Model Art Modeling Magazine, #39, U.S. Light / Escort Aircraft Carriers of WWII

Published: April 6, 2011
Company: Model Art

ModelArt Spring 2011 No. 39 is entirely devoted to US Light and Escort Carriers in WW2. Armor, aircraft and car buffs will only have a few small ads to peruse, with one exception. Aircraft modelers will love the section on aircraft markings for individual carriers. No. 39 turns out to be an excellent reference work on US Navy WW2 smaller carriers, but as usual the text is entirely in Japanese… more

IJN Nagato 1941

Published: April 1, 2011
Company: Fujimi

Bottom Line: New molding for 1/700 scale IJN Nagato as she appeared at the beginning of WW2 (1941). Excellent detail, excellent fit, accurate appearance.

IJN Nagato

Nagato was a historic ship – first battleship with 16in main guns, the most powerful weapon afloat for a few years, Japanese flagship at the start of WW2, surrendered the Japanese… more

IJN Anchor & Chrysanthemum Crest Set

Published: February 4, 2011
Company: Fine Molds

Bottom Line: Excellent 3-D anchors and flattest chrysanthemum bow crests for wide range of Imperial Japanese Navy warships.

Fine Molds Nano Dread 700 Series has been producing a line of very finely detailed and realistically close-to-scale aftermarket equipment sets for 1/350 and 1/700 scale World War 2 Imperial Japanese Navy warships. These sets use advanced molding… more

Waterline Warships. An Illustrated Masterclass

Published: January 28, 2011
Book Author(s): Philip Reed
Company: Seaforth Publishing

Philip Reed is an accomplished British master modeler of large-scale, museum-quality (or better) ship models. Although web searches and some book selling sites spell his first name with two Ls, his name is Philip with one L. Trained as an artist, and having a teaching career gives Philip the right background for this book. Philip started scratch-building WWI and WWII warships and switched to a… more

Radial Boat Davit Set For IJN Destroyers

Published: January 26, 2011
Company: Fine Molds

Bottom Line: As good as it gets for some, but not all, boat davit types for World War 2 IJN destroyers. Wish I had these for all those IJN DDs I have already built.

Fine Molds has been producing a line of very finely detailed and realistically close-to-scale aftermarket equipment sets for World War 2 Imperial Japanese navy warships with injection-molded plastic. These… more

Model Art Modeling Magazine, #804, September 2010

Published: October 14, 2010
Company: Model Art

Publisher: Model Art Co., Ltd, 1-12-30, 1Chome, Kudankita Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 102-0073 Japan

Thanks to Model Art and Dragon Models - USA for the review copy.

Model Art No. 804, September 2010 issue features new armor model kits, which take up the first 52 pages of this issue. The focus is on WW2 German armor on the Eastern front, and includes some Russian armor as well. Oddly,… more

Model Art Modeling Magazine, #37, Autumn 2010

Published: October 14, 2010
Company: Model Art

ModelArt special subject magazines are really softbound reference books on a particular subject. ModelArt Autumn 2010 No. 37 is entirely devoted to ships. No. 37 is the fourth part of detailed coverage of WW2 Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) destroyers. This issue covers the Akizuki, Shimakaze, Matsu and Tachibana classes, all commissioned after the start of the Pacific War. Patrol boat… more

Model Art Modeling Magazine, #36, Summer 2010

Published: October 12, 2010
Company: Model Art

ModelArt special subject magazines are really softbound reference books on a particular subject. ModelArt Summer 2010 No. 36 is entirely devoted to ships, so armor, aircraft and care buffs need not apply. In No. 36, the early, non-Akagi and non-Kaga aircraft carriers of the Imperial Japanese Navy are the topics – Hosho and Ryujo. You also get an update on US Navy amphibious warfare model kits… more

WWII U.S. Navy Vessels Guard Rails I

Published: August 31, 2009
Company: Lion Roar

Bottom Line

None better – has very fine sagged and straight railings in 2- and 3-bar styles.

Photoetch Set Review

Lion Roar has a large line of 1/700 photoetch accessories for United States, Japanese, German and Royal Navy WW2 navies. This set is devoted exclusively to US Navy railings, both 2- and 3-bar varieties.

The fret contains seven types of railings… more

Model Art Modeling Magazine, #750, June 2008

Published: August 31, 2009
Company: Model Art

This must be Model Art’s 50th Anniversary – at least, that is how I interpret the little 50th logo on the front cover. As usual, Model Art No. 750 June 2008 is in almost 100% Japanese language. The format is close to 7x10 inches in size, and as usual, the printing and reproduction quality is excellent. Most of the articles and reviews (but not the featurettes or ads) are mostly in color.