Fujimi of Japan has announced the latest of their goofy "Chibi-Maru" warships; in this case, the fleet carrier Taiho.

Aoshima of Japan has announced the April 2016 release of AOS01210, a 1/700 scale version of the Imperial Japanese Navy Fleet Oiler Hayasui.

The Type 21 frigate, or Amazon-class frigate, was a British Royal Navy general-purpose escort that was designed in the late 1960s, built in the 1970s and served throughout the 1980s into the 1990s. The six surviving Type 21 frigates were sold to Pakistan in 1993–1994.The class was renamed by the Pakistani Navy as the Tariq class

Now available is a full-hull, resin kit of the Second World War French cruiser Lamotte-Picquet, a Duguay-Trouin class light cruiser. At the start of the war she was patrolling the waters of French Indochina and the Dutch East Indies (today's Vietnam and Indonesia).

Ahoy shipmates! Our friend from up North, Still Motions Photographics, is pleased to announce two new titles in their line of DVD pictorial photo reference albums.

Atlantis Models has re-released a kit originally produced by the classic American model company, Aurora Models. The 18th Century pirate ship Black Falcon has returned to plunder modeling seas.

Both the Kako and Kinugasa were built in the mid 1920's and both were sunk in 1942 in the waters off Guadalcanal. Hasegawa plans to release both full hull kits of these ships this March (April for outside of Japan).

Launched in 1909, the USS Utah was one of two Florida Class battleships. This class was the first class to be fully fitted with steam turbine engines. Utah and her sister Florida deployed US Marines in the Battle of Veracruz in 1914 and Utah performed convoy escort duty during World War I. Sunk during the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, her battered hull serves as a memorial to those sailors who were killed aboard her.

The new Tamiya SU-76M has arrived as well as a few other notable kits, books, and magazines.

Shelf Oddity of Poland has announced product SO700109, a set of tiny 1/700 scale IJN Figures – Naval Sailors from World War Two.

Shelf Oddity of Poland has announced product SO700108, a set of tiny 1/700 scale IJN Figures – Naval Officers from World War Two.

In addition to a 1/700 PE set for the Iowa battleship class, FlyHawk is coming out with a larger scale PE set for one of two largest battleships ever to sail the ocean - the IJN Musashi. The set for the Tamiya kits (Nos 78004/78031) is meant to represent the Musashi as she was at the Battle of Leyte Gulf.

Coming from FlyHawk Models, a new photo etch set for the Tamiya kit (No 31616). Entitled a 'Gold Medal Edition', this extensive includes from resin anchors to PE radar and everything in between.

A pre-dreadnought battleship kit will be joining the club of 1/200 battle wagon kits that have become popular. Wave Corporation will be releasing a kit in this scale of the famous Russo-Japanese naval war victor, Mikasa.

Originally named Kit when launched from the Elbing Shipyards in 1899, she was renamed Bditelni in 1902. She and her 3 sister ships served in Russo-Japanese war where Bditelni met her end in 1904 after suffering damage from a mine strike and then scuttled by her crew to prevent capture.

Academy of South Korea has announced the release of AC14220, a 1/700 scale version of the doomed liner R.M.S. Titanic + LED set. This is a re-release of the Academy’s Titanic kit from 2007 with LEDs to jazz things up.

In what is being advertised as a newly tooled kit, a 1/200 Hood is in the works for a summer release. In this scale 'The Mighty Hood' will measure over 51 inches (130cm).

Some naval historical sources regard the Akitsu Maru and her sister ship, the Nigitsu Maru, as the first amphibious assault ships. This pioneering naval concept will become available as a kit this Spring.

Though this is mostly an aircraft related story I still thought it worth mentioning here that America's oldest continuous service is observing a centennial anniversary of its aviation branch. This year marks 100 years of US Coast Guard aviation.

The Shell Welder is a coastal tanker launched in 1955 that became a sand dredger in 1974 before being broken up in 1991. Now a new set of decals for a kit that's been boxed under several kit producers over the years.

To dress up Aoshima's Ark Royal kit (No 010181), a new PE set from White Ensign and made by Peter Hall. It's good to see that Pete is still busy making these.

If you have ever considered requesting a sample from one of the KitMaker sites here is some info that will come in handy to make your request. Also included is the method with with we make decisions on who gets what.

RC Sub, a maker of outstanding PE details for the 1/72 Revell U-Boat kits, is looking to add new product to his line. This would be a conversion kit for the Revell Type IXC U-505 kit (No 05114) to make it into a Type IXC40 (U-534 style) boat.

More 3D printed details for smaller ship kits. 3D Model Parts has released turrets, a bridge housing and 40mm Bofors in two scales.

The latest PE from Atlantic Models is for the old Frog/ Novo kits of the Royal Navy's Type 12 Frigate. This was also known as the Whitby-class frigates and were a six-ship class of anti-submarine frigates of the Royal Navy that entered service late in the 1950s.

Model Monkey has printed up some new items for old kits. In particular, the venerable Revell/Monogram 1/535 kit of the Iowa class battleship.

Starling Models leaves the nest bringing their own line of model ship photo etch!

Flagship Models Inc. specializes in American Civil War warship and weapons model kits, "how to" modeling CDs, decals, and photo etched detail sets for ship models. All our kits are multi-media which means they include cast resin, decals, computer designed instructions, and photo etched details.

More clear, 3D printed aircraft are now available from Tom's Model Works. From pre Second World War to late war machines, ranging from carrier based planes to multi-engine patrol craft for the nations of the US, Germany, Great Britain and Italy.

New designs for USS Arizona and USS Pennsylvania BB-38 enthusiasts. In addition to superstructures completed previously, 3D-printed, highly accurate funnels for each ship as they appeared at Pearl Harbor is now available in 1/700, 1/426, 1/350, 1/192, and 1/200 scales.

If you have an interest in modeling aircraft and ships of the United States Coast Guard or just an interest in the US Coast Guard itself, this site wills suit you well. Site administrator Frank Williams is a 1975 graduate of the US Coast Guard Academy -and a modeler.

Some new items from Dragon, Bronco, GWH, and IBG Models. As well as new publications from Accion Press.

Two of IBG's first releases in 2016 crack the surface of the nautical world!

Micro Mir of Ukraine has announced the March 2016 release of kit AVSAVM9325, a British M-class Submarine in 1/350 scale.

Stackpole Books has announced a new book by James H. Hallas on the heroes of Iwo Jima to be published in May, 2016: Uncommon Valor on Iwo Jima: The Story of the Medal of Honor Recipients in the Marine Corps' Bloodiest Battle of World War II

Stackpole Books has announced a new book by Jon Diamond on the Guadalcanal Campaign.

At the begining of December we announced new sub kits from Trumpeter, one being the Jialoong submersible. Now with a release data set for April 2016. we get a little more information on this little craft.

A mid war version of the Tennessee was released last summer and now a dawn of war version is coming for this spring. If you want a version of the Tennessee as she was at Pearl Harbor the day of the attack, this is your kit.

Aoshima of Japan has announced AOS00933, a tiny 1/2000 scale version of the U.S. Navy battleship USS New Jersey (BB-62) as she appeared during World War Two.

MicroAce of Japan has announced ARIA130, a 1/600 scale version of the U.S. Navy battleship USS New Jersey (BB-62) as modernized in the 1980s.

This kit represents one of the SC-497 series ship, of which 438 units were built during WWII. Seventy of the SC-497s were converted into patrol control crafts (SCC), 18 were converted into coastal mine sweepers (AMC), and 8 were converted into patrol gunboats, motor (PGM).

Released this past December 26, the latest issue of LOS! covers naval news of the past and present. This issue includes submarines of WWII and the American Civil War, Japan's new helicopter-destroyer and more.

Combrig is known for their line of fine 1/700 scale warship kits from the Great War and now they are offering display cases you can use to protect these kits. The cases are in two sizes and are available now.

If you have a the "Lady Lex" or "Sister Sara" in either 1/700 or 1/350 you now have an option for bridge tower styles. Model Monkey makes bridge styles for these American WWII carriers as they appeared in 1936, 1942, 1943 and 1944.

Happy New Year to all our readers! Revell of Germany as issued a flyer of their planned 2016 kits with release dates. They range from re-issues, molds from other manufacturers, special packaging sets and new tooling. Here are all the naval related releases from that flyer.

The last Mail Call before the new year. We got a slew of items from Ammo of Mig (including their new books), the new Shilka from newcomer Hong Models, as well as new items from Takom, Trumpeter and IBG Models.

A relatively unknown boat, the Project 673 SSN was designed in 1960 as a small and fast SSN. To maximize speed, the sail was removed and because of the lack of a sail, this submarine could have been the most maneuverable submarine ever built. Micro-Mir has now released their kit of this Soviet era 'X' boat.

The Project 1710 'Mackerel' submarine (known by the NATO reporting name "Beluga") was a Russian SSA diesel-electric submarine. It was an experimental vessel used for testing propulsion systems, hull forms and control systems. Now Micro-Mir offers a 1/350 kit of this test boat.

This book by Peter C. Smith from the Stackpole Military History Series is a fascinating look from the Japanese side at Pearl Harbor and the Battle of Midway, a fully authorized account including contemporary interviews with those that flew with Lieutenant Commander Egusa – the Imperial Japanese Navy’s “God of Dive-Bombing."

Rusty Rail continues to cast new models for model railroaders and others who build in 1/48 and 1/87. All models are unpainted.