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Unique beauty
We all agree that these days all cars are similar, designers copy each other and it is difficult to see something groundbreaking, something different, a vehicle that is really stands out from the others. Strong personality and exclusive design, terms that were undoubtedly key words in 20th century cars, have now taken a backseat. Although from time to time a glimmer of hope emerges...
Les Charlots
In the 1960s, the musical group "Les Charlots" was born in France and first became known for their songs and then for their films, which had a curious comic style full of continuous jokes.
Stone Models
At SpotModel we always have our doors open to new manufacturers that arrive to the market, and these days we are celebrating the addition of the Stone Models (formerly known as F1Stone) references to our catalogue.
Go MFH !!!
A few weeks ago we told you the sad news of the passing of the founder of Model Factory Hiro. However, recently we have received with great joy the news that Mrs. Kyoko Hiro takes over the presidency of the company and that the operation of the brand continues with a firm hand. Great!!!
El Torito
We haven't heard from El Torito for a while, a brand that markets decals with generic logos in various sizes, ideal for creating your own decorations or to complement or improve existing decorations. These days they have announced three new references with the logos of Mod'Plastia seats, Koni shock absorbers and the Autobacs spare parts sales company.
Magic
Doesn't it happen to you that there are certain products that mysteriously breed inside your drawers? One comes to think that there is a mischievous or evil being dedicated to multiplying them, but no, we regret to tell you that it is something more common than we would like. You enter the SpotModel website and you buy a model or a photoetch, you think: "Do I have black paint? Oops, I don't remember, so I'll order a bottle". After three months you return to the website: "As far as I can remember... I don't have any, so I better order it". And one day, when you decide to tidy up your drawers, you realize that you have eight identical bottles of paint. XD
43.5ºC / 110ºF
Yesterday the whole SpotModel team ended up in the pool, among other things because the thermometer went up and up until it reached 43.5 degrees Celsius (about 110 Farenheit). A temperature that justifies running out to get into the water and staying there for three days straight, except to go to the bathroom, to eat something and to assemble half a dozen scale models.... XD
Tamiying
Today we are going to talk you about the most amazing and relaxing sport that we have discovered at SpotModel, it is called... Tamiying!!! Get ready to immerse yourself in a world of fun as you assemble scale model cars and motorcycles in the comfort of your own home. Let's rock this new and exciting sport!
A private Ferrari
We love that part of scale modeling that allows us to know and tell unique stories and moments of motor racing, of which we would probably never have heard otherwise. For instance, Shunko Models announces its upcoming novelties and among them is a livery of an F1 Ferrari that calls our attention for one detail: the black air intake. But also, the number doesn't match any of the Ferrari regulars: it is number #36. Perhaps there was a race with a third driver registered, or where one of the original drivers got injured? Great mysteries of the world of competition... XD
Being the first
What is the greatest achievement in any race? It's quite clear: arrive first at the finish line. Teams strive to develop the latest technologies and provide them to their drivers, and these use those technologies at the highest level lap after lap for achieving that coveted goal. It is that simple, right? :-)
FW11 power
If we ask about "a system that changed the course of Formula 1 history", the answer is quick for most fans: the famous Williams active suspension. Many will think of the FW14b model used by Mansell in 1992 to achieve his only F1 crown and Prost's FW15c in 1993 achieving his fourth win, both with dominant seasons in the Formula 1 World Championship... so much dominant that the active suspension was forbidden for the following season.
A century of Le Mans
You can't deny it: the 92nd edition of the Endurance Race par excellence, which was celebrating its centenary, has had all the ingredients to be considered one of the most exciting of all time... it could even give rise to a new Hollywood script! XD
PrintLab is back on track!!!
As we told you a few weeks ago, SpotModel's PrintLab needed a pit stop. Since then we have replaced all the digital technology of our decal print production equipment, upgraded printing software, and run hundreds of tests to achieve the best balance between decal thickness, gloss, and color coverage. It has not been easy at all!!! But we think that the improvement achieved has been really remarkable. :)
Wing screws
Perhaps it is not seen, but it is there. And if it is there, it is clear that it must be placed, precisely because it is there. Right?
King of the 308
There are only a few Ferrari 308s that have participated in competition, but the history of some of them is really exciting, or at least curious. We are going to talk about the first unit of a Ferrari 308 GTB that arrived to the US. Ferrari had problems in the American market due to the new safety and emissions regulations, and such problems prevented that the successor of the Daytona (the 365 GT4 BB) could even be sold in the US. In 1975, when Ferrari introduced the 308 GTB, the owner of the Ferrari dealer in San Francisco Ray Ramsey used an exemption in the legislation to be able to import one to his country before the first official unit arrived to the US.
...and more to come!!!
As everyone knows, we love talking about novelties, both about the new references that we receive at SpotModel, as well as about the references that manufacturers announce for the coming months. But this time we go sooooo much further: we are going to talk about some products that have not yet been even announced... What do you think?
MP4/2C
A few weeks ago we told you some things about the impressive McLaren Honda MP4/4 and today it's the turn of one of its predecessors: the McLaren TAG Porsche MP4/2C. It was the third evolution of the MP4/2, characterized by some changes in aerodynamics, which helped McLaren to take second place in the 1986 constructors' championship, with Prost and Rosberg at the wheel. Today it is unthinkable that a Formula 1 model remains collecting victories in the championship for 3 consecutive seasons, hence the huge importance of the MP4/2.
Kevlar
We are going to talk a little about kevlar, a great invention widely used in the world of motor racing. This material has some very interesting characteristics such as its lightness, resistance to breakage, and its easy machining. Embedded in a resin, it allows the manufacturing of bucket seats, helmets, mufflers, fuel tanks, all kinds of parts and body sections, and lots more. A real wonder.
#92
Attention!!! Are we all really paying attention? Sure? Perfect, because we don't want anyone to miss the news: the Porsche 911 991 GT3 RSR by Nunu is coming, with the legendary "pink pig" livery with number #92 at the 2018 Le Mans. Yes, you read it right!!!! The boss, who is crazy about anything that has a Porsche label on, says he wants half a dozen to whet his appetite. It is scheduled to arrive in Europe for the end of this summer and soon we will open the product so that you can book as many as you want, in case you are even crazier than the boss... XD
Pit stop for PrintLab
SpotModel's PrintLab has been running non-stop since 2019, every single day of each year, bringing digital decal prints of the designs of the most intrepid scale modelers to all parts of the planet. :)
MP4/4
The McLaren MP4/4 was born a winner: in 16 races held in the 1988 season, it achieved 15 victories, 15 pole positions, 8 fastest laps, 10 one-two finishes, 25 podiums (out of 32 possible) and 199 points (out of 240 possible). All of this earned McLaren the top position in the Constructors' Championship, with Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost finishing first and second in the championship. It is statistically one of the best single-seaters in the history of Formula 1.
312 F1
Back in the days when a paddock was just a little more than a horse stable, when the team names were written in chalk on the wall, when they drank a few beers before qualifying or smoked a couple of cigarettes before putting on their helmets, there were really authentic and slightly crazy people who spent hours and hours around some machines whose effectiveness and speed half of the time were the result of a daring idea that an engineer had while peeing.
On the snow
This weekend takes place the largest event in European civil scale modeling, at the beautiful town of Jabbeke in Belgium. Under the title of Jabbeke on the road we, the best / most handsome / friendliest scale modelers from all over Europe, will meet to enjoy a good chat, fresh beer and lots of snow!!!
300SLR
How much would you pay for a Mercedes 300 SLR "Uhlenhaut Coupé" knowing that only 9 chassis were manufactured in total, and that only two of them were converted to the coupe version? The last of them was sold for 135 million euros, which is not bad, not bad at all. It is a pity that for some of our "scale" wallets these figures are slightly unreachable, because it cannot be denied that the 300 SLR is one of the most elegant, interesting and beautiful cars to come out of the Mercedes factory.
Test 2023
The official tests of the Formula 1 pre-season will begin in Bahrain this weekend, in order to take advantage of the start of the season and reduce operational costs, since with current fuel prices it is not wise to waste resources. And thanks to current technology, these tests can be seen on TV and on the Internet practically anywhere on the planet. Great!!! We love that the top category of racing motorsports is starting back again. :)
Lotus Ford Type 72D
One day like any other, the boss was wasting time in front of the computer searching for who knows what, and then he felt in love. It was a picture of Emerson Fittipaldi flying at the British GP at the wheel of a gorgeous, slim, slender, daring, and brutally beautiful black machine. That incredible machine was the Lotus Ford Type 72D, without any doubts one of the most beautiful racing machines ever built (well, that was a bit of sucking up to the boss...).
SpotModel, for those who want more
A week ago we brought you news about the novelties that have been presented at the Nuremberg Toy Fair, some really tasty and interesting. However, some modelers are dissatisfied: they are only a few novelties, or this car or that motorcycle or truck has not been released... Clearly you can't please everybody, since scale modeling "maniacs" will always want more. But do we really have room at the desk or at home for more? XD
Nuremberg Toy Fair 2023
Here's the SpotModel team broadcasting live, announcing the highlights of the Spielwarenmesse 2023 where the main manufacturers of plastic scale models show us their next releases... here we go!!!!
Excitement 2023
A few days ago the exciting Dakar Rally came to an end, with fantastic dune landscapes, unusual waterspouts and a spectacular end to the event, especially in the motorcycle section. We have enjoyed it very much.
i20 WRC
This week we are walking around with a big beautiful smile on our faces... why? Have our work salaries been raised? Have our dear children gotten an A in their studies? Do we have a new car in the garage? None of that, the reason for that smile is called Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC in 1/24 scale by Belkits. Yesss!!!
Supergirls
We civilian scale modelers are crazy about wheels, spoilers, fairings, carburettors... and that's fantastic. They drive us crazy. And don't talk to us about any other topics, please.
Farewell
The 2023 starting flag has just come down and we already have a lot of interesting news at the head of the race. The reissue of the Tamiya Tyrrell Ford 003 just arrived, and so did the beautiful Bugatti Type 35B in 1/12 scale by Italeri and the new 2022 Nissan Fairlady Z RZ34 by Tamiya. In the first turns we came across a lot of decals from LB Production and SK Decals, as well as new KMP references for the Ford Sierra by D.Modelkits. So we are going to smash hard on the glue and the airbrush to avoid the tasks to pile up :)
Goodbye 2022, hello 2023
We are ending the year, and although in some matters (like COVID-19) it has heavily improved compared to the previous ones, we hope that in 2023 we will continue to improve in other things... In 2021 we end up wishing we could attend more scale modeling contests and meetings, and that desire is gradually being fulfilled, but we want more, many many more XD
Xmas time
While painting and sanding four parts, the year has already gone by and we haven't even noticed... we are already at Christmas!!! It's time to finish a couple of scale models during the holidays, taking advantage of the fact that we'll be home for more time (if they let us stay home hahaha).
Urgency
"Where's my stuff?" "When will my order arrive?" "It is very urgent for me, where is my shipment?" "The postman says he was here, but he wasn't... where did he take my parcel?" These issues are very common in these days, so close to Christmas. We, who are normally patient and calm scale modelers, also get desperate on these dates when our desired products from SpotModel do not arrive in a reasonable time... and it is more and more frequent that logistics collapse due to the increase of online shopping and we all suffer from it, right?
Tambay
A few days ago we lost Patrick Tambay, a great driver and one of those privileged people who raced for the "Scuderia". After making his debut in 1977 with Surtees, he went on and drove for the Theodore Racing team in the following race. Later he had a modest period at McLaren in 1978 and 1979, and ended up joining Ferrari as a substitute for Giles Villeneuve after his tragic loss at the Zolder Grand Prix in 1982. It was precisely at Ferrari where he obtained his best results, achieving two victories and being a participant in the Ferrari constructors' titles of 1982 and 1983.
Plasticard
Who has not used plasticard four hundred and twenty times to improve the hood of a sports car, to create anti-roll bars on a GT, to modify the spoiler of an F1, to add details to a motorcycle engine or to build a whole truck from scratch? We've all used it, right?
Cyber Monday... and 95
One of the most anticipated moments of the e-commerce year has arrived: the CyberMonday. Yaaaayyyyy! And at SpotModel we have decided to celebrate it with you, selling 95 products on our website at a very attractive price (ending in "and 95 cents") for a limited time: just 95 hours.
Outlet by SpotModel
Of the many shelves that we have at SpotModel, today we want to tell you about one in particular that we call Outlet, where we lovingly store all the products that have suffered some type of cosmetic damage before arriving at our facilities. They are usually scale models that have a slightly bruised box (for instance a damaged corner or a broken seal), paint jars that are stained, spray cans that have a broken cap, books that have some damage on the cover... All of them are just external damages, but the important thing is that the product is in perfect conditions of use.
Flying elephants
Have you ever seen an elephant flying? Even more, have you even heard it doing so closely? Those of us who have had the opportunity to see elephants fly and listen to them up close can confirm that they are truly brutal machines.
Dreams Matter
Before reading on, we recommend that you turn up the volume on your speakers and watch this exciting video without a blink :)
Volkswagen T2
It's been a few months since the supply of USCP products stopped due to the current conflict between Ukraine and Russia, but little by little we are finally getting back to normal. With many difficulties, but joining efforts, normal activity is being restored and currently the logistics are beginning to be moderately operational. So we are very happy to say that we have been able to restore USCP supplies to our warehouse. :D
Kreidler
Motor racing has become nowadays way more technical, up to really high levels, and there are only a handful of brands that have enough engineering power and properly sized pockets to be able to continue developing cutting-edge racing machines. But a few years ago things were very different, there were many "garage brands", many small manufacturers and many small engineering teams who were capable of manufacturing really fast and efficient devices. In this big bag of brave brands there is one based in Germany that we especially like: Kreidler.
On the crest of the wave
We have to insist one more week: the very clear market trend towards the production of parts using 3D printers is unstoppable. For some years now, almost all manufacturers have used this technology to produce the "master" of their parts, prominent brands such as Model Factory Hiro have included small parts produced by 3D printing for a long time, or some manufacturers such as Decalcas already make all their products using these modern and sophisticated techniques.
3D printing even for the prizes
We had already commented in a previous newsletter that last weekend the first edition of the Toral de los Vados Scale Modeling Contest was being held. So we grabbed a few SpotModel stickers, the SpotModel sweatshirt, the SpotModel signature book and a SpotModel box with samples of products for sale at our store, and off we went. :)
Like an actual 917
We love cars and that is why we build scale models, just as we love details, and that is why we want our builds to have as much detail as possible, to be as faithful as possible to reality. In plastic injection kits this is a problem due to the technological limitations that greatly condition the manufacture of the parts.
RS3 + RS4
If you read RS3 or RS4, it is normal that your mind quickly thinks about Audi. But, if what you like above everything else is Formula 1, then you will be thinking about the Williams Renault FW14 and the FW14B. And this is because the first of them raced the 1991 season and part of 1992 with the Renault RS3C engine, upgrading later to the RS4 engine, both with 3500cc in V10 configuration.
Historical Curiosities
For many of us, scale modeling is something more than just sticking pieces together: it is a magnificent opportunity for learning and knowing more about the world of motor racing, the different characteristics of the real model or their differences with other versions, and even discover curious stories.
Hurry up!
Periodically, Model Factory Hiro reissues some of their references in Japan, which allow us to have access to out-of-production models in the largest scales. These reissues are limited and produced in very very short runs, that is, they manufacture very few units. On this occasion we echo various reissues of 1/12 scale models that have been announced and that you can already reserve at SpotModel, all of them really interesting: McLaren MP4/4, Ferrari 250 GTO, Ferrari 250 LM, Bentley Speed8 and Bugatti Type 35. Wooooow!!!!
Seventy two thousand
Seventy two thousand two hundred and four, that is exactly the number of items we moved last weekend, from our old warehouse to the new SpotModel facilities. Oh my god it was condensed! It seemed like there wasn't that much, but we started moving everything and it went on, and on, and on... XDD
ABM 2022
There is just one month to go until the ABM 2022 Scale Modeling Contest will be held at Toral de los Vados, a small town in northern Spain where the Berciana Scale Modeling Association has been preparing for months a contest that promises to be different from what we are all used to see.
On fire!!!
As many of you know, SpotModel is located in the south of Spain, at the Costa del Sol. A destination that many choose to enjoy on vacation due to its climate, beaches, gastronomy, atmosphere and the large number of nice cars that can be seen on the streets XD
Carrera GTP
During the 80s, Porsche created a machine that would become a true racing legend. An engine tuned to offer up to 325 horsepower, less than 1000 kilograms in weight, widened and fattened on all sides giving it an absolutely impressive appearance... a beauty that raced at Le Mans in 1981 and that now we will finally be able to build in 1/24 scale. Great!!!
Vasek Polak Racing Team
All racing teams usually have a gasoline lover behind them and the Vasek Polak Racing Team is a clear example of this. Its Czech founder Vasek Polak began his career as a mechanic and racing in local events in his native country. He moved to the USA where he started repairing US Army engines, and later he opened a small repair shop. A few years after that, he became the first seller of Porsche vehicles in North America. Creating his own racing team full of models like the 917, 934, 935, etc. was just a matter of time.
Non-stop
We recently told you about the Fuengirola Scale Modeling Contest, a couple of weeks ago they raced the 24 Hours of Le Mans, last week the Safari Rally was held and in the United Kingdom the Goodwood Festival of Speed, this weekend is celebrated the Le Mans Classic in France and the Formula 1 Grand Prix at Silverstone. What a joy! We love that normality returns to our lives, and that races, model competitions and all those adventures that we all love so much are finally back.
Ford Escort Zakspeed
In the 1979 European Touring Car Championship, a group 2 Ford Escort of the German team Zakspeed sponsored by D&W took the third place. Veterans tell us that the top three of the ranking finished with 180 points, and that it was a dizzying and exciting season like few others.
We didn't expect that!
A few weeks ago we told you about the Decalcas chain for the Suzuki GSX-RR an awesome product that left us speechless. History repeats itself and Decalcas surprises us again with another great product that we did not expect: a detail-up set for the Suzuki GSX-RR by Tamiya that replaces parts such as the rear brake disc and caliper, rear tire axle and nut, chain tensioner, brake and gear shifting levers, stand brackets, and also adds the antennas to the side camera and replaces the fastening screws of the visible chassis sections already included in the original Tamiya box for new resin parts that faithfully recreate the head of the originals, as well as replacing the numerous simulated screws on the surface of the fairing. Look at that!
Rally challenge 2022
As many of you already know, the SpotModel facilities are located in southern Europe, at the Costa del Sol, an enviable place to live and work thanks to its microclimate with warm temperatures in summer and moderate temperatures in winter. We have beaches, forest and mountain areas, wonderful gastronomy, beautiful places to visit and enjoy. Where else could SpotModel be? :D
A whole new universe
Why have the thinking heads of the world of modeling taken so long to bring out a marvel like the one we bring you today? By the hand of DAB Models we introduce you the 1/43 scale reproduction of the legendary Sega Rally 2 arcade machine... Combining rallies, video games and nostalgia all together? Come on man, who can resist that? XDDDD All the parts are made by 3D printing using the high quality resins that DAB Models has accustomed us to, achieving great detail and realism, which will undoubtedly delight the nerdiest of the geeks. We can already imagine more than a few racking their brains to find a way to include this arcade icon in some diorama XDDD
MFH May 2022 Re-releases
The month of May is slipping through our fingers, but there are still a few days left and there is still time to preorder some of the fantastic 1/12 scale models that MFH reissues. The list is really sweet: Porsche 917K, Alfa Romeo 159, Ferrari 256F1, Lancia 037 Rally and Ferrari 126C2. Run to preorder yours if you want it because they are very limited units and on May 31st they will stop accepting orders!!!
Bob Letterman
The most veterans of the place will remember those photographs of fantastic "superdioramas" in Verlinden or FineScale Modeler publications 40 years ago, with a thousand and one details, completely innovative in techniques, details and concept. For sure you smiled unconsciously while remembering them, right? How many summer afternoons have you been enjoying with those dioramas? :D
KMP is back!!!
We are pleased to announce that finally, after a long wait of more than six months... KMP is back!!! During this time KMP has evolved as a company, it has improved its internal processes, it has matured in the commercial relationship with SpotModel, it has opened collaborations with highly qualified professionals and is expanding the product range to new fields, such as Formula 1. In short, all great news.
A long long time ago...
Back in the Paleolithic, the human being already began to dedicate part of his time to modify elements that he found in nature to turn them into tools that would facilitate his life. We can perfectly imagine that man or woman sharpening stones or bones, giving them the desired shape to obtain knives, arrowheads or needles to sew skins. Wasn't this a form of modeling? The first way of modeling, we want to think :)
Fujimi Avalanche
"If they're here it's because we've ordered them, that's obvious, but what we didn't expect is that they all arrived at the very same time! XD" declared earlier an employee at SpotModel :-)
D.Modelkits
Some time ago we began to hear that a new brand called D.Modelkits was preparing to release the plastic model of the Ford Sierra Cosworth 4x4 in both Monte Carlo 1991 and 1992 Portugal Rally versions. Since then we have all been impatient and eager to know more details but it has not been until today that we have been able to see the very first pictures of the assembled models and their exploded views. And everything looks awesome!!!
What's up, Doc?
This week we have a strange novelty at SpotModel: the Tamiya Wolf WR1 in 1/20 scale, when EVERYONE knows that the 2010 reedition of this scale model was discontinued a few years ago.
Open hearted!
That 3D printing is becoming more and more present in scale modeling was already very clear to us, and also that it is a technology that is here to stay, but what has just arrived to us from GPmodeling is going to mark a before and after. Attention everyone, three engines for three legendary Italian cars: Lancia 037, Lancia Delta and Fiat 131!!! That's just crazy!!! :D
The chain we were all waiting for
We all know that detailing the chain of our scale model motorcycles has always been a headache, even with the Tamiya models, among other things because blinded links continue to appear and the detail and realism that we all want is missing.
Logos that don't kill
A few years ago the ban on tobacco advertising came into force throughout the European Union, in a similar way to what happened in other countries of the world, which wanted to make clear the message "Smoking kills". The advertisements disappeared from all media but they did so progressively, because some countries did not comply or did not have legislation in this regard yet.
Virtual Nuremberg 2022
Since more than 70 years ago, the Toy Fair is held every year at Nuremberg, where plastic scale model makers present their novelties. It was not possible to hold it this year, the fair was canceled a few weeks ago, so some manufacturers have held a kind of Virtual Fair to present their products.
Screendesign
Dear biker friends, be well seated because what you are going to read is going to make your legs shake... If you like to build scale motorcycles, almost certainly you have used decals designed by Screendesign at some point. And the fact is that behind this name there are many years of making absolutely spectacular decal designs for prestigious brands such as Ragged edge, Renaissance or Studio27. If you pay attention you will see the Screendesign logo on them. Did you never noticed? :)
Now you're talking!!!
A few months ago the new Number Five polishes appeared, in both medium and fine grain, and at that very moment all the tubes, jars, tins and bottles of different polishes from a thousand and one brands that we had in our workbench drawer went to the trash bin. And why is that? Well, because Number Five nailed it again with a great product that works like a charm.
A flying motorcycle!
"I couldn't believe it if I hadn't seen it", how many times have we repeated this sentence. There are things that just seem incredible, like a flying motorcycle. We never thought that we would have that vision right before our eyes, and yet the "miracle" is happening at SpotModel facilities. The Suzuki GSX-RR by Tamiya is flying from our shelves to your workbenches XDDD They leave the warehouse at incredible speed, literally two at a time in many cases.
Finish line
We are steadily approaching the finish line of 2021, a very intense year in which we have finally been able to start seeing our modeling friends again in contests and events. We all wish and hope that the year 2022 will be more productive in this area and that we will be able to assemble many more models, attend many more competitions and enjoy much more with our fellow hobby friends.
We wish you a Merry Christmas
Christmas is finally here. Those days when one stays at home, not rushing anywhere, without having to fight with the traffic, when we have time to enjoy our family, our friends and, above all... our models!!! Great!!!
Deliciously exciting
In general terms, this F1 season has been without any doubts one of the best in the last maaaaaaaaany years. And in particular, this year's closing race has been a historical one, incredibly fast-paced until the very last moment. We are really happy that the Formula 1 shines today with force and splendor. Our sincerest congratulations not only to the winners, but to everyone who has been part of this exciting show.
Delta... king size!!!
Wow!!! Let's say it louder: WOW!!! Wait, wait, again: Yesss!!!! We can even say it again: Yippeee!!!! :-)
SpotModel Outlet
We start this month of December with its gifts, with its holiday spirit... and with a new idea: the SpotModel Outlet!!!
Cyber Monday 2021
Today we close the Cyber Week and inaugurate Cyber Monday, where we continue to try to bring joy to all of you. We know that many of you love our proposal from the past years (as you have let us know), so this year we will repeat it: all orders made in SpotModel between 00:01 on Thursday, November 25th and 23:59 on Monday, November 29th (both GMT+1) will include a gift that we will select specially for you :D
The beauty of simplicity
Cars are constantly evolving and today they are complex works of mechanical and electronic engineering, but this has not always been the case. We've all heard about the Jeep Willys MB, amazing in its simplicity and functionality. This vehicle has been used extensively as a military off-road vehicle and as such it had to meet strict requirements in terms of reliability, functionality and practicality.
Well done, boss!!!
As we announced in our previous newsletter, the Fuengirola Scale Modeling Contest took place last weekend, and there we went like every other year to meet up with old friends and make new friends, talk about models and have a good time having some beers... :)
Fuengirola 2021
After almost two years without modeling events, it seems that a relative normality returns and this weekend we have a model contest!!! Out of the usual date, the Fuengirola Scale Modeling Contest is back, where we will surely gather a good troop of modelers eager to talk about glues, the latest plastic part, how wonderful our models are and how lame are the others'...
C3 WRC!!!
It was announced many months ago, we opened the preorder period in April and it had the estimated arrival date by October, so we can finally say that... they are already here!!! Yeeessss!!! The two models of the Citroën C3 WRC by Belkits have arrived and are ready to jump onto your workbench.
Heavenly music
Like an orchestra, with its highs, mids and lows, generating sound at full volume, the engine of the Williams Renault FW14B sang beautiful melodies in the 1992 F1 season with Mansell and Patrese winning every race: South Africa, Mexico, Brazil, Spain, San Marino, France, Germany...
Porscheeeee!!!
Can there be someone who does not know Porsche? In our brains of pure fans of the brand, this idea is inconceivable... Even more, can there be a single scale modeler in the world who does not have a built Porsche model on his shelf? We hope not! :D
Highlight Model Studio
This Finnish manufacturer of photo-etched parts, which focuses mainly on designing and producing references for VW Beetle lovers, has launched three new references. In case someone does not know it yet, Highlight Model Studio offers a catalog of high quality parts to improve your 1/24 scale model cars and all of them are incredibly cool!!! :D
The M8 GTE has just arrived!!!
Ali baba and the forty thieves wanted to steal the ship container, Little Red Riding Hood's wolf ate some model boxes, Cinderella's fairy wanted to turn one of the models into a real-size car to go to the dance... but still we made it and finally have here the BMW M8 GTE by Nunu. So many incidents that it felt like pure fantasy, but that were the harsh reality: the pandemic, the maritime logistics chaos, a truck that traveled 1000 kilometers somewhere at the speed of a turtle, and some courier that wrecked a good pile of units. Anyway, everything is now part of a story that had a happy ending :-)
2 x McLaren
Indeed, our friends!!! McLaren has finally won an F1 award back again after a very long time without reaching the top of the podium. They did it at the Monza Italian Grand Prix and also in the form of a double win: first place for Daniel Ricciardo and second place for Lando Norris. A great victory, both deserved and longed for a long time by his followers.
KMP
Kool Models Production, better known as KMP, is an Italian brand born in mid 2016. Since the beginning of their life, they have not stopped designing and printing parts for improving our beloved scale models using 3D technology. For all of you who have not yet had the opportunity to see, touch, sand or paint any KMP parts, we can only tell you one thing: 3D printing is not the future, it is already "the present", and we love it!!! :D
Finally!
At the 1984 Tour de Corse, Audi presents a new evolution of the Audi Quattro A2, with more than 450 hp, lighter and with an even shorter wheelbase. He only achieved one victory, in the 1984 Ivory Coast Rally. It will be used in 1985 until the Ivory Coast Rally but it did not achieve any victories, although he conquered several podiums. But most importantly, this car laid the foundation for the absolutely brutal Audi Sport Quattro S1.
917 1971
It seems incredible, already fifty years ago... In fact, it is easy to say so, but FIFTY years went away already since a beautiful white machine suitably stylized with red, blue and light blue lines due to The Martini Racing sponsorship and with the Porsche crest at the front, turned 397 laps to the La Sarthe circuit and won the "glories" in the most famous motorsport competition on planet earth.
Dear SpotModel
It is possible that the most veterans remember what modeling was like before the internet dominated our lives, let's say back in the 80's. To order a scale model from a specialized store, you had to first write a letter asking them to send you a list of What they had in stock, weeks later you received the postal reply with the photocopied list and then, happier than a clam, you placed your order, again by letter.
Holidays? NO WAY!
We will never ever get tired of saying that we love our jobs. We have managed to earn a living with our favorite hobby that also keeps us magically attached to a world that we are passionate about: motor racing.
Just one day
The day counter that we have at SpotModel says that we have been shipping your orders non-stop for more than 2000 days in a row. That's insane!!! Throughout those maaaaaaaaany days we have been preparing parcels, putting stickers, dispatching boxes, filling hundreds of vans of logistics companies... restless, but also without fatigue and always with a smile on our faces :)
Delicious
As every day you log into your favorite forum, your social network groups, read the crossed replies between modelers where the projects in progress are shown, where each one shows their little secrets, where every day one can see our "model daughters" grow (and so our brother modellers), one brushstroke at a time, one piece at a time, one decal at a time, and even one mess at a time... Because it is useless to deny it: some more, and others even much more, we screw it up enormously in the not easy task of assembling a model.
Fast and Furious
Are you a fan of the fast-paced street races of the Fast & Furious movies? Currently we have the ninth film of this saga on the cinema screens and surely more than one of you will vibrate in the seats with the adrenaline rush, the skidding and the roaring of the engines. Well, for the Fast & Furious lovers, today we bring you a SpotModel newsletter especially dedicated to you... :D
Gaaaaaaas!!!
This weekend we smelled that good gasoline again, the kind used by racing cars. That poison that smells so divinely, specially when it's served together with the smell of a burned tire and a brake disc on fire. A hill climb in a nearby road in our area (no, it was not Pikes Peak) allowed us to jump with excitement when we saw the cars go by in front of us. What do you think of this gorgeous Porsche? Amazing!!! :D
Mark II
The word "mark", followed by a number, is a method of designating a version of a product, for which its abbreviation is very frequently used: "Mk". So, if we talk about the Ford GT40 Mk II, that means that we are looking at the second version of one of the most beautiful, fast, intrepid and winning racing machines that has come out of the Ford factory.
99T
We already told you in newsletter number 463 that Nunu was working on the version of the Lotus Honda 99T in 1/12 scale, and today we can say that the kit is expected to see the light at the end of the year and will recreate the configuration used at the Mónaco Grand Prix, where Senna achieved his first of many victories in Formula 1 in this track. But the best of all is that... you can already preorder it NOW at SpotModel!!! :D
Superturrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrbo
By the end of the 20s of the last century, Bentley engineers created a 4500cc engine and planted it in all the 720 units of their newest car model. And as if that weren't enough, 55 of those units get also a turbocharger. And as if it wasn't a big deal, one of these is taken to race at Le Mans. And what happened? Well, not much, only that it won the race...
Fujimi has arrived
A few minutes ago we heard a powerful sound: the engine of the huge truck that brought us our long-awaited shipment of Fujimi scale models, supposedly arriving a few weeks ago. Between the virus, the delay due to maritime transport issues and many others problems, the dates have been pushed back way more than we liked but finally the supply has arrived. Hooray!!!
Shizuoka 2021
The largest event for worldwide scale modeling manufacturers has been held in Shizuoka for no less than 59 years. This year has been a little strange due to the circumstances that are limiting us all, but that has not detracted anything from the event. So let's cut the introduction and let's go directly to what interests us... cars and motorcycles scale models!!!
Contacta clear
Today we are not going to talk about cars, motorcycles or drivers, today we are going to introduce you a new product just arrived that we LOVED, so we felt like it deserved to be highlighted. It is called Contacta Clear by Revell and it is an acrylic glue that dries completely transparent. It surprises at first sight due to its density, it is served in a bottle with 20 grams of product (about 17ml) and it also includes an application brush on the lid.
Color flares
Like a cool summer breeze... that's how we have welcomed the new Number Five paints at SpotModel. With an eye-catching packaging and with different product ranges, the little bottles are parading in front of our excited eyes while an unstoppable desire to storm out of the office and try them is growing inside us, because they look REALLY good.
King of the Hill
Bobby Unser might not be well known outside of North America, but he is quite a legend there. He won the USAC National Championships and CART in 1968 and 1974, and was runner-up in 1970, 1979 and 1980, and third in 1967, 1969, and 1975. He won the Indianapolis 500 Miles in 1968, 1975, and 1981, and finished second in 1974, third in 1969, fifth in 1979 and sixth in 1978. He won the Pocono 500 Miles in 1980 and the Ontario 500 Miles in 1974, 1976, 1979 and 1980. In the Indy he obtained a total of 35 scoring victories and 83 podiums, and he triumphed at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb thirteen times....
Full throttle
Our custom decal printing service works non-stop and we wanted to thank you once again for trusting us. The Print Lab was an idea that we started with great enthusiasm and hopes, but knowing how you, our dear customers, would react to it was a true mystery. And honestly, it is a great pleasure to see how you put the very same enthusiasm and hopes into it :)
Paint and Go!
Sometimes we think that we have seen everything as far as the scale modeling scene is concerned, yet luckily new things keep appearing to surprise us. This week the award goes to Decalcas for the latest idea they had, really simple but at the same time very useful for all of use who seek to get down the ultimate detail, and also for those of us who seek productivity in our assemblies.
Garelli 125
Back in the 80s, the seasoned Angel Nieto kept us glued to the TV Sunday after Sunday to see how he fought for every victory at the handle bars of the Garelli 125. Just in 1982, he started nine races and managed to climb six times to the top of the podium. Year 1983 came and again he won six of the 10 races that he entered. And he didn't win even more times due to the repeated failuerse of a spark plug...
And the winner is...
The final standings of this year's edition of the Virtual Jabbeke was announced a few days ago, an event that has brought together modelers from all over the world in a "virtual" way with a total and resounding success in both assistance and organization. Thanks to each and every one who made this dream possible!!!
Nunu 2021
Let nobody calm down and let's panic!!! Nunu has finally announced us everything that they have scheduled for this year, on top of what we already know. And what exactly is coming our way? Nothing less than the reedition of the Martini S4 and the official S1, the 935 Kremer K3 sponsored by Gozzy, the evolution of the Audi R8 of the 2019 season, the reedition of the Cruze and a new version of the M6. These are the "official" news, but off the record, NOTHING LESS than: in 1/12 scale the Lotus 99T and 1993 Suzuki RGV500, and in 1/24 scale the 1980 DRM winner BMW 320i E21, the Mazda RX-7 Le Mans 1981, the Peugeot 306 Maxi Evo2 and the Audi A4 BTCC. Wwwoooowww!!!
Renntransporter
If you see pictures of a Renntransporter it is absolutely inevitable that a smile draws on your face, since it is a mixture of beauty and inventiveness: a T1 van with a modified chassis and elongated body to accommodate a racing car...
Magnus Walker
There is no doubt that Magnus Walker is a truly peculiar person. We met him a while ago at a car event, we took some selfies and chatted briefly. And what is the misfortune of poor Magnus Walker? Well, he likes cars, especially Porsches, like many of us. He owns quite a nice collection of them BUT...
Piggy Bank
Some time ago, we created the SpotModel Wallet by popular demand, where for simplicity we deposit the money refunds of your cancellations of products and orders if not otherwise requested. And we were all happy :-)
Virtual Hobby Show
In the last days we have received with great joy the information of two events that are going to take place soon in "virtual" format, since the pandemic does not allow us to carry them out in a traditional way.
Ships that sail once in a lifetime (...or twice)
Back in 2003, Scale Motorsport put on the market a mind blowing product, nothing less than a super detail-up kit for the Porsche 935 Turbo in 1/12 scale by Tamiya. Something that was like from another galaxy back in those days, since nobody had ever seen anything like it: a box full of small machined, metal turned, milled and photo-etched parts... It was not within everyone's reach, because of both it's price tag and for being a limited edition. The nearly 500 lucky people who were able to access one of these wonders had a great time detailing their models, but... what about the rest of us? Well, we had to accept that we missed it, right?
Overtake everyone with your SpotModel apron!!
Have you ever stained your favorite shirt with dust from sanding putty all day long? And what about the pajamas with traces of glue and solvent stains? How many pants ended up with paint drips? A few, that's for sure. We need a solution!!! :D
No-Nuremberg 2021
Around this time of the year, some of us should be preparing the suitcase for flying to Nuremberg to attend the Toy Fair, a meeting point for the main manufacturers of plastic scale models where they reveal the novelties that will delight us during the year. But this year the suitcase will remain in the closet, since due to the pandemic the fair will not be held.
Low temperatures
These days the whole Europe has temperatures below the freezing point, it is really cold, streets are full of ice and snow and everything get more complicated for couriers, vans, trucks, etc... who are responsible for moving your orders from SpotModel to your cozy home, since they find many problems to carry on with their jobs as usual. These days everything goes slower.
DAB Models
In our never-ending quest for interesting products that we can make available to you from anywhere in the world, we have come across a new brand that undoubtedly has a promising future.
Starting line
We are already prepared on the starting line of the year 2021, ahead we have a whole year for sanding, painting, glueing and placing decals on maaany many scale models. And what great news is this year going to bring us? We still don't have many clues from the plastic manufacturers, who usually announce the "good news" in February, but we can tell you what we already have on the grid and warming up the engines.
Let's say goodbye to 2020
2020 has been a very complicated year that has challenged us all in different ways, with many changes, with many moments and situations that we never imagined could happen. Luckily, we scale modelers have had our little refuge in our hobby: the passion for models, for those boxes full of little pieces, has given us good times at home, which helped us to disconnect from the daily problems. That's what we want to keep from 2020. :)
Merry Christmas!
We're really excited to see we are truly present at your Christmas! We see the pictures you share or send us, and our eyes shine with emotion... we feel that we must be doing something right. :D
P/1046 Chassis
1966, a year that will always be remembered for the controversial and memorable 24 Hours of Le Mans race where the Ford GT40 Mk. II, gorgeous, black, with number 2, with chassis P/1046, finally took ALL the glories, making Enzo Ferrari, Ken Miles and a few others quite angry.
In detail
Choose any model you have yet to assemble, open the box and look at the injected plastic parts, particularly those related to the mechanical parts. Now look closely. Even closer, please. What do you see? Sticks that should be screws, hexagonal shapes that are frustrated attempts at nuts, globs that try to resemble rivets, and a host of many other "blunders" that because of either the limitations of plastic injection molds, for the little detail of the product or because the manufacturer has not gone "further", make these parts not having the look you want.
Treat yourself and be amazed
Very special dates are arriving, in which we all want to show our affection and closeness to the people that we love, sharing good times and, of course, giving away some detail that makes them feel that we have them in our mind and in our heart. But... what about you? Don't you love yourself?
Cyber Monday
This year has been at least different, nobody can doubt it. For this reason, at SpotModel we have also decided to celebrate Cyber Monday in a different way from previous years :-)
Print Lab - Upgrade 3
It is incredible how time goes by, right? We took a look at the calendar and suddenly realized that the SpotModel Print Lab just turned one year old a few weeks ago. One whole year!!! At the beginning we were "on all fours", with stumbles and all kinds of problems, but little by little we have learned to walk and now all the technology is more "lubricated" and the internal process is more refined and adjusted, thanks to your many comments and suggestions. Months ago we made a breakthrough by announcing the Print Lab Marketplace that allows you to publish your own designs and even make a little money with them (or a lot!). And what comes next ...?
Final Edition
About 100 newsletters ago, that is, 100 weeks ago, we announced that Pocher was launching 2,000 units of the Ducati 1299 Panigale S Anniversario in 1/4 scale and that they were going to fly. And so it was, the model arrived and flew away, sold out in just week. Many of you were left wanting for more, with tears in your eyes for not being able to get one in time.
Quattro Sport
October 4th 1984, Ivory Coast Rally, eleventh and penultimate race of the World Rally Championship: Audi driver Stig Blomqvist wins at the wheel of the Audi Quattro Sport with a 22-minute lead, which makes Blomqvist the drivers world champion and once again Audi Sport wins the Constructors championship. That day, October 4th 1984, is without any doubts one of the magical moments in Audi's impressive history of rallying.
Delayed
My order is delayed once again, again the arrival date of that paint that I need so badly to complete my model or that much desired photoengraving gets postponed, and the release date of the beautiful model that is THE novelty among all novelties gets pushed back one more time by the manufacturer. Can you explain me what's going on? Why is everything getting delayed?
The GT40 by Meng
Hardly any details are known about the 1/12 scale model that Meng is preparing of the Ford GT40 Mk.II. A few months ago they showed the box design, a few weeks ago they uploaded images of the 3D designs, a few days ago they showed images of an assembled model and yesterday they provided us with an estimated sale price and possible supply date in Europe, scheduled for the end of the year. And on the record, this is all we can tell you at this moment... :)
All that matters is how you play the game
We have heard many times that "It doesn't matter whether you win or lose, it's how you play the game", a big truth. Scale modeling is not a competition, building models is a hobby where what really matters is the wish to reach to go to the end and the ability to put the tools, the liters of glue, the sandpaper and the necessary paint, on top of a steady pulse, a 57x magnification glass, a bomb-proof patience and the will to see the model finished... to achieve it.
Coming back
Yes, things are coming back from the old times when we were younger. Back are those days at home, those idle afternoons, and also are returning the scale models from back then. For example, the BMW R80 G/S 1000 edited in the 80's by Protar and now recasted by Italeri, the Peugeot 206 WRC by Tamiya originally edited in 2000 (yes, that's twenty years ago), the beautiful and cheap model of the Volkswagen Beetle 1300 by Tamiya released in 1994, the MFH Ferrari 312T4 released in 2012, or the batch of Porsche 917, Ford GT40, Ferrari 330 / 512TR / 288 GTO / 250 GTO / F40, all of them by Fujimi that are arriving at SpotModel's warehouse these days.
Vademecum
That's the word that came to our minds when we got our hands on Komakai's new book on the Lotus 72E. And it's true that its two hundred and sixty two pages have impressed us, first for their volume and then, when staring at their contents, we felt in love with its quality and the amount of details it includes: those tiny screws, those little tubes, the color of that part, the shape of that hidden piece of the Type 72E...
Italian red
The world of colors is really complex. And if we are talking about colors for our scale models, things get even more complicated. Some years ago, only Italian Red existed and little else in scale modeling color charts, and with that tone all Ferraris, all Alfa Romeos, all Porsches, all Ducatis were painted... We saw endless rivers or Italian red at scale modeling shows.
At the end of the rainbow...
At the end of the rainbow is that magical place where everything is possible, where when you are in the middle of assembling a model and doubts assail you, you can know exactly what color you need to give it the most realistic look, or to get the most similar color to that one on the decals. At SpotModel we get lots of emails daily with the question "what color do I use for ...?" And you know what? That in order to solve all those questions we decided to travel to the end of the rainbow! :D
Miracle!
Not to flatter ourselves, but at SpotModel we do a lot of things, such as hundreds of packages a day, thousands of pictures a month, answering tens of thousands of emails every hour, placing several million stickers every year... and from time to time, we also perform a few miracles ;)
CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP
Born both to compete or to go shopping for groceries, the Honda CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP is a two-wheeled beast with a racing soul and heart that also allows you to fit a few suitcases to go for a ride with your friends. And what would you put in those suitcases? Well, obviously, the Tamiya 1/12 scale model together with the upgrade kit for the front fork and rear shock.
Tamiya
Months ago we all wondered what was happening with Tamiya, they weren't releasing any new products and it felt like they were stopped, but all that was the simple consecuence of a number of important internal problems related to the management of the company. Currently, those problems have been solved and we have a new Tamiya that has been stepping heavy on the gas pedal, really heavy. They don't stop releasing new and very interesting products to help with the assembly and finishing of our models, they are launching new and really sweet models and at the same time reissuing old glories from their catalog.
Always open
We are in the middle of August, it is hot here, the beach tempts us a lot, but we are the nice guys at SpotModel, those ones who make the lives of a few scale modelers all over the world happier, so we just can't go on vacation and lower the blinds of our website or our warehouse, because we feel responsible of each and every one of the builds you have on your workbench :) Definitely, SpotModel doesn't have any holidays.
Temptations
Since the beginning of times, temptation has been associated with a delicious apple offered by a snake in an irresistible way. But let's face it, times change and in 2020 temptations have a much more succulent aspect. Here's a few!
Twenty times happier
What is happiness? What is it made of? What makes us happy? And an even more complicated question: what can make us 20 times happier? Don't worry guys, at SpotModel we have the answer to these complex questions.
Eleanor
For motorsport lovers, the elegant and suggestive name of Eleanor undoubtedly makes us think of one of Carroll Shelby's machines that, fitted with a V8 engine with TONS of horsepower, is an icon of American motorsports. You have to admit that you'd like to have one (or two!) in your garage.
MG Metro 6R4
Since we heard the news, we have lived with the illusion of knowing that the lads at Belkits were working on the release of the MG Metro 6R4 kit. For their part, Decalcas, Renaissance and Reji have already announced several decals for this peculiar car, and a few weeks ago the book by Komakai landed on the shelves with an impressive display of pictures of the engine, interior, body and every single detail of the actual car. And today, the model is FIIIIIIINALLY in our hands :D
Salvinos JR Models
Kirk Encinas, Jake Encinas and Eric Ledesma are true car fans, specially about racing cars, and above all, about American racing cars. In addition, they build scale models like crazy. Their passion for American racing cars and modeling has led them to make a big dream called Salvinos JR Models come true.
Dakar '86
The Dakar rally is one of the toughest, most complex and unpredictable races on the planet. Every year it captivates us and takes us to remote places where the drivers and their machines fight against the heat, the sand, stones, hardships, surprises and even snow, as happened in the 1986 edition, a particularly complex year.
Crashhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!
Last Saturday and part of Sunday, we couldn't dedicate ourselves to assembling models because the SpotModel web server issued a series of puzzling "zeros" and "ones", something like 0110100100010111010, which translated into human language means something like "crashhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh"... Our website "went kaput" and we had to put aside our favorite hobby to grab the wrench and fix the problem.
Hans Mezger
He designed the Porsche 917. He was also who created the heart of the brand's fastest and most emblematic Porsches: the engine of the Porsche 911, or the Mezger engine as it is usually called, the Porsche TAG engines that powered the 1980s McLaren, even the engines of the 936, 935, 956 and 962... The mechanical hearts that give life to these gorgeous machines roar sadly today because their designer, Hans Mezger, passed away a few days ago at the age of 90.
Sanding sponges
A few months ago we announced SpotModel's sanding sponges, in several different grains, because it seemed us a great solution to prepare bodies and refining paint. Now, it turns out that some lads from the Far East have seen that the product is amazing and have launched their own version under their prestigious brand. None less than Tamiya has put on the market their own range of sanding sponges, with different grains, so that you can enjoy sanding after sanding. But for this time, we will not ask them for royalties... XD
Biker girl
From time to time, in our civil scale modeling world, the debate about "renewal" opens up and immediately the argument of "everything is already invented" appears. Well, gentlemen, we do not agree, there are still many things to invent. It is true that some veteran brands have settled in and live by reissuing their old models, but there are new ones that bring a breath of fresh air and the desire to do different, curious and even daring things. One of those brands is Meng, who surprised us a while ago with several models of SUVs, just to announce a bit later a model in the unusual 1/9 scale of a motorcycle that was offered in both a "classic" version and in "pre-painted" version.
Delta Acropolis
Acropolis Rally lovers, Lancia Delta lovers, Hasegawa kit lovers... your dreams become true at SpotModel once again. You can now preorder the Jolly Club Lancia Delta kit that raced the 1993 Acropolis Rally, reissued by Hasegawa in limited units.
You can't build scale models without patience
Piero Di Carlo was a truly remarkable modeler: from 1936 until 1971, he was building a scale model of the city of Rome as it was in the 3rd century AD, following the directions of Gismondi, Italy's most famous archeologist, architect and historian. He started when he was 29 years old and worked in the model until he was 65 years old. That's modelers patience!!!
I'm really happy, really proud...
Carlos Sainz, "El Matador", has been chosen the best rider in the history of the World Rally Championship by thousands of fans of the championship worldwide and a group of specialized journalists, beating Sébastien Loeb, nine times world champion, proving that it is not only the numbers and the track recods what really matters when choosing who is the best.
El Torito
It's not the first time that you decide to jump into the bull ring and make that decoration that only exists in your imagination, or recreate that variant that raced another rally and have three different stickers, or "do the tobaccos" on that formula 1 that didn't include all the tobacco sponsors, or simply replace that decal that is right on the hood and got damaged.
Essential
Scale modeling classics are back, the big ones, those boxes that we all like so much, those 1/12 scale beauties born several years ago, those models that we respect so much, that never go out of style and that we all keep in our stash to assemble when we retire. Why don't you start right now?
Who do you think you are? Stirling Moss?
In 1951, a young English boy made his debut at the Formula 1 World Championship at the Swiss Grand Prix, where he finished eighth. From then, he raced, and raced, and raced until 1962, when he suffered a very serious accident on the Goodwood circuit. During those years, he won 212 of the 529 races he took part in all kinds of cars and competitions, from Le Mans to F1, F2 or the Mille Miglia... Absolutely genius. He was the driver with the most victories but without ever winning a Formula 1 World Championship, making him one of the champions without a crown. Quite a symbol ("Mr Motor Racing"), not only for his victories, but for his way of racing and the sportsmanship he showed.
R8 LMS GT3
Since a few days, what we must do, for both our own safety and for the others, is staying at home. That stops us, for some time, from doing some things we love, like going out for a walk, hanging out with our friends, going for a bike ride, going to the cinema or the theater... But luckily WE CAN do one of the things we like the most in the world... building models!!! :D
Come hell or high water
As we wrote last week we are still here, open for you, operating at the same rate and as normally as possible, and putting all our efforts into not letting the exceptional nature of these days reflect in our work, although it is inevitable that the external circumstances affect us all in some way.
Still here! :-)
In these strange times, we are pleased to announce that the SpotModel team is in perfect health and continue providing service with almost total normality. Of course, we have followed every recommendation from the health authorities and increased hygiene and prevention measures at the workplace, in addition to some occasional protection measures to prevent box avalanches at the warehouse (half of the planet have thought that building a scale model during confinement is a great idea!).
Virtual Jabbeke
This year, like all previous ones since we knew about the event, we were eager to attend to our favorite model event of the year, Jabbeke: good modelers, good models, good friends, good times, good beers... what else can you ask for? XD
Montegrosso
Tameo Kits continues expanding their product ranges. On top of their recent announcement that they got the copyrights to reissue This Way Up products, now we are introduced to the just appeared Montegrosso brand.
THE cutter
As you already know, at SpotModel we like to differentiate ourselves from the rest of online shops: we aim to offer much more than just selling products. Our team is formed by modeling enthusiasts who live and die to give their best, to offer what we as modelers think you want to get. It is a full-fledged "face to face" :)
Humbrol
The oldest ones in town, those of us who started assembling scale models long before wheel and fire were invented, used some paintings that were forgotten with the past of the centuries. Those smelly and thick paints by "Molak", those square jars from "Pactra" and, of course, those tiny little Humbrol's paint cans that NEVER ran out... XD
MP4/7
In 1992, the Formula 1 World Championship seemed to have a clear favorite team, the safest bet. A white and fluorescent orange machine, equipped with a Honda engine, the latest in electronic technology, and Senna and Berger at the wheel. Did anyone doubt about McLaren's supremacy after sweeping their rivals with their car in the previous year?
Show me the money
A few months ago we launched the Print Lab, which many of you already know, allowing you to turn your designs into actual decals you can use in your models, a breakthrough thanks to the exclusive digital decal printing technology by SpotModel.
Nuremberg 2020 - Part 2
The Toy Fair at Nuremberg continues its course and we publish an extra newsletter to keep you up to date with all the news that this great event brings us.
Nuremberg 2020
Scale-modeling-wise, the New Year doesn't start on January 1st but later this month. And why? Very easy: because it is at the end of January when the Toy Fair is held in Nuremberg, where every manufacturer worth their salt shows the "candy" they will use to tempt us during the rest of the year :)
Laurus nobilis
One more time, the mighty Carlos Sainz made our lives happier again proving to be unbeatable, this time at the Dakar 2020. Yes, once again, he has taken the laurels (Laurus nobilis) in which possibly is the toughest rally in the world. No doubts, although it seems otherwise, it has not been an easy task. There are a few factors to fight against: the characteristics of the challenge, the fierce competition and the age of the driver (57 years old), which although it does not seem to influence at all, it even adds more merit to such feat.
Mercedes 230 G
Some time ago I had the opportunity to get into a car that looked quite "square", "sober", I dare to say even "boring", but I got a huge surprise... because under that lamb skin lies a true beast endowed with a truly robust mechanic. Unlike modern 4x4, this machine has very few electronic devices, it is all pure mechanics, and this makes the Mercedes 230 G a very sought-after jewel among extreme 4x4 lovers since you can repair almost any breakdown that could happen to you with just a screwdriver and a monkey wrench.
Additional headlights
When night comes or weather conditions worsen, rally cars are transformed: they change their look and become more aggressive thanks to the extra headlights attached to their fronts for improving visibility.
XMAS 2019
If you are one of those gifted with a good memory, you may be thinking that this year we have just repeated the picture in the Christmas newsletter, but no. They are very similar pictures but happily different, and the happy thing is because they are pictures that you, our customers sent us, showing us your love and how much present we are on your celebrations these days 8-D
il Campionissimo
Tazio Giorgio Nuvolari was an Italian motor racing driver and motorcycling rider who just won it all: he was European Drivers Champion, European champion of 350cc. in 1925, winner of the Mille Miglia in 1930 and 1933 and winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1933. And almost certainly he would have been also Formula 1 World Champion if he didn't retire from the competition the same year the championship was born.
Second Chance
In scale modeling world you might face devastating moments, for instance when a manufacturer discontinues that kit that you wanted to have sooo badly and didn't order in time... And if we talk about resin kits the thing is even worse, right?
Last Call!
Only a few hours left for the end of this Cyber Monday at SpotModel!!! Today, Monday December 2nd, our special campaign will finish at 23:59 (GMT+1). Remember that we have references with really attractive prices, and on top of that each and eeeeevery order placed before that time will include a gift that you will surely love :)
Cyber Monday
Cyber Monday is arriving at SpotModel!!! Take note: all orders placed at SpotModel between 00:00 hours on Friday November 29th and 23:59 hours on Monday December 2nd (both GMT +1) will include a gift that you will surely love :)
Spotvette
Imagine your shelf showing your favorite sports car (that one that drives you crazy), painted and built by you, on your favorite scale, and decorated exactly the way you wanted it, with the sponsors and colors you like most, such as, for instance, the logos of the best modeling shop in the infinite universe. WOW, that would be really awesome, right?
X Lands of El Cid
Next week the X Modeling Contest "Tierras del Cid" will take place in the gorgeous city of Burgos (Spain).
BT52b
Gordon Murray, the designer genius at Brabham, popped out of his pencil the Brabham BMW BT52 in 1983, which raced at the tracks decorated in blue and white. By the middle of the season it evolved to the BT52b, recognizable by its "inverted" decoration in white and blue, and achieving 3 glorious and unforgettable victories in the World Championship.
Nothing can stop us!
It's said that best things come in small packages... like our beloved scale model paints: so colorful, so attractive, so seemingly harmless, but they can become dangerous, specially if they are transported by airplane.
928
Year 1977, the Porsche 928 is released to the market, a machine with a V8 engine that roars like few others, with an aluminum self-supporting chassis (so light that it can be carried by just two people), and with a performance, comfort and balance that even today causes sensation. The Boss here took one of them for a ride not long ago, and still, from time to time, we hear him sighing... XD
Ragnotti
It is absolutely unnecessary to introduce Jean Ragnotti, but in case someone was not paying attention we will make a brief presentation: he is a French driver who has raced in rallies, Le Mans, rallycross, tourism, the Dakar... which has always been really fast (counting among his many achievement the conquest of the Monte Carlo Rally in 1981 or the Tour de Corse in 1982 and 1985), that is a cult figure for the Renault brand, and that is one of the most famous and charismatic drivers because, above everything, he is nice, sociable... a great guy, in plain words. We have met him on several occasions and always, every single time he has greeted us, we have talked for a while, and every single time he was planning a new joke. Hats off!
i20 WRC 2019
Gentlemen, we have very good news from Belkits headquarters: now they finally got the official Hyundai license to manufacture their Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC scale model just as it raced the World Rally Championship on this 2019 season. Yaaaay!! They just made us happy, very happy :-)))
Fireee!!!
Who didn't have a car or fire truck as a child...? if you didn't, surely you have dreamed of having one. It is an inevitable attraction, that shows up when we are children but accompanies us throughout our whole life. This attraction has to do, of course, with the admiration aroused in general by firefighters, those heroes that save lives and difficult situations every day, and in the same manner, with the vehicle itself: so magnificent, so red, so shiny, with those many tools and accessories...
Spares
Imagine the scene: you are totally focused and concentrated on the scale model you have on the workbench that, 100% objectively speaking, is looking absolutely awesome. Suddenly, completely out of the blue and without knowing how that could happen to YOU, a part is broken, or is left unusable by that rebel drop of cyanoacrylate, or just simply disappears into the vastness of the room floor without any traces. So now what!?
Worldwide shipping
Glue and paint vapors, together with the smell of the recently sanded plastic, sometimes make us forget some really important things like, for instance, that SpotModel ships to every corner of the planet. Surely you already knew it :D
The mighty box
If you are a nostalgic modeler, you have to admit that you have dreamed many times with the Porsche 934 RSR kit in 1/12 scale by Tamiya since it first saw the light in 1976, because it is very likely that your economy in those young days didn't allow you the access to that magic "Mighty Box".
Fancy colors
This week we are going to talk about a well known manufacturer that is still missing at many modelers' workbenches: Zero Paints, the paint brand for civil vehicles that has the most extensive reference catalog for painting motorcycles, trucks and cars.
Open for holidays
As many of you know, the SpotModel team lives and works at Málaga, a popular holiday destination. Since we know how lucky we are, not closing for holidays is actually just a philosophical matter... yes, as you read it, we will be here on duty to serve our customers in any matter of extreme urgency that may arise ;D
S4 Jolly Club
Jolly Club, also known as Jolly Club Totip, was an Italian team that raced the World Rally Championship, the European Championship, the Italian Championship and even in Formula 1, mainly with Lancia and Alfa Romeo vehicles, achieving one of the greatest victory records in the history of the Italian motorsports.
Files for all
It's clear that there are not two equal modellers... What does that mean? Well, some of them are more into painting, others prefer to stick parts together, others are more into placing decals, others are crazy about putting all the attention in the tiniest details :)
M3 E30
A couple of years ago, Beemax released to the market the BMW M3 E30 kit from the official team racing the 1991 DTM, an true bestseller. Then came the rally version with the Bastos livery at the 1988 Tour de Corse. Now they are giving us another chance to get this awesome product, this time with a reedition of the track version delivered with both the Fina and Jagermeister decorations at the 1992 DTM races. That's both crazy AND beautiful!!!
Niki
One month ago we were all sadly surprised by the news: Niki Lauda, the great Austrian tri-champion Formula 1 driver, left us. His first victory happened in Spain in 1974 behind the wheel of a Ferrari 312 B3, the same one we talked about at SpotModel's blog a while ago. Since then, he gifted us spectacle and emotion in almost 200 races. A great guy with impressive driving skills.
Blue Stuff
In our tireless effort to put at your disposal all the interesting stuff that is appearing, as far as civilian modeling is concerned, this week we bring good news again. Or, in other words, this week we continue expanding our already long list of manufacturers :D
Ukrainian Scale Car Production
There is an expression in Spanish that says "El que la sigue la consigue" (if you persevere, you'll finally get it). It means that whoever wants something, if they work really hard, they will finally achieve it. It is a wonderful phrase that motivates and promises a happy ending to all those who strive every day to fulfill their goals and desires.
A looong, long time ago...
...scale modelers could not print their own decals with enough quality, and depended on the manufacturers to design their favorite decorations, praying and praying day after day and night after night, hoping that some day they would release their decals to the market.
TAM24349
A few months ago, and live from Nuremberg Toy Fair, we told you about the wonderful Toyota's TS050 Hybrid scale model kit that Tamiya presented at the event, and today we have it for you in stock at SpotModel warehouse!!!! Go go go, hurry up, they are all warmed up and waiting for your order :D
This Way Up
In the world of logistics and warehousing, the message "This Way Up" refers to how the boxes should be placed and stacked to avoid damaging their content, but for us modelers this phrase also carries another meaning, being the name of a prestigious brand of white metal scale models in 1/43 scale of Formula 1 cars. Sadly, the brand closed a few years ago after its owner passed away.
Raid-Sur
This week we talk about adventure, passion for classic vehicles and solidarity: we talk about the "Raid-Sur Classic" (www.raidsurclassic.com). A few days ago, this particular rally was held at Morocco where lots of "old" cars raced, but beyond this, they also fulfilled the true objective of this unforgettable experience: distributing non-perishable food, clothing, footwear, school equipment or toys to the inhabitants of the areas where the race passes through.
Michèle Mouton
Nobody doubts that one of the most influential women in the racing world is Michèle Mouton. In her young years she became the most famous and successful rally driver of all time, winning at San Remo, Portugal, Acropolis and Brazil....
Shrinking
Here's a bit of history: did you know the Fiesta was the first project of the Ford giant about a new market trend (back in the seventies) pursuing the making of smaller and more fuel-efficient cars? And today, more than forty years later, this first "shrunken" Ford ("the baby Ford") is still on the fight, winning titles and clocking good times in WRC tests, and giving us great scale modeling moments thanks to the newest by Belkits: the Ford Fiesta RS WRC from both 2017 and 2018 seasons....
Filth
Our beloved cars, trucks and motorcycles travel and race under all kinds of weather conditions and on any type of terrain: under the rain, on snow and ice covered tracks, on mud and dust areas... which inevitably ends up generating a layer of dirt that "decorates" tires, rims, plastic, windshields, plates, drivers, and even spectators, judges, photographers ...
Fast Guide 010
We do not have nails any more, we have bitten all them while waiting until April for the arrival of the new Tamiya kit of the Toyota TS050 Hybrid that won the 24 Hours of Le Mans last year 2018. A kit that promises LOTS of fun and entertainment for everyone, right?
Tools
We tool fans have always believed that it is essential to have good allies at the workbench for taking our beloved projects to an end more easily or with more precision. And for we all, it is known that Tamiya is just in a different league than the majority of the other modeling tools manufacturers in terms of precision, product quality, durability, and quality of the manufacturing materials, as it happens with the rest of the products with which Tamiya makes our lives as scale modelers happier.
Jabbeke on the road!!!
Everything is ready: luggage, SpotModel stickers, toothbrush, and most importantly... the immense desire of meeting our European scale model builders and chat about models, see models, enjoy models, and even throw ourselves some models to our heads... :)
Profil - Beemax - Nunu
We have been insisting for weeks that this year is incredibly hot scalemodel wise, so we are going to continue giving you more details on some of the announced releases. Let's start with Profil24: these lads are still betting on the 1/12 scale model kits, really big and spectacular, as well as very nice to assemble. Their newest kit is the Porsche 911 RSR in two versions as it raced at Le Mans last year 2018.
Italeri Preview 2019
We already announced on our Facebook page a few days ago the mountain of novelties planned by Italeri for 2019, and in the previous newsletter we already advanced some of them.
Panigale Anniversario
It's not an aircraft, but we are sure that it will fly as well... So we ask you all to pay close attention because Pocher is going to put on the market 2,000 units of the Ducati 1299 Panigale S Anniversary in 1/4 scale, of course in kit format for you to build. And we are convinced that they will sold out even before the official release date, scheduled for September.
Full suitcase
We have just returned from the German Toy Fair with a suitcase full of soooooo many news for you. The amount of products that we have to activate on the site is so big that we have not processed all of them yet, so we ask for a little patience, one of the greatest virtues we modelers have: waiting patiently for one putty part to dry, or for the clearcoat layer of a body, or for SpotModel to tell us the news for this year :)
Licenses
In the scale modeling scene there are some important issues that are beyond our workbenches. One of these important issues are the "licenses" granted by actual car and motorcycle manufacturers to the manufacturers of our beloved models, so they can reproduce and market their models.
Colorado Decals
This Portuguese brand has been manufacturing decals for more than 10 years, although maybe some of you still do not know it. Their catalogue is mainly focused on modern rally cars decorations in 1/24 scale and we are sure you will love it.
Bye, bye 2018!!
We are already finishing the year, this 2018 that so many modeling joys has given us... and we are already looking forward to see how many and which new and interesting products are scheduled for the new year 2019.
Escort
The Ford Escort is the protagonist of a glorious history in the world of rallies. It happens that this machine has become, for own merits, one of the most iconic vehicles of the Detroit boys since a RS1600 won the 1973 Finland Rally with Timo Makinen at the wheel. Then came other victories in Acrópolis, Portugal, Sweden, Finland, Great Britain, New Zealand or Safari, with drivers such as Björn Waldegård , Hannu Mikkola or Ari Vatanen.
Ruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuun!
There are several things that define the Ferrari GTs: the roar of their engines, the smell of their interiors, their fantastic colors, their daring curves, their horsepower... and of course, their breakthrough appearance in 1/24 scale when we finish their assembly and place them in our shelf :D
Scale Production
A few days ago we had the immense pleasure of visiting Scale Production headquarters, the German manufacturer that delights all modellers who love resin and metal parts based products. With years of experience and a truly juicy catalog, every new Scale Production release gives our bodies a really special tingle.
Cyber Monday 2018
The long-awaited Cyber Monday has already arrived at SpotModel!!! And this year we have very interesting things for you. Here's the first one: all orders placed at SpotModel between 00:00 hours on Friday November 23rd and 23:59 hours on Monday November 26th (both hours in GMT+1 timezone), will include a gift that we're sure you will love :)
Oh My God!!
What could be better than buying a model at SpotModel? Maybe working at SpotModel? Yes, that's really good without any doubts, but it's waaaay better seeing builds as spectacular as the Mercedes in the cover picture, sent to us by a good friend.
Modellautoausstellung Frankfurt 2018
Last weekend we attended the "Modellautoausstellung Frankfurt" that took place in the German capital. For all you who don't know the event, now in its twentieth edition, it gathers the crème de la crème on civil scale modeling from Germany, Belgium, Finland and some other surrounding countries.
KKK Turbolader
Three letters, three simple letters that make all of us competition maniacs tremble. The "conches" that KKK Turbolader has put in the competition world have produced flares worthy of the mightiest dragon...
Petrolicious
Today we are not going to talk you about scale models, or paints, or glues, or even about SpotModel... today we are going to talk about some guys we love, and we find their work and everything they represent absolutely fantastic. Today we are talking about Petrolicious.
Like a kid with new shoes
Two days have passed, and finally the boss has left his office!! In his hands he carries, as if it were the Holy Grail, the recently build Yamaha YZF-R1M by Tamiya we received a few days ago, and those little shiny eyes that radiate happiness say it all. The model has an incredible appearance even though it's still unpainted (unlike the boss, who looks really disgusting...).
Fast Freddie
If we're talking about motorcycle racing during the 80's, we have to talk about "Frederick The Great", as we know him in Spain, or "Fast Freddie", as he's known all over the world.
Guy Colsoul
He's one of the greatest Belgian rally drivers: raced his first rally in 1972, has participated in more than 300 races and was the absolute winner of the Boucles de Spa in 1982, the Rallye du Condroz-Huy in 1978 and 1979, or the Vainqueur du Haspengouw Rally in 1982, to name just a few.
767B - 787B
One number is different, but the essence is the same: a rotary Wankel engine that beats inside these two rockets designed by Mazda, whose sound remains unalterably and deeply engraved in the brain of all those who have been able to hear it working.
Worldwide paint shipping!
As many of you already know, there are a number of international regulations about the transit of dangerous goods, their manipulation, labeling, etc. Our beloved modeling paints are regulated by these norms since they usually are flammable products (and therefore, dangerous), which has prevented us from shipping them to numerous destinations for a long time.
Pipette
A pipette can be defined as a volumetric container that allows to measure the quantity of a liquid with great precision and that is generally used in laboratories to carry a liquid from one container to another. But, with the permission of the laboratory technicians... we have borrowed the idea and transported it to our scale world :)
Be a builder!!!
They come from the USA and we've all known them since long ago. We are talking about Scale Motosport, a more than recognized brand that once again returns to our warehouse :)
Splash Paints
Splash Paints LLC is an American manufacturer that appeared a few months ago offering very interesting paints for our cars and motorcycles scale models, that we have now added to SpotModel for you.
Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeels
Wide or narrow, gravel or asphalt, racing or touring, high or low profile, slick or rain, soft or hard, big or small, they all have one thing in common: they are round and essential for sticking our vehicles to the hard ground and our models to their bases :)
Highlight Model Studio
By the hands of Eero Kumanto, a Finnish modeller and graphic designer, we bring you Highlight Model Studio, manufacturer of top quality products and accessories for car models. Their product catalog focuses on 1/24 and 1/25 scales and, in addition to generic products, it also has a lot of references specifically designed for the different Volkswagen Beetles on the market (Tamiya, Hasegawa ...)
Are you going on vacation?
We're officially on summer dates around these latitudes... and on holidays :))) Are you of those lucky ones who are about to enjoy some days of relaxing and unplugging? We are really happy for you!!! We will be right here instead, ready to serve all of you, no matter if you are on holidays or not :)
0.95
In the racing world, teams dedicate weeks, months or even whole years to the incredibly tiny task that their drivers demand: to be able to shave off 0.95 seconds in a lap, more or less the time it takes your turn signals to blink. But all of them, drivers included, know that this task is anything but tiny: those 0.95 cost blood and sweat, but they can make the difference between being the best of the world, or being "the others" :)
Football?
We hear "noise" around us, lots of "noise", but we barely understand anything: something about a football world cup, about a national team, about some coach... In short, trifles that won't manage to deconcentrate us of our main target this weekend: enjoying the 24 hours of Le Mans.
What else?
The Ford GT, winner of Le Mans in its category in 2016, that Revell reproduced in 1/24 scale and that you can already book in premiere at SpotModel.
Skin
One of the characteristics that tells a compact apart from a luxury or sports car is "her skin": that fantastic surface on the seats, on the dashboard, on the doors, that has that sweeeeetest touch, that sooo characteristic smell that make even the most radical of the detractors of this type of vehicles fall in love :D
Menu of the day
Today, we have prepared a menu for you with some very interesting novelties :) To open your mouth we offer the rally car windows by Decalcas, the Zero Paints set for the Honda RC30 and the Tabu decals for the Lotus 49B with the tobacco logos.
Click clack toc plank...
If Mozart were alive today, he would most likely compose a new symphony: the exact protocol of switches, push buttons, contact breakers, levers and springs that sound in rigorous order before the start of a racing vehicle will be his inspiration...
Stripping
We are good... we are even awesome... we are the best scale modelers in the world (ow, yeah), no doubt about it, right? Buuuuuuuuut it is also true that, from time to time, maybe more often than we like, some unfortunate problem happens that forces us to get aaaaaall the paint removed from our fantastic model.
Whooooooooossssshhh!!!
We can't deny it: we like cars , we like competitions, and we like challenges. That's why, for the second year in a row, we have sponsored one of the vehicles participating in the Classic Rally of the Atlas Solidario 2018.
The SpotModel-Team
During the 80s, a TV series was being broadcasted with each chapter always beginnig with this statement: "In 1972, a crack commando unit was sent to prison by a military court for a crime they didn't commit. These men promptly escaped from a maximum security stockade to the Los Angeles underground. Today, still wanted by the government, they survive as soldiers of fortune. If you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can find them, maybe you can hire... the A-Team".
Leganes 2018
This weekend we went to the biggest scale modeling contest in Spain, held at Leganes (Madrid), where in addition we also had the honor of being part of the "judges". Being a judge (well, acting as such for a while) is a quite complex and complicated task, but it does have one huge advantage: to be able to see all the models really really close, calmly, with time to spare, and with an analytical eye.
BMW 2002 Turbo
The first European commercial vehicle fitted with a turbo was created by BMW, and it was called BMW 2002 Turbo. A machine that saw the light thanks to the developments by BMW Motorsport on a turbo KKK, and that stood out for its additional wheel arch flaps in the body and the striking vinyls that decorated it.
Jabbeke on the road
We are already counting the days, the hours, the minutes... we will return to Jabbeke quite soon! Last year we lived an enriching and unforgettable experience, where we learned, enjoyed and strengthened bonds with many SpotModelers and with a few of our (your) distributors.
Inspiration
Being a scale modeler is not just about sticking parts, painting plastic, placing decals. Being a scale modeler requires hand skills, lots of patience, lots of love for small things and, on many occasions, it also requires inspiration, doesn't it?
Toy Fair 2018
We have just returned from the Nuremberg International Toy Fair, the biggest event in Europe for scale modeling manufacturers. In this fair they present all the new releases for this year and... how awesome are them all!!!
On the way!!
The wait has been long, but we have good news: the Opel Manta 400 by Belkits are finally on their way. Great!!!! :D
Sainz Wins!!!
The mighty Carlos Sainz has won all kinds of rally events since 1982. He has been the winner of everything that could be won, and now he has once again demonstrated that, being 56 years old, he is still a wheel Ace by finishing this weekend as the Dakar winner, the hardest rally in the world.
Safety first
When a race car goes off the track, sparks can fly around the driver, ending in complicated situations, fires, explosions, ...
TOP
We have recently received with open arms the big supply of new arrivals of Top Studio and we are absolutely excited!!!! Once again, it looks like they have read our minds and created lots of references of fittings in all kinds and sizes, as well as fantastic braided cables in different sizes and colors.
Say hello to what's new!
Indeed gentlemen, the year in question comes to an end, and it's that time when we look back and remember everything it brought us...
Merry Christmas
Christmas finally arrives this weekend. And, take it for granted, both you and us are looking forward to seeing a lot of gifts coming from SpotModel under the Christmas tree :)
Ka-boooom!!
It's Christmas time, and here at SpotModel we don't want to stop giving you good news. After the succulent news of the previous weeks, today we introduce you a new bombshell: AK Interactive's new book on civilian modeling :)
Cyber Monday
We are celebrating our particular Cyber Monday by the end of this week, so all orders placed at SpotModel between 00:00 hours on Friday November 24th and 23:59 hours on Monday November 27th (in GMT+1 timezone), will include a little gift that you will love for sure :)
Hi and... see you!
Just like that we spent a good part of the morning at SpotModel warehouse: welcoming and immediately saying goodbye to the scale models and detail up sets of the Brahham BT52 by Aoshima, just arrived at our warehouses and... also ready to walk through the door!! Complete The Perfect Order along with the Komakai book and the Zero Paints matching color... and get down to work! :D
Teamwork
Behind every car and every driver we admire, there is always a great team where we can find mechanics, assistants, engineers, managers... Their work, which for sure is very exciting and for sure they love, is judged in a rather unfair way from outside: if they get a victory, the one who receives the applause is the driver, but the broad public only remembers them in the face of a great defeat. So, from SpotModel we propose to pay them tribute: why your model doesn't have a good team behind? :)
Shunko
We have been asked several times about Shunko products. What is so special about this Japanese manufacturer? Besides the facts that their decals have fantastic colors, that they are designed with great precision and that they are immaculately manufactured, Shunko decals are mostly designed for replacing the decals on your old models.
ALWAYS open
Because you never know ... when in the wee hours of the morning, lost and absorbed in those delicious moments that only your beloved hobby like few others give you, suddenly you realize that you are going to need more glue to continue... or when, suddenly, you find out that they have just reissued the model you longed for and that it is flying out of the shelves... or when, in a fit of satisfaction, you decide to give yourself that fancy something you have earned by far...
Farewell, champion
Sad news came out yesterday: the 12+1 times motorcycling world champion, Ángel Nieto, finally passed away after not overcoming the injuries suffered in a traffic accident.
VW Polo by Belkits
Some time ago Belkits released the Volkswagen Polo WRC in the 1/24 scale. And now, for the delight of all us who love rallying, they have released two new versions of the kit, corresponding to the official team cars just like they raced at the Montecarlo Rally in 2015 and 2016. :D
Ford Escort Mk. II
A few weeks ago we announced the re-edition of the utterly famous Ford Escort Mk. II kit by Esci, this time under the seal of Italeri. Well, we already have it on the shelves at SpotModel!!!!!!! :D
Group B Opel Manta
The latest creation of Belkits, the Group B Opel Manta 400, is getting closer to our workbenches every minute! :D
StreetBlisters
From the cosmopolitan city of Barcelona arrive the (still warm) products by StreetBlisters, a new manufacturer of 1/24 scale accessories founded by four scale modellers who, after many years building scale models, have decided to take the leap into manufacturing :D
Summertime!!
It already smells like summer on these latitudes... (sigh) We're not sure if you like it, but WE LOVE SUMMER. Days are longer, and it seems that the routine gives us a break and leaves us a little more time for recreation, which of course in our case we prefer to spend in our favorite hobby :)))
Old rockers never die
Every one knows: "old rockers never die". Who didn't build the Ford Escort with the transparent body by Esci 35 years ago? I can see it on the shelf right from my chair: it was my very first assembly of a rally car :'-)
Timo Mäkinen
At the wheel of the Triumph TR3, Morris Mini, Morris Cooper, Mini Cooper, Ford Escort RS1600, Ford Escort RS1800, Peugeot 104, Peugeot 504, Toyota Celica 2000 GT... and a really long etcetera, he won at the greatest rallies all over the world: Tulpenrallye, Monte Carlo, 1000 Lakes, RAC, Hong Kong, Wales, German 3-Städte... and another really long etcetera ;)
Type 88
The genius of Colin Chapman gave birth to an utterly bold machine under the name of Lotus Type 88. And what was so special about it? The 88 used a clever entirely portable secondary chassis, resting on top of the true chassis, that reduced its floor height to as low as 6 or 7 cm once the studied and calculated critical velocity was reached, pushing down this chassis towards the solid body enough to barely touch the track and generate the ground effect this way. In addition, it didn't have a spoiler or rear wing, which resulted in less drag :)