The December issue of Model Art starts off with a short article covering some of the new releases at the 2013 All Japan Plamodel Hobby Show. I will try to give some of the highlights of the releases that will be hitting our stashes soon.

For the aircraft builders, here is a few examples of what you should see soon. Hobby Boss 1/48 P-38L-5-LO due spring 2014, Trumpeter 1/48 T-38 release date TBA, Fine Molds 1/48 Fine Molds Mitsubishi Ka-14 (A5M prototype) due Dec. 2013, Tomytec 1/700 Launch Complex 39 pad A due Dec. 2013, 1/48 Kittyhawk Mig-25 due Oct. 2013, 1/32 Wingnut Wings Salmson 2-A2 release TBA, 1/48 Avant Garde Aero L-29 Delfin release TBA and the 1/48 Avant Garde CM.170 Fouga Magister.

A couple new releases for the car guys. Aoshima 1/24 Lamboghini Murcielago LP-670-4 SV due out Dec. 2103, Moebius 1/25 1956 Chrysler 300B due out Nov. 2013, Fujimi 1/20 Mclaren MP4/2 1984 due Dec. 2013 and the Revell 1/24 Red Bull Racing RB8 (Sebastian Vettel) due Dec. 2013.

Some of the new armor releases are as follows. Trumpeter 1/35 JS-4 release TBD, Dragon 1/35 M103A1 Heavy Tank release TBD, Merit 1/35 US M19 Tank Transporter with Hard top cab due in Nov. 13 and the Trumpeter 1/16 SU-100 SPG with full interior.

Ship modelers should be happy with the new releases coming out and here are a few. I will start with the Pit Road 1/700 HMS Warspite 1942 due Dec. 2013, Pit Road 1/700 USS Colorado BB-45 due Dec. 2013 and the Trumpeter 1/200 USS Missouri BB-36.

Sorry for being so long winded with the new kit releases, just tried to hit what I thought would be some of the more welcome kits.

Immediately following the model show report is a "New Kit Review Special". This short article covers the new Trumpeter 1/32 A-6A Intruder. This article features many color photos of the built up model with few of the kit in progress. I know many modelers have been waiting on this one, and it looks like a good one.

This months special feature is Navy Self Defense Forces Islands defense training "situation start". This is a joint exercise with the Japanese Self Defenses and the US Marines to improve the ability to respond to the island at present. This is a three dimensional exercise that encompasses air, land and sea. Model Art uses models and photos of the equipment.

The models that were used are the Pit Road 1/72 JMSDF LCAC No.1, Fujimi 1/72 JGSDF Type 10 MBT, Aoshima 1/700 JMSDF DDH-181 Hyuga Operation "Senkaku", AFV Club 1/35 AAV7A1 RAM/RS w/EAAK, Pitroad 1/350 JMSDF DDG-177 Atago, Doyusha 1/72 AH-64D Apache Longbow, Hasegawa 1/72 MV-22B Osprey and the Doyusha 1/72 CH-47J. Following the models is a couple of pages of black and white and color photos of the exercise.

Following the special feature are several short articles. The first of these is titled "Fleet organization course" This is a monthly installment and this month they cover a model of the JMSDF DDH-183 Izumo. This is a helicopter assault ship similar to the USN LHD series ships. Next up is a small article by a Japanese modeler. I have tried to translate who he is, but so far have been unsuccessful. This is the third installment of this series. MA Event Report is next. This is report covers airshows and military exhibitions around Japan. There then is a fifteen page article on the Kfir. In this article there some information about the Kfir and then they build the Avantgarde 1/48 IAI Kfir C2/C7 and the Kinetic Israeli Air Force Kfir C2/C7. That last of these articles is a reoccurring monthly article "I.J.A/N Airplane Illustrated". This article features aiming devices found in the aircraft of the IJA/N. This month holds true with theme as they cover torpedo aiming devices.

Next is one of my favorite sections, "The New Kit Review". This month's featured kit's are the Mini Art 1/35 AEC Mk. II Armoured Car (note: spelled it the way it was in the magazine), Trumpeter 1/350 HMS Belfast, Hobby Boss German Pzkpfw. II Ausf. J (VK16.01) and the Doyusha 1/72 Type 96 Carrier Fighter.

The last article is another monthly feature, "Neo Historic Garage". In this article they feature Fujimi 1/24 Touge No.4 Toyota MR-2 (AW11).

The rest of the magazine covers future kit releases, decals, aftermarket parts and ads for hobby shops.

In closing. I feel that these are great magazines. Yes they may be in Japanese, but the photography is awesome. I have also discovered a translator app that I can use. There is a loss of translation but you can get the point.

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