Model Art Co, Ltd

Model Art 11 No. 736 November 2007

by  Model Art

Reviewed By  Dick Montgomery, IPMS# 14003

MSRP: $14.00 (approx) Review copy courtesy of Model Art (www.modelart.jp) Model Art is imported by Dragon USA (www.dragonmodelsusa.com) Model Art Modeling Magazine is celebrating their 40th anniversary this year, and it is clearly the quality of the content of the magazine that contributes to that longevity. The magazine is a slick, glossy 7"x10" magazine of approximately 150 pages per issue. Think of a National Geographic that features models and you've got a good mental picture of Model Art. Each issue covers a broad spectrum of modeling from aircraft and ships, to armor and automotive subjects. While the text is in Japanese the accompanying photographs and drawings are sufficient to please those who are English-only readers, or not fluent in Japanese. This issue opens with a two page spread of a cut-away illustration of an I.J.A./N. aircraft. It appears to be the 2nd installment in a series of short articles featuring a Japanese aircraft. The reader is treated is a set of color drawings, in exquisite detail, of the rear-facing bombardier/gunner's seat of an aircraft that, unfortunately, I cannot identify. Although it would be great to have a translation of this article the drawings are more than sufficient to send any modeler into a frenzied state of A.M.S. Part 3 of this article appears in Model Art 12, which will be the subject of an upcoming review. Model Art # 11 features four articles with several other shorter articles interspersed throughout. The featured articles cover the new Trumpeter 1/32 F-100, the new 1/48 Cr-42 by Tamiya, a new release of a Daihatsu Copen in 1/24 scale produced by Aoshima, and the new Hasegawa release of an Fw-190A-5 in 1/48 scale. The kit review of 1/32 F-100 by Trumpeter contains color photographs of a completed kit, part sprues, detail shots of the model cockpit, engine, and fuselage details. Decals include markings for an aircraft of the 511th FBS, 405th FBW, Langley AFB, 1959. The kit review of the 1/48 Tamiya Cr-42 includes 21 color images showing the model during construction and completed. The review of the 1/48 Fw-190A-5 by Hasegawa includes 14 color images of the model under construction and completed. Decals for the aircraft flown by Major Josef Priller, as well as a figure of Priller are shown. This kit apparently includes a BMW327. A b/w photo included in the article shows Priller climbing into this vehicle with his aircraft in the background. A separate kit review covers the assembly of the car. The review for the French Armored Carrier UE 1/35 by Tamiya includes 20 color photographs of the model during the construction process and finished - placed on a diorama base. The photos indicate that the kit includes tracked trailer. The review for the Daihatsu Copen 1/24 scale by Aoshima includes 19 color images showing the completed model compared to a 1:1 Daihatsu. The cover article features the newly released 1/350 IJN Nagato by Hasegawa. The article contains 20 color images of the model, both under construction and completed. The close-ups are of an exceptional quality and provide the builder with an excellent preview of what they will see when the box is opened, as well as providing a color reference for the hull, deck, and superstructure. Two short articles on two IJN ships follow the story on the Nagato kit. The 1/350 Tamiya Yamato kit is covered with 16 color photographs of a kit in the building process. The second of these short articles features the 1/350 Hasegawa Mikasa with 9 color photographs of a finished model. Other models covered in similar 2 to 3 page featurettes include modeling a JASDF 1/48 T-33A. Photos of an actual aircraft, with detail images of a model being corrected, detailed, completed are provided. Two pages of 1/43 Marlboro #12 open wheel racer showing some detail shots of the kit under construction. Thirteen b/w and color detail shots of a "build" of an Italeri Sd.Kfz.140/1 Aufklarungspanzer 38(t) provide some neat detailing and painting ideas. Not featured in articles, but shown in b/w images are 16 pages of new releases, showing box tops, part trees, and decals. All in all, this magazine can serve as an excellent source for the modeler, primarily due to the high quality of the images it contains. Another valuable bit of information are the numerous URLs contained in some of the advertisements.

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