What does " Fine scale model"mean?

So Silversurfer.... you just joined and already started a rambling rant among the general public.

EXELLENT!!!!

Welcome !!  Hope to have even more stimulating conversations in the future.

(Now how do I get my fingers unglued from my 65 Galexie??? )

Silversurfer - howdy! I've been here a short time and I certainly am limited in many of my skills, but it's a great site to have a place to ask questions and/or ask for advice if one needs it. I have learned quite a bit from the talented people that are in here. 

GMorrison,

You can't get off that easily.  you tell me exactly what subjects you feel are missing now that we used to cover? I ask in all seriousness because we are always looking to improve.

Cheers, Aaron

Well, I like military figures. Some of the other magazines that covered those are gone. 120mm, or larger scales. Anything exotic like war animals.

I like Trek articles. The AMT/ERTL stuff.

Cars like Barris Kustoms. I'm about to build one after a long break.

Profiles of modelers. I used to get a lot out of those when I was starting out.

Monsters, dinosaurs.

From and authors perspective, Scale Modeler and FineScale Modeler were as different as night and day.  Before the days of FineScale, I had written some articles for Scale Modeler (Challenge Publications)... although remuneration was promised, none was ever forthcoming and there was always "the check is in the mail" response from good ole Slippery Sid who was basically looking for anything at all to fill the pages.  As Kalmbach was formulating FineScale, Bob Hayden telephoned me and wanted to know if I would be interested in contributing.  That was the beginning of a very fun and professional experience unlike I've had with any other editor (helped along by our common interest in model railroading).  So to the youngsters here ... the two magazines bear no resemblance.

Paul

I don't know about GM, but I miss the articles that were how to conversions with scratch work templates, drawings, and such. I recall one for a late model Mig-23, M41 Self propelled gun, M723 CEV, and M84 Mortar Carrier among others. Those articles I saved and are quite inspirational. They are the reasons that I go back at look at my library of the old issues when a project pops up in my mind.

Now it seems most articles are about adding ready made after market items to various kits. While the guys who do those articles are certainly talented modelers, they do not inspire the creativity in me. The more recent issues full of those types of articles are read once then put aside, likely never to be looked at again unless they depict some scheme that I want to do myself.

And I sure miss the old International Camouflage and Color articles. The patterns, three view profiles, colors used and available for that particular scheme, etc. were a most valuable resource to me.  

And yes, the "fine" in fine scale modeling does evoke the image of taking this hobby to the next level, whatever that may be for each of us. Fine is a positive word... unless said by your other half during at the end of a disagreement with no other words following...

GMorrison

For sure!

Truly what I miss is the much greater variety of subjects THIS mag used to have. Every so often I hunt down an old copy of FSM for a build article, and just am amazed at the range of stuff that they used to write up.

 

Sorry Aaron, needed to whine.

 

GMorrison

For sure!

Truly what I miss is the much greater variety of subjects THIS mag used to have. Every so often I hunt down an old copy of FSM for a build article, and just am amazed at the range of stuff that they used to write up.

Sorry Aaron, needed to whine.

GMorrison,

You can't get off that easily.  you tell me exactly what subjects you feel are missing now that we used to cover? I ask in all seriousness because we are always looking to improve.

Cheers, Aaron

GMorrison

For sure!

Truly what I miss is the much greater variety of subjects THIS mag used to have. Every so often I hunt down an old copy of FSM for a build article, and just am amazed at the range of stuff that they used to write up.

 

Sorry Aaron, needed to whine.

 

For sure!

Truly what I miss is the much greater variety of subjects THIS mag used to have. Every so often I hunt down an old copy of FSM for a build article, and just am amazed at the range of stuff that they used to write up.

Sorry Aaron, needed to whine.

Rob Gronovius

 

 

jtilley

Back in the sixties and seventies there was a magazine called "Scale Modeler." It acquired a pretty rotten reputation: varying quality of models, shaky research, articles that were clearly shilling for advertisers...you get the picture. And the publishing company got most of its income from softshell porn. But for American plastic modelers it was the only game in town.

I don't have any inside dope on this, but I've always assumed that FSM chose its name in order to differentiate it from that competition.

 

 

 

 

It was published by Challenge Publications. My Military Modeler merged with Scale Modeler (initially the title Military Modeler was in smaller print over the Scale Modeler title). Eventually, the Military Modeler title was dropped and it just became Scale Modeler. This would have been the summer of 1996 or 1997 when the titles merged.

 

 

Shure do miss Military Modeler magazine. It was great!!!

jtilley

As I understand it, there was no connection between SM and FSM. They were competitors. SM continued to be published for a few years after FSM arrived on the scene, but SM folded. I, for one, don't miss it.

 

As I understand it, there was no connection between SM and FSM. They were competitors. SM continued to be published for a few years after FSM arrived on the scene, but SM folded. I, for one, don't miss it.

jtilley

Baron - yup, that's the one.

 

Baron - yup, that's the one.

I've always presumed that the 'fine' in Fine Scale was the equivalent of 'fine' when used in terms such as 'fine art' or 'fine jewelry'. It hints at extraordinary workmanship and artistry which comes about with attention to 'fine detail'.

Like others who here, I read the military modelling magazines, but I remember buying the first issue of FSM at my local hobby shop right before starting the seventh grade in school. The M1 Abrhams was just coming into service and there was an article on scratch building or kitbashing one together at a time where there no kits of the tank. I remember being impressed by the fact that the magazine covered scale modelling's many, diverse fields. As a military modeller, it was fascinating to see how car builders or ship modellers approached their craft. The workmanship in the magazine has always been first rate and we've seen a lot of extraordinary models on display in its pages - great artistry and incredible detail are all hallmarks of fine art.

Rob Gronovius

 

jtilley

Back in the sixties and seventies there was a magazine called "Scale Modeler." It acquired a pretty rotten reputation: varying quality of models, shaky research, articles that were clearly shilling for advertisers...you get the picture. And the publishing company got most of its income from softshell porn. But for American plastic modelers it was the only game in town.

I don't have any inside dope on this, but I've always assumed that FSM chose its name in order to differentiate it from that competition.

 

It was published by Challenge Publications. My Military Modeler merged with Scale Modeler (initially the title Military Modeler was in smaller print over the Scale Modeler title). Eventually, the Military Modeler title was dropped and it just became Scale Modeler. This would have been the summer of 1996 or 1997 when the titles merged.

 

Is that the outfit that also published adult mags on the other side of the office?

To me it means a somewhat fuzzy combination of workmanship and fidelity to scale.  No hard and fast, or quantitative definitions.  I have heard people say it is being never satisfied with a project and having intentions of always doing better on the next project.

With some subjects, like scifi and fantasy, it is hard to quantify fidelity to scale, but workmanship is always important.

Silversurfer

 I'm new to this group and would like to ask, what is " fine scale model" mean.?  Is that the scale, quality and or skill level of the hobby. 

 I primarily build scratch built dioramas for 120mm up to 1:6th scale figures.  Is that in the scope of "fine scale models"? 

 

Screw it. I wouldn't worry about the Fine Scale wording. Everyone here is at different levels of experience when it come to building kits. I know I'll never build a kit at musuem quality nor as close as some of these guys here. Personally, I don't care as long as I know build to the best of my ability. This is supoose to be a fun hobby, not one where everyone scrutinize each and every build.

jtilley

Back in the sixties and seventies there was a magazine called "Scale Modeler." It acquired a pretty rotten reputation: varying quality of models, shaky research, articles that were clearly shilling for advertisers...you get the picture. And the publishing company got most of its income from softshell porn. But for American plastic modelers it was the only game in town.

I don't have any inside dope on this, but I've always assumed that FSM chose its name in order to differentiate it from that competition.

 

Welcome to the Forums!

I also like 1/6 scale figures, and scratch built a couple of buildings for them.  Good to know there's another fan on the Forum.

It's a little curious that there's not really a mission statement on the masthead.

IMO the most important word in the title is "scale".

Back in the sixties and seventies there was a magazine called "Scale Modeler." It acquired a pretty rotten reputation: varying quality of models, shaky research, articles that were clearly shilling for advertisers...you get the picture. And the publishing company got most of its income from softshell porn. But for American plastic modelers it was the only game in town.

I don't have any inside dope on this, but I've always assumed that FSM chose its name in order to differentiate it from that competition.

Silver,

Actually, the magazine and web site were originally called "Scale Modeler".  Then I joined and that necessitated the addition of the "Fine" part into the name.  Heh-heh-heh... 

But in all seriousness, of which I have a general lacking, I think it's just a name attached to that which we hope to attain in our pursuit of this wonderful hobby.  We all build models, but with all the info found in the magazine and through this forum, maybe, just maybe, our scale models can then become fine scale models!

Eric

When I discovered model magazines in the 1980s, there was military scale modeling and fine scale modeling. To me, the former looked more or less like I could do myself while fine scale modeling looked beyond my 1987 abilities.

By the early 90s, I started buying fine scale modeler because my skills had increased and I was outgrowing military modeler. Military modeler eventually went out of business sometime between 1996-97 and the remainder of my subscription was filled by a hotrod magazine.

The last decade or so, I've just been receiving the magazines from the various model clubs like IPMS USA and AMPS. I prefer AMPS because it is armor-centric whereas the IPMS Journal is general with cars, ships and planes being featured. The publications are complementary with membership.

I stopped getting fine scale modeler when it seemed like the articles stopped interesting me. Only so many times you can read about air brushing and applying decals. Many kit reviews were already online and new kit news was lagging behind internet buzz.

Even now, I barely browse my AMPS club magazine, Boresight. My tastes have changed and I like to build fairly out of box and not the extensive conversions and detailing I did in the 90s and 00s.

Silversurfer

 I'm new to this group and would like to ask, what is " fine scale model" mean.?  Is that the scale, quality and or skill level of the hobby. 

 I primarily build scratch built dioramas for 120mm up to 1:6th scale figures.  Is that in the scope of "fine scale models"? 

Don't...fret (modeling pun!), it's not intended to imply a restriction, whether in subject, skill or scale.

Here's FSM's own page describing the magazine from which the forum takes its name:

http://www2.finescale.com/magazine

And here's a further drill-down from that page, to a page providing even more background about FSM:

http://www2.finescale.com/magazine/about-fsm/2002/10/welcome-to-finescale-modeler--magazine-website

I think that FSM succeeded a previous publication, but I really don't know, off-hand.  When I was a kid and was building models (from around 1970 to June 1982, when I graduated high school), I knew nothing of publications for our hobby.  I didn't subscribe to FSM till around 2001.  But I think there was an earlier magazine.

Anyway, show us your work!  There is a Diorama forum, and a Figure forum, and new members and new works are always welcome!

Best regards,

Brad

Hi And welcome .;

 I think you will find that some have different definitions about Fine Scale models .To me it means that you are a modeler , You build things to scales we are or are not familier with , and you do it with an eye toward correctness and proper techniques that result in an almost Museum quality model .

 You will find that some modelers are almost anal when it comes to detail and some are not .Then you have the correctness group that indeed get upset if they find something they know should NOT be on the model .This includes fit and finish .

 Lastly is the group that discuss and quibble about panel lines and degree of weathering . This is important and not to be trivialized .It's just the way you may or may not percieve it .  T.B.

Hi,

I would think so.  Overall I'd think anything is more or less welcome here and I know that I'd be interested in seeing some scratch built dioramas.  One thing in particular that's fun and useful is seeing other peoples techniques and approaches to doing their model buidling.

Pat