15/11/07 :: A TRIPLE HELPING OF NEW CONTENT! First up, a review of this years IPMS UK Scale Modelworld show held at The International Centre in Telford, Shropshire. Find out what I thought of it in Visits. Then, take a look in Guides for, not one, but two new additions! Find out how to get the best from your paint in "Understanding colour" and the ever-so-useful "Colour reference chart". 10/11/07 :: AIRFIX DOCTOR WHO TARDIS KIT REVEALED I've just got back from the 2007 IPMS Scale Modelworld show at Telford International Centre here in merry old England. It's a two day event so if you are able to go there tomorrow I recommend you do, but don't dismay if you can't as I'll have a full report on the event in the Visits section of the site over the next day or so. Watch this space! Anyhoo, whilst there I managed to get some photos of the forthcoming Airfix Doctor Who model kit which, back in June, Hornby announced would be the first new Airfix release since their takeover of Humbrol. The box set contains a model kit of the TARDIS complete with control panel and figures of the 10th Doctor (David Tennant) and his assistant Martha. As if that isn't enough the set also includes twelve paints, paint brushes and glue and lighting and sound effects for the TARDIS control panel! I got talking to one of the Airfix staff at Scale Modelworld who told me that the brand new kit, entitled "Welcome aboard" is due for release some time in December (just in time for Christmas) and is a limited run that will retail at £24.99. Visit the Modelling and Painting discussion area of the Forum to see some sneak peek photos!! 27/10/07 :: EASTNOR MODEL & HOBBIES SPECTACULAR Check out the Visits section of the site for HobbyShed's review of the Eastnor Model & Hobbies Spectacular near Ledbury, United Kingdom. If remote controlled vehicles get you all excited, the review may be worth a read, and if you're thinking of attending, ...well, unfortunately, the 2007 "spectacular" has been and gone. Don't worry though, for there's always the 2008 show to look forward to! Huzzah! 05/10/07 :: THE AIRFIX WEB SITE RETURNS The 31st of August 2006 was a sad day for many modelmaker's the world over. Humbrol, parent company of Airfix, went into administration. Model kits and sundries aside, this unfortunately spelt the end of the excellent Airfix web site too. However, on the 10th of November 2006, Hornby Railways proved to be the bearer of good news, announcing it was to acquire Airfix and other assets of Humbrol for £2.6 million. Moving forward eleven months, Horby now run the show and the good news continues; HobbyShed is pleased to report that the official Airfix web site successfully relaunched on September 12th 2007. The Links page has been updated in respect of this most welcome return. 20/09/07 :: HAPPY BIRTHDAY SCALEXTRIC! Or should that be belated happy birthday? Celebrating it's 50th anniversary this year, world famous slot car manufacturer Scalextric has, amongst other things, marked the occasion with a 50th anniversary commemorative box set featuring a tinplate body Ferrari 375 (which was the first ever Scalextric car to be produced) alongside the modern Ferrari F1 race car from 2006. The set also includes a book charting the history and achievements of the company over the years. I realise word of the celebration is old news to some, seeing as the "fun" kicked off back in January with the company unveiling a new corporate identity at the London Toy Fair, but I thought I'd mention it here anyway for the benefit of those still unaware ...and because the anniversary suddenly seems to be in the mainstream news a lot! A carefully planned press release timed for the run up to Christmas, perhaps? Check out the HobbyShed Links page to be directed to the offical Scalextric web site! 09/09/07 :: COMET MINIATURES, LONDON, TO CLOSE After many years of trading, Comet Miniatures are closing their shop at Lavender Hill in London, citing increased running costs and a reduced number of visitors as the reason for the closure. The company will continue to trade via their web site and stock is being relocated to a new warehouse. "We hope to have the facility at our new warehouse premises for people to visit and will keep you up to date with all of the news after the move.", said Tony James at Comet Miniatures. The last day of over-the-counter sales will be on the 22nd of September 2007. 09/08/07 :: OUT WITH THE OLD, IN WITH THE NEWS The News and Contact pages have been removed and incorporated into this here home page instead. As well as site updates, I plan to start select reporting on things happening in the modelmaking world too. 04/08/07 :: TWO NEW MODELS IN THE GALLERY Two new models finally join my scratch built Warhammer 40,000 "Servo Skull" and Screamin' Star Wars "Yoda" in the Gallery (they were getting lonely in there!). Check out my take on the hot-headed Marvel superhero "Ghost Rider" kit by Horizon. Also in the gallery is my father's scratch built model of "Robert the Robot", co-pilot to Steve Zodiac in the classic childrens sci-fi television series Fireball XL5 (created by Gerry Anderson; he of Thunderbirds and Captain Scarlet fame). 22/07/07 :: OMG! IT'S AN UPDATE! Well, what a terrible time the last twelve months has been for me. Life can really suck at times. I'll spare you the details. It just sucked, okay? That's all you need to know. What doesn't suck though is that HobbyShed is still alive and kicking and not just abandoned like some disasterous modelling project. There's quite a bit of super spiffy stuff coming soon, but to keep you going for now, check out the latest entry to the Vists section of the site. 06/06/06 :: FORUM SWITCH The Forum has moved to a new location and new and previous members are invited to join in with the usual posting fun. It's purpose is to provide a place where you can seek or share modelling hints, tips, advice and methods with other modelmakers. You can also post pictures of your work for all to see, discuss model wargames and roleplaying games, advertise local modelling clubs, events, wants, sales and swaps. There's even a general discussion area for you to talk news, technology, entertainment, sport, whatever you like! It's a great place to pass the time while your model dries! 17/05/06 :: NEW ADDITIONS - VISITS & GLOSSARY Two new sections have been added to the site! Vists details events and exhibitions that I've attended which may be of interest to model enthusiasts and the Glossary has proved so popular that I've decided to move it out of Guides to form a section of it's own. 01/05/06 :: WHO'S BEHIND THE HOBBYSHED? Find out a little about me on the Contact page. I've started to list Frequently Asked Questions there too. 30/04/06 :: LOTS AND LOTS OF LINKS Taking a break from the model kits that I'm putting together for the Gallery, I've given the Links page a jolly good seeing to. 27/03/06 :: 300th GLOSSARY ENTRY The ever-expanding glossary reaches 300 entries! 21/03/06 :: LINKS PAGE ADDED All featured links relate to the modelmaking hobby. I'll be adding more useful and interesting web sites on a regular basis. Contact me if you'd like to have your web site considered for listing. I am particularly interested in mutual linking with well designed sites that do not simply offer items for sale. 20/03/06 :: HOBBYSHED SPONSORS POLICEJUMP.ORG.UK HobbyShed is proud to sponsor Avon & Somerset Constabulary for their forthcoming skydiving fundraiser in aid of the NSPCC registered charity. 19/03/06 :: ONE MONTH ON The HobbyShed web site has been up for a month now and, despite being under construction and getting no promotion during this time, visitor numbers and positive comments received already have been very encouraging indeed. So, what's been going on and what's to come? Well, I've been hard at work putting together various Guides and an extensive Glossary that I hope will prove useful to modelmakers of all ages and skill levels, I've started putting models into the Gallery with each entry including assembly and painting details, I've set up a Forum with various features designed to benefit modelmakers and wargamers alike and, finally, I've added this News section! I'm currently working on a Links page that will direct you to many varied, useful and interesting sites, I'm looking into ways to promote the site, there are more entries coming soon to the Guides and Gallery and there are other projects in the pipeline that I'll keep under wraps for now. Watch this space! Thanks to everyone sending best wishes and spreading word of the site! My special thanks to George, Steven, Mel and Chris for their invaluable help and advice so far.