This past weekend was IPMS New Jersey's annual MosquitoCon. Like most IPMS shows, MosquitoCon was mostly about non-automotive subjects - hey, I said MOSTLY, not totally! Being of sound (?) mind and split personality (I do aircraft models too!) I look forward to the event. I even took my two daughters with me to the show and they had a good old time at the Make and Take table building some snap/screw-together airplane models. But that's another story! The automotive entries at MosquitoCon were, as usual, first rate - even a vast majority of the Junior category entries. I've uploaded the pics to Gregg, so look for a link to them from the MODEL CARS Magazine web site sometime soon.
New Stuff with a Catch Department: Hasegawa is doing a new-tool 1/32 scale BMW 327 pre-WWII . The catch is, it only comes with their 1/32 scale Focke-Wulf Fw190A-5 airplane kit! Their new tool Fw190s are spectacular kits, so if you do aircraft also or have a hankering to try one, it's a good combination.
New Announcements from Japan Department: The winter Shizuoka show has produced some VERY interesting automotive releases from the prolific Japanese manufacturers. Here's what to expect in the months ahead:
AOSHIMA
- 1/24 Nissan Fairlady Z 2005 Version ST (aka 350Z) - NEW TOOLING - two boxings, stock and with "option parts"
- 1/24 Daihatsu Copen - NEW TOOLING - two boxings, "Active Top" and "Ultimate"
- 1/24 2005 Toyota UCF31 Celsior (aka Lexus LS430) - two boxings, stock and with 20 inch rims. Based on their excellent 2003 issue Lexus LS430 kit. Don't count on left hand steering parts in these puppies.
- 1/24 Toyota Crown Majesta - two versions, both stock - 2004 and 2006 editions.
- 1/24 Nissan Skyline GT-R R34 - prepainted body, either White or Bayside Blue
- 1/24 Mazda FD3S RX-7 - prepainted body, either Innocent Blue Mica or Brilliant Black
- 1/24 Vertex Nissan S13 SIlvia
- 1/24 Nissan BNR32 Skyline GT-R (limited reissue)
- 1/24 Toyota JZX81 Mark II (GT Wing Series)
- 1/24 Toyota AW11 MR-2 (GT Wing series)
- 1/24 Nissan Skyline GT-R R34 Police Patrol Car Sitama
- 1/24 Nissan Skyline GT-R R34 Nismo Watanabe Sports
- 1/24 Toyota GS121 Crown 2.0 Twin Cam 24
- 1/24 Mercedes-Benz 500SL Lorinser (I had this one back in 1991 when they first released it, and broke the windshield posts. Nice to have a second chance!)
- 1/24 Ferrari F355 Berlinetta
- 1/24 Ferrari Superamerica with photoetched parts
- 1/24 Porsche 911 Turbo (Tohge series)
- 1/24 Toyota GX71 Cresta GT Twin Turbo (Tohge series)
- 1/24 BMW M3 Sogo Keibi Hosho (Touring Car series)
- 1/16 Taisan Ferrari F40 JGTC 1994
- 1/24 Mobil 1 SC430
That's it for now, folks. More to follow. Till next time, build them little plastic thingies!
