FineScale Modeler

buy this book or we’ll crush a model!;)

You may think, or imagine, that we do nothing here but sit around the office building models, playing with airbrushes, and sniffing glue. But we do fill a few hours editing and writing, too. Plus, and I hope this isn’t news to you, we also write and edit how to modeling books and special issues that generally focus on a specific type of modeling. For instance, last summer we published a special issue, Build Better Ships Models. We also published a book, Modeling World War II in Europe, with a Pacific version planned for this summer, marking the 75th anniversary of WWII’s end. We’ve just published Modeling Aircraft, a new look at ways to create beautiful and realistic aircraft. It’s a great read, and I’m not just saying that because Aaron Skinner, the…

off the sprue: what food do you most despise?

Editor Mark Savage msavage@Kalmbach.com I generally will eat most things, but lima beans are best left on the plant. They are simply too dry and blah, sort of like eating freeze-dried tofu. I did eat some that were edible at a church dinner once, but they were loaded with bacon, butter, and brown sugar, which, let’s face it, make anything taste better! Senior Editor Aaron Skinner askinner@FineScale.com I’m not a big fan of liver or cooked spinach. The texture of both is off-putting, or rather, gag-inducing to me. Otherwise, I’m willing to try just about anything. Also, and call me a Philistine all you want, but rare meat doesn’t do it for me — I want steaks cooked all the way through! Digital Editor Elizabeth Nash enash@FineScale.com Cilantro! Why on Earth would anyone purposely put a soapy-tasting herb in their mouth?!…

finescale modeler

Executive Editor Mark Savage Assistant Design Director Scott M. Krall EDITORIAL Senior Editor Aaron Skinner Digital Editor Elizabeth Nash Editorial Associate Monica Freitag Editorial Director Diane M. Bacha ART & PRODUCTION Design Director Tom Danneman Graphic Designer Samantha Primuth Illustrator Kellie Jaeger Photographer William Zuback Production Coordinator Cindy Barder REGULAR CONTRIBUTING MODELERS Paul Boyer, Andy Cooper, Raúl Corral, Chris Cortez, Frank Cuden, Chuck Davis, Jonas Dahlberg, Walt Fink, Tom Foti, Phillip Gore, James Green, Ted Horn, Joe Hudson, Mark Karolus, Rick Lawler, Ulf Lundberg, Chris Oglesby, Bill Plunk, John Plzak, Darren Roberts, Chuck Sawyer, Mike Scharf, Cookie Sewell, Bob Steinbrunn, Karel Sutt, Matthew Walker, Jim Wechsler, Adam Wilder, Jim Zeske KALMBACH MEDIA Chief Executive Officer Dan Hickey Senior Vice President, Finance Christine Metcalf Senior Vice President, Consumer Marketing Nicole McGuire Vice President, Content Stephen C. George Vice President, Operations Brian J. Schmidt Vice President, Human Resources Sarah A. Horner Senior Director, Advertising…

scale talk

A Century Series lover offers a fact check on an F-100C equipment rack Not long ago, I went to my local bookshop and bought the November 2019 issue of FineScale Modeler. I have been reading FSM since I started modeling many years ago. I turned 60 this year and have been modeling on an “off-and-on” basis since I was 12. I have always been a fan of the Century Series of fighter jets with a particular liking for the F-104. In addition to my F-104 models, I also have built up an extensive collection of F-104 flight gear — books, patches, and so on. I’m including a picture of my “zipperroom” and I have a Slivers outfit created with the help of the team’s pilots and crew chief. It’s one of the…

q&a

Tamiya lacquer paints Q On the back of the November 2019 issue is an ad for the new line of Tamiya Lacquer Paints. What it failed to tell consumers is what is the correct primer to use with this new line of paints. Can they be used with acrylic or enamel paints? What is the best way to use lacquer paints, whether it be the brush or airbrush? I feel manufacturers forget that the local hobby shop has gone the way of the dinosaur and is no longer around as a place to seek advice. P.S. I really enjoyed the Final Details article in the November issue. The featured halftrack was out of the ordinary and really draws attention. Dan Drake has a fertile imagination and is a great modeler to boot. –…

new products

AIRCRAFT 1/32 SCALE Mirage 2000C from Kitty Hawk, No. KH32020, $129.99. WBR 1/35 SCALE Cierva C.30 with winter ski from MiniArt, No. 41014, $47.79. Includes photo-etch and decals for 4 options. 1/48 SCALE SA.365N Dauphin II from Kitty Hawk, No. KH80107, $47.90. Bf 109E-3 from Eduard, No. 84157, $29.95. Weekend Edition. Nieuport Ni-17 from Eduard, No. 8071, $26.95. ProfiPack. P-51D Mustang Dual Combo from Eduard, No. R0020, $110. Royal Class. Eiko (JASDF F-14) from Eduard, No. 11130, $99.95. Limited Edition. Fw 190A-8 from Eduard, No. 84122, $29.95. Weekend Edition. 1/72 SCALE MiG-21MF Interceptor from Eduard, No. 70141, $33.95. ProfiPack. MiG-21PFM Interceptor from Eduard, No. 70144, $33.95. ProfiPack. ARMOR 1/16 SCALE Chinese Army Type 94 Tankette from Takom, No. 1009, $63. One-piece tracks included. WBR 1/35 SCALE Bumerang Russian 8x8 armored personnel carrier from Zvezda, No. 3696, $56.99. WBR PzKpfw III Ausf M Kursk 1943 from Dragon, No. DRA6521, $84.99. British Military…