This is Model Art Magazine’s special quarterly issue that focuses on naval subjects. As with the regular Model Art Magazine this is printed in Japanese with some English subtitles.

The feature article in the Winter 2013 Special Ship Model Edition covers the Battle of Savo Island. The issue starts off though with some new releases that will be hitting model benches soon.

The Battle of Savo Island was the first major naval battle of the Guadalcanal campaign. Model Art devotes ninety-two pages to this battle with period photos, charts, line drawings, one fold out full color drawing of the IJN Heavy cruiser Chokai in action at Savo Island and of course models. The models are the biggest part of the article. They range from full build articles to photos of completed models.

To represent the Japanese side of the battle they used these models. Aoshima 1/350 and 1/700 IJN Heavy cruiser Chokai, Hasegawa 1/700 IJN Heavy cruiser Aoba, Hasegawa 1/700 IJN Heavy cruiser Kako, Hasegawa 1/700 IJN Heavy cruiser Furutaka, Hasegawa 1/700 IJN Heavy cruiser Kinugasa, Hasegawa 1/700 IJN Light cruiser Tenryu, Hasegawa 1/700 IJN Light cruiser Yubari and Midship Models 1/700 IJN Destroyer Yunagi.

The Allied side is represented by these models. The Combrig 1/700 Ran Heaby cruiser HMAS Canberra, Corsair Armada 1/700 USN Heavy cruiser USS Chicago (CA-29), Pit Road 1/700 USN Heavy cruiser USS Astoria (CA-34), Pit Road 1/700 USN Heavy cruiser USS Quincy (CA-39), Trumpeter 1/700 USN USS Vincennes (CA-44), Midship Models 1/700 USN Destroyer Ralph Talbot (DD-390), USN Destroyer Buchanan (DD-484), Scratch built 1/700 USN Submarine S-44.

The rest of the feature article covers what kits are available on the market that participated in Savo Island and then there is an article that covers the events that led up to the battle and then the battle itself.

Next is an article on color filters and using them on models to achieve different tonal variations. They use color pictures with scrap model pieces to help demonstrate the process. This approach for the article is to be applied to naval vessels. Armor modelers have done it for years so why not use it in other genres.

The rest of the magazine is several short articles. The first is the New Kit Review. The kits in this issue are the Aoshima 1/350 IJN I-365 Submarine and the Tamiya 1/700 USS Hammann (DD-412). Next is a detail series that continues from issue to issue. This month they continue with the details of the IJN Mizuho Seaplane carrier. There are black and white period photographs and beautiful color drawings showing specific details. For instance, this month the focus is on the doors and how they latch. Then you come to the Naval Review of the Imperial Japanese Navy. This is a reoccurring article in these issues. The article is filled with period black and white photos. The next article focuses on destroyers assigned to the 24th Destroyer Squadron. They use color photos of models and period black and white photos. The last article is Revell Archives. This is also a reoccurring feature and this months featured kit is the USS Kennedy Aircraft Carrier. They show the different releases of this throughout the years. Just another golden oldie that has been around for years.

If you are a fan of IJN or JMSDF I recommend this magazine to you. Yes it is in Japanese, but in this day and age of technology there are translators out there that will allow you to read them.

I want to thank Model Art Magazine and IPMS/USA for allowing me the opportunity to review this great publication.