Scale Aircraft Modelling is an excellent monthly publication focusing on modeling scale aircraft. No surprise there. And if you are a long-time fan of SAM, then it is also no surprise that I state that SAM is one of the best modeling magazines focused on aircraft that money can buy. Averaging just under 100 pages, SAM is filled with build articles featuring some of the newer kits on the market, as well as projects based on old favorites.

Many modelers associate a jungle diorama with an armor subject, but in this issue in “Jungle Juice,” James Ashton builds the Fine Molds 1/48th scale Ohka and puts it “in the jungle”. View the image labeled Content Sample B to see one of the pages in this article. James shared the materials used in the construction of the jungle and focuses on that aspect of the project rather than construction of the Ohka itself.

For those that like the oldies and things that require rigging, Mike Williams reaches to the back of the closet and pulls out the Inpact Gladiator Mk. 1. While you may not be building the Inpact Gladiator any time soon, you might have a project upon which you wish to use Alclad. Mike does an excellent job in using these high quality paints and other items on a rather old and mediocre kit.

Angel Esposito Gonzalez pulls out an Eduard Hellcat Mk I and does a spectacular job producing a thoroughly weathered Hellcat. One of the great things about the articles in SAM is that the author of the build project always includes a list of materials used, and in this case Angel lists the Van Gogh Oils he used to achieve the weathering effects. Check out the image below labeled Content Sample A to view the results that Angel achieved.

Additional articles, by author and subject, are:

• Thomas Williams joins the SAM team and delivers a great article on building and painting the Revell Amerika-bomber in 1/72nd scale.
• Chris Fleet presents the Special Hobby V-173 Flying Pancake.
• Mike Aldridge provides an in-depth how-to featuring Italeri’s UH-1N Twin Huey.
• Chris Fleet provides a second article featuring the Tamiya Wessex HU.5.
• James Ashton builds the new Trumpeter Supermarine Spiteful in 148th scale. According to the article, this new release fairly builds itself with a gentle shake of the box.

And, as usual, studying the advertisements is always worth the time. There are always new products and suppliers to check out and this issue is no different. So many toys, so little time.

SAM is highly recommended. Thanks to SAM for the review sample and IPMS-USA for the review space.