AFV Modeller Ltd

AIR Modeller Magazine Vol.8 (Oct/Nov-2006)

Reviewed By  Jack Kennedy, IPMS# 12511

MSRP: about $15.00, subscription is $90/year for 6 issues. For more information, or to subscribe, please visit: www.airmodeller.com. I had never even heard of Air Modeller Magazine until I got this sample to review. All I can say about it is WOW. This aviation modeling magazine comes from England and unlike a lot of English magazines, it has aircraft that are not just from the UK. The format is typical large format as are all British publications. To begin with the color (or colour) photos are superb. They are crisp and clear so that one can see all the details that are in the articles. The first aircraft article is a beautiful F-16A in 1/72 scale. The author of the article, Diego Quijano, goes into some very extensive detail on how to paint this aircraft and how to weather it using washes and pens and pencils to bring out the panel line details. All of this is described and has wonderful detail photos to complement the text. Using Mr. Quijano's techniques it would be almost impossible to make an error. The second article is on MDC's 1/32 scale Typhoon. This is a build by the editor. In this project he goes into fine detail on items such as adding rivets, handholds, seatbelts, and rocket details. Of note is how he improves and strengthens the canopy using Mr. Surfacer. Since this is only the first part of this build, I look forward to the second as it will most probably be on finishing the Typhoon. The third article is on one of my favorite aircraft. It is part one of Ricardo Rodriguez's build of a 1/72 F-7U Cutlass. Mr. Rodriguez pulls out all the stops in super detailing this little masterpiece. He shows how to add all the extra details in the cockpit, open bays, gun bays and landing gear wells. The finished piece is of the Cutlass fully opened up showing it in what may be described as complete overhaul. And this is only the first part of a two part article. The next one is on painting the Cutlass. I can't wait to see it. The next article goes hand in hand with the Cutlass build. It is a brief outline of the development of the F-7U Cutlass. It is written by Davis Doyle and includes some early vintage photographs of the first Cutlass's. I would have liked seeing more of the later F-7U's that the model is based on but one can't expect everything. The article is still terrific. The fifth article is a very complete build of the Eduard L-39 Albatros by Zdenek Sebesta. In this build the author uses the kit parts and also CMK's excellent detail set. He opened up everything, which is quite impressive considering the small scale of this small aircraft. As I stated before, the photography is superb and it really shows on this small jet trainer. The text that accompanies these photos is most complete and easy to follow. Also in this fine magazine is a review of some new releases, also with fine photos. This section takes up 8 pages and is a preview of things to come. Unlike some other magazines the photos of the products are blown up and sharp and crisp. I wish all magazines would follow this method of announcing new releases. In closing Alex Sanchez does a super detail on the Tamiya 1/48 P-51 Mustang. In this article he describes his technique for using salt over silver to make realistic paint chipping. I would also like to note that the Mustang is finished in camouflage of the ANZ Air Force in WW II. The photography in this article is in keeping with that in the rest of the magazine. In other words, great. I would highly recommend this magazine. I believe that it may only be ordered by subscription and cannot be found on news stands in the USA. I would also like to note that it is rather expensive at $90 for 6 issues. That comes out to $15 per issue. I still think it's worth it. I would like to thank Air Modeller for giving IPMS/USA a review copy for giving it to me to review. I hope John lets me have the next issue so that I may find out how the Cutlass is painted.

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