September 2004 FineScale Modeler

WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME ARTICLES ON FIRE AND E.M.S. VEHICLES AND CONVERSIONS... LOOKING FOREWARD TO THE REVIEW OF THE NEW TRUMPETER AMERICAN LAFRANCE MODEL FIRE ENGINE..... DO YOU KNOW THE RELEASE DATE YET,,,,

Several very good features in the September issue so I had difficulty making the sole choice. If I could I've have gone for the cutaway aircraft, building resin aicraft, the B24 and the Bismark articles but because its only one I went for the Bismark.

The September issue of FSM is a good one!

I like the new look of the magazine very much. Nice and crisp ... friendly too.

I have been a subscriber since the charter issue way back in the last century ... The hobby and the magazine just keep getting better ... my thanks to everyone at FSM ...

No FSM in the mail box and you ask for my opinion of it?
Tsk Tsk.

Don

Don't know. Haven't got mine yet. I usually get it about three weeks after the local stores get it.

Do I really have to choose just 1?.... really? .....Are you sure?.......

ohhh.....okay.....

This was an excellant issue all around.

Just got my issue. I like the B24 article. I also like the Corsair article way back. I have a few of these old unbuilt kits laying around and would like to know how to improve them. How about doing one on some armor like this.

I also notice you covered some of the Shizuoka hobby show. That would be nice if you could provide more coverage of these shows for those of us who live to far away or just can't make it. Alot goes on at these shows that some of us never see.

Thanks for a great magazine.
Joe

All the models look excellent , I liked the cutaways very nice and the diorama of the bismark is very well done , for only a 3 year in to the hobby very nice .
I have only been modeling for a year now , only if I can get that good

All the Articles were great!

Dan Jayne's amazing cutaway aircraft was best.

HEY,
Just got mine today, right on schedule, a month before the issue is dated, and i have to say the cut away aircraft are amazing, simply amazing.

Randy

I've just received my issue and given it the good "once-over", but where should I begin? I guess at the beginning.

The revamped, redesigned, face-lift looks great. I think that putting all the contact information up front is a smart move. I also have high hopes that the newly formed Advisory Board will continue to make FSM the leader in modeling magazines.

My favorite area in this issue is the expanded Workbench Reviews section. As Mark said on page 4, reissued and retooled models need to get some ink because newer modelers or modelers who want to revisit a subject can definitely use this information. You can never have too many quality reviews of model kits.

The articles overall were good, but not as comprehensive as I would have liked. In my opinion, some of the acticles need to focus a little less on having great big pictures and more on expanding the text to completely describe the techniques or processes in the article. For example, I had high hopes when seeing there was an article on detailing the Stug interior, but the article itself (only two columns!!!) was very weak and had very little useful information.

I realize that advertisers are a necessary evil in magazine publishing and I hope that Kalambach is getting ample compensation from some of the advertisers who take out half-page, whole-page, or even two-page ads in FSM. However, when there are just under 26 pages of advertising in an 84 page magazine (~30%) it does get a bit distracting. Having a 3/4 page Manufacturer Directory (page 15), a full page manufacturer Web Site Directory (page 71), and then a 2/3 page Index of Advertisers (page 77) seems a little over-the-top. Please! Do not let FSM become nothing more than a glorified catalog of advertisers with a few modeling articles thrown in. I would gladly pay an extra $.50 or $1.00 per issue (or more) to have significantly less advertiser space sold.

Overall, I'd give this issue 3.5 stars out of 5. Not a bad effort with some great changes. I'd prefer to see some "meater" articles with less emphasis on huge photos, but I suppose it's fine for now.

Enjoy your modeling...

Had to vote for our local Pro Modeler Pat Hawkey & the very good article on resin kits. Overall, this was one of the better FSM issues & I could have easily picked a couple of others. I like the new look & the expanded Workbench review Section. Keep up the great work.

Regards, Rick

I love this magazine, it inspires me to work on our hobby everytime I open the pages!

Change is good! I quite like the new look in the magazine. it's simple and modern.

the only thing is that i noticed that the reviews are shorter than they usually were. But i guess that's just a compromise that has to be made when you jam in more reviews. Overall, though, i like the increased number of reviews.

Lawrence,

Personally - I felt that this was one of the best issues I have received so far. It's about the 7th or 8th that I have either recieved as part of my subscription or purchased retail. I am partial to aircraft modelling - and this was packed with a/c stuff.

The article I appreciated most was the article on Haze paint schemes. I have been thinking about encouraging you guys to expand on the section that you used to have ... "History You Can Model" This article was EXACTLY the kind of thing I was thinking of - A combination of technical details, the interesting history behind them, and then tips on how to actually model it. PERFECT !

The Cutaways and the Bismark were awesome and inspiring. I like the expanded review section. The "how to" articles were great and represented a good cross section of abilities and subjects. But if you do nothing else - keep up (or expand) the "Research Data" articles. Thanks for reading my mind.

Chris

Returning to the world of plastic after so many years away, I needed the article on glues. I've used several glues in my R/C experience, but didn't know some of them are usable on PM also. The cutaways are awesome!

I know I'm going to catch it for this but, why don't you just call the mag Fine Scale Military Modeler. I like doing a O.D. green piece every now and then but a steady diet of any one thing makes for a dull read. I sure would like to see a little more eclectic taste than what is presented. Dan Jayne's cutaways are absolutely fantastic modelling and I can appreciate them for the skills exhibited, a great article. The mag has dandy photos, is well written and the new layout works for me too. How about involving some civilian stuff now. Not complaining, just constructive criticism, I mean after all, you asked..

Thank you Jesus! My FSM showed up at mail call today. Ive about worn the cover of the last issue. You guys did an awesome job this time. I like the new look, it flows well. I have built about a dozen of those Monogram B-24's so I absolutely loved the article on it. I've been reading FSM since the mid-late 80's and I still get a thrill when I pick up the latest issue. Thanks guys!

Still waiting for my issue! Hopefully, today the mailman will be my friend. If it goes on sale at the newsstands on the 3rd, how come I'm stilll waiting?

Still waiting for my issue! Hopefully, today the mailman will be my friend. If it goes on sale at the newsstands on the 3rd, how come I'm stilll waiting?

I just subscribe to Scale Modeler after buying it each month at my book store for many years. It was super to have it arrive in the mail. Excellent articles. Really enjoyed them. Keep up the good work.

Mike from NC.
(Retired Navy 30 years).

Just got mine in the mail today. I liked the article on building resin aircraft. It now gives me the courage to try it.

I would have to say second would be the cut away models. It is something I would not try but it was amazing work.

To those who liked the Dan Jayne Portfolio: In the October issue, we're gonna show you how he builds those incredible things--yup, a how-to article. Stay tuned.....

Being primarily a ship modeler, I had to vote for the Bismarck. All the topics are worth voting for, but my second choice would be the expanded workbench reviews. Those are usually the first things I read.

did not like the 'newer' format as much as the 'older' format....

LOved Dan Jaynes cutways. I am particularly interested in the corsair. How do I get in touch with Dan I have a load of questions i would like to ask him on the corsair cutaway. my email is ==== lester_palifka@yahoo.com.

I am also a subscriber ...

thank you

Lester Palifka
12 Bancroft road
Vernon, Ct. 06066

I've been reading Finescale a long time and I have never been dissappointed with the magazine! Keep up the GOOD work! One of the things I like best about the mag is the PROS/CONS part of the reviews. I have been able to pick and choose the projects I wanted to work on next based on how many "CONS" a model had. Please keep that going!

Great issue, as always. I allways like the reviews, so it had to be my top choice. simply because it's bigger. But, and it's a big one, the cut-aways just blew me away. Can't wait for of them in the next issue.
One gripe though, no autos. As this is my genre I don't think there is enough coverage in FSM. Plenty of war topics though!

Paul.

voted for the B-24 build....
but, the resin piece as well as the expanded reviews were equally as well received......
the new format is.................... GREAT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!


oh yeah........why no pic of the ever elusive Mr. Voss?