Originally published in 2007, the revised edition was recently issued in 2026. The book's content is well sequenced, beginning with the battlecruiser's design history, the careers of the 3 famous battlecruisers HMS Renown, HMS Repulse and HMS Hood, a comprehensive review of all the well known scale models of these famous ships produced to date, a well photographed model showcase in various scales, five WW2 camouflage schemes for the 3 ships, a summary of modifications and refits for each ship documented by photos, line drawings and a selected reference.

The fastest way to lose your modeling mojo is not a bad kit, it is a workspace that fights you every step of the build. With the IPMS Nationals in Fort Wayne around the corner, we keep things “Mojo Light” but pack in a ton of practical shop talk driven by listener messages, real bench mishaps, and the kind of small changes that add up to better results.

We start with what life looks like when guests are arriving, the yard needs attention, and the hobby room is mid-revamp. Then we share a true walkaway moment at the bench: a full waste-solvent spill, dead digital calipers, and the mad scramble to clean up safely. That leads to a bigger conversation modelers often ignore until it bites us, indoor air quality. We talk VOCs, why fumes can linger after you stop spraying, what an air quality monitor can reveal, and how extraction, respirators, and even dedicated VOC filtration can make your hobby room healthier.

From there, we dig into fun “what if” questions for history and research nerds, the missing records and photos we wish we could recover, and the extinct military subjects we would save for a museum. We also tackle a classic scale modeling debate: historical accuracy versus artistic license, and why the best-looking builds often balance accuracy, scale fidelity, and a tasteful finish.

If you enjoy scale modeling workflow tips, hobby room organization ideas, airbrush ventilation talk, and Nationals energy, you will feel right at home. Subscribe, share the show with a modeling buddy, and leave a review so more builders can find us.

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Beyond The Box Art® — Episode 34

Scale Model Podcast — Episode 162

IPMS UK & USA Presidents - TOGETHER

Hiya Benchmates — Episode 34 has landed, and this is one we've genuinely been looking forward to for a very long time.

For only the second time, Beyond The Box Art® joins forces with our great friends at The Scale Model Podcast for another special transatlantic collaboration, bringing together voices from both sides of the Atlantic for what has become a truly landmark episode.

This time, however, we're making a little bit of history...

Feature Discussion — The First Public IPMS Presidents Round Table

For the first time ever, the Presidents of IPMS UK, IPMS USA, and IPMS Canada come together publicly for one conversation.

Joining Brownie, Balders, Dan & Shane are Terry Miesle and Geoff Heyland, plus:

• Ian Middleton — President, IPMS UK
• • John Noack — President, IPMS USA

Together they discuss the future of IPMS, attracting new generations of modellers, supporting clubs and shows, the challenges facing modelling organisations around the world, and why the hobby remains as relevant today as ever.

Rather than a formal interview, this is a genuine round-table discussion between friends who all share the same goal — ensuring scale modelling continues to thrive for many years to come.

There are thoughtful discussions, plenty of laughs, a healthy amount of good-natured banter, and more than a few moments where international diplomacy is tested over plastic kits.

Stash Inflation Report

The team's wallets once again take a considerable battering as they round up the latest kit announcements, aftermarket releases and modelling temptations from around the world.

Aircraft, armour, naval subjects, Gunpla and everything in between all come under the spotlight, with plenty of opportunities to add "just one more kit" to the stash.

As always, expect a few questionable purchasing decisions, several enabling comments, and at least one declaration that "I definitely don't need another one..."

(We all know how that ends.)

This episode is more than simply another podcast.

It's a celebration of what can happen when modelling communities work together rather than apart, proving that while our accents, club badges and favourite subjects may differ, we're all united by exactly the same passion for scale modelling.

We sincerely hope this becomes the first of many annual conversations bringing together IPMS organisations from around the world.

So grab a brew, pull up a chair at the bench, and join us for a truly international conversation celebrating our hobby.

Beyond The Box Art® Episode 34 & The Scale Model Podcast Episode 162 starts NOW!

Brownie & the Beyond The Box Art® Team

Models. Modellers. Meaning.

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MiniArt has another kit loaded with ammo & crates for your Allied armor. 1/35th scale 7.5 cm shells with ammo boxes to complement your dioramas in our preview...Read on... »

The non-profit UK based group known as the Great War Aviation Society publishes their journal, Cross & Cockade International, four times a year. Issues are available in English as printed [Softbound, A4 (8.27” x 11.69”), 80 pages plus centerfold] as well as digital copies (or both). A new magazine, Contact!, is now available in both print and digital download. The Society also provides a free newsletter (sign up on their website) and occasionally publish WWI themed books like the Sopwith Dolphin monograph I reviewed earlier for IPMS USA. This Journal is the sister of the US Journal, Over The Front. The Great War Aviation Society also hosts a lecture series available through Zoom. If interested, you will need to register early as the call is limited in attendance. The Great War Aviation Society also is on Facebook and on X [Twitter].

Hasegawa first released their 1/48 A-7E in 1987 with various boxing still available today. To date it is the most accurate offering in shape and features. Where it is lacking and showing its age is in the cockpit assembly. ResKit have come to the rescue with a finely detailed 3D printed cockpit assembly which is an almost drop-in fit. Refer to the pictures that accompany this review to see the amazing level of detail on the ejection seat alone.

Tanks and Armor in the Battle for Moscow (Images of War series) by Ian Baxter is a photo-heavy illustrated history focused on German armored forces during the Battle of Moscow and related operations on the Eastern Front.

The book provides a visual account of the German Panzerwaffe’s advance toward Moscow, primarily covering Operation Typhoon (the 1941 offensive) and its aftermath. It draws on rare and unpublished photos with captions and a concise narrative.

The Soviet T-34 tank is omnipresent with WWII armor. When the German blitzkrieg erupted across Soviet territory, two tanks stunned the Germans, with the primary being the T-34. Its design was robust, armor effective and carried a main gun that could hold its own. Superior German tactics and neophyte Soviet doctrine and training still prevailed, but tank warfare was forever changed in those early encounters. The T-34 gained a fearsome reputation and captured examples were soon put in use against their former owners.

The author, Francis Pulham, continues with his Introduction,

"It's Fronkenstein" "You're puttin' me on?" "No..." "Well then why isn't it Froderick Fronkenstein?" "It isn't, it's Fredrick Fronkenstein." This time around we have another bust from Pestilence Labs from 1974's Young Frankenstein series - the Doctor. The kit is a pretty simple kit consisting of the 1:4 scale bust, castle base, the "How I Did It" book, and the 2 parts of the collar that flies open during the Act Normal! scene. I would have to look hard to find any problems but one thing I would have to guess is whys does the Doctor appear to be looking down? I have a theory that I'll keep to myself, as it's an excellent likeness. (@Pestilence image) To change things up a little I decided to do the base first. It's a simple pile of stones and decided to leave them blend into the overall look - so simple grays and blacks with light gray mortar were used. Moving on to the face I added my regular pink/purple mix. While I was waiting for it to dry, I painted the book with some of V's Cavalry Red. Adding some various flesh colors I got the color I was happy with.Looking closely at his hair it seemed that he had very dark roots with some bright highlights. It's also quite obvious that they had Wilder in a lot of mascara. Finally I had to look it up to find out he had blue eyes. While that was drying I turned back to the book to add the gold lettering. Finally, it shows him in a dark (black?) tuxedo jacket with a white shirt and collar. Not wanting to use just black and white, I used V's Black Gray, and their Off-white. Just recently I noticed the buttons on his shirt were dark. I'll have to make that change. Thanks for looking. ~~~

Just one kit so far next month from Hobbyboss – the V90-35NL IFV in 35th scale. We look at the colours, decals & built-up kit in our preview...Read on... »

Following the racing version, the road-going 1/24th-scale Lancia Fulvia Coupé 1.6 HF ”Fanalone” is Italeri's latest release. We have a feature set, sprues, colours, and decals all in our preview...Read on... »

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TJ leads us in an episode where we are missing JB and Jensen. We are joined by Armor Modeler Celebrity and T-34 Guru Stephen Reid.

We talk about Rust Techniques, Star Wars Studio Scale Modeling and available resources, and YouTube Sleeper Hits - pages with lower exposure/followers that are presenting super cool content! 

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The McDonnel Douglas F-4 Phantom II needs no introduction. With over 5,000 airframes built, and many being exported, including to the two countries covered by this decal sheet, Greece and Iran. The Hellenic Air Force (Polemikí Aeroporía) began using the planes in 1974 and has some Peace Icarus 2000 upgraded Phantoms still in service, while the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) may still have a few in service – their status is currently unknown due to the current issues the country is facing.

The McDonnel Douglas F-4 Phantom II needs no introduction. Over 5,000 airframes were built, and many were exported, including to the two countries covered by this decal sheet, Israel and South Korea. The IAF began operating the Phantom in 1968 in the wake of the 1967 Six-Day War, finally retiring the fleet in 2004. South Korea’s Republic of Korea Air Force was a Phantom operator from 1969 until their retirement in June 2024.

Taiwanese modeling company DXM Decals has released a set of 1/48 decals for five airframes, including three Israeli Air Force F-4Es, plus two Republic of Korea (South Korea) Air Force F-4Es. The decal set comprises two sheets, one standard-sized decal sheet is packed with images comprising what appears to be two complete sets of stencils, plus a half-sheet with serial numbers, roundels, and special markings.

A easy, basic kit of the Bull Frog. With the exception of the cockpit clear piece, the fit was good. Had to use stars & bars and the HMM 261 (actually a 268)from a Fujimi kit as HB got theirs wrong or were not included. The instructions had no interior color call outs which I thought was strange. Maybe someday Academy will re-issue their 48th kit again.

The McLaren 750S in 24th scale is the latest of Revell's detailed series of modern supercars. We look at the finished kit & its details in our preview...Read on... »

Background and Historical NotesFrom DXM Hobby Studio’s Decal Notes

These decal sheets provide some very colorful markings for five of the U.S. Navy’s F-1B/J Phantom squadrons, covering markings from the years 1968 – 1976. There is one a/c from VMFA-115 ‘Silver Eagles’ aboard the USS Forrestal in 1981, two a/c from squadron VMFA-451 ‘Warlords’ and two a/c from VF-96 ‘Fighting Falcons’.

This 1/48th scale sheet is intended for use with either the Academy, Hasegawa, Italeri, Revell, Tamiya or Zoukei Mura kits. That allows you to complete either an F-4B or F-4J from one of six alternate kits.

The non-profit UK based group known as the Great War Aviation Society publishes A new magazine, Contact!, is now available in both print and digital download. The first two issues of Contact! are available for a free digital download on their website. Their journal, Cross & Cockade International, is also published four times a year. Issues are available in English as printed [Softbound, A4 (8.27” x 11.69”), 72 pages [Including Covers] as well as digital copies (or both). The Society also provides a free newsletter (sign up on their website) and occasionally publish WWI themed books like the Sopwith Dolphin monograph I reviewed earlier for IPMS USA. This Journal is the sister of the US Journal, Over The Front. The Great War Aviation Society also hosts a lecture series available through Zoom.

South African Armoured Vehicles, Volume 1 - A History of Innovation and Excellence is revised and expanded from an earlier book by the author, Dr Dewald Venter, South African Armoured Fighting Vehicles: A History of Innovation and Excellence, 1960-2020 (Africa@War No. 36). The author notes that this updated edition is split into two editions. The author continues,

The success of the first edition, with positive reviews from numerous formal reviewers and a 4.7 out of 5-star rating on Amazon from 5 reviewers, was immensely encouraging. It is my hope this second edition will continue to serve as a definitive resource for anyone with an interest in South African armoured vehicles, military history, and the stories of the men and women who designed and operated these incredible machines.

Hi ! Here another project I have done in the past , this is the WILIAM BROS kit with a little lve..If you like to view more pics, just follow this Google link : https://photos.app.goo.gl/bAq7npPZ9eL4NCUX7 Enjoy ! Jmarc