Although I am quite familiar with Model Art Publications “Specials”, covering a variety of subjects, this was my first time looking through one of their standard magazines. I say “looking through” because the entire publication is in Japanese which I, unfortunately, do not know how to read!

Despite my linguistic challenges, I think this is a magazine that can be quite useful to just about any modeler. It covers the range of plastic modeling topics from aircraft to ships, armor, vehicles, and even buildings. The page size is slightly smaller than the standard magazine in the US or UK, but all the pages are of glossy, high-quality stock. Pages are full of photos (of both models and the real items).

Contents of Issue #836 are as follows:

• A 2-page article (mostly drawings) on gun cameras used by the Japanese Army and Navy Air Forces during WW2 (this is apparently part of an ongoing series).
• 13 pages on building 2 Japanese aircraft from the attack on Pearl Harbor. There are many crystal-clear color photos of the built-up models, all done to a very high standard. Models are: Tamiya 1/48 A6M2, Hasegawa 1/48 B5N2.
• This is followed by 11 pages detailing the attack on Pearl Harbor, with multiple photos on each page.
• 6 pages of color profiles covering Zekes, Kates, and Vals from the Pearl Harbor attack.
• Another build article, this time of the Hasegawa 1/48 D3A1 (once again, many beautiful color photos of the model are present).
• An interesting 1/32 diorama of a crashed A6M2b (Using Tamiya’s kit).
• 4 page article on building 3 waterline 1/700 ships (unfortunately, I can’t tell you which ships!).
• Another in an ongoing series on modeling the JASDF, this one covering 1/144 Phantoms – I have to say the work on these is fantastic, given the scale.
• 1 page covering the NAS Oceana Air Show 2011 with color photos.
• 3 “New Kit Reviews” – full builds of Great Wall’s 1/48 P-61A, Dragon’s 1/35 Bison II German Self-propelled artillery, and a 1/500 model of a Feudal Castle in Matsue City (I think the manufacturer is Joy Joy?).
• 24 pages covering 4 Japanese battleships from the Battle of Tsushima – modeled all in 1/700 and all highly detailed. Also some period photos and modern-era photos showing many details of these ships.
• A build article of a Suzuki commercial van in 1/24th scale.
• 16 pages of new kit releases (with small photos showing sprues, etc.).
• 1 page of new book reviews.
• Towards the back is one page full of 1/144 aircraft builds.
• The rest of the magazine (mostly at the end) has pages of advertisements – useful for peeking at what might be coming out in Japan (sometimes things that just never become available in the States).

While I may not read Japanese, I love looking at pictures of nicely-done models and I was still able to glean some information from all the photos. I would think many modelers would be the same. For those who cannot read Japanese, I would recommend this magazine on a case-by-case basis, after finding out the contents of each issue. If you are able to read Japanese, I’m sure every issue would have something for you.

Thanks to Dragon for providing the review sample and to IPMS/USA for allowing me to review it.