Model Monkey News

Post by **ModelMonkey** » Mon May 31, 2021 11:55 pm

Thanks so much, Matt!

Post by **ModelMonkey** » Wed Jun 02, 2021 3:10 pm

Here is a comparison of a Model Monkey 1/350 scale USS Arizona BB-39 turret gunhouse with a corresponding 1/350 scale plastic kit's turret gunhouse.

First, a few photos of a real turret. Notice the shape of the real turret's sides, particularly the flat triangular area at the front. Many plastic kits' turrets are incorrectly shaped, more like a rectangular box with quarter spheres attached to the sides. The real turret is shaped very differently. On the real turret, under certain lighting conditions, the extents of the flat triangular panel are very visible. Certain lighting conditions make the rear edge of that triangular panel, where the panel meets the curved surface, more conspicuous. The 3D-printed model captures this feature. Photos of the 3D-printed model were taken in lighting that better shows the flat panel. In hand, the rear edge of the model's triangular panel is subtle.

Post by **ModelMonkey** » Sat Jun 05, 2021 11:38 am

Happy to announce an RMS Titanic Forecastle Watertight Hatch is now available in 1/200 scale, 1/350 scale and 1/400 scale.

The model was designed from scans of original Harland & Wolff builder's blueprints.

Post by **ModelMonkey** » Tue Jun 15, 2021 9:49 am

Happy to announce two new products for 1/32 scale World War Two-era aircraft models have been added to the catalog.

- A pair of N-3C gunsights with B-3 sight head for P-51 Mustang, P-47 Thunderbolt, P-40 Warhawk, P-39 Airacobra, P-38 Lightning, P-36 Hawk, B-24 Liberator and B-25 Mitchell, etc. From aircraft-gunsights.com: "The N-3 series of gunsights was by far the most produced and definitely the most widely used AAF gunsight of WWII as it was, at one time or another, fitted to almost every AAF fighter, attack plane, medium and light bomber, but also trainer and even observation plane that needed a fixed gunsight. It was also used briefly as a turret sight at least on B-24�s and probably on Martin top turrets." The N-3C was succeeded by the K-14 gunsight which we also offer. The K-14 was known as the Mk.18 in USN/USMC service.
- A spinner and propeller hub for Messerschmitt Bf 109 F, G and K fighters. The model is available in 3 different configurations, with a slot sized for new-tool Revell kits' propeller shaft, but can be adapted for others. The model was designed from Messerschmitt factory drawings.

New nameplates include eleven more Arleigh Burke class destroyers, seven more Carlo Bergamini class FREMM frigates, four more Rubis class attack submarines, two more Iron Duke class battleships, and two more of the "Six Original Frigates":
- USS Gridley DDG-101
- USS Sampson DDG-102
- USS Truxton DDG-103
- USS Sterett DDG-104
- USS Dewey DDG-105
- USS Stockdale DDG-106
- USS Gravely DDG-107
- USS Wayne E. Meyer DDG-108
- USS Jason Dunham DDG-109
- USS William P. Lawrence DDG-110
- USS Spruance DDG-111
- Alpino F 594
- Luigi Rizzo F 595
- Federico Martinengo F 596
- Antonio Marceglia F 597
- Al-Galala ???????
- Bernees ??????
- Mohammed VI ???? ??????
- Am�thyste
- �meraude
- Perle
- Saphir
- HMS Benbow
- HMS Emperor of India
- USS United States 1797
- USS President 1800

Post by **ModelMonkey** » Mon Jun 21, 2021 9:52 am

Happy to announce a Beaufighter and Mosquito Airborne Interception Radar Mk.IV equipment set is now available in 1/32 scale.

This accurate and highly detailed set of 5 models represents the radar equipment fit to early World War Two-era nightfighters such as the the Bristol Beaufighter NF Mk.I, DeHavilland Mosquito NF Mk.II, Douglas Boston, Havoc Turbinlight and P-70, and Lockheed Ventura PV-1 circa 1941-1943. It was succeeded by the AI Mk.VIII radar beginning in 1943.

The AI Mk.IV radar was produced by EMI, Pye and EKCO in the UK, and also built under license by Western Electric in the US, fit to Beaufighters and P-70s operated by US forces. In US service, it was known as the SCR-540.

The models were designed from de-classified Royal Air Force AI Radar Mk.IV equipment manual S.D. 0165 (1) dated July, 1942.

"Radar, Airborne Interception, Mark IV, or AI Mk. IV for short, was the world's first operational air-to-air radar system. Early Mk. III units appeared in July 1940 on converted Bristol Blenheim light bombers, while the definitive Mk. IV reached widespread availability on the Bristol Beaufighter heavy fighter by early 1941. On the Beaufighter, the Mk. IV arguably played a role in ending the Blitz, the Luftwaffe's night bombing campaign of late 1940 and early 1941." - Wikipedia.

Post by **ModelMonkey** » Fri Jun 25, 2021 8:14 am

Two different propeller blade alignment tools for 1/32 scale Messerschmitt Bf 109 G and K spinners have been added to the catalog. Late model Bf 109s were fit with either a narrow-chord VDM-9-12087 propeller blade (Bf 109 G-1 through G-6 and G-14) or a wide-chord VDM-9-12159A propeller "paddle" blade (Bf 109 G-10 and K-4). The tool helps modelers attach propellers blades to the propeller hub at the correct angle.

New products include 1/72 scale US Navy 25-man life rafts and 1/72 scale acetylene and oxygen cylinders.

Happy to announce that nameplates for all 69 in-service Arleigh Burke class guided missile destroyers are now available.

New nameplates include:
- MiG-15
- ???-15 (MiG-15 in Cyrillic)
- MiG-17
- ???-17 (MiG-17 in Cyrillic)
- USS Buckley DE-51
- Z5 Paul Jacobi
- Z6 Theodor Riedel
- HMS Conn K-509

Post by **ModelMonkey** » Sun Jul 04, 2021 8:39 am

Cheers to Black Cat Models and their new 1/350 scale Bathurst class corvette kit!

Nameplates for three ships of the class are available:
- HMAS Castlemaine
- HMAS Fremantle
- HMAS Whyalla

Links to more than 2000 nameplates: https://www.model-monkey.com/nameplates

Happy 4th!

Post by **ModelMonkey** » Sun Jul 04, 2021 1:54 pm

Messerschmitt Bf 109 spinners are now available in 1/24 scale.

Post by **ModelMonkey** » Tue Jul 20, 2021 2:40 pm

Happy to announce two new turrets in large scales and two new products for 1/144 scale RMS Titanic models:
- 1/96 scale 14"/50 cal. turret with external vent trunks for USS Tennessee BB-43 and USS California BB-44. A turret without vent trunks is also available.
- 1/125 scale 5"/38 Mk.38 twin-gun mounts to help convert your Lindberg "Blue Devil Destroyer" into an Allen M. Sumner or Gearing class DD.
- 1/144 scale RMS Titanic cranes
- 1/144 scale RMS Titanic forecastle watertight hatch

New nameplates include:
France
- Agosta S620
- B�v�ziers S621
- La Praya S622
- Ouessant S623

Germany
- Ju 52/3m
- Ju 188 A-1
- Ju 188 A-2
- Ju 188 E-1
- Me 410 B-2 Hornisse
- Me 410 B-6 Hornisse

Italy
- CR.42 Falco

Japan
- Kasuga ??
- Nisshin ??

Portugal
- NRP �lvares Cabral F331
- NRP Arp�o S161
- NRP Corte-Real F332
- NRP Vasco da Gama F330

Spain
- Almirante Juan de Borb�n
- Blas de Lezo F103
- Galerna S71
- M�ndez N��ez F104
- Mistral S73
- Sirocco S72
- Tramontana S74

Taiwan
- Cheng Ho ??
- Cheng Kung ??

Tunisia
- President Bourgiba

United Kingdom
- HMS Beaver
- HMS Brave
- HMS Brazen

United States
- USS Lexington CC-1
- USS Constellation CC-2
- USS Saratoga CC-3
- USS Washington BB-47

- C-54D Skymaster
- F-89D Scorpion
- F-89J Scorpion
- FJ-2 Fury
- FJ-3 Fury
- FJ-4 Fury
- P-3C Orion

Here are some of them, in polished bronze:

Post by **ModelMonkey** » Thu Jul 22, 2021 10:11 am

Here's a photo of a Model Monkey 1/32 scale Bf 109 spinner compared to a Trumpeter Bf 109 spinner. There are obvious shape and detailing differences. The Model Monkey spinner was designed from scans of Messerschmitt factory drawings.

A few more new nameplates:
- HMS Amazon
- HMS Brilliant

- USS Bluegill SS-242
- USS Baton Rouge SSN-689
- USS La Jolla SSN-701
- USS Phoenix SSN-702
- USS Buffalo SSN-715
- USS Scranton SSN-756
- USS Charlotte SSN-766

Here are a few of them:

Post by **ModelMonkey** » Wed Aug 04, 2021 1:33 pm

Happy to announce a British 18-inch Mk.XV torpedo is now available in 1/32 scale. Commonly launched from Bristol Beaufighter maritime strike aircraft and motor torpedo boats, the Mk.XV was the standard airborne torpedo used by British and Commonwealth forces in the latter half of the war.

The Mk.XV was a "wet-heater"-type torpedo, 206.7 inches (525.1 cm) in length, 17.69 inches (44.9 cm) in diameter, delivering 545 pounds (247 kg) of Torpex explosive at 40 knots. In 1/32 scale, the model is 16.4 cm long.

New nameplates include:
- all in-service Los Angeles class nuclear-powered attack submarines and most of those no longer in commission
- USS Parche SSN-683
- USS Patrick Henry SSBN-599
- Emerald class light cruisers HMS Emerald and HMS Enterprise
- Fiji (Crown Colony) class light cruiser HMCS Uganda / NCSM Uganda (both nameplates available)
- Icelandic Coast Guard Vessel Thor

Post by **ModelMonkey** » Fri Sep 03, 2021 7:31 am

Happy to report that a Bristol Beaufighter observer's station in 1/32 scale is in design. Below are renderings of the design as it appears at about 75% complete. This is the late station configuration (Mk.VI, Mk.X and Mk.21), with ammunition bins and pyramidal seat support platform. It is possible that Mk.I Beaufighters were retrofit to this configuration when 20mm ammo bins replaced 20mm ammo drums and the seat platform was strengthened. Some of what you see here will change and more features will be added as the design continues to mature.

Happy to announce:
- 203mm turrets for Italian Zara-class heavy cruisers RN Fiume, RN Gorizia and RN Bolzano are now available in 1/350 scale. Other scales are possible.
- Battleship Gneisenau main deck scuttles in 1/350 scale.
- FlaK 36 and Tiger I 88mm ammunition in 1/18 scale.

New nameplates include:
Belgium
Victor Billet F910

Canada
NCSM Agassiz
NCSM Haida
NCSM Huron
NCSM Iroquois
CP-140 Aurora
CP-140A Arcturus

Greece
Y/B ???????? (HS Katsonis)
Y/B ???????? (HS Matrozos)
Y/B ??????????? (HS Papanikolis)
Y/B ??????? (HS Pipinos)

Italy
Amelio Bianchi F 599
Aviere D 554
Pola (custom design for former crewman - custom naming may be possible for all available nameplates)
Spartaco Shergat F 598

Poland
ORP Burza

United Kingdom
HMS Active
HMS Antelope
HMS Ardent
HMS Bulldog
HMS Dauntless
HMS Defender
HMS Dragon
HMS Duncan
HMS Galatea
HMT Olympic (10 cm)
HMS Venturer
HMS Venus
HMS Wessex

United States of America
USS Baya SS-318
USS Cushing DD-376
USS Dunlap DD-374
USS Mahan DD-364
USS Perkins DD-373
USS Preston DD-379
USS Reid DD-369
USS Sangamon CVE-23

Post by **ModelMonkey** » Fri Sep 10, 2021 8:57 am

A bit more work done on the 1/32 scale Beaufighter maritime strike aircraft observer's station: oxygen bottles, tool locker (top box), cartridge stowage (bottom box), and the rack that holds them. Some of what you see here will change.

Below is the observer's station married to the cockpit. The observer's station floor will be widened later to match the contours of the Revell kit's fuselage halves. As you can see, the cockpit and observer's station together make a very large model, about 25.25 cm (~10 inches) long. Because of its large size and the extraordinary time it will take to 3D print, I regret to report that the model will be relatively expensive. Still much design work to do.

Happy to announce a 100 gallon drop tank for P-47 Thunderbolts in Italy is now available in 1/32 scale and 1/48 scale. Standard metal 75-gallon drop tanks were modified to hold 100 gallons by ground crew. These tanks were used operationally by USAAF and Brazilian forces in Italy during World War Two.

New nameplates include three more Crown Colony class light cruisers:
- HMS Fiji
- HMS Kenya
- HMS Nigeria

Post by **ModelMonkey** » Sat Sep 11, 2021 1:04 pm

Happy to announce an improved 1/700 scale 1941 USS Arizona BB-39 superstructure is now available. This model has been significantly redesigned for�more detail and�includes an integrated�forward tripod.� The model�features a revised parts breakdown that�helps make deck painting easier.

Post by **ModelMonkey** » Fri Sep 24, 2021 5:43 pm

Happy to announce a few new products:
- 1/96 scale floater net baskets
- 1/96 scale Mk.37 Fire Control Director, post-war configuration as seen on Fletcher, Allen M. Sumner and Gearing class DDs
- 1/35 scale M3A3 or M7A3 Bradley Fire Support Team Vehicle "BFiST" Sensor Box. The BFiST (pronounced "bee-fist") is an armored field artillery forward observer vehicle and laser designator. The BFiST provides artillery target location and supports the use of precision guided artillery munitions.

New nameplates include French prefix nameplates for three more Canadian ships:
- NCSM Algonquin
- NCSM Athabaskan
- NCSM Cayuga

Post by **ModelMonkey** » Fri Sep 24, 2021 8:05 pm

Yes, David.

Nameplates for many Canadian ships with the HMCS prefix are already available. These three new nameplates are for those who prefer the French prefix. I am happy to offer nameplates for Canadian ships with either prefix, whichever is desired by the customer.

https://www.facebook.com/HMCSRegina/

Post by **ModelMonkey** » Sun Oct 17, 2021 9:45 am

Happy to announce 9 new nameplates:

- Sir Francis Drake's galleon Golden Hind
- all six Republic of China (Taiwan) Navy Kang Ding-class fast frigates Kang Ding, Si Ning, Wu Chang, Di Hua, Kun Ming and Chen De
- two more Imperial Japanese Navy Kagero class destroyers, Maikaze and Nowaki

Post by **ModelMonkey** » Mon Oct 25, 2021 12:39 pm

Design work for the 1/32 scale Beaufighter Observer's Station continues. A rough test print of the basic floor, seat stand and oxygen bottle rack shows that the model will fit the Revell kit very well. The two double-width ribs fore and aft of the observer's seat are included to aid in alignment and positioning.

The next-to-bottom photo shows how the station fits with the cockpit and intra-spar equipment bay (already for sale in two configurations). The models fit the Revell kit better than shown in the photo; gravity was working against me when taking the picture so the models are laying slightly higher than they will be when glued into the fuselage halves.

The bottom rendering shows the cannon control box presently in design. It is the boxy structure on the floor forward of the seat stand, between the rear-most cannon alignment adjustment controls. The model includes the raised lettering, safety switches and electrical cabling shown clearly in the rendering which didn't photograph well on the model.

The cockpit and observer's station models shown in these photos are rough prints, only intended for test fit purposes. The models sold will be a bit cleaner. The test print observer's station model does not include the 20 mm cannons, ammo bins or observer's seat, all of which will be included in the actual models sold. The observer's seat stand shown here is the latter type, reinforced stand. A model with the early type stand will be made available, too.

A Mk.XV torpedo and radar equipment set are available now.

More work to be done.

Post by **ModelMonkey** » Tue Oct 26, 2021 5:25 pm

Happy to announce nameplates for the first four Sims class destroyers and one for Tribal class destroyer or Tribal class frigate HMS Ashanti have been added to the catalog.

Post by **ModelMonkey** » Sun Oct 31, 2021 4:41 pm

Happy Halloween!

Some recent printings include:

- 1/350 scale 5"/38 Mk.28 Mounts for fast battleships, either with a fixed or a separate trunnion.
- 1/350 scale 5"/38 Mk.30 Mounts for Fletcher class destroyers.
- 1/350 scale 5"/38 Mk.30 Mounts for Destroyer Escorts.
- 1/350 scale 5"/38 Mk.30 Mounts for Benson and Gleaves class destroyers, with one canvas-topped mount.
- 1/350 scale 5"/38 Mk.30 Mounts for Benson and Gleaves class destroyers, all steel-topped mounts.

The sets have been updated to include mount captain blast hoods on appropriate mounts.