Nürnberg Toy Fair Report 2009

The highlight at the Academy stand was a built model of their new MH-53E Sea Dragon in 1/48 scale. The model on display was impressive in it's black paint scheme and with the blades folded back. It seems that Academy wants to lead the market when it comes to 1/48 scale modern helicopters and this was quite obvious at the Toy Fair.

Adalbertus is not quite an aircraft model kit manufacturer (they do mostly historical figures) but they have a huge catalogue of decals sheets from Techmod and also some 1/48 scale pilot figures from Toro Models. Mr. Wojciech B. Bulhak kindly gave me some decals as review samples. One of them was an impressive sheet for Revell's new 1/32 scale Ju 88 kit. I couldn't resist picking up a nice 1/48 scale figure set from Toro Models: Mirella - Girl with Donkey (TM 48F51). Now I have to find a nice diorama idea to go with it...

What has this armour kit manufacturer to do with aircraft? Well, it's simple, they plan to release a Northrop F-5E Tiger in 1/48 scale! The reference number is 48102 (I wonder what 48101 is?) and according to Mr. Benedetto Lezzi (importer), release is scheduled for September of this year. There was some confusion about this model kit though, as some rumors spoke of a kit produced by Academy. However, the artwork was definitely at the AFV Club stand!

The British brand is back, no doubt about it. There were several new kits on display and amongst them Canberras in all scales and variants. The Sea Vixen in 1/48 scale was also on display as well as the huge mock-up of the Mosquito in 1/24 scale. Whether the latter will be released or not is another story. But even more impressing was the list of new tool kits in 1/72 scale announced in the new catalogue: Red Arrows Hawk, Spitfire PR XIX, Bf 109G, MiG 15, Spitfire Mk IXc, Hurricane Mk IIc, Hawk 128/132, Sea Harrier FRS1 and Sea Harrier FA2!

This is the producer of Kopro kits but also the distributor of Valom and AZModel (amongst others). There were mostly 1/72 scale kits at their stand. I'll let the pictures speak because there were just too many "New" tags for me to follow.

There was not much to see for aircraft builders at the Dragon stand. The Bf 110 D-1/R-1 "Dackelbauch" was on display though. Nothing really new but we can live in hope that maybe the manufacturer from Hong Kong has kept an ace up his sleeve for this year.

Once again this year the Czech manufacturer has proven to be one of the driving forces of the plastic model kit industry. The star at the Eduard stand was of course their new 1/32 scale Bf 109 E kit which will be released in the E-1, E-3 and E-4 versions in 2009. A Royal Class box is planned in the future with two kits and replicas of Luftwaffe insignias and ranks. A real REVI gunsight was on the shelf not only for display purpose because, according to Mr. Jan Zdiarsky, it is planned to include one in the kit, maybe in 1/4 or even 1/1 scale! The new tool parts for the forthcoming Bf 110 G-2 and G-4 were also on display as well as numerous new PE sets.
As if the stand wasn't impressive enough, there is still the catalogue to go through. If you have the opportunity to pick one up, don't hesitate, it's a real feast for the eyes! There are really some interesting things in it, here are some extracts:
- WWI in 1/48 scale: Spad XIII late (weekend), Spad XIII "in USAAC service" (Limited), Albatros D.III Oefag (ProfiPack), Fokker D.VII (OAW) "Sieben Schwaben" (Limited), Fokker D.VII (MAG) "90th anniversary of Czechoslovak Aviation" (Limited) etc...
- WWII in 1/48 scale: Hellcat F6F-5 (ProfiPack), Hellcat F6F-3 (Weekend), Fw 190 D-9 (ProfiPack), Fw 190 D-11/D-13 (Dual Combo), Fw 190A Night Fighter (Limited Dual Combo) etc...
Is there a worldwide economic crisis? It seems Eduard aren't affected by it!

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About the Author

About Jean-Luc Formery (TedMamere)
FROM: MOSELLE, FRANCE

I'm mainly interested in WW2 aircraft and I build them in 1/48 scale.

TedMamere

Hi Rowan, That is no wine, it's Apfelshorle! Oh! Oh! That is a sliperry slope! Jean-Luc

FEB 15, 2009 - 06:25 PM

alpha_tango

You are both so mean Wojciech and I were discussion the historical relations of our two countries for half an hour or so and while we agree on most points we also have sights that will never fit. This was quite exhausting and then our nice friend J-L wanted to have a photo for his report. No wonder we both look rather strange..... greets Steffen

FEB 15, 2009 - 07:51 PM

jimbrae

Ahhh.. now we know. Aeroscale were obviously getting provided with pastries which Armorama WEREN'T getting Obviously, the bottles of vintage Champagne which were probably available for Aeroscale weren't photographed EITHER Sheer discrimination...

FEB 15, 2009 - 10:10 PM

Merlin

Hi Steffen More proof (if needed) that Jean-Luc has a wicked sense of humour - I'll have to be careful if I'm ever lucky enough to meet up with him. All the best Rowan

FEB 15, 2009 - 10:13 PM

alpha_tango

Hi Rowan He will bring you a nice bottle of heavy French wine and then he will refuse to help you killing it and then comes out the camera BTW J-L ... here is a short report from another person ... Mein erstes Mal... (German only) cheers Steffen

FEB 17, 2009 - 06:17 AM

TedMamere

Hi Steffen, This is the Russian* method. I saw the guys from ICM and Zvezda use it at the fair (not with me fortunately). Only that wine was replaced with whisky or vodka. Ja, ich habe es bereits gelesen. Sehr interessanter und frischer Text. Meine complimente an Volker's Frau. Jean-Luc * ICM aren't Russian but from Ukraine, but the method is very similar.

FEB 17, 2009 - 07:28 PM

Merlin

Hi Jean-Luc and Steffen French. Russian... it sounds good to me! I'm always partial to a nice glass of Châteauneuf-du-Pape... All the best Rowan

FEB 17, 2009 - 07:38 PM

AIRGUNNER

Great to see Tamiya have re-issued the Lanc. I have always wanted one but refuse to pay £100+ on evilbay. Any idea of a release date and/or cost? cheers Steve

FEB 20, 2009 - 11:48 PM

alpha_tango

hi Steve announced for February at HLJ. so should be out soon. Price there 6400 Yen (~48 GBP / 53 Euro) ... multiply by 2 to get the Europe prices ... I know it is a little exaggerated, but thats why I try to buy Tamiya and Hasegawa in JP online shops .. even with p&p; import sales tax and customs you are usually still much better than buying locally al the best Steffen

FEB 21, 2009 - 12:21 AM

AIRGUNNER

Thanks Steffen, will definitely keep an eye out for this. Thanks for the advise to buy from Japan too, they way the GB pound is at the moment I should save a packet.

FEB 21, 2009 - 12:03 PM

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Nürnberg Toy Fair Report 2009

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