Hi Dave.....thanks for your thoughts and comments. Recommend you copy your post and send it to the Editor/Ringleader of this project, Tim Kidwell. I'm pretty sure he'd be interested in your perspectives and suggested topics.
Interesting to read your thoughts, particulary so as after I'd gone through the entire mag, I was left with the thought that there was a very large amount of fresh modeling ideas and techniques contained in it. I attributed this to the format of the book, which provided space for greatly expanded articles and no need to make space for advertisements.
Two of my pieces in the book were admitedly intended for much less experienced modelers who might be new to the hobby or at the least, new to the detailing techniques that the more experienced among us take for granted.
I would challenge the contention that the other two articles I did are repetitive in the sense that no one to date (to my knowledge) has taken on the subject of doing a complete correction of the Revell 'cuda body proportions to the level covered in the book, and likewise, to my knowledge, no one to date has provided the level of info on the chart on the last page of the mag detailing possible updated underbody kit sources 1960's/early 1970's annual kit bodies.
But to the degree that all my articles could be percieved as not breaking fresh ground, I'd be quick to suggest that the other articles by my fellow contributors, particularly the ones on Pro-Touring subjects, show fresh techniques and new ideas. Plus those modeling subjects (Pro-Touring cars) are of much greater interest to younger modelers than showroom replicas of old muscle cars.
As for the other subjects you'd like to see, a number of those were covered in recent issues of Scale Auto (painting techniques and interior detailling, among them) and those might be repititive to a degree had they been covered as well in the special issue.
Still, to your core point, I agree that there are plenty of new modelers graduating into the world of highly detailed model car building, and like you I'd love to see them contributing articles in future magazine publications. In particular, I'd like to see a detailed, step by step how-to on using 3D modeling techniques for those of us who do not have CAD/CAM experience. Unfortunately, many of these skilled builders just do not have the patience or time to photograph and prepare magazine articles; for them the on-line posting/Facebook/Forums approach is easier and more to their liking. Still, we can hope, and I think that is to a point one of yorur underlying suggestions as well.
As for others reading this thread, I challenge you to find a copy of the new mag, consider both Dave's and my thoughts, then form your own opinion. Either way, hopefully you will find inspiration and value in the mag, and consider purchasing it for yourself.
Cheers and best wishes to all...TIM