Scale Aircraft Modelling is an excellent monthly publication focusing on modeling scale aircraft. 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. Printed on glossy paper in full color, this magazine is a treasure chest of information about modeling techniques as well as a great source of information on new products.

The cover article in this issue is entitled, “Classic Cat” and refers to the F7F Tigercat. The kit being spotlighted is the Italeri 1/48th scale “Cat”. Author/Modeler Philippe Roger presents a Masterclass in scratchbuilding additional detail for the Italeri kit. There are seven pages of detailed text accompanied by a series of detailed images. The lessons put forward by P. Roger are not limited to the F7F but are easily applicable to other aircraft.

Preceding the cover article is an article entitled, “From Fighter to Fire Fighter: The F7F Tigercat” by Tommy Thomason. This excellent article is illustrated with six pages of side-view drawings, in full color, featuring the F7F and many of the variants of the aircraft, covering many of the roles in which it served.

Also included in this issue are some shorter articles, 3 or 4 pages in length, offering build reviews of:

• KAIT-50 by Academy, in 1/48th scale by Brain Wakeman
• Tornado GR.1 by Revell, in 1/72nd scale by Karl Robinson
• Hs-129B-2 by Italeri in 1/72nd scale by Marco Preto
• Macchi C.200 Saetta 2a by Italeri in 1/48th scale by Massico Santarossa
• RA-5C by Trumpeter in 1/48th scale by Girolamo Lorusso
• Spitfire Mk. 22 by Airfix in 1/72nd scale by Mike Williams
• Su-33 Flanker D by Hasegawa in 1/72nd scale by Seb Videc

Each of these shorter articles contains a description of a technique that all aircraft builders would find useful. These techniques vary from basic painting to weathering. All very useful, even though one might not be building that particular model in that particular scale.
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, and thanks to SAM for the review sample and IPMS for the review space.