News from your model shop - 18th June 2023

Hello

Many of you have told us they like the "newly arrived" page on the website. If you have not yet visited it, please note it includes not only new releases like the Lambretta scooter figures from PD Marsh or the  Seafang kit from AZ Models but also second hand items that we have just acquired. You can visit this page here.

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Don't forget to read our latest modelling tips and unboxing videos located at the bottom of the newsletter.

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With the longer days and thoughts of summer on the way, many will relish the prospect of fresh air, wide open spaces and the chance to connect with nature.  Modellers can readily use this concept by developing a theme of 'Outdoor Pursuits' for their layouts.  This is a versatile concept as it allows a modeller to integrate a small scene or vignette that can either complement the overall theme of the layout or provide an eye-catching counterpoint that creates significant visual interest for the observer.  This week we will examine a number of 'outdoor' themed figure sets that could quickly and easily add diversity and depth to a layout in OO gauge.

Long sunny days and country roads and paths inevitably offer great opportunities for those keen to travel by foot and also those who wish to see the world by other means.  The 'Family Bicycle Ride' set by Preiser is an eye-catching set that can be used in a wide range of settings within a layout.  Likewise, the 'Young Motorcyclists' and 'Horses at the Riding' also by Preiser are equally compact and versatile, allowing them to be integrated in a wide range of settings thus adding visual depth to a layout.



For modellers who are incorporating a river, lake or other similar water-based feature into their layouts there are a wide range of cameo figure sets that can help bring these areas to life.  The 'Pedalo Rental' and 'Couple in a Red Pedalo' cameos are interesting and diverse figure sets that will add variety to any layout.  Of course, not all adventurers will limit themselves purely to surface activities.  Some will literally look to dive a little deeper, such as the 'Divers' figure set.  All three are part of the wide range of figure sets available from the German manufacturer Preiser.



For some, the outdoors is best explored and appreciated at a far more leisurely pace.  What better way to relax than a quiet and peaceful day fishing, as exemplified by the 'Gone Fishing' Set by Woodland Scenics.  For other adventurers, the Trail is calling and at the end of a long day hiking, the prospect of a good meal and company shared around the campfire is too good to pass up.  The 'Campers and Accessories' figure set is supplied by Woodland Scenics, as is the 'Downhill Derby' figure set containing two intrepid adventurers preparing to risk all for glory in their 'no expense spared' homemade racing buggies.


Some outdoor pursuits can be hugely rewarding in more ways than one, though naturally, our resident apiarist takes suitable precautions in the pursuit of honey as depicted in the 'Beekeeping' figure set by Busch.  For some, the sky is the limit, though, for the budding aviators from the 'Flying Kites' set, the precise limit is defined by a length of string and gravity.  Another individual who is also suitably appreciative of the concept of aerodynamics is the bowman from the 'Archer with Target' set.  These final two sets are supplied by Busch and are indicative of how a suitable cameo set can add real depth and interest to even the smallest of layouts.



The twelve sets included this week were chosen to indicate the diversity and effectiveness that a simple cameo figure set can add to any layout.  With a number of major manufacturers producing a wide selection of interesting and intriguing figure sets, it has never been easier to add variety and visual impact to a layout.

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You can access all the unboxing videos by visiting this page or simply click on the link called "videos" on our website.