Ship Modeler Magazine is a new digital publication devoted
to model ships. About a half dozen issues have been released
to date, along with a few special single topic issues. All of them feature
high quality images and text, with the emphasis on visual presentation,
via a downloadable into a PDF file. This particular issue focuses on ship
modeling in Japan, 72 pages worth, set into several articles.
First comes coverage of the 2018 Shizuoka Hobby Show, held in Shizuoka,
Japan. Now in its 57th year, Japanese model manufactures of all type of
kits have put on a combination industry trade show (closed to the public
for the first three days) and an enormous model exhibition afterwards (for
another two days) to showcase their industry and its new releases. While
Japanese subjects predominate, there is a wide range of genres, kits, and
completed works. Quoting the article, this year saw over 80,000 attendees
and over 10,000 models exhibited by hundreds of modeling associations and
groups. Of course, the focus here is on ships, and the article showcases
over twenty pages worth of all manner and scale of nautical subjects, all
with sharply focused photography. |
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| Second is a walkaround of IJN Mikasa, the pre-dreadnought
battleship and flagship of the Japanese fleet under Admiral Togo in its
victories over the Russians during the Russo-Japanese war, particularly
the Battle of Tsushima. Almost fully restored as a museum ship in the late
1950s and 60s, she lies in nearby Yokosuka in a special park. The author
gives a good, concise overview of her history, with an emphasis on her
reconstruction as a museum ship and the current state of her various components.
Though not exhaustive, with 26 pages of clear, bright photographs and the
good fortune of a sunny day, this may be the best walkaround of this ship
that I have yet to come across. |
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| Third is a harbor tour of Yokosuka Harbor, which is primarily
a naval base for both the US Seventh Fleet and the Japanese Marine Self
Defense Force. The focus is on the USN and JMSDF ships in the harbor on
that particular day. Harbor facilities are not covered. Again, all the
photos are beautiful. Eight pages. |
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| Fourth is a news release from the Shizuoka show focused on Aoshima’s
introduction of its new 1/700 Dorsetshire, Exeter, and Flower class ship
kits in specific boxings. |
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| These announcements are followed by highlights of other ship kits introduced
at the show from Hasegawa (1/450 Ise, 1/700 Asashimo, special PE), Yamashita
Hobby and its current lineup of 1/700 Fubuki class destroyers, plus new
ship kits from Tamiya, Flyhawk, Very Fire, and some smaller manufacturers.
There’s also some very nice advertisements from Seals Models and Tetra
Modelworks at the beginning and end of the magazine. |
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| In closing, the author also provides a concise, very helpful guide
to navigating the logistics of traveling in Japan and getting to the show. |
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