[Poll] September 2005 FineScale ~ What do you think?

Great timing on the Type 97 article. My next kit will be Japanese armor. Enjoyable Pacific issue.

I loved the Mighty Mo. Even though she was done in her modern refit. Still an awesome display. I also loved the scratch Corsair! Now if you guys could do an issue on the vehicles and people of a specific battle! now THAT would definately be an awesome issue! You could have land, sea, and air all in one!!! GIVE US MORE MORE MORE!!!!!!

I liked the feature o nthe USS Missouri, and of course the Tamiya armour conversion. Any armour is good armour to have.
Don't like the foldout though. I'm not a fan of magazines that fold out. Just do splash pages accross two sheets instead. It's very difficult to really appreciate it unless you're home, as commuting and flipping through 4 feet of paper is just not a pleasant experience

The "Victory of the Pacific" article was of the most interest to me.

I liked the article on the Serian float plane. What would have happened if the Japanese had been able to carry through with their plans to attack the Panama Canal. Makes one stop and think.

Thanks for the workbench review of Revell's 1/72 scale Mig-21. I promptly purchased 3 of the kits to give my 1/72 Hasegawa F-4s some target practice.

Thanks for providing a wonderful publication.

You really want to know?

It wasn't the 9' Mighty Mo, though that was impressive. It wasn't the Victory in the Pacific article, though that was an excellent article which whetted my modeling appetite. It wasn't the articles on converting the tank, or detailing the float plane, or weathering the Kikka, nor was it the 1/16 Corsair, which was totally amazing. None of which, although excellent on their own, was really any different from any other issue, but rather is an indication of what an all round wonderful publication you produce.

No, what touched my chord this issue was the letter by Brian J. O'Connell that Mark Thompson choose to reprint as his editorial. The letter about Michael showed what people who live under adversity can do with this obsession we call a hobby, and reminded me that what is to me a simple pleasure, can be to others a lifeline. His pride in his son's accomplishments is apparent. My only nitpick is that his wish that parents of disabled children to become involved in their childrens interests is one word too long. All of us who have children, disabled or not, could use this letter as an inspiration.

Good on Michael for perservering with his craft, good on Brian and his wife for supporting their child in the manner that they do. And good on Mark Thompson for realizing that this letter deserved more than a mere reprinting in the letters page.

Thank you, Brian J. O'Connell, for writing such an inspirational message.

Ditto on Bgriggs comments ... you folks have heart and soul. And he's also right about how the same-o same-o with you guys is always a cut above the rest. You know what one of the hidden bonus' is with FSM? All the websites you have posted throughout the magazine. That alone consumes hours of my week, just going around the net and enjoying all the new and impressive things out here. What do I want more of? Specialty stories on things like the 1/10 scale Yamato in Kobe, Japan, or the 1/1 scale replica fighter planes that Arizona Models makes for musem displays. How about a story on the model of the Yamato hulk made for a Japanese TV station that dived on the wreck? The buildups are great ... keep them coming ... but also keep showing us the really amazing builds out here in this great big world of scale.

Would have liked to see a landing craft type article with this, LCM, LCVP, LVT, etc.
Otherwise, pretty nice issue but not much for auto or sci-fi modelers, even in the reviews.

How about an all sci-fi issue with not only ships but cars (Herbie, Ecto, BTTF, Batmobile), aircraft (Batplane, Robotech, etc), armor (hovertank, bolo, etc).

I know that the mainstreamers would probably raise cane but some more of these type articles that show interest in sci-fi/fantasy would be very interesting. And if you need articles, just put a request in the Sci-fi forum and I bet you will get a bunch. I would love to build Herbie in his NASCAR setup from the new movie.

Enjoyed the issue overall. But for an ex-newspaper guy, some of the typos this time around were much more glaringly apparent, and it seemed that in at least one how-to article, the numbered paragraphs did not match up with the numbered photos. I know, I know, nitpicking stuff, but it's those little things that put FSM wayyyyyyyyyy over the top.

Hmm, missed that one but found one in the Gripen review.
"Decl options are provided for one Czech and two Swiss machines." The box top shows markings for Czech and Swedish aircraft and that makes more sense.

I found the issue to be full of good articles so it was difficult to pick just one. But I voted for the Victory in the Pacific article, which was very well written.

Regards, Rick

QUOTE: Originally posted by philp How about an all sci-fi issue with not only ships but cars (Herbie, Ecto, BTTF, Batmobile), aircraft (Batplane, Robotech, etc), armor (hovertank, bolo, etc). I know that the mainstreamers would probably raise cane ...

Even though I build mostly AC I wouldn't mind seeing something like that. I enjoy sci-fi too, even though I don't build much of it (though the only thing I've finished lately is a Gundam).
Most techniques can be cross applied to other genres so it isn't as if it would be totally devoid of merit to have a sci-fi issue.

I am an armor freak so i have to say the japanese tank conversion was the best, but the Missouri and the Corsair were great. Keep up the good work.

[The guys who can do a project from "scratch" always amaze me. Great issue!

have to say young park,s corsair was incredible! look forward to every issuse of fsm, long may it continue

Really people,do you guys ever have a bad issue? Even if the subjects are not what I do there is always alot that can be learned. MR. Park is a one in a million master and it is great to have Mr. Dunns work showcased as well. The Missouri must blow you away in person.

I have to say I was disappointed with the Victory in the Pacific article. I could have sworn British and Commonwealth forces were involved in that part of the war. I found no mention of the American forces that were deployed on the British carrier HMS Victorious (temporarily renamed USS Robin) or the Fleet Air Arm units that served aboard USS Saratoga.

I know this probably comes across as sour grapes but I felt the title did give the impression that it would give a more balanced record of events.

I know some Americans like to think they won the war all by themselves but, I think, not to mention the other participants in the victory is to dishonour them.

Overall I think the editorial was the best thing in this issue. As an individual with a disablity, it really hit me personally.

Other than that, while the models that other people made are impressive, nothing really helped me learn anything.

Haven't recieved the Sept 2005 in Australia as yet , but keen to read the Victory in the Pacific article ,glad that we are not forgotten .More on the Japanese war would be great .

Thanks Sushi

Actually the Victory in the Pacific article ignores anything that did not involve Americans. I appreciate that in a short article like this it would be impossible to cover everything but it should, at least, refer to other allied combatants. If I recall correctly; British aircraft carriers, with their armoured flightdecks, aided the American naval forces.

I really enjoyed the Victory in the Pacific article's overview of that theater...even though it didn't do justice to our allies I suppose it had to be concise, after all it's a modeling magazine, not a history journal.

Bgriggs, good point on on your reference to the 'editorial.' It was a very moving letter.