Model Art Co., Ltd, Tokyo, Japan

Model Art Modeling Magazine #20 Battle of Midway Part 1

Reviewed By  Charles Landrum, IPMS# 26328

MSRP: 1700 yen (Approx $15) This is a special edition of Model Art Modeling Magazine; the sole focus being the Japanese Order of Battle in the Battle of Midway. This is a larger-than-normal-sized edition in terms of the page dimensions, so the photos are larger and there are plenty of them. It is approximately the same length as the monthly magazine, with 139 pages. The magazine is a combination of color and black and white and is printed on high quality paper. Oddly enough the Model Art magazines read like western magazines from left to right rather than the typical right to left Japanese format. The entire magazine is in Japanese excepting a few captions. This is a model magazine not a history and so while aspects of the battle are discussed in a center section article, the focus of the issue is on models of the Japanese order of battle and not period photographs. There are some very nice models profiled by ship class. In addition to learning some techniques for detail from the photos of the models under construction, there are nicely rendered profile and plan views of the significant ships and some color profiles highlighting the carrier flight deck markings as well. Fortunately the ship names at the front of the articles have English transliterations so you know what ship is being discussed. The ships profiled include:  - Aircraft Carrier AKAGI - a detailed build of the Nichimo 1/500 kit, and the 1/700 Hasegawa kit  - Aircraft Carrier KAGA - the 1/700 Hasegawa kit  - Aircraft Carrier HIRYU - the 1/700 Aoshima kit  - Aircraft Carrier SORYU - the 1/700 Pitroad kit  - Aircraft Carrier HOSHO - converted from the 1/700 Fujimi kit  - Battleships HARUNA & KIRISHIMA - the 1/700 Hasegawa kit  - Battleship YAMATO - the 1/700 Tamiya kit  - Battleships ISE & HYUGA - the 1/700 Hasegawa kit  - Battleships NAGATO & MUTSU - the 1/700 Aoshima kit  - Battleship YAMASHIRO - the 1/700 Aoshima kit  - Battleship FUSO - the 1/700 Pitroad kit  - Heavy Cruisers TONE & CHIKUMA - the 1/700 Fujimi and Aoshima kits respectively  - Light Cruiser NAGARA - converted from the 1/700 Tamiya kit  - Light Cruiser SENDAI - converted from the 1/700 Fujimi kit using the Joe World conversion  - Torpedo Cruiser OI & KITAKAMI - the 1/700 Pitroad kit  - Seaplane Carriers CHIYODA & NISSHIN - the 1/700 Aoshima and Pitroad kits respectively  - Destroyer HAMAKAZE (KAGERO Class) - the 1/700 Aoshima kit Finally there is an article about the Japanese destroyers of the Battle of Midway. All of these articles include line drawings and modifications to the kits to improve their accuracy for the period represented. The center section article is a history of the battle which lays out the Japanese order of battle, the time phasing of the Japanese movements and what looks to be a summary of the battle. There is a bonus color poster with the cover art on one side and the order of battle and daily progress of the Japanese forces across the pacific. Overall this is a magazine dense with information for those who like to model the Japanese Navy at its zenith. It is in many respects a one stop shopping publication from the modeler's perspective; the practical how-to photos and the line drawings will help with modifications to make the available 1/700 scale ships better representations of the prototypes. Given the fact that there is far more information on the US Navy during this period, this special edition is a welcome addition. It is part 1 so we have to assume that there will be a part 2 that it will focus in the U.S. Navy. Strongly recommended. I would like to thank Squadron and IPMS for the review copy.

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