This delightful and petite cleanly moulded 1/72 scale kit features decals for three RAAF C&M schemes. Also included is some PE brass for seatbelts and actuator, film windscreens and instruction sheet. The kit includes the blind flying hood often fitted to the Tiger Moth. We have limited stock of this kit available. Check the details here.

Australia Post have changed their parcel postage categories and charges in a complete overhaul of both domestic and intrernational services that has left us breathless because of its complexity and multiple variable charges. We have attempted to give a less complex explanation of this new system on our Postage Rates page (click on Postage Rates on the left hand colum of the home page). Customers will note the new services appear on the checkout page of our shopping cart and they will be asked to make a selection regarding the type of postage they want. As previously explained we cannot estimate postage until such time as we have packed and weighed each order and calculated the cost of postage.

However, we make our unconditional guarrantee to all our customers that we will always charge our customers exactly what Australia Post charges us.

For further reading on this matter go here.

For as long a we can remember modellers have dreamed about being able to super detail their 1/72 scale Hageawa (and more recently) Revell Orion kits. Problem was that detailing sets trickled through at a very slow rate. Now CMR has come to the rescue with this amazing detailing set that lets you get to work on the cabin, the bombay, the undercarriage and flaps. The resin castings in this set are super detailed and cleanly cast. A comprehensive instruction sheet and painting guide are included. Check out the set here.

Today we add four new accessories to our RAAF Beaufighter range:

Beaufighter Pilot's and Observer's Seats, with harness - check this out here

Beaufighter Weighted Main Wheels - check these out here

1/48 Scale Beaufighter WW2 and Post-War Observer's Canopies - see these here and

1/72 Scale Beaufighter WW2 and Post-War Observer's Canopies - look here.

29 January 2013 - Sword Models new P-40K in stock

We have just received our first new item for this year and it is the super Sword Models P-40K (long tail version). Many people know that the RAAF operated P-40K (short tail) aircraft in North Africa but few realise that the long tailed variant saw service in Australia and the SWPA. Some 27 P-40K (long tail) aircraft were received by the RAAF. Some of the aircraft saw squadron service while others were operated by 2 OTU. A number of aircraft were lost in accidents, converted to components and eventually destroyed on the Werribee bombing range in 1948.

This neat Sword Models kit continues the tradition on clean, quality injection moulding  and interesting C & M. Check out the kit here.

14 January 2013 - Red Roo Open for Business & LImited Re-stock of ANARE Dakota Conversion

We are back at work and all orders that came in over the holiday period will be dealt with in chronological order.

We have received a limited re-stock of the very popular 1/72 scale ANARE Dakota conversion so if you missed out the first time round make sure you get in quickly as they won't be on the shelf for long!

Red Roo Models will be closed from Friday 21 December 2012 and will re-open for business on Monday 14 January 2013.

Where did 2012 go? Despite the pundits screaming gloom and doom from the battlements modellers appear to have been well served this year with many long awaited and highly desirable goodies hitting the market place. Some have not sat on the shelves for long enough to gather dust while others have developed into shelf queens, but on the whole most of the new kits, decals and after-market accessories released this year have found their way to eager and excited modellers. We at Red Roo have had some outstanding successes this year such as the ANARE Dakota conversion, the Beaufighter Target Tug conversion and the DC-9 kits. Top seller for the year was the ANARE Dakota conversion which sold out in about two months -  but don't worry because a few more are on the way. Snapping on its heels was the wonderfuly esoteric Dart-Stang kit. The really big surprise was the DC-9 kit. The success of this venture (only about 25 kits remain unsold) has prompted us to explore the possibility of putting out some more conversions of a 'civil airlines' genre. More will be revealed in 2013.

Ed and Richard have had a very productive year in 2012, helping to resolve issues with design, production and marketing and keeping the suggestions and ideas flowing. We have had a number of suggestions that came from customers which have been seriously examined and some will appear in the product range in 2013. Our sub-contracting work continues to grow and we have forged some stategic new alliances with other small businesses in Australia and overseas. For me personally 2012 has been a better year than the previous few years with slow but significant improvements in my health, so I look forward to a better year ahead.

The website will undergo some rebuilding and re-design next year to improve the interface with our loyal customers and changes will start to appear from about February. Our customer base grew by 61% this year and the majority of the new customers have returned to become regulars. We wish to thank all our customers in Australia and overseas for their wonderful support this year.

We have been able to finally obtain an agent in the UK which has helped with our recognition and sales into that market. Outstanding support has been provided by SAMI and we look forward to developing that relationship further in 2013. Other areas we have made sales into this year include Norway, Sweden, Italy, France, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, the USA, Canada, Brazil, Chile and Argentina. Our primary supplier in the Czech Republic continues to come up with great product with an Australian connection and we have forged much closer ties with major players in that part of the world that will help ensure Australian modellers will get to see lots of great product with that Aussie connection.

Finally, to all our wonderful customers, we would like to take this opportunity to wish you all the very best for the holiday season and the New Year - may you and your families enjoy a safe and happy festive season.

Best wishes,

Gary, Ed and Richard

We have just received our first shipment of the new UMM SCR-01 Universal Scriber. This interesting scribing tool features a new design which makes it easy to use. The double ended blade features a long and flat blade which is used in a 'push-me-pull-me' fashion. The small curved blade is used in the traditional 'drag' manner.  Obviously the greater the pressure you apply the deeper and wider the resulting scribed line will be. The small scribing head cleanly expels the swarf and the long flat scribing head is ideal for replacing panel lines around curves such as on the fuselage joint lines. Check out the scriber here.

We have just received some really neat 1/72 scale photo-etch and printed film instrument panels by Model-Hobby. These are for the1/72 Airfix  P-40B/C, the 1/72 Revell  Halifax and the 1/72 Airfix Swordfish. Simple accessories, very nicely made and at a super price - check them out here.

Just a quick reminder not to forget about Resin Art detail sets - our supplies are dwindling fast and there is no chance of new product for the foreseable future, so don't miss out (especially on those wonderful 1/72 scale late-war and post-war Avro Lancaster/Lincoln wheels) - check out the remaining Resin Art sets here.

We also have a pretty extensive range of 1/48 scale Ultracast detail sets in stock at great prices - take a look here for those.

Unfortunately our accounting software decided to go belly up. When it crashed and burned it destroyed most of our customer database, including who was waiting for what on our backorder list. As we have just had a couple of shipments come in which included stuff that people were lusting after we would ask all customers who had backorders with us to email and let us know what they were waiting on. We will get back to you quickly to tell you what we need with regard to the financials, etc.

Australia Post has announced that the US Govt Secuirty Charge applied to all packages 500g and over being shipped to the USA by Air Mail, Express Post International or Pack and Track is no longer required.

Australia Post has today implemented increases in some forms of International postage rates and reductions in some others. Generally speaking there has been a 2% increase in some international postage rates for parcels. Additionally the popular Pack and Track service has not been extended to include Singapore and Ireland. See our Postage Rates page for full details.

We have returned from the South Australian Model Expo held in Adelaide over the last weekend. This year's expo was great and was a testament to the new committee who did a super job. It was great to catch up with our South Australian customers.

I have started on clearing the backlog of orders that have built up over the five days we were away and anticipate that I should be up to speed by this time next week. There may be a slight delay for some orders as work through repacking the shelves and despatching orders so please be patient - I promise we will get your order to you as quickly as we can.

Just a quick reminder that we will be packing up the tent and traveling over to Adelaide for the 2012 SA Model Expo so we will be closed from 2 Oct in order to pack and travel. Any orders received during this period will be processed when we return. We look forward to catching up with all our customers in Adelaide next weekend.

Today we release our new 1/72 scale ANARE C-47 Dakota conversion. This conversion is a joint venture with Hawkeye Models Australia and will be available to the public from both Hawkeye and Red Roo. The conversion features superb resin, outstanding decals and a detailed instruction sheet. It is suitable for experienced modellers only and results in a super model. Check out the conversion here, where you can see the magnificent model built by Peter Mahoney.

We have just released our matching bookends DC-9 kits featuring the Ansett and TAA 1970's liveries. This is the excellent Fly kit with decals designed and printed by Hawkeye. Check out the kits here.

We have been advised by the UMM that they are experiencing a delay in supplying their JLC Mitre Box because of unexpected demand. They are sourcing additional supplies in order to cope. We have temporarily removed the product from our website untill such time as we receive our supplies as we already have a significant number of backorders resulting from the supply situation. We ask that customers remain patient and we will beable to meet all backorders for this product as soon as we receive our supplies.

We have just released three sets of 1/32 scale P-51 Mustang blades to enhance your NAA/CAC Mustang project. Designed for the 1/32 scale Dragon kit the blades are easily fitted to the Hasegaw and Tamiya 1/32 scale Mustangs kit as well (see Brett Green's recent article in Military Illustrated Moder Magazine). The HS cuffed paddle blade set corrects the errors with the Dragon kit's props. Check out the three sets here.

We have also released our CAC Boomerang update sets for the Special Hobby Boomerang kits in 1/48 and 1/72 scale. These sets provide a few resin items that will greatly enhance the kits as well as comprehensive colour notes to allow the modeller to accurately paint their model. Check out the 1/48 scale set here and the 1/72 scale set here.

We are proud to announce that our new multi-media conversion/kit hybrid, The Dart-Stang, in 1/72 scale has been released. This totally unique Australian aircraft has never been covered in any scle previously and despire never flying it has secured a prominent place in Australian aviation history.

This kit is based on the Academy P-51 Mustang which is supplied with the conversion; the kit contains all the resin parts, metals components and a full colour, detailed instruction sheet and template sheet. Check out The Dart-Stang here.

We are now closed so that we can attend the Melbourne Model Expo 2012 which is on this long weekend at the Sandown Convention Center (Sandown Racecourse). I've just finished packing the shop into the car...well, stuffing it into the car actually, so we are all set to trade up a storm at Expo. We look forward to seeing al our Melbourne and interstate customers at the Expo.

Red Roo Models will re-open for business on Wednesday 13 June 2012, following our unpack and stock take.

Australia post have just announced a new low-cost trackable air mail service called Pack and Track to New Zealand, the USA and the United Kingdom. The service operates for packages up to 2kg in weight to those three countries only. Full details can be found on our Postage Rates page, here.

We are very pleased to announce that we have been appointed as the Alley Cat agent for Australia. We have placed some initial offerings on the website and while we are predominantly interested in conversions and kits that have an Australian connection we will be able to obtain any of the super Alley Cat range for our customers. Further information on this prestigious range of resin conversions and kits may be viewed here:

Conversions

Kits

We have placed two new entries in the Gallery today. Both models were built by J.D. King and displayed at the 2012 Scale ACT 12 expo in Canberra last month. The first is his superb build of the 1/48 scale TT Beaufighter using the Red Roo conversion and the Tamiya Beaufighter Mk VI kit. The second build is the equally outstanding 1/32 scale Dragon Mustang, detailed as a 3 Squadron P-51K using the Red Roo detail set. Take a look at the Gallery here.

Don't forget the other Gallery categories: Decals and Kits, which also feature some excellent models.

We have been advised by our agent in the Czech Republic that there has been an unexpected delay in the shipping of the new CMR Sea Venom kit world wide. Due to a shortfall in production of some of the outsourced parts of the kit (PE brass, canopies, decals, etc) production has been delayed and consequently the manufacturer has been unable to fulfill orders for this kit. We are told that this situation is being rectified and that as soon as the additional parts are received all outstanding orders will be dealt with. Therefore, as soon as we get our delayed shipment we will be able to fill our customer's needs. All orders for CMR Sea Venom kits have been logged in chronological order and will be dealth with in sequence.

We are mindful that customers are eager to get hold of these kits and we will be accepting orders at Melbourne Expo. These orders will require a 10% deposit.

We have returned from the Canberra model expo which was an excellent show in its new venue. The venue was superb and the standard of entries was amazing. We were very pleased to catch up with a lot of familiar faces and happy to make new friends. The following new items were released at the Canberra show:

1/72 Scale Dart-Stang Conversion:
This new conversion covers a truely unique Australian subject. The conversion comes with an Academy P-51 kit, all the resin and metal parts required for the conversion and a comprehensive instruction booklet. There is minimal cutting involved, which makes this conversion an ideal stepping stone for those who are thinking they would like to try a resin kit. Check the details here.

1/72 Scale Boomerang Detail Set for the Special Hobby Kit:
This enhancement set provides several small but essential components that will dramatically improve the Special Hobby 1/72 scale Boomerang kit. Includes, resin, steel wire and detailed instruction sheet. Instructions include the Red Roo compact Boomerang colours guide which lists comprehensive details regarding surface finishes and the model paints required to obtain the perfect result. Check out this detail set here.

1/48 Scale Boomerang Detail Set for the Special Hobby Kits:
Like its little sister above this detail set provides some minor but important components to make the 1/48 scale Special Hobby Boomerang kits winners. Contents are similar to the 1/72 scale set above. Check out the details here.

Admin Dept: We have started work on the backlog of orders from our Canberra visit and we have received more CMR Vampires, Sea Venoms and Sycamores so we will be able to fill those backorders over the coming week. We will also be taking orders for these kits at the Melbourne Expo as we have been unable to keep up with the demand.

It's that time of year again and we are heading up the road to Canberra for Scale ACT 12 Model Expo and to undertake some research at National Archives prior to the show. We are now closed until 0900hr 30 May 2012. Any orders placed on the website or by phone will not be actioned before we re-open on 30 May.

We are looking forward to seeing all our Canberra and Sydney customers at Scale ACT 12 in its new venue so please stop by the stand and say hello to Richard, Ed and myself. We will be releasing three brand new products at the show this year so we hope these will create some interest because we are pretty excited about them. One of these products depicts a totally unique Australian subject for the first time ever in any scale! Now, if that is not enough incentive to stop at our stand and see what it is I don't what would be!

We will be closed for an additional day as I have to go into hospital after we return from Canberra for a scan in preparation for a minor procedure in the first week of June.

We have just received our shipment of the long awaited 1/72 scale High Planes RAAF Mirage IIIO kit. This kit features a choice of three camouflage and markings schemes: 76 Sqn in high speed aluminium lacquer finish and 75 and 79 Sqns low visibility greys. A resin ejection seat is included. Best of all, we can offer it at a great price. Check the details here.

We have made some changes to the postage rates page. Please take a few minutes to read the information presented there. We have removed the percentage based calculator on our order form following many complaints that it was not accurate enough. We have substituted a flat rate postage fee for shipping within Australia by weight that is based on the Australia Post rates. International Air Mail and Express Post International rates are also listed and these are at Australia Post cost.

Always remember that we have been in business for 18 years now and we have nerver and are not about to start ripping people off over postage - that is NOT how we do things.

The long awaited Away Team Part 3 decal sheets have been released today. Available in 1/72, 1/48 and 1/32 scales, the decal sheets cover 451 Sqaudron operating in the MTO, the UK and post-war Germany, featuring diverse Spitfire variants flown by the squadron during these campaigns. The 1/72 and 1/48 scale sheets feature Spitfire Mk Vc, Mk IXc, XVIe and Mk XIVe aircraft. The 1/32 scale sheet features Spitfire Mk IXc and XVIe aircraft. Each supurbly printed decal sheet is supported by a comprehensive, full colour instruction sheet. Check out these new decals here.

We have just recieved our first shipment of the new Valom 1/72 Fokker F.VIIb/3m Southern Cross kit. This is the first cover of the Southern Cross since the venerable Frog kit was issued in the Jurassic era! Check out the kit info here.

We have also received our initial shipment of the new CMR DH Sea Venom FAW.21/22/53 kit. This kit has all the hallmarks we usually associate with the superb resin kits of CMR and best of all, it comes with RAN decals! You can view the details here.

As from today, Australia Post has increased its charges by 3.8% and as an extra bonus they have eliminated the 0-250g parcel category within Australia. The new category of 0-500g carries a base rate of $6.60 for postage inside Australia.

We know many of our customers will be annoyed by this but we cannot do anything about it. Rest assured that we will, as ever, only charge our customers what Australia Post charges us. If you are unhappy about this increase please write or email Australia Post and your local Member of Parliament and express your dissatisfaction.

We have just received our new shipment of Vengeance canopies so they are back on the website - check them our here.

We have received our first shipment of the new CMR RAAF FB.30 and FB.31 Vampires (here) and the Sycamore (here). We hope you like them as we think they have been worth the wait.

Occasionally we get to see some really good news comming out of the current economic mess that besets the world and today we have a little ray of sunshine for modellers. The Aussie dollar has been on a bit of a rollercoaster ride against the US dollar and other trading currencies of late. However, bubbling away just beneath the surface are a whole heap of non-speculator currencies that the Aussie has steadily been increasing in value against. One of these currencies is the Czech Koruna which is a remarkably stable currency and the Aussie has steadily and slowly increased in value against it over the last 12 months. As a result we are now able to lower prices on our most recent re-stock of CMR kits. We have also rationalised some prices on some kits so we want to pass this on to our customers. We can't work miracles because resin kits will always be slightly more expensive than plastic kits but we can do something to take advantage of our currency's strength on this occasion.

Loon Models have just re-issued their popular 'no cut' 1/48 scale Spitfire Mk IX replacement fuselage for the Hasegawa kit. This fuselage is similar in design to their P-51B/C fuselage and just drops into place, after the modeller has fitted the Hasegawa cockpit interior, onto the kit wing. Details can be viewed here.

Loon Models have also released new 1/48 scale replacement props for the Revell PV-1 Ventura kit. Although designed for the Revell kit the props will also enhance the FM PV-1 Ventura kit. The details can be viewed here.

Finally, David Harvey of Aussie Modeller International sent us some images of his latest build, the AZ 1/48 scale Vultee Vengeance, for inclusion in the Gallery. David's outstanding efforts once more show that this much maligned kit can be made into a handsome model with some patience and effort. This build sits right up there with those previously undertaken by Tony O'Tool and Jaromir Senf. Check out David's build here.

This month we feature our newest resin accessory - NAA and CAC Sabre 100 Imp Gal & 166 Imp Gal Drop Tanks. These beautifully moulded drop tanks feaure the correct shape, tailplanes and fins. Designed to integrate with most Sabre kits in 1/72 or 1/48 scale available to date.

Check out the 1/72 scale set here. You can see the 1/48 scale 100 Imp Gal tanks here and the 166 Imp Gal tanks here.

Small, lightweight, easy to use and razor sharp. Ideal for cutting out vacform canopies and small parts. If you are sick of small and manicure scissors skipping and skating when you are trying to trim vacform canopies this is the tool you need! Check out the new cutters here.

We have just released our Target Towing Beaufighter Conversion in both 1/72 and 1/48 scales. These outstanding and totally unique conversion have been in production for two years and now we are very excited to finally have released the conversion for sale. This has been the most extensive and detailed conversion we have created to date. This is a completely unique Australian product covering a totally unique Australian aircraft. If you think we sound excited about this you are right and we sincerely hope that you will also be very excited about having the chance to build your own model. This is a limited run conversion - there are only 100 available! Check out the conversion in your desired scale here.

We have limited supplies of the AZ RAAF Vultee Vengeance Interior and Exterior PE Details and the AZ Vengeance Masks in stock. Check them out here. If we sell all of this lot and there is sufficient demand we will obtain further supplies.

Simple and easy to use vacform canopy to replace the canopy provided in the AZ 1/48 scale Vultee Vengeance kit. This vacform canopy allows the modeller to pose the canopy in the open position if desired. Check the details here.

With a marathon effort on Tuesday and Wednesday we have managed to get almost all the ordered cleared. Only a few bigger orders which involve preparing books remain and should be shipped by Monday of next week.

What's New Dept

A new 1/48 scale Beaufighter accessory has been released. The new Oil Cooler Detail Set is designed to fit the Tamiya Beaufighter kits and provides new oil cooler air intakes, radiator mesh and shutter actuating rods. Check out the details here.

We have just received our first shipment of new 1/72 scale Sword Spitfire kits. The first is a Spitfire Mk Vc Trop which features RAAF markings (this is only avail in very limited numbers at the moment because of a mix up with our distributor but further supplies are on the water and we anticipate receiving them in February). The second kit is a 1/72 scale Spitfire Mk LF XVIe which features RAAF markings.

We returned to work for 2012 yesterday and began processing the backlog of orders that had built up over the Christmas and New Year holiday break. Unfortunately there were some technical issues with our secure server which were beyond our control and prevented us from processing any orders. The ISP advised that they were working to resolve the issues and were hopeful of having everything back on line by today (Tuesday). This is the case and we are now processing orders and shipping them out. We apologise for this unfortunate delay and we are making every effort to get things moving again as quickly as possible.

Red Roo Models will close for a short break over the Christmas/New Year period at 5pm on Tuesday 20 December 2011.

We will re-open for business at 9am on 9 January 2012.

This year has again been a challenge for me personally, with health issues continuing to dog my every move. However, things appear to be improving towards the end of this year and I am hopeful that 2012 will be better and brighter. Red Roo has continued to grow, we have expanded our range and shall continue to do so in 2012. We have a packed release schedule for next year and beyond as we have spent considerable effort re-investing in the business and product range. We could not have done this without the wonderful support of our fantastic customers around the world and we are very grateful for their support. Thank you one and all, and may you have a wonderful holiday season and prosperous 2012 wherever you are.

Next year will see Red Roo forge bigger and better links with manufacturers overseas to provide Australian modellers with some unique opportunities and products. And - yes - the long awaited TT Beaufighter Conversion in 1/72 and 1/48 is due for release very soon in the New Year. We also intend to expand our popular 'Away Team' decal series in 2012 as well as introduce some new decal brands to Australia and New Zealand.

It only remains to wish you all a very happy and safe holiday season and a prosperous New Year. Merry Christmas from Ed, Richard and myself, Gary.

We have just received our first shipment of the superb PMA 'Kabuki' Masking Tape. The tape is supplied in 25m rolls and is available in three convenient micro-widths: 1mm, 2mm and 3mm. This tape is ideal for masking pin-stripes, canopy frames, hatches, walkway stripes, etc. Ultra thin and flexible with excellent adhesive properties, PMA masking tape is an essential part of the modeller's tool kit. Check out the three widths available here.

Red Roo Models has teamed with Loon Models to bring you a world exclusive P-51B/C Mustang conversion. The popular Loon 1/48 P-51B/C, with fin fillet, replacement fuselage designed for the 1/48 scale Tamiya P-51B/Mustang III kits is available again for a short time only. We have bundled the conversion with a special edition Red Roo decal sheet offering the modeller a choice of three such aircraft operated by 3 Squadron RAAF in Italy in 1944-45. The conversion was released at the SA Model Expo last week where it proved so popular that we were sold out by Saturday afternoon. Only 40 of these conversions remain in stock - so get in quick because once they are sold out that is it! Check out the conversion here.

We are closed as of today (25 October 2011 - 2 November 2011)as we pack up the shop and prepare to travel across to Adelaide to attend the South Australian Model Expo this weekend. Orders may be placed as usual via the website but they will not be dealt with until we have returned from Adelaide unpacked the shop. We look forward to seeing all our South Australian customers at the show - see you there.

We have just had a few new arrivals in from REW72. This batch features wheels for the B-24, B-29, P-40 and Ju 52; check them out here.

Bad News Dept:
We are sorry to report that Resin Art has decided to suspend all production effective immediately. Consequently we can only offer our current stock and once this has been sold off that is the end. So, if you are thinking about snapping up some of these outstanding resin accessories do so now. Please bear in mind that we offer the remaining stock on a first-come-first-served basis and we may not neceissarily have sufficient stock of an item to fulfill all orders received for it.

If you have a RAAF P-40, P-51 or Spitfire project on the go at the moment you cannot afford to go past Ultracast. With our new shipment of Ultracast Spitfire, P-40 and P-51 wheels we've got you covered. Just select Conversions and then click on Ultracast on the left hand manufacturer's menu and all shall be revealed!

We have just added our new sanding stick variety pack of seven sanding sticks in 100, 180, 240, 320, 400, 600 and 800 grit to our range. Economical in the variety pack and long lasting. Check them out here.

Supplies of Testors Liquid Cement in the flat base spiggot pack are now in stock.

Designed for the 4U-1D Corsair, F6F-3/5 Hellcat, TBM-3 Avenger, F7F Tigercat kits in 1/48 scale, BUT, it is also ideal for the AZ 1/48 scale Vultee Vengeance kit. AZ Vengeance owners will find this propeller ideal for their needs. Check out the new blades here.

Check out what's been going one with some of our product line in the three new albums added to the Gallery this morning. Two Spitfires and a Mustang feature this week all built by David Harvey of AMI.

Our new Gallery has just gone live on the website this morning. Customers can find images of builds using Red Roo products and completed models featuring resin conversions or decals from our range. We decided to add a Gallery as we constantly recieve images from many modellers who have used our products. We also intend to highlight our products such as CMR and AZ kits. So if you have built a model using a product from our range recently please send us an image to place in the gallery and display your skills to the world.Images for the Gallery must be in jpg format and and have a minimum of 72 dpi resolution. Size format should be a minimum of 800 x 600 pixels.

We have just found seven sets of the 1/48 scale Vampire FB31 Conversion lurking in the dark nether regions of our Cupboard of Doom and have put them up on the website. Once these are sold that's it for this conversion. Check it our here.

The latest issues of Ian K. Baker's very popular Aviation History Colouring Book have arrived instore today. You can cheque out the details here.

Due to the popularity of this kit we have sold out our allocation in 1 day! We were forced to ration the kits but we have our agents in Prague securing another batch which we hope to receive shortly so all backorders will be attened to as soon as we receive the next shipment.

We have just received our shipment of the long awaited 1/48 scale AZ Vultee Vengeance in RAAF service. We have only a limited number of kits available so be quick. Check out the new kit here.

A link to the XE Currency Converter website has been added to the shopping cart so that customers can see the cost of items and their order in their own local currency.

The 2011 Model Expo was just great on all fronts: organisers reported increased attendances, an increase in model entries and the traders were happy too! There were lots of smiles on the punters' faces after the Swap and Sell on Monday. We would like to say thank you to all our customers who stopped by to chat and purchase and for the interest shown in the growing range of products we handle.

The backlog of orders has now been cleared and things are running along and getting back to normal.

Our newest range, which was released at the 2011 Model Expo is the excellent Czech line, Resin Engines and Wheels 72 - hereafter referred to as REW72. So far we have their first five releases which you can see here. We have already placed out order for their next release which we should have available within a few weeks. Check out what REW72 stuff is in-store at this time here.

As of today we a closed for this week so we can pre-pack and prepare for Melbourne Model Expo 2011. Model Expo is the biggest show in our year and we are looking forward to seeing all of our customers at the show. We will be unveiling a new range of 1/72 scale resin accessories at the show for which we have just secured the distribution rights in Australia and New Zealand. Additionally we will have the latest from Ultracast, OzMods and CMR there, as well as our new book Australia's Lost Fighter - The CA-15 and its Demise. So don't forget to stop by the stand and say 'G'day' as we will all be there over the long weekend. See you there!

We have returned from Scale ACT '11 and have started work on the backlog of orders. We anticipate being back to full speed by the start of next week.

It was a great show and we were able to say hellow to many of our ACT and NSW based customers. The ACT Scale Modellers Society are to be congratulated on putting on a super show again this year. Well done fellows and we are already looking forward to 2012! In the meantime we are preparing for the Melbourne Model Expo over the Queen's Birthday long weekend in June - see you there.

We have packed up the store and are heading up to Canberra this week for Scale ACT '11, plus a little research and some production meetings on the side. In a first this year Richard, Ed and myself will be attending the Canberra show and we look forward to seeing as many of our ACT and Sydney customers (who scoot down the highway) as possible. As a result any orders received between now and Monday 23 May can only be attended to upon our return.

We will shortly be unveiling a new 1/72 scale resin accessory range here in Australia called Wheels and Engines These 1/72 scale resin accessories are beautifully cast as well as reasonably priced. More news shortly.

We have recently released our new book, Australia's Lost Fighter - The CA-15 and its Demise by well known Sydney modelling identity, David Clark. Check out the new book here.

I will be going into hospital tomorrow (Tues 19 Apr 2011) for some minor surgery requiring an overnight stay. As a result it will be Thursday (21 Apr 2011) before I am back on deck again. I will process all orders I have at the moment today but they will not go out until Thursday 21 April 2011. I will endeavor to catch up with and backlog over the Easter holiday break as my condition permits.

We have had to seek out another supplier for packaging materials after our regular supplier for 14 years sold us a batch of sub-standard packaging that was more like tissue paper and de-laminated when it was unpacked. As the stuff could not be used we determined we needed something batter so the hunt was on. We found a new supplier who offer their packaging at a slightly higher price which has resulted in a twenty-five cent increase in our packaging and handling fee. This fee goes toward off-setting the cost of packaging materials and is not a profit-making exercise on our part. Where we use second hand packaging which we obtain at little or no cost we do not make any charge. If we use pre-loved packaging it is only of the strongest constitution and best quality and we do not recycle flimsy cardboad boxes used to ship products to supermarket - you know the sort!

As on 4 April 2011 AUstralia Post has raided its overseas postage rates. The rise is universal and most categories have risen by between $0.25 and $6.75 bepending upon weight and destination.

This is also a good time to mention that the US Government has introduced a $9.00 security charge applied to all parcels being shipped to the USA that are greater than 500g in weight, to pay for the increased security measures recently adopted. The secure shopping cart order form lists full details.

The long awaited Red Roo CA-15 book, Australia's Lost Fighter - The CA-15 and its Demise, is released for sale today. The story of Commonwealth Aviation Corporation's CA-15 fighter design is related by David Clark in this latest Red Roo book. The book covers the design of the CA-15, the reluctance of the Air Board to continue to fund the project and Sir Lawrence Wackett's fight to provide work for CAC's skilled workforce and ensure the survival of a post-war Australian aviation industry. The book includes some new and rarely seen images of the CA-15 project, detailed contemporary documents, colour profiles created by Graeme Molineux, detailed line art by Don Halls, and stunning cover art by Ronnie Olsthoorn. Check out the details here.

After a very bad month in January and some pretty intensive post-op recovery in Feb I am now back at work full time. I was able to do some limited stuff in the second half of February to keep things ticking over and I was supported by my brother who was out here in that month to help me with my recovery.

Good news for those waiting for their Lighted Head Magnifiers - the wholesaler has told me that the shipment is due at the end of this month.

We have just added a new accessory to our range: Shuretape Gold. This is 'Kabuki' tape in a much more convenient size - 24mm x 55m. Get in quick while it lasts.

Well, back at work and starting to get to grips with the backlog of orders which I hope to clear by next week.

I have just added details of our first shipment of Minimali Productions accessories to the website. These blokes make a variety of 1/72 and 1/48 accessories and also some pretty handy lead wire in various diameters which is ideal for aircraft plumbing.

In preparation for our re-opening tomorrow (10 Jan 11) we have added three new Sword 1/72 scale Model kits to the website. There are the Gloster Gladiator, Gloster Sea Gladiator,  and the RAAF version Supermarine Spitfire Mk Vc Tropical. We have limited stock of these wonderful new Sword kits, so be quick. The new Spitfire Vc kits are probably one of the most accurate issued to date and both kits feature excellent decals .

We have also received our first shipment of the eagerly awaited CMR 1/72 scale Lancaster B Mk II Conversions. Depending upon the Lancaster kit you have, Airfix, Hasegawa, or Revell, there is a conversion suitable for your needs. These conversions feature a massive amount of resin and a comprehansive instruction sheet. All in all, these conversions are offered at a moderate price and feature exceptional value for money.

My surgery on 30 Dec went well but 24 hours later I decided to pass a kidney stone which landed me back in hospital for another 36 hours. As a result I am not fit to start work again when planned so I have delayed my return to work and will now re-open on 10 January 2011. Things will be slow and caotic for a while so please bear with me as I get things back to normal as I will be running on half pace for some time.

G'day Modellers,

Red Roo Models will close at 1700hr today (23 Dec 2010) and re-open again on Tuesday 4 Jan 2011.

We will then close again on 17 January 2011 and re-open on 24 Feb 2011.

This staggered arrangement is the result of a couple of things. Firstly I will be in hospital from 30 Dec for some surgery and secondly my brother is coming out to OZ from the US at the end of January.

The website will operate as normal and you should be able to get hold of me by phone, either via the land line or mobile as a last resort. Please do not expect an immediate reply to emails. All orders received will be logged and dealt with in chronological order to clear any backlog. Some of you will be aware that in the last couple of years I have had some health problems and I will need time in the early NY to recover from the current treatment so things will be slow for a couple of months.

On behalf of Ed, Richard and myself I would like to take this chance to wish all out customers and supporters a really great, happy and safe holiday season and all the very best for 2011. We all look forward to seeing you around the country at the various major shows in 2011.

Cheers,

Gary, Richard and Ed.

No, not the Spitfires, you'll have to wait a couple of weeks for those, but the wait will be worth it. Today it is the P-80 Shooting Star Over Korea, the Ki-84 Hayate (early), the Re 2001 CN and the Re 2001 Falco II. Check out these super 1/72 scale kits here.

The two latest issues of AHCB by Ian K. Baker have arrived in stock. Issues number 70 and 71 continue the detailed exploration of RAAF C&M from 1921 to 1951. These two issues deal with the changing face of RAAF C&M in 1941-42, with Number 71 being almost exclusively devoted to the Brewster Buffalo. For full details follow this link: new ACHB.

Yes, at long last the time is very near! We anticipate having our initial supply of AZ Vultee Vengeance in RAAF markings kits in about three to four weeks. As soon as we get them we will put them up on the website. No details on pricing at this stage but we will make every effort to offer the kit at a reasonable price!

It is time for our annual trek across the Western Districts to Adelaide and the 2010 SAPMA Model Expo. As a result we will be shut for a few days while we pack, travel, attend the Expo, return, unpack, stocktake and prepare to re-open next Wednesday. The website will operate as normal and any backlog of orders will be cleared upon our return as quickly as we can.

Ed, Richard and myself will be attending this year and we look forward to seeing all our South Australian customers and firends in Adelaide.

Today we have five new resin castings that are available and the return of an old favourite. The new castings are 1/32, 1/48 and 1/72 scale P-51K Air Intake Louvre Dust Covers. We think this is probably the first time anyone has produced an appliqué like this which makes adding this essential detail a breeze.

We have also released our new 1/48 scale Beaufighter Flat Tailplane conversion and the 1/48 scale 60lb HE WWII Rockets. These rockets are designed to fit the Tamiya Beaufighter so you can now easily arm your RAAF Beaufighter.

The 1/32 scale RAAF Mustang Detail Set, Aeroproducts needle cuffless blade for P-51K Mustangs is back. This detail set is designed to fit the 1/32 scale Dragon kit.

Due to a change in personal circumstances Red Roo Models is now registered for GST and as of 11 October 2010 is required to collect GST. The website has been updated. All prices shown on the website display the item price with and without GST. Only Australian sales are liable for GST. Overseas customers are exempt for GST. All sales liable for GST will have the amount of GST collected clearly displaid on the Tax Invoice.

It's been a long time between drinks - but we have been busy behind the scenes with some major on-going projects (including the new CA-15 book) which are due for release soon. Two of those projects have just seen the introduction of the new Ultracast P-38 Lightning wheels (with diamond tread) and the new P-38 Lightning seats (with US harness). These should be very welcome for those who are undertaking an RAAF P-38 project.

We are very pleased to announce the arrival of the fantastic Little-Lenses in the Red Roo shop. These amazing acylic lenses made by Little-Cars in the UK come in a variety of sizes and colours. Although primarily designed for use in model cars and railroads, the lenses have a distinct niche in aircraft modelling. This is absolutely the "bee's knees" method of representing aircraft landing lights. These nifty acrylic lenses sit in a shiny metal cup and give a very realisting look to a model. Because they are acrylic they accept paint and ink so you can draw various reflector shapes on them according to your requirements.

Nine new Resin Art detail sets are now available. These superb Czech resin castings are mostly in 1/72 scale and feature a diverse range of subjectssuch as the Grumman F9F-8 Cougar, the EE Canberra, the Henschel Hs-129B and the Hawker Typhoon. Take a look at the Resin Art page for full details.

We are very pleased to announce that our new detail set for the 1/48 scale Special Hobby Wirraway kit has been released. The detail set contrains enhancements and corrections for theany issues with the SH kit and includes the correct cowl for the type depicted by the kit; the correct oil cooler air intake and a Scarff ring, Lewis gun, radio shelf, radios, tailplane fillets, tail wheel fairing, engine mount, compass, accurate propeller, storepedoes, PE gun sight and numerous other details. Also included is a 20 page full colour detailed instruction booklet. Take a look here for full details.

Five new releases from CMR have been added to the website. These feature the DH Vampire in Swiss, Norwegian, RAF, RCAF and RNZAF service; all kits have decals, photo-etch, paint masks and detailed photo references and instruction sheet. As well, there is a brand new Scimnitar kit and a new Spitfire Mk IXC kit dedicated to Czechoslovak pilots who flew with the RAF during WWII. Check out the CMR pages for full details.

Five new Ultracast accessories have been added to the website, all dealing with cockpit doors for the Supermarine Spitfire. There are two resin doors for the ICM Spitfires, one with crowbar fitted and one without. For the Tamiya Spitfires there are three sets: Spitfire Cockpit Doors without crowbar (fits Tamiya Spitfire Mk I & Mk V kits); Spitfire Cockpit Doors with crowbar (fits Tamiya Spitfire Mk I & Mk V kits);and Spitfire Mk I/Mk II Cockpit Doors without crowbar & fittings, for aircraft built prior to February 1941 (fits Tamiya Spitfire Mk I kits). Check out the Ultracast pages for further details.

We are very pleased to announce that we have negotiated with our partners in Prague and as a result we can now pass on price savings on all Valom kits. Popular kits selling well at the moment are the Supermarine Seagull V, Martin Marauder, Bristol Brigand and Handley Page Hampden - all have new, reduced prices as a result. Please take the time to scroll through the Valom listings and check out the new, lower prices.

Yahooo! Looks like the last of the over-due orders shipped out on Friday and the decks are cleared. There are a few orders in today which will be dealt with on Monday and I am up to date.

Australia's Liberators is selling like hot cakes and I am having a bit of trouble keeping up with the demand - what a wonderful change, something is selling well!

Ed and I have been busy negotiating with several suppliers to bring you more interesting and unusual kits as well as some really neat airbrush accessories. Check the website over the next month or so for new products arriving in store.

Bad News Department
Australia Post will raise its postage charges on Monday 28 June 2010, in line with the increase in the CPI. Australia Post has received approval from the ACCC to raise their prices and made a rather tactless statement of self congratulation and joy on their website (http://auspost.com.au/about-us/Australia-Post-welcomes-ACCC-decision.html). Domestic letters will rise by $0.05 and all parcels within Australia by $0.25, while International Postage for parcels rises by by between $0.35 and $3.50, depending on the type, weight and destination of the article. Once again I remind customers that it is not our fault that postage charges rise - complain to Australia Post. Also, be aware that if you elect Air Mail postage to an overseas location there is no tracking service provided by Australia Post on standard Air Mail postage. If you want to track the progress of your parcel you must specify Express Post International and be prepared to pay significantly more for the service - usually between $5 - $25, depending on where your are located and the weight of the goods. Once again I stress that the Estimated Postage shown on our shopping cart is just that, an estimate, and not the final amount of the actual postage that you will be charged. We will only charge you the actual amount we are charged by Australia Post. Please don't email us asking how much the postage is on your order - we can only know that once we pack and invoice the order ready to ship.

Bad News Department 2 - Ian Huntley Dead
Verteran doyen of the aircraft camouflage and markings world, Ian Huntley,who wrote numerous articles exploring the subject in the British magazine Scale Aircraft Modelling, has sadly passed away. One of the last of those articulate Second World War chroniclers who combined their own carefully recorded observations with meticulous archival investigation to leave a rich legacy, he will be sadly missed by serious aircraft modellers the world over. It was Huntley's monthly column which actually motivated me to start my own research into RAAF C&M. Thank you Ian and happy modelling.

Ending on a Bright Note
I want to end on a bright note today; production work on our next book is well underway as it has entered the design phase and we hope to able to release it in October in Adelaide at the SA Model Expo. The book will cover the CA-15 and discuss its place in Australian aviation history.

Having spent the Queen's Birthday weekend trading at Model Expo 2010 we have now completed un-packing, stocktake, re-ordering, etc, and have managed to get the replacement work station on-line on Tuesday so we are back at work and today has been the first day spent on clearing outstanding orders. We intend to make further progress over the next few days and are hopeful that by mid-next week we will have caught up. There may be a few book orders that will probably linger towards the end of next week because we have to print and bind the books required - we have been almost cleaned out of all our books at Model Expo (except SCM which is the only pre-printed stock we hold, all the rest are demand printing).

Please be patient -  I know you are all wanting your orders delivered quickly and we will do our very best to achieve that.

On behalf of Richard, Ed and myself I wish to say thank you to all our loyal customers who made the effort to stop by the stand at Model Expo 2010 to chew the fat and buy a few items -  you made the Model Expo worthwhile for us and it was great to catch up. It was a great surprise when Greg Meggs stopped by to say hello as we had not seen each other for 15 years!

The next show we are attending will be the SA Model Expo, held in October of this year and we are looking forward to visiting Adelaide and seeing all our South Australian friends.

Despite the issues caused by the dead work station which has crippled our billing, orders and accounting procedures, there are two new products released in time for Melbourne Model Expo. These are the 1/72 scale Lincoln Engines without flame dampened exhausts (look here) and the long awaited 1/48 Scale CAC CA-9 Wirraway Mk II Detail Set which will correct the issues present in the Special Hobby Wirraway kit (look here).

We look forward to seeing all out Melbourne based customers at Model Expo 2010 at the Sandown Convention Centre, Sandown Racetrack, next weekend (Queen's Brithday long weekend).

Please be aware that we are severely restricted in our order processing at the moment because of the issues outlined on 4 June 2010 (below). It is likely that this situation will continue at least until after Expo. I anticipate that it may well be at least 2 weeks before everything is back to normal.

I am very sorry to be in this position and have to advise our customers that we have suffered a major equipment failure and as a result of this we will be unable to process any orders for a number of days. Unfortunately our accounting work station suffered a catestrophic mother board failure this morning. Because the computer is almost 10 years old we cannot simply replace the failed components but rather we have to totally replace the machine. None of our computers are stock standard; they are all built for a specific task in a specific configuration and our IT contractor has already begun sourcing componants with which to build the new computer next week. Once it is delivered in a 'bare bones' configuration it is up to me to install and configure the software required to begin working again - a process that will take several days. This has come at a really bad time, with Expo just around the corner and a number of orders still remaining from last week, so it is likely that we may not be able to process any orders until after the Melbourne Expo. Rest assured that everybody is doing their best to overcome the problem as quickly as possible.

We will be trading at Melbourne Expo as usual, so we look forward to seeing you all there.

I have just returned from Canebrra and Scale ACT '10. What a great show it was too! Both Richard and myself were very pleased to catch up with many of our ACT/NSW customers at the show. Thank you for popping around to the stand to say g'day and for the many fine purchases made as well. Australia's Liberators and the 1/48 scale Wirraway detail set proved so popular that they sold out pretty early in the show. Melbourne modellers get their chane to bag these beauties in a couple of weeks at the Model Expo on the Queen's Birthday long weekend. Oh well, back to work now and I hope to have caught up with all the outstanding orders by the start of next week. Bye for now....