It usually hits the news stands in January.

Worth its wait in weathering powders and resin for sure!

2012 issue will be next January, need to cover next years contests before publishing*

I'm afraid Great Scale Modeling won't be back for 2012 -- it's getting a well deserved retirement.

That said, our show coverage will continue as always. We'll include it in regular issues of FSM throughout the year, instead of compiling all the coverage into one issue.

All the best,

Matthew Usher

Editor, FSM

That's a shame. I'll miss them.

Well that sux...

Matthew Usher

I'm afraid Great Scale Modeling won't be back for 2012 -- it's getting a well deserved retirement.

That said, our show coverage will continue as always. We'll include it in regular issues of FSM throughout the year, instead of compiling all the coverage into one issue.

All the best,

Matthew Usher

Editor, FSM

Seems to me FSM was advertising on my renewal slips that I could get "Great Scale Modeling 2012"  for a few bucks more. Was this a recent decision?

I didn't get my copies in the mail, anyway. I would always buy two at the hobby shop--one for me, one for a friend in Hawaii.

That is a shame.....   I have been purchasing that issue since its inception

Always enjoyed it and it always delivered some outstanding displays (i.e. ideas for the future)

RIP

'Great Scale Modeling' 2004 was what got me back into modeling.

It is a shame to hear such a good issue is no longer, it all comes down to economics and I understand that.

On a high note the recent online coverage of the Illinois contest was excellent and I am looking forward to more contest coverage in that new format.

After entering a few 'Western Canadian Regional' model contests and not placing it meant more for me to see my work in 'Great Scale Modeling' than not winning at the event.

Obviously the judging was excellent and came down to 'flaw finding' on deadlocked categories, yet a picture is worth a 1000 words and 10x the pride of accomplishment.

...Gone but not forgotten I salute the GSM issues! I feel honored to have made a few.

I renewed my subscription this morning and was think that last year I purchased this with a discount, but have not seen it for 2012 yet. now my question is answered.

That's a shame folks, my GSM back issues get a great deal of attention when I'm in a mood to look & not touch the kits. Maybe a break instead of a retirement??

Thats too bad. That was the one issue every year where I knew that I would enjoy every article, photo, and page, and have no qualms about buying it.

Like Vance said maybe just a earned break.

Did we quit when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor...?

No!

Did AC/DC quit when their leed vocalist Bon Scott died?

No!

They hired a new singer Brian Johnson and within a year...

...the resulting LP was the highest selling rock album ever!

Back in Black!

ok how about:

Back in Styrene or Back to OOB!

A plea to Matthew Usher: PLEASE don't cancel GSM!! I  have bought all copies since it started and have

looked through them all countless times. Buying one each January would be a great way to be inspired for a new

modelling year. I value my GSM collection as much as the Euromilitaire specials.

Maybe you could reprint a compilation of all show galleries and reader galleries from FSM throughout the year in

one issue?

Have a well-earned break but please bring it back in 2013!

Regards,

Jez

Say it isn't so, I loved GSM!!!!! Have every issue.  Any chance of creating an electronic only version only?  Download only, no up front printing cost?  Speaking of which, how about electronic version of FSM? 

awww.. say it ain't so Joe( Matt )...

As a side note, u said continuing coverage of shows.. any chance you guys might cover some of the smaller, lesser known ( but not less in quality shows )? ?? Downeast Con in Maine ? Granitecon in NH ??..

I was just wondering about this this morning.

I'll miss this annual issue

p38jl

awww.. say it ain't so Joe( Matt )...

As a side note, u said continuing coverage of shows.. any chance you guys might cover some of the smaller, lesser known ( but not less in quality shows )? ?? Downeast Con in Maine ? Granitecon in NH ??..

Yes indeed... Orangecon here in California has some fantastic work to be seen.

Reading material in the bathroom just ain't going to be the same 

Stuart06

Reading material in the bathroom just ain't going to be the same 

Oh no no no no no! Please, it doesn't deserve to be retired at all, I look forward to the special all year, I page through it hundreds of times, it sets FSM apart from everyone else, please don't stop it! I'm willing to pay twice the price just keep it alive! I actually wanted to recommend making it quarterly, and covering more shows and including more models!

I am truly devastated. You can only write so many how-to articles, after some time it gets all familiar, but seeing the finished work of others never gets old! You always see something different, get new ideas, discover a kit you want, find an interesting paint scheme, it's just so valuable!

Please please please bring it back! It's the best part of FSM and I'm just totally depressed about not having it any more. I'm begging you...

Nuts!!

When's it coming out?

Matthew Usher

I'm afraid Great Scale Modeling won't be back for 2012 -- it's getting a well deserved retirement.

That said, our show coverage will continue as always. We'll include it in regular issues of FSM throughout the year, instead of compiling all the coverage into one issue.

All the best,

Matthew Usher

Editor, FSM

Was it a financial decision? Does the copy really do so poorly in sales that it can't be justified in its cost of printing?

It would be a good "reality check" for us out here to know this?

the doog

Matthew Usher:

I'm afraid Great Scale Modeling won't be back for 2012 -- it's getting a well deserved retirement.

That said, our show coverage will continue as always. We'll include it in regular issues of FSM throughout the year, instead of compiling all the coverage into one issue.

All the best,

Matthew Usher

Editor, FSM

 

Matt, honestly--that sounds like such an inexplicably-capricious decision. Can you tell us what precipitated such a regrettable decision?

Was it a financial decision? Does the copy really do so poorly in sales that it can't be justified in its cost of printing?

It would be a good "reality check" for us out here to know this?

                I also would like to reiterate my earlier post about maybe coming to some smaller,,but not lesser contests,, DownEast Con in Maine, Granite Con in NH... Lots of good stuff here, maybe the quantity is not there.. but definatly the QUALITY,,,

I bet at many of the shows, the hosting club will happy to do photoshoots and send them all off the FSM for GM. 

I absolutely love the print version, and I assume it's a financial decision. I'm sure you considered a higher price, I am certainly willing to pay more for a once-a-year great special, much more so than for other specials (this is just my personal preference). 

But there is also the "halo effect" of this special - it really sets FSM apart from the other publishers and creates a lot of goodwill. Perhaps you see a spike in newsstand sales and subsciptions in the weeks after GSM goes on sale, which can be added to the financial calculation. And again, so many of us keep browsing the GSM all year long, it continuously reinforces FSM as the leader in the market.

I have to be honest, I don't come to the web site too often - it's not the same experience as the magazine - and I may be suggesting something that already exists, but an alternative would be to add a Show Gallery section to the web site, like the Reader Gallery section, and make show pictures available there, covering more shows and more models. I'd certainly appreciate that, but my preference is still the magazine.

Wow, that's too bad. It's one of my favorite parts of FSM as well. Got a decent stack of them...probably a dozen or so? One of my favorite resources to get fired up for builds, find new subjects, new paint schemes, new dio ideas. I'll definitely miss it.

I'm sure cost has to play a part in this decision...transportation to all those shows to take pics not being a small part of that number!

Based on a private conversation I had with FSM, I get the impression that this decision was made at a level above them. So, if we want to save GSM, we have to lobby Kalmbach.

Overall cost against profit margin / competitive pricing / forecasted sales  =  the demise of the publication.      A shame, as I would be willing to pony up a bit more (purchase price).

However the die is cast,         at least for 2012

Perhaps a rejuvination - 2013 issue   (?)