structure, workable track links and detail parts in Photo-Etched metal.



This model will be available soon – until then Meng have a great website and a few other rather nice kits for you to check out …

The new L1500A kit from MiniArt is next - an amazing little kit which is showing up some of the big boys - upgraded with a figure set and shown more of the marking details.


The vehicle was classified same as Steyr 1500A and Horch Typ. The basic type of body became Kfz.70, designed for the transportation of 7 people including the driver. All-in-all there were about 4900 L1500A produced. These vehicles were extremely durable and reliable and soon became one of the favoured if rarer German soft-skin vehicles. Mercedes-Benz L 1500A with Kfz. 70 were frequently as heavy staff cars. L1500A personnel cars were used by all German arms of service in the Soviet-German front, in North Africa, Italy, and France up to the end of war.



The Daimler-Benz company designed the L1500A with an all-wheel-drive chassis of 1.5 t capacity to be ready for the end of 1941. Most of these chassis received open bodies for transportation of 7 men (Kfz.70). We have had these images of the test kit with it's simply amazing detail unpainted.



The model features all new tooling, up-to-date technology using sliding moulds, fully-detailed engine compartment and chassis with decals included.



An extra six figure kit is included in this release – a crew riding in the car and their officer. Here is the set with the car fully made up and painted...



Looking forward to building this amazing little kit, which is available soon, and you can keep up to date on the build on my site. The new kit and all of the others from MiniArt are available to see at the MiniArt website..

Well that is all for this edition – we will keep you updated with the very best in kits coming out for release and new bits we think you will be interested in on a regular basis.

Until next time,

Adam