Model Art

Model Art Model Magazine

No. 692 - November 2005

Reviewed By Phil Peterson, #8739

I love to read model magazines to see how others have put together kits that I have or am looking at buying.  You can always pick up some tip to use yourself.

The challenge comes when you can’t read the language that the magazine is printed in.  You have to rely on the pictures to tell the story.

This publication has been around for a while (based on the issue number) and is printed about 99.9% in Japanese.  My Japanese is not too good (ok, other than figuring out the characters for a few colors, it is lousy) so I had to rely on the pictures.  Now one area this magazine excels in is the pictures.  Most of the main articles are in color with some black and white for mainly the supporting articles, and new products.  I will try to give you what’s inside this issue based on what I see.

First up is the longest article in the magazine.  Eight pages devoted to the new Hasegawa 1/48^th scale F/A-18F Super Hornet.  They do a nice build and the article includes a 2 view drawing.  Another thing that is included is a focus on using the Tamiya Modeling Brush.  Each article seems to pick out a tool or product used in the build.  This is where knowing how to read Japanese would really come in handy as several of these look very interesting.

Next up is a 4 page build on the new Hasegawa 1/72^nd scale Lancaster B Mk I/Mk III.  This is followed by 3 pages with pictures of surviving Lancasters showing some details.

The build article showcases using Hasegawa Masking Liquid, some Weathering Pastels from Mr. Hobby and a decal tray thingy from who knows.

Decals are showcased in the next build which is on using the PYN-Up decals on a 48^th scale P-47N.  Couldn’t figure out the manufacturer of the kit but it looks pretty good.  Some scribing tools are included in the article and some Tamiya Extra Thin Cement.

Moving on we have 2 builds on Autos.  First is a nice 1/24^th scale Ferrari 550 Maranello which I also cannot find who makes the kit.  The tool appears to be a photo etch folder or cutter from Tritool.

Another unknown kit is the Kei Office S15 Silva in 1/24^th.  This is part of the D1 Grand Prix Series if that helps anyone.  This is also the first article that doesn’t highlight a tool, etc.

Next is a nice diorama in 48^th scale combining a Henschel Hs123 A1 and 2 of the new T-34/76 Model 1941(Cast Turret) tanks.  All 3 of these kits are from Tamiya although the Henschel is obviously a reissue of the old ESCI kit.  The diorama shows the damaged biplane trying either to take off or land in front of the two tanks.  This is another one I wish I could read to figure out the storyline.  This build showcases some glue sticks (liquid or super) and some Tamiya Weathering Sticks.

The first ship article covers the Skywave 1/700 scale LCC-19 Blue Ridge which is a US Navy Amphibious Command Ship. There are a couple pictures of the real ship and showcased is Mr. Retarder Mild.

The next ship article is also in 1/700 scale but covers the Aoshima IJN Takeo 1937.  A couple more photo etch tools are used on this build.

The next article appears to be an interview with a couple of Illustrators, Egawa Tatsuya and Todaka Kazushige.  I have seen the artwork style in several Japanese model magazines.

The last ship article is also 1/700 scale but I cannot figure out the name or nationality of the ship.  It is built in both the 1897 and 1903 configurations but I cannot tell if it is a Battleship or Cruiser.

Modeling JASDF covers building the colorful JASDF V-107A Shirasagi (known to most as the C-46 helicopter) from the MRC kit in 1/48^th scale.  The bright color scheme on this chopper really stands out and would be very different from the camouflaged kits most of us build.

Another diorama in 1/35^th scale uses the new Tamiya Leclerc, a small Panhard armored car and some French soldiers.  Tamiya Weathering Master is used during the build but I cannot tell if this is a pastel, powder or paint.

This is followed by what appears to be a roundtable discussion on the Leclerc.  One picture shows what could be a typical model club meeting talking about this new kit.  Have I said I wish I could read Japanese?

Two 35^th scale German armor pieces are up next.  The Tristar Panzerkampfwagen IV Ausf. D and 7.5cm Pak40/1 auf Panzerjager Lr.S. (SdKfz. 135) made from combining parts from RPM and AFV Club each gets a separate article with the Panzer IV including use of a new sprue/wire clipper.  I really liked the pictures on the SdKfz 135 as I have a soft spot for tanks destroyers.

The next 2 pages are titled Zero Fighter Illustrated and shows colored renditions of different Zero tail wheels (at least, I think they are tail wheels).  10 different designs are shown but I couldn’t tell you which goes with which version of Zero.

The last article is on a 1/43^rd scale racer which appears to be a Toyota TF105.

There are several pages devoted to product reviews for decals, books and kits, a model gallery, a small article on WonderFestival 2005 (not to be confused with Wonderfest) and finally a Special Appendix: Detail Photo Album with reference pictures on the F/A-18F and Leclerc.

A very nice 150+ page magazine but now I need to find a Japanese to English Dictionary to figure out what I missed.

Thanks to Model Art for supplying the Issue to IPMS.  I did find this issue on Hobby Link Japan’s site going for just under $8.00 US so it is a good value for the money.

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