Model Art Co, Ltd

Model Art Extra 01 - The History of Model Ships

Reviewed By  Luke R. Bucci, PhD, IPMS# 33459

MSRP: Price: 2300 yen (approximately $20) Pages: 136 Pictures: hundreds of box art and finished models; mostly color; Diagrams: none; Foldouts: none Publisher: Model Art Co., Ltd, 3-11 3chome, Iidabashi Chiyodaku, Tokyo, Japan (www.modelart.jp) Review copy provided by Model Art Feature: History of Japanese Ship Model Industry As usual, Model Art magazines are in almost 100% Japanese language. However, this is not as detrimental as it may seem for those who do not read Japanese text. The pictures are sufficient for modelers to comprehend the gist of each article. The format of this Special Edition is larger than normal (A4 size), and as usual, the printing and reproduction quality is excellent. Model Art Extra01 is a history of commercially available ship models from Japanese industry. The Special Edition has ten chapters, arranged in chronological order. On page 121 is a comprehensive table of model manufacturers from 1852-2007, with the scale listed. This issue shows lots of box art and advertisements, with relatively few pictures of models. There are only seven pages of advertisements in the rear - must be a record low number for Model Art. This edition has more text than other Model Art offerings. Chapter 1 deals with the oldest models up to 1900 or so, mostly wood and ceramic, and very toy-like. Chapter 2 covers the 1920s-1940s, showing crude metal models and toys, but also the beginnings of constant scale (1/1200) and reference materials. Chapter 3 covers the 1930s-1950s and focuses on supplies (paintbrushes, etc.), Japanese sources of plans for major warships and motorized models. Chapter 4 shows mixed media kits (wood, metal and a little plastic) from the 1950s. Tamiya (as Tamiya Makei K. or TMK) started here, and many now-esoteric subjects were routine (early JMSDF vessels, USS Saipan). Most were motorized or solid blocks, and very crude by today's standards. Still mostly full hulls. Chapter 5 is probably the most interesting chapter because it details in length the rise of injection-molded plastic kits from 1955-1960s. Familiar brand names appear (Fujimi, Hasegawa, Nichimo), along with many others. Although most kits were full hulls, each company used constant scales or produced kits with known scales, as opposed to the "box scale" practiced in the US. Chapter 5 continues to show the origins of Airfix 1/600 kits, Heller 1/400 kits and Revell kits. These are still in production. Chapter 6 dates from the mid-1960s to 1970s. This time period saw the origin of the Big Four Japanese waterline ship brands (Tamiya, Hasegawa, Fujimi, Aoshima). Matchbox and Skywave brands started at this time, also in constant 1/700 scale. Chapter 7 covers other brands such as Nichimo, Otaki and Arii. Prices for kits were $2-8, making one wish for a working time machine. Chapter 8 is devoted to museum models, including the 1/10 scale Yamato. Chapter 9 shows how Model Art magazines were started in the 1970s, and explores reference materials becoming increasingly available in Japan. Chapter 10 reviews the current state of ship models, including the trends of aftermarket accessories, resin kits, photoetch and the return of 1/350 scale. This issue would appeal primarily to die-hard ship model fans, especially boomers who drooled over those mysterious, hard-to-find and expensive (but oh so cool) Japanese kits in their youth. This issue does not contain any tips or help for building models, but it is a diversion from reference materials. It does make one aware that many of the injection-molded kits available now were first made in the 1960s and 1970s. It also makes us realize we are in a Golden Age of ship modeling - we have the kits, we have the tools, we have the references, we have the aftermarket pieces, we have the correct paint shades to build extremely accurate renditions of almost every warship that ever floated (or were contemplated). All this is thanks to the quiet revolution in Japan during the mid-1960s when constant-scale, injection-molded kits were first mass produced. Thanks go to Mr. Ono at Model Art for continuing to supply these publications to IPMS/USA for review.

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