Nürnberg Toy Fair 2013

DRAGON/CYBER-HOBBY

The Dragon booth changed its location this year but this wasn't the only noticeable difference between 2012 and 2013. One wasn't greeted by military figures this time but by Walt Disney and Marvel characters!? To see some of the newer model kits from the manufacturer, one had to take a closer look on the shelves and the contrast between the presentation of both product groups was striking. Dragon being more an armor brand, there was indeed little to see for the aircraft enthusiast apart from a few boxes and unpainted models. The P-51D Mustang (1/48 and 1/72), the Bf109E-4 (1/48) and the A-20 Havoc (1/72) are still referenced in the 2013 catalogue but that's about all. In 1/144, there will be more (U-2R, X-3 Stiletto, SR-71, TR-1A and X-29) and in 1/32 the secret item 3217 from 2012 remains secret in 2013. From Cyber-Hobby (another Dragon brand) there was not much more on display sadly.

EDUARD

The new 1/48 scale Spitfire Mk.IX was the main attraction at the Eduard Booth. Sprue shots were already present and distributed to the specialized press. It seems as if the new kit will be even better than their Messerschmitt Bf 109 E in the same scale so we can expect a real cracker here. Speaking of Bf 109s, it is in Eduard's intention to do later variants as well and these can be expected next year. The WWI front is very quiet though and nothing new has been announced at the fair. In 1/72, the Bf 110 range will be completed with a G-4 Nightfighter and in 1/48 the MiG-21 range with a PFM. 1/144 enthusiasts will be happy to know that the Spitfire Mk.IXe will get a little brother. In fact two since the first Mk.IXc boxing will be a Dual Combo. Of course this is not all and we can expect a lot of Limited Editions of other manufacturer's kits enhanced with the excellent Eduard photo etched and Brassin items.

HASEGAWA

A big surprise by Hasegawa was the announcement of a new tool Sopwith Camel in… 1/16 scale! In the smaller (so to speak) 1/32 scale the manufacturer continues to expand its collection of classic WWII japanese fighters with a Kawanishi N1K2-J Shidenkai "George". In 1/72 the Eurofighter Typhoon is out and a MV-22B Osprey is scheduled for the 2nd quarter of 2013. But wait, isn't there an important scale missing? Yes, 1/48 is not represented once again. The last new tool kit from Hasegawa in quarter scale was the F1M2 Pete in… 2009!?

New Su-33 Flanker, MiG-15, Hughes 500/300 Eg Plane are announced and Hasegawa also goes the Sci-Fi route (1/1500 scale Space Pirate Battleship ARCADIA, 1/72 scale Tatiana's VANSHIP and Fam's VESPA from the Last Exile Anime and 1/72 scale ASF-X SHINDEN II).

HELLER

There was no new tool aircraft kit to see at the Heller booth but the wait will be over around September with the release of an Alpha Jet in 1/72 scale. This won't be the old kit from the 70' but an all new project from the new design team. If the new VBCI kit in 1/35 scale which was on display is an indication of the new quality level reached by the french company, then we can expect some interesting developments from them in the future. I just hope that there will be more aircraft related items amongst the new kits. At the Toy Fair, the majority of the "news" where older tooling with new (and better) decal sheets.

HK

After the release of their 1/32 scale B-25, HK is back with an even bigger model in the same scale, a B-17! To be honest, I thought the Mitchell would be a one shot from the company to make a return of investment after their aborted collaboration with the defunct Wingscale but it seems as if they want to carry on. The B-17 on display was certainly impressive and will probably require the modeler to find new strategies to sneak the model into the house unnoticed from his wife. And I don't even imagine her reaction when she will take a look at the monthly bank statement!

HOBBY BOSS

The Chinese manufacturer continues to announce and release new kits in a steady pace. Their 1/72 scale IL-2 was on display and will represent a cheaper alternative to the new Tamiya one. In the same scale we can expect sooner or later a Ju-87 D-3, a A5M2, a Gladiator, a Saetta, a Bf110, a Pe-2, a Tu-2 and a series of Skyhawks. In 1/48 a Me 262 B-1a/U1 two-seater, a F4U-7 Corsair (or something that looks like it) an A-6E Intruder, a Su-27, a Fw190 D-9 a F-80C and a F-84. In 1/32 scale the impressive their brand new P-61 was on display. It seems as if the new 1/48 scale "Easy Assembly Kit" range won't be expended for the moment though.