I was just curious what magazines the folks around here subscribe to to supplement FSM (assuming FSM is subscribed to). My subscription is almost up, and I feel like I need to graduate to a magazine that is of a higher skill level and more specific in it’s content.
I was looking for some that are more Armor related, since my LHS carries next to nothing for magazines to browse through.
Keep in mind, I’m not trying to draw business away from FSM, but I just want something a little deeper.
PM’d you.
While I don’ have a subscription to FSM, I buy it from a local bookstore. There are at least three other magazines out there to look for: Military Modeling , Military in Scale and a Tamiya Modeling mag. that all come out of Britain. Again I don’t have subscriptions but do buy the other issues if there is something that looks interesting. Military Modeling does have a web site that is as good as FSM dealing with some articles.
The best Armor magazines are Model Military International (French text though) and AFV Modeller. AFV Modeller is my favorite, and while it’s kinda expensive ($16 a copy) I find it to still be totally worth it. “Magazine” is really an understatement, each one is an ad-free, 80-page book that’s very well printed on heavy paper, and bound with book-quality bindings. AFV Modeller showcases the work and methods of top-notch armor modelers, and includes an in-detail photo photo walkaround of a different vehicle every month (kind of like TMMI).
AFV Modeller is probably the top, but just too expensive for a magazine IMO, and as nice as the content is, I don’t know if its worth the price really.
Model Military International is great. I’ve bought it since issue 1. I dunno, I find that barely any magazines really go as far indepth as I would want them to in the coverage of construction and painting techniques.
I like Military Miniatures in Review. I used to have a subscription, but at only $10, I elect to purchase select issues. I also like Military In Scale.
MMiR is great, good kit info and good builds. Model Military International for the same reasons, but frequent “techical” errors on the builds. And then there’s the “English” English. Was a single-idea sentence invented on this side of the pond or what?
For a true exercise in interpretation of text, “Armor” or “Panzer Aces” from Spain. Good (and different) finishing techniques, limited subjects. I buy them after they’ve been in the warehouse for a year or so, otherwise not worth the money.
I still pick up every FSM, mainly because I see builds from guys on this forum… 
Thanks for the replies everyone, I’ll test out each magazine over the next few months and see if any tickle my fancy. [:D]
I can say I am a FSM fan! (Editors, you can just extend my subsription instead of a cash gratuity) I have read the others. AFV is quite “deep” but is sooo expensive that I will only buy a copy if it has a specific artical I need. Military Modeler is touted as very good but…I don’t buy it. I always come back to FSM. To me it is the best mix. Yeah some months are ho hum and are put up after a quick read but others are great. I always like their technical articals, the how to’s. One of my favorite articals was about various contributing builders and what airbrushes and paints they liked and why. The why’s are always important.
I actually just picked up copies of Military in Scale and Model Military International. They’re both pretty decent, and I would recommend both. If anything though, their format and styles are so similar that you’d almost swear they were the same mag.
AFV Modeller is amazing, but as others have said is quite expensive, and probably one of the harder modeling mags to find. Most people probably end up ordering it online.
Tamiya isn’t bad, but it’s loaded with ads, the articles are fairly lightweight, and the mag is obviously heavily skewed towards Tamiya products. And interesting read if your looking for a modeling mag to browse through rather than something that will teach you new techniques.
FSM is a great mag, but at times I feel the content is a little lightweight, and this is coming from a relatively inexperienced modeler. Still a decent read though. I wish they had multiple editions though that focused just on armour or vehicles, as I could care less about air and sea. They really need to get up to a full 12 issues a year though, as you can’t be a respectable mag with less. [;)]
I always look foreward to my lastest issue of FSM. When it comes I read the armor articles first the ships, then planes. Would like to subscribe so some other mags simply because I’ll read through FSM so fast then have to wait for the next issue. I ,like some others have said occasionally buy other mags but this is because they have some specfic article that I wish to read.\
Grizz
I am a big fan of Model Military International (subscriber, it’s a bit pricey because its published in England) but is an excellent magazine for the Intermediate and higher armor modeler. [8D] ModelX magazine, even though it’s new, has had some good armor articles as well.
FSM is probably still the best “all around” modeling magazine, but yes, many of us are outgrowing it as it seems to be geared more towards the beginner to intermediate level modeler.