Hey everyone, since moving to Ohio, two things have happened:
1) I found multiple back issues of FSM for 50 cents each at local Half Price Books stores, and
2) a local hobby shop had two customers bring in boxes of their FSM and SA back issues because they decided to purchase the CD-ROM releases. These issues were FREE to anyone who wanted them
Needless to say, I have now acquired quite a backlog of old issues, and even found the very first issue on EBay recently for less than $5. With all of that, I'm now on a mission to get every standard issue released. Here's what I have so far:
Spring 1982 (issue 1); Fall 1982; Winter 1982
Summer 1983
Jan/Feb 1984; May/June 1984; July/Aug 1984; Nov/Dec 1984
May/June 1985
Jan/Feb 1986; May June 1986; October 86
1988 - August, October, December
1989 - January, Feb, May, November
1990 - Jan, Feb, March, May, July, Sep, Nov
1991 - Jan, Feb, March, May, July, Sep, Nov, Dec
1992 - Feb, May, Nov, Dec
1993 - March, Sep, Nov, Dec
1994 - Jan, July, Sep, Nov
1995 - Jan, Feb, March, April, May, July, Nov, Dec
1996 - July, Oct, Nov, Dec
1997 - Jan, Feb, Sept
1998 - May, July, Sep
1999 - March, Nov
2000 - May, Nov, Dec
2001 - March, May, July, Oct
2002 - Jan, Sep
2003 - April, July, Sep, Dec
2004 - Jan, July, Sep, Nov
2005 - Jan, Oct, Nov
2006 - April, May, July, Sep, Oct, Nov
2007 - April, May, July
2008 - July
2009 - Jan, Feb, March, July, Sep
2010 - Jan, Oct, Nov, Dec
2011 - Jan, Feb March, May, Dec
2012 - March
2013 - October
2014 - December
2015 - November
2016 - Jan, Feb, March, Oct, Nov, Dec
2017 - Jan, Feb, April, May, July, Sep, Oct, Nov
2018 - I have all on digital but would like the hard copies
2019 - April, May
Can anyone help fill in the blanks, particularly for the early years? I think the magazine is on a steady 10 month cycle now, but there do seem to be some years with March issues and some with April. Is there a consistent 10 months each year? Any help you can provide is appreciated. Thanks!!!
P.S. It's a lot of fun to go back and read those 1980's issues. Some tips and techniques are still used today, and some are long gone. Kit prices are just crazy, but when compared against 80's wages, they're probably somewhat in line with current prices. And there is no internet to speak of, of course. It's all sending an SASE to an advertiser or responding to a classified ad. Sadly, there are also some down sides - the very first issue has an article from then 35 year old Shep Paine...