News from the recently held Tokyo Model Show has been seeping through bit by bit. With the help of a photo-report on Hobby-Link (Japan). In the first instance, my thanks go to Robert Blokker (FAUST) for passing it on...

I don't particularly want to 'editorialize' but some points spring to mind..

Firstly, despite rumours to the contrary, there are absolutely no signs of life of the Grants, Lees, M3 Halftracks or even the Char B which were getting widely circulated on various sites. Secondly, that although we are going to see a lot of 1/48th scale releases from both Tamiya and Skybow we are DEFINITELY going to see a lot more in 1/35th scale and even more in
1/72nd - Dragon are bringing a lot of new releases in this scale. The German subjects are dominating and in my innocence, I trust that the 'seed-money' obtained from all the Tigers will be used to invest in new subjects...

This list is NOT definitive - rather it should be seen as an 'advisory'....

Projected Releases For 2005

AFV CLUB(all 1/35th Scale)

251/1 (Ausf.C), 251/7 (Ausf.C), 251/22 (Ausf.D), Tiger 1 (Late Version - December release) leFH18/40 10.5cm

DRAGON - As I have been constantly posting news stories on 1/35th Scale releases, I will concentrate on their 1/72nd projects...

M1025 (with an M2 machine gun) and M1026 (with an Mk 19 grenade launcher) Humvee models, Sd.Kfz 184 Elefant, Demolition Tiger, M2a2 Bradley (ODS), Sd.Kfz.182 King Tiger, with Henschel turret, Leopard II A5, Leopard II A6, Leopard II A4, Sd.Kfz.182 King Tiger, with Henschel turret, Sd.Kfz.182 King Tiger, with Porsche turret, Sd.Kfz.186 Jagdtiger (Henschel) with Zimmerit, Sd.Kfz.186 Jagdtiger (Porsche) with Zimmerit,

DOYUSHA

1/16th Scale r/c M1a2 Abrams (December Release), 1/35th Scale German Figure sets - Hermann Goering Division, MG Troops, in 1/144th scale - 'Leopold' Rail Gun and 'Karl' Mortar.

Fine Molds

Japanese AFVs: Type 97 "Te-Ke"and "Chi-He" (1/35th Scale)

Fujimi (1/72nd Scale)

SU-85 "Zhukor", T-34/85 "Volga", KV-1A (1941)

ITALERI (1/35th Scale)

PAK38 5cm AT Gun

Pit - Road Now, as far as I know, this is their first 'foray' into Armor kits. Previously the company was known for its naval subjects - a welcome new recruit to the list of armor manufacturers... All are 1/35th scale.

JGSDF Type 87 Recon Combat Vehicle, JGSDF Decontamination Vehicle, Type 86 15cm Artillery piece (WWII) with crew, Type 98 6t truck "Ro-Ke"and crew figures.

Well a very mixed bag of new releases - the Pit Road releases will no doubt find a lot of interest for both originality and freshness, Who knows, perhaps Japanese subjects will finally find their (long-overdue) place as modelling subjects...