Model Art Magazine is a monthly magazine that covers aircraft, armor, ships, and car modeling. Model Art started releasing magazines in 1966 and has evolved from there over the past forty-six years. They also release many special releases during the year as is the case of this issue.

This issue is the second in the series Ship Model Database Extra Edition. The first covered IJN Destroyers that were produced from 1918–1941, and this one covers the IJN Carriers 1922–1945. The carriers included in this are the Hosho, Akagi, Kaga, Ryujo, Soryu, Hiryu, Shokaku, Zuikaku, Taiho, Unryu, Amagi, Katsuragi, Shinano, Shoho, Zuiho, Ryuho, Chitose, Chiyoda, Hiyo, Junyo, Taiyo, Unyo, Chuyo, Kaiyo, and Shinyo. The magazine is broken down into eleven sections. I will cover each section below.

Thank you to Bert Kinzey and Rock Roszak for bringing back a tremendous resource for the modeler, this time in digital format. Thank you to the IPMS Reviewer Corps for allowing me to test out this new and exciting method of researching the F9F Cougar.

Overview

This review of an exciting new format of a familiar product will take three parts; 1) content coverage, 2) how effective and useful the digital e-book format is from a modeler’s perspective, and 3) evaluation of a kit using the modeler’s section. I certainly would expect the first question a reader would ask is, "Why do I want an e-book format?" I like reading through traditional books as much as anyone else, with the page-by-page discovery of storyline or new information. I also have tons of books in my library, mostly residing on stoic-looking bookshelves. This new publication format provides many advantages for the modeler, with few disadvantages, as described below.

Background

By the spring of 1942, the Germany realized it needed a half-tracked cargo hauling vehicle for use on the Eastern Front to replace earlier 3- and 5-ton tractors. Büssing-NAG was chosen as the developer, with initial production commencing in December of 1943. Production started with unarmored cabins, but eventually gave way to an armored cabin and engine compartment. By war’s end only 820 examples of all variants had been produced.

The Kit

Bronco’s latest rendition of the sWS general cargo is of the early soft-skinned variety, and is exquisitely reproduced throughout. Crisply molded, with 11 tan sprue trees, 2 brown, and 1 large and 1 small clear tree, the kit is packed with detail – including full engine, suspension, cargo bed, and cabin. Tracks are of individual link design, and the cabin and cargo covers are molded in clear. A single fret of photoetch metal detail is included, as well a single sheet of crisp and well-registered decals.