Model kits have been part of the Star Wars merchandising tradition ever since MPC released the first X-wing, Vader TIE Fighter, and droids kits in early 1978. With Episode III quickly approaching, manufacturers both in the U.S. and abroad have several new kits to offer Star Wars modellers, including some reissued vehicles from the past and some all new designs from Episode III.

In the U.S., AMT-Ertl has 15 newly-packaged classic kits which started showing up on store shelves back in January, and will be releasing four additional Episode III kits scheduled to arrive in stores this summer:

• X-wing Fighter (basic kit)
• AT-AT Walker
• Snowspeeder
• AT-ST Scout Walker
• B-wing Fighter
• TIE Interceptor
• Darth Vader TIE Fighter
• Speeder Bike
• Slave I
• X-wing Fighter (mid-size)
• Millennium Falcon
• Death Star
• Millennium Falcon Cut-Away Version
• Star Destroyer
• Episode III Jedi Starfighter (Obi-Wan's)
• Episode III Corporate Alliance Droid Tank
• Episode III Die-cast Jedi Starfighter (Anakin's)
• Episode III Die-cast Droid Tri-fighter

On the European front, Germany's Revell Company (sister to the U.S. Revell-Monogram, LLC) has five all new Episode III vehicles planned for release soon, each with pre-painted styling and snap-together features:

• ARC-170 Starfighter
• Droid Tri-fighter
• Obi-Wan's Jedi Starfighter
• Anakin's Jedi Starfighter
• AT-RT (All Terrain Recon Transport)

U.S. fans will note that the ARC-170 and AT-RT will only be released abroad, and that AMT-Ertl's Corporate Alliance Droid Tank and two die-cast kits are U.S. exclusives. Time to start negotiating some international trades with fellow modellers overseas!