Military Miniatures in Review (MMIR) is one of only about a half-dozen high-end armor-based magazines, and my favorite go-to source for finishing and weathering armor models and figures. Regular publication has been spotty in the past; otherwise I would have sprung for a subscription long ago. That said, I try to pick up every new issue, and those that I miss I can purchase (at a discount) from their website.

As of right now, Ampersand does not offer MMIR in digital format, but even if it did I’m not sure I’d switch from the hardcopy version. The quality of the materials used and the sheer number of crystal-sharp images included in each issue makes these magazines stand out among their peers.

Each article contains detailed information on specific paints used, mixing ratios and thinning suggestions – details that many times are glossed over in other publications. This information is extremely useful to modelers who are trying to improve their craft. In addition, each article contains a section entitled ‘MMIR RECCE’ that lists every after-market product used, complete with price, manufacturer and contact information, as well as a detailed list of references used.

Lest one thinks that so much detail would make for a boring read, the content is littered with personal anecdotes, industry gossip, and even a little comedic levity in places. You get the feeling that the editors and contributors don’t take themselves too seriously, but rather choose to deliver the goods in a fun and light-hearted manner. I like that a lot – it speaks to how I feel about this wonderful hobby that I am so passionate about.

Starting with this issue, MMIR has dramatically reduced the ‘Short Takes’ section which reviews the new products coming on the market. The reasons given seem sound enough – much of the information is readily available on the internet and is usually outdated by the time the published issue hits the market. The good news is that by doing this, there is more room for feature articles.

In addition to the ten articles described below, MMIR includes a lot of helpful information for figure modelers. In the back of each issue are six pages of close-up images and detailed captions covering new figures coming to market. Additionally, one of my favorite features are the full-color ads from figure manufacturers such as Alpine and Royal. I’ve used these pictures numerous times for ideas for painting and finishing my figures.

What’s in Issue #59?

Following 15 pages that contain the editorial, Short Takes, and Book Reviews, the following feature articles are presented:

• M48 Patton: A Primer – Part 1 of multipart series, this article contains 18 half-page photographs of the M48, complete with detailed captions. Seventeen of the images are in black and white, the first is in color. All are sharp and cover a variety of interesting detail.
• An Introduction to the Wacky World of 3D Printing – A first for me, this relatively comprehensive article contains 24 images and a lot of content describing the process of designing and ‘printing’ 3D models and after-market modeling products. The RECCE section has four key websites to hit if you are interested in learning more.
• War Pig – The cover article describes the assembly, finish, and weathering of the Trumpeter U.S Special Forces Light Medium Tactical Vehicle (LMTV) kit, with what looks like about every after-market product available (and then some) from Pro Art Models. The 22 color images included are spectacular.
• Separating the Wheat from the Chaffee – This build article covers the new Bronco M-24 Chaffee ETO edition, augmented with a detail set from Voyager and decals from Bison along with 36 color images.
• Type 94 Times Two – This article covers a nicely matched set of Japanese cargo trucks from Fine Molds. The author builds two versions, a hard top and a soft (canvas) top, and does an excellent job in finishing them in light tan and including 38 color images.
• Building Bridges – Churchill fans will find this article useful for adding yet another (!) one-off build of this versatile AFV. Resicast aftermarket products adorn the AFV Club Kit 35155, and the piece is illustrated with 29 color images.
• Guntank! – This short piece covers the Trumpeter/Pit Road Japanese version of the West German Gepard Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft (SPAA) AFV. Finished in green and light brown, this article contains 27 color images.
• On the CUCV Edge and Quarter Scale CUCV – These two pieces contain a comprehensive accounting of the Miniman Factory and Tamiya ‘Commercial Utility Cargo Vehicle’ (CUCV) kits, with 30 color images between them. Renditions of the Miniman Chevy K2500 and Dodge M880 trucks (U.S.A. M1008/M1009) are included, as well as the 1/48^th scale Tamiya version of the Chevy truck.
• Mine Roamin’ – The final article of Issue #59 covers the MENG Minenraumer kit. The author did an excellent job on the weathering and finish, illustrated using 19 color images.

I hope that Ampersand will continue publishing this fine magazine; it is my favorite in a crowded niche. I highly recommend MMIR to all modelers for the finishing and weather techniques which are very well described and to armor modelers in particular.

I would like to thank Ampersand Publishing and IPMS/USA for the opportunity to review this magazine.