Out of print military magazines

The old Challenge Publications magazine? I don't know off hand, but I was a subscriber from the fall of 1987 until they folded. I recall towards the end of my subscription Military Modeler merged with their sister publication Scale Modeler and became Scale Modeler and Military Modeler. After a few issues like that, the Military Modeler subtitle vanished and it returned to just being Scale Modeler (but continued to feature both military and car models).

Eventually, even the Scale Modeler title vanished and the balance of my subscription was filled with a car magazine title. This happened sometime between 1997 and 1998.

I should have the final year of publication somewhere in my collection of modeling magazines.

OK, I just ran across my box of military Modeler magazines. The June 1994 issue was the last pure issue of Military Modeler, volume 21, number 6. The July 1994 issue carries the title Scale Modeler (as the main title) & Military Modeler (in much smaller text) and is now volume 29, number 7. Scale Modeler must have bee 8 volumes ahead of Military Modeler.

The final issue of Scale Modeler that has Military Modeler as a subtitle is September 1997, volume 32 number 6. The next issue is November 1997 volume 32 number 7 (so I know there isn't a missing Ocotber issue). Military Modeler is now missing from the rest of the titles and it's just Scale Modeler.

The last issue of Scale Modeler I have is September 1998, volume 33 number 6. The next magazine I received was called Scale R/C, November 1998, volume 24, number 9. It merged Scale Modeler, Scale Ship Modeler and Scale R/C Modeler, according to the editorial. This was the last model related magazine I received as part of this subscription. I believe the balance of my subscription was completed by sending me car magazines (which I pitched). So Scale R/C must have lasted just an issue.

I have every issue from November 1987 to the end with the exception of November 1990, December 1990 and January 1991. Those are missing because of deployment from Germany to Desert Shield/Desert Storm and they never made it to me.

wayne baker wrote:

...It would appear they started printing in 1973....

That sounds about right.  If memory serves, the earliest issue I have is from 1974.  I was buying them off the newsstand at that time.  Was subscribing by '76.  Not sure how many of these I have, but it's a box full.

EasyMike wrote:

wayne baker wrote: ...It would appear they started printing in 1973....   That sounds about right.  If memory serves, the earliest issue I have is from 1974.  I was buying them off the newsstand at that time.  Was subscribing by '76.  Not sure how many of these I have, but it's a box full.

I recently rediscovered my old MM collection from the 70s.  My oldest ones go back to '76, and I had dropped my subscription by early '81.  Amazing to go back and read, as though for the first time.  Not only have the kits changed and grown and gotten more sophisticated, but the techniques and "conventional wisdom" have also undergone some serious revision.  Back then, the rule was drybrush, drybrush, drybrush.  Washes were commonly dirty, used thinner with the occasional black "detail" wash.  Rust was fresh, bright orange.  The old days . . . .

I guess mine are too worn and well-thumbed to be of much eBay value, and I'd rather keep 'em anyhow.