There’s plenty for any partwork devotee to be excited in the months ahead. For many of us, 2022 brought a few setbacks we’d like to forget. The downfall of Eaglemoss meant that some of our favourite models became unavailable without warning, and worst of all, it left many with unfinished projects and no solution in sight.

But, with thanks to IXO and Fanhome, parts for these neglected builds are back, with pre-orders for parts now being taken. And there are plenty more developments to raise spirits in the big-scale model world. 

1Stranded Eaglemoss partwork models are officially back!

It’s been in the pipeline for a while but model manufacturers PCT/IXO have announced that parts for many of the models left stranded by the collapse of Eaglemoss can now be pre-ordered through publishers Fanhome.

So far, parts for the DeLorean, Ecto-1, Enterprise and Eleanor are being offered in the UK, US and Germany. Plus, IXO will themselves release full kits for Willys Jeep, Mercedes 300SL and the Nissan GT-R in the coming weeks.

Meanwhile, Agora have plans to release the Aston Martin DB5. This is all great news, and a huge relief to so many of us who have invested time and money in partwork models left stuck in a partially completed state.

2Two ways to complete your Ecto-1

If you’re one of those modellers who’s tantalisingly close to the end of the Eaglemoss Ecto-1 build, you’ll soon be able to source those final parts via Fanhome to see your model over the finishing line. But don’t forget that you also have the option of using my ‘Resurrect the Ecto-1’ kits to complete your model (from stage 135 onwards).

Much more than just replacement parts for the missing Eaglemoss stages, my kits are major upgrades designed to give your Ectomobile a much higher-quality finish and heightened screen-accuracy when compared with the standard parts.

Plus, they allow you to make progress on your build sooner than you would if you wait for the Fanhome parts (expected to ship in March 2023).

While it’s good to see Fanhome themselves resurrecting the Ectomobile, my kits will inject even more life into your finished model.

My Resurrect the Ecto-1 Kits 1 and 2 are out now, with 3 and 4 on their way soon. As with my first two kits, kits 3 and 4 will include exciting upgrades with screen-accurate detailing which the standard parts will be missing.

310% off a selection of my Eaglemoss mods (for one week only!)

With the future looking bright for former Eaglemoss partworks, here’s another sweetener to help you fall back in love with your build – a 10% discount on a selection of my mods designed for Eaglemoss models, available at my shop now.

It’s a chance to give your build a lift with some superb screen-accurate details – and what’s more, most of my mods can be retro-fitted, so you can apply them even on completed models. There’s no coupon required – the discounts have already been applied.

Promotion ends February 5th 2023.

4Partwork models as full kits

The Eaglemoss situation has been a sobering experience for everyone involved. Many subscribers were facing long delays in receiving orders well before the company went under, and their eventual demise left people stranded and frustrated.

So it’s heartening to see that partwork publishers are increasingly allowing customers to buy whole partwork kits upfront. This removes any uncertainty about whether you’ll be able to complete a model – and many will prefer to have all the parts ready and waiting, with full control over the timing and pace of their build project.

Agora Models are offering full kits for a number of stunning models right now, such as the Jaguar E-Type and the 1965 Shelby Cobra 427 S/C.

IXO have also announced that they will soon be accepting orders for full kits of the Willys Jeep, Mercedes 300SL and Nissan GT-R models over the coming weeks.

5Loads of exciting new models

There’s a bunch of great publishers tempting us with models for every interest, including some stunning new pieces launching in 2023.

Agora Models have released their big-scale model of the historic Mercedes-Benz W 196 R and are currently taking pre-orders on the elegant Corvette Sting Ray and for Transformers fans, Optimus Prime.

Other cool models to look out for include the Hot Toys 1:6 Back to the Future Part II DeLorean, the futuristic Batmobile Tumbler from Hachette and a jaw-droppingly large (and expensive!) 1:6 Blitzway Ghostbusters Afterlife Ecto-1 shipping early this year.

Or for something completely different, how about an ambitious die cast partwork of the infamous Titanic ship.

And if you’re in the States, don’t forget that you can now get the Knight Rider KITT K2000 via Fanhome US.

6A flurry of new mods from me!

Finally, you can expect a treasure trove full of new Mike Lane Mods products this year – some for the models I’m already working on, and others for new ones that have caught my eye, so watch this space!

As a taster, soon you can expect to see some exciting new upgrades for the Fanhome KITT Knight Rider, something very special for the Agora 1965 Shelby Cobra, and also my much anticipated two final ‘Resurrect the Ecto-1 Kits’. And, a whole lot more!

For me, designing and developing mods to take the realism of these models to greater heights is hugely rewarding. I hope you enjoy the results of my upgrades as much as I love crafting them. And don’t forget, I always welcome your suggestions and requests for other mods you’d like to see.

So, if there’s something in particular that you would like that would add a little extra wonder to your model, let me know and I’ll see if I can make it happen!