Model Art Co, Ltd

Model Art Modeling Magazine #714 November 2006

Reviewed By  Howie Belkin, IPMS# 16

MSRP: 18,960 yen Sea and Air 12 issues subscription to the US, 23,520 Air Mail. 160pgs, 1/2 are in Full Color. The good news is MODEL ART is celebrating its 40th Anniversary. The bad news is that the text is mostly in Japanese (but the pictures are in English!) If you combine those thoughts that make MODEL ART one of the oldest, longest running model magazines in the world, crammed with photos and drawings that have helped it maintain its popularity. If you can afford another magazine or would consider replacing one you're not happy with, you should take a look at MODEL ART. This particular issue features a built Trumpeter 1/32 Dauntless on the cover and a series of articles on models of U.S. naval aircraft at Midway (and elsewhere). The Dauntless article includes color side views of four Dauntlessi (es?), in progress photos of the Trumpeter kit showing the part sprues, the interior, engine, bomb and dive flap details, and a two page spread of color photos of the Dauntless in our NASM in DC. It's followed by a 1/48 Midway TBF-1 Avenger of VT-8; a crash-landed F4F-4 Wildcat on a section of Yorktown deck; the 1/72 Valom Devastator and a 1/72 Buffalo with resin interior. The model articles are followed by a history of the battle with war time b/w photos. There's also a great color article on our own John Vojtech's 1/72 B-2 bomber which includes a photo of all the awards it won for John at the IPMS Nationals in Kansas City! In addition to the overall "atmosphere" type photos, MODEL ART features close up photos of the cockpit interior, wheels and wheel wells, bomb bay, inside the dropped flaps, the complicated crew ladder, and of course, the pilot's helmet on top of the dashboard (not an exact translation). There are other short articles like the 2 color pages on WWII Japanese drop tanks; built-up 1/48 Hobby Boss T-34s apparently with complete interiors; built-up 1/48 Hasegawa P-400 with Meteor's Pyn-Up Air A Cutie decals and a set of art appreciation admiring ground crew. There's also articles on the 1/48 Trumpeter Wyvern, a Lexus IS 350, a Japanese Coast Guard ship, and a 1/35 Dragon Marder II. There are pages of new stuff, mostly presented with small photos of the kit sprues and box; new decals are shown sometimes with art of the finished subjects; resin accessories show the parts and book covers are shown along with descriptions. There is club and show news as well. The rest of MODEL ART is crammed with so much advertising that it must make competitor magazine ad managers break down and cry! It doesn't do you fellow English-language-only modelers much good, unless you read between the lines. For example the 1/72 Hasegawa B-26 is apparently a "B" model with Flak Bait markings. Trumpeter lists a 1/72 P-40B and a 1/32 F6F-3 and Tasca a 1/35 Sherman Firefly. One hobby shop's headline shrieks 20-90% Off (but good luck contacting him!) while others soft sell and a few list their internet site in English. MODEL ART should be at your favorite hobby shop, otherwise email them in English at info@modelart.jp or go to their website at www.modelart.jp and click the English version. They have a link to Great Models, Mission Models and Pacific Front Hobbies as their U.S. distributors. Great Models lists a lot of the specials, current and back issues priced from $18 to $24. Google opened a translated site for me and also gave me order@rainbowten.co.jp where you can order at 2,533 yen per issue incl postage. You can order direct at the prices quoted in this review's subheading from MODEL ART Co. Ltd., Yan Bldg 6F, 1-12-30 Kudankita, Chiyodaku, Tokyo 102-0073 Tel: 03-3262-6450 Fax: 03-3262-7932. You've heard it before, and read it between the lines in the JOURNAL interview of Mr. Tamiya last year, that Japanese modelers make or break companies in this hobby. So it should be no surprise that one of the oldest and most successful magazines is in Japanese. If you can afford it, remember, all the photos and drawings are in English! I would highly recommend MODEL ART if the text was both in English and Japanese like Minitracks is primarily French, or if MODEL ART published an English version for distribution outside of Japan. MODEL ART DOES include some English in their special issues. There is some English in Panzer Graph, one of their separate publications. Others, the AFV Super Detail Photobook series, are totally translated. Thank you MODEL ART for the review sample. I hope your marketing manager is reading this and gives English a chance in your monthly editions! Who knows?

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