Revell Germany announces their latest large offering, the interesting Emergency Towing Vessel Waker. Originally launched as the “Smit Houston” and reconfigured in 1990, this ocean going rescue vessel is now employed by the Dutch Coast Guard. Revell Germany plans to release this angel of mercy in June of 2008.

Expanding their New Vanguard line of books, Osprey Publishing has announced their upcoming release, US Patrol Torpedo Boats. This book looks into the design and development of these small but deadly craft, very few of which survive today, and goes on to examine their role and combat deployment in World War II. Due out in September of 2008, this book will retail for $17.98

A sneak peek at the impending 1/350th kitset from The Resin Shipyard who have announced the upcoming release of 1/350 HMCS Iroquois Destroyer. The advised release date of this kit is August 2008. The price has yet to be announced. Watch out for a further update on this model as more information comes to hand.

Between 1980 and 1989, 13 Hunt Class minesweepers and minehunters of the UK's Royal Navy were commissioned. Eight remain in service with the Royal Navy and are being significantly upgraded.

HMS Ledbury (M30), Cattistock (M31), Brocklesby (M33), Chiddingfold (M35), Atherstone (M38), Hurworth (M39) and Quorn (M41) were built by Vosper Thorneycroft at Woolston. HMS Middleton (M34) was built by Yarrow Shipbuilders in Glasgow. The vessels are based at Portsmouth and Faslane.

A sneak peek at the impending 1/350th modern battleship release from Dragon Models with the upcoming release of the 1/350 Admiral Ushakov . This kit is expected to be released in October. The suggested retail price is USD$149.95.

Like the old saying goes, what was old is new again. Revell Germany has announced the re-release of two popular naval subjects from the old Revell shipyard. Under the Revell Classic line, look for the limited release of the 1/240 Destroyer H.M.S. Campbeltown and the 1/253 Polaris Nuclear Submarine Abraham Lincoln. Both kits remain true to the original releases including the use of the original box art and molds.

BearAir has always sought to bring the airbrush user the best price on quality airbrushes. This rings true with their latest offering, The Disposables. No, this is not a one use brush. The Disposables is a family of double action airbrushes that meet the needs of the average airbrush user. Also, BearAir touts that the new Disposables will be priced at or below the cost of a quality single action brush. So, what does this mean for the model builder?

A sneak peek at the impending 1/700 kitset from Trumpeter Models, who have announced the upcoming release of the 1/700 USS San Francisco CA-38 Heavy Cruiser, 1944 . It is expected that this kit will be released in October 2008. The suggested retail price is US$36.95.

Ships & Co. announce the release of a very interesting subject, the USNS Shughart T-AKR-295 Transport. This large resin kit of the unique 'roll-on-roll-off' transport features a waterline hull and resin decks and superstructure. This kit is available now at the retail cost of $220.00.

New to the ship modeling community, B&D Barrels offer CNC machined gun barrels for the discriminating modeler. Based out of Lorton, Virginia, Bruce Buchner’s company offers an impressive line of 1/350 turned brass barrels for many subjects. Jumping right in with the hottest models on the market right now, B&D offeres 1/350 KM 15in/52 for the KM Bismarck and Tirpitz, 1/350 IJN 8in/20 cm/50 3rd Year Type No. 2 for any 8in WWII Japanese Cruiser after 1940, 1/350 FN 380mm for Richelieu and Jean Bart and 1/350 USN Mk 12 8in/55 for the USS San Francisco. For the complete line up of all the B&D Barrel products, please visit their website.

The long awaited announcement of the upcoming projects from Admiralty Models is here.

There have been a number of new developments and behind the scene negotiations to bring you some truly unique items.

Dragon Models continues their pursuit of bringing the modeler the biggest bang for the buck. Due out July of 2008, the newest member of the premium edition line will be the 1/700 USS Spruance (DD-963). Previously released by Dragon, the kit has now been completely overhauled and refitted. This means all the accuracy and detail of the original kit has been retained, while new photo-etched parts are added to replicate the deck railings, radars, masts and etc. No price has been announced as of yet.

Seals Models takes you back to the birth modern Imperial Japanese Navy with their upcoming release of the 1/700 Armored Cruisers Asama and Tokiwa. These small scale offerings are due out in early June 2008 and will retail for $33.98 each.

The two Asama class cruisers were armored cruisers operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy. They participated in numerous actions during the Russo-Japanese War and in World War I.

Expanding their ever growing range of photoetch sets White Ensign Models have announced the release of two related products 1/700 & 1/350 USN Radar Sets. The 1/700 USN Radar set PE789 is available now and the retail price is GBP 2.51. The 1/350 USN Radar set PE35111will also be available shortly and the retail price will be GBP 7.19.

Building upon its ever expanding range of 1/350th model ships Trumpeter has announced the upcoming release of the 1/350 Shenyang Type 051C Chinese Destroyer. The anticipated release date for this kit is later in the year and the suggested retail price at this stage is $US74.95

Building on their ever growing range of 1/700 Photoetch sets White Ensign Models has announced the impending release of the 1/700 WW2 Iowa Class battleship photoetch set . From the current image available it would appear to be the largest 1/700 fret produced by WEM to date and is designed to fit both the Fujimi and Tamiya 1/700 kitsets. It is expected that this kit will be released within the next few weeks. The retail price will be 20.38 pounds excluding VAT.

Is the upcoming 1/350 IJN Akagi just not big enough for you? Or would you rather build the largest aircraft carrier from World War II in 1/144? Soar Art Workshop is back with more very large scale offerings in the way of a 1/144 IJN Akagi and 1/144 IJN Shinano. Details are very sketchy as to what you get with these big flattops, but compared to what Soar Art has already shown us, we won’t be disappointed. More information to come as it is released.

Building on its growing list of model ships Trumpeterare proud to announce the upcoming release of the 1/72 JMSDF Landing Craft/Air Cushion (LCAC). This is an exciting new tooling in 1/72nd scale complete with photo etc details and will measure almost 15 inches long. The anticipated release date for this kit is later in the year.The suggested retail price at this stage is $US99.95

Another manufacturer is adding 1/350th Naval figures to its range, Pit-Road Models are releasing a 1/350th Naval Figure set. Join me in viewing the preliminary shot of this set. The date of release and price are yet to be announced.
Watch out for a further update on this set as more information comes to hand

Soar Art Workshop likes to do things big, really big. They shocked the ship modeling community with the release of their 1/144 KM Bismarck and now their going even bigger. Soar Art’s next big battlewagon is no other than the 1/144 IJN Yamato. This big kit comes complete with well detailed scout aircraft and even the crew, posed in both action stations and at attention for inspection. Details from the website are sketchy, although it is known that this appeared in their 2007 catalog. So, if you are a “big” fan of the Yamato, then this kit is for you.

As reported earlier this year, Hasegawa is releasing the pre-war IJN Akagi in it's triple deck configuration. Unveiled at this year's Shizuoka Model Show, here are photos of this very nice kit.

Join me in taking a look at the upcoming line up from Aoshima Models at the Shizuoka Model Show. Take a look at the new 1/350 1944 Kongo, Takao and Atago. Also in the spot light is the new 1/700 cruisers Sendai and Jintsu.

Loose Cannon Models is proud to announce their latest 1/700 resin creation, the USS Midway 1945, Kit #67. The USS Midway is a kit of the "as first commisioned" configuration of Midway and FDR. The kit will come with 12 each Helldivers and Corsairs cast in gray resin. Detail parts for the aircraft will be on the photoetch sheet, plus marking on the decal sheet. Retail price is $225.00.

On May 7, 2008, Secretary of the Navy, Donald C. Winter announced that the United States Navy will name the newest Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer in honor of Lt. Michael Murphy, a Navy Seal killed in action in Afghanistan on June 28, 2005. The USS Michael Murphy. DDG 112 will be the 62nd Arleigh Burke-class destroyer. She is 509.5 feet in length, has a waterline beam of 59 feet, displaces approximately 9,200 tons, has a crew size of 323 (23 officers and 300 enlisted) and she will make speed in excess of 30 knots.

Model Art Magazine is proud to announce their latest Waterline Special title, Southern Operation from Battle of the Malay to Indian Ocean Raid. Due out later this month, this edition will cover the the ships involved from the sinking of the Prince of Wales and Repulse during the Battle of Malay to the days when the Imperial Japanese Navy’s Fast Carrier Strike Force laid waste to Allied ships in the Indian Ocean. No retail price has been given.

Osprey Publishing’s second seafaring release for August is General Military title Piracy: the complete history. In this book, author and pirate expert Angus Konstam sails through the brutal history of piracy, from the early pirates who plagued the Ancient Egyptians to Vikings raids the era of privateers. This book will retail for $24.95.

Continuing with their trip down memory lane, Revell Models announces the re-release of the 1/96 PT 212 Torpedo Boat. Utilizing vintage molds, this US Navy Higgins built 78’ PT Boat features a 1-piece full hull, display stand, full deck armament and 3 crew figures. The completed model is approximately 9" long.

The first of two upcoming releases, Osprey Publishing announces the latest in their New Vanguard series. American Light and Medium Frigates 1794–1836 tells the story of the ‘Original Six’ frigates which were commissioned by the new US Navy. Built for the staggering cost of nearly $700,000, theses ships were designed to be light and fast and enabled America to project its power across the globe. Included in this list of ships is the USS Constellation, the first ship to be commissioned by the United States Navy. Due out in August, this book will retail for $17.95.