ModelArt No. 842, April, 2012, monthly update features how to update older kits of mostly 1/48 scale WW2 aircraft, as shown by front cover shots of three aircraft. As always, the format is close to 7x10 inches in size, and the printing and reproduction quality are excellent. Model Art text is entirely in Japanese, and most feature photos are in color. The usual sections follow and are listed by their topic:

1. 1/48 IJN “Betty” bomber from the death of Yamamoto Isoruko showing photographs of the crash site and model (pages 4-9)
2. Cover Feature: 1/48 scale WW2 aircraft, mostly (pages 11-51). Each aircraft has extensive photographs of how they were modified and updated. Here are the aircraft models featured:
   1. Nichimo 1/48 Oscar Nakajima Ki43-I
   2. Hasegawa 1/32 Oscar Nakajima Ki43-II
   3. Finemolds 1/48 Judy Kugisho D4Y1/D4Y2
   4. Monogram 1/48 Messerschmitt Me262B-1a/U1 (two-seater with radar)
   5. Airfix 1/72 De Havilland DH.88 Comet 1930s Black Magic racer
   6. Tamiya 1/48 Wildcat Grumman F4F-4 (1942 markings)
3. 1/72 Shinkai 6500 deep sea submersible (pages 52-67), including a diorama and real-life information on the submersible
4. Waterline No.404: 1/700 Aoshima IJN Nagato 1933 in bent funnel version (pages 68-71)
5. Ads (pages 69-78)
6. Modeling JASDFNo.198: T33 & Aggressors 2012 showing modifications to a T-33 kit and paint schemes for JASDF F-15s (pages 79-82)
7. New Kit Reviews: latest kits built (pages 85-99)
   1. Tamiya 1/35 Israeli M51 Super Sherman tank with 105mm cannon
   2. Academy 1/48 Republic of Korea Air Force Jet Trainer T-50 Golden Eagle
   3. Fujimi 1/350 IJN Hiryu December 1941 aircraft carrier
8. IJA/IJN Airplane Illustrated (pages 100-101) this time looking at WW2 Japanese pilot fittings
9. S. Kitazawa’s Neo-Historic Garage showing a 1/24 1980 Laurel sedan from a Japanese kit (pages 104-107)
10. New kits (with color or B&W photographs of finished model and/or sprues/box) and advertisements for Japanese hobby shops and international model shows – pages 108-147
11. Reader’s Club – a Japanese-language forum for events, information and blogs (pages 148-153)
12. Even more ads (pages 154-164)

This issue is recommended if you want to see how to update aircraft kits and keep up with the latest new kits and modeling information. Of special interest is the unusual Shinkai 6500 submersible.

Thanks to Dragon Models USA for the review copy and to IPMS/USA for the opportunity to review it.

Figures:

• Figure 1: Front Cover of Model Art No. 842, April 2012.
• Figure 2: Back Cover of Model Art No. 842, April 2012.
• Figure 3: Nakajima Ki43 Oscar from Nichimo 1/48 kit.
• Figure 4: De Havilland DH.88 Comet 1930s Black Magic racer from Airfix 1/72 kit.
• Figure 5: Shinkai Deep Sea Submersible diorama in 1/72 scale.
• Figure 6: Israeli M51 Super Sherman tank from Tamiya 1/35 kit.