Model Art Co, Ltd

Model Art 12 No. 738 December 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 are not fluent in Japanese. This issue opens with two diorama featurettes. The Tachibana-Maru, a 1/700th scale ferry, is shown in a harbor scene with a marina filled with sailboats and a lighthouse. In the second diorama, a 1/35th scale Panzerkampfwagen III Ausf. J and a Jagdpanzer 38(t) Hetzer are shown, on separate bases, among damaged buildings, typical "war debris" and figures. Included is a two page spread of b/w images taken at the 2007 IPMS National Convention. Not surprisingly, the preponderance of the images features vendors and new releases. It's a kick to see familiar IPMS-related faces in a foreign magazine. A caption indicates that a future issue may have more coverage of the convention. Model Art # 12 features five articles with several other shorter articles interspersed throughout. The featured articles cover the new Trumpeter P-47D 1/32nd kit, the 1/144th EA-18G by Dragon, the 1/48th Blackburn ROC Mk. 1 by Special Hobby, the 1/24th R10 TDI (2006) by Revell, and the 1/350th IJN Heavy Cruiser Takao by Aoshima. The kit review of 1/32 P-47D by Trumpeter contains 25 color photographs of a completed kit, part sprues, detail shots of the model cockpit, engine, and fuselage details. For those who have built one of the 1/32nd scale kits in the Trumpeter line, you will recognize the standard "Trumpeter footprint" of clear cowling parts revealing a detailed engine, a finely detailed cockpit, rubber tires, and a set of P.E. parts. The kit review of the Special Hobby Blackburn includes 18 color images showing the model during construction and after completion. The review of the 1/144th EA-18 includes 20 color images of the model under construction and after completion. A set of pictures of F-18s aboard the USS Nimitz accompanies this kit review. The review for the Audi R10 TDI by Revell includes 19 color photographs of the model during the construction process and finished. The review for the IJN Takao by Aoshima includes 30 color images showing the completed model as well as the kit in various stages of construction. Not listed as a "featured" article is a great spread on the Hasegawa 1/72nd A6M2b Type 21 "Zeke". The photographs, most of them in color, show a factory fresh Zeke with excellent detail shots of the cowl and cockpit. In every issue one can find about 15 or 16 pages of images of new kit releases, new decal sheets, and new diorama items. Model Art is a superb reference because of the color images, and lots of fun to thumb through. I recommend this publication without hesitation.

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