Model Art Issue 59 is typical of other Model Art magazines in that it is written entirely in Japanese, with occasional English words, usually in article titles or in captions. The Vessel Model Special is a quarterly issue that focuses on naval subjects. Advertising comprises the inside covers (and back cover) along with another four pages showing what is available and new, always useful for building up that wish list. I counted 596 photos (mostly in color) along with 17 side view or top view drawings. Additionally there are a lot of color scrap drawings highlighting details in the Ship Construction series.

There is a lot of amazing work in this Spring edition as I was just amazed at what could be done in 1/700 scale. This issue leads off with an article on improving a ship’s bridge (see page 6 photo). The builder incorporates the kit parts with photo-etch and a lot of scratch-building. At first glance I had presumed the photos were of a 1/350 scale IJN battleship bridge, then I saw the 1/700 scale legend. This issue continues on with their ‘How To” sections through page sixty-five. The real stunner was the tie-downs and antenna wires for the 1/700 aircraft that had their cowlings open to display their 1/700 engines (see the cover pic, lower center). Its interesting the way the builders incorporate period photographs to highlight the detail they add, as shown on the page 47 picture.

Contents

• How To Construct A Ship’s Bridge in 1/700
• How To Improve Main Turret Barrels
• How To Build A Resin Ship – 1/700 Shinshu Maru 1942
• How To Improve Your Ship’s Exhaust Stacks in 1/700
• How To Paint Your Ship’s Decks in 1/700
• How To Portray Battle Damage in 1/700 and 1/350
• How To Use LED’s in Lighting-Up Your Ship in 1/700
• How To Tie-Down Your Ship’s Aircraft in 1/700
• How To Build Large Scale Ship Models – 1/100 IJN Yahagi
• How To Weather Your Ship With Mr. Weathering Color
• IJN Radar Antennas Explained
• Mikasa Communications (Series)
• New Kit Selection
  • Hasegawa 1/450 IJN Shinano Aircraft Carrier
  • Aoshima 1/700 IJN Hayasui Fleet Tanker
  • Aoshima 1/700 USS Wasp and IJN I-19 1942
  • Wave 1/200 IJN Mikasa Battleship
• USS Wasp (CV-7) In Detail
• Wooden Ship Model Style, Volume 7, Number 5
• Passenger Ships of Japan (Series)
• Color of Japan Defense Ship, Part 7
• Wooden Ship Model Style, Volume 6, Number 4
• Ship Construction, Part 13 (Series)
• Revell Archives #44: USS Carronade Inshore Fire Support Ship (Bobtail Cruiser)
• Show Report
• Reader’s Gallery

I find the Model Art magazines useful, even though I don’t read Japanese. The pictures of the built up models, articles showing the build process, painting features, and historical photography all provide useful information. Model Art magazines are available from Dragon Models USA’s many retailers and from various overseas retailers, such as Hobby Link Japan, Hobby Search 1999 Models, and Lucky Model.

My thanks to Model Art and IPMS/USA for the chance to review this great book.

Highly recommended!