Model Art Co, Ltd

Model Art Modeling Magazine #721 March 2007

Reviewed By  Andrew Birkbeck, IPMS# 27087

MSRP: 1050 yen (approximately $9) Publisher: Model Art Co., Ltd, 3-11 3chome, Iidabashi Chiyodaku, Tokyo, Japan (www.modelart.jp) Here we have yet another excellent issue of Model Art Modeling Magazine, the superb monthly hobby magazine from Japan. This issue's main articles are devoted to modeling 1/35th tanks and Self Propelled Guns of the Imperial Japanese Army in WW2: · Type 97 "Chi-Ha" Medium tank, from Fine Molds · Type 3 "Honi-III" SPG, from Fine Molds · Type 97 "Chi-Ha" Medium tank, from Tamiya · Type 97 Kai "Chi-Ha" Medium tank, from Tamiya · Type 1 "Ho-Ni I" SPG, from Tamiya · Type 1 "Chi-He" Medium tank, from Fine Molds · Type 3 Kai "Chi-Nu II" SPG, from Fine Molds · Type 89 "Chi-I" Medium tank, from Gum-Ka Each model receives its own 3 to 4 page article, detailing (in Japanese) construction, painting and weathering. The articles are accompanied by 8 or more lovely color photographs showing the model under construction and then mounted in a nice diorama. In addition to these articles is a four page article covering camouflage and markings of IJA vehicles (Japanese language) which includes five color profiles of various tanks and SPGs. Next comes a two page article, Part 143, on "Modeling JASDF", this one covering 25th Anniversary schemes for the F-15J, accompanied by two dozen color photos. In depth model reviews are next, each consisting of 4 pages with color photos: Eduard's 1/48th Fw 190A-8, Zvezda's 1/72nd Mig-21 bis, a 1/24th 1985 Toyota Trueno AE86 and a 1/32nd Hino ZM Dump Truck (sadly, I can't figure out which model firm manufacturers these latter two kits from looking at the magazine). However, the Hino Dump truck is a very nicely detailed kit, and one that I have never seen available in US hobby shops. Next comes a two-page article covering details of the J1N1/2 "Gekko", part of a continuing series titled "Zero Fighter Illustrated" (Pt.9) and featuring among other well drawn sketches, a superbly detailed 60kg bomb and bomb rack. Another major article in this issue of the magazine is on building and detailing the new Hasegawa 1/350th Japanese Antarctica Observation Ship "SOYA", which apparently surveyed Antarctica during 1956 and 1957. This is a 14 page article that also includes numerous black and white detail photographs of the real "Soya", and will be of benefit to anyone contemplating building this great Hasegawa kit. Finally, we have what I always find the most fascinating part of any Model Art Modeling Magazine: the "New Releases" and advertiser's section of the publication. In this issue the pages number over 50, and what an amazing collection of "things to buy", many of which never see the light of day at my local hobby shop, such as the earlier mentioned Hino Dump Truck! To conclude, this is a truly amazing monthly modeling magazine, and my one regret is of course that it is in Japanese. Highly recommended for anyone who can read Japanese, or who plans to model Japanese WW2 tanks and SPG's, or the Hasegawa "SOYA" research vessel, in which case with or without knowledge of Japanese, the magazine will be useful. My thanks to the publisher for supplying IPMS/USA with this review copy.

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