Anyone read the new FSM. Apparently they are bored with the forums. No mention, no publicity, no nothin. I really wish the powers that be would take note of the fine builds going on here and include some of the finished works in their mag. I have learned and seen better stuff in the forum than in the 10 or so years I have been reading their mag. They did a survey, you will see it in the editor’s note column. He was amazed that people didn’t want to know the “basics” anymore. Now there’s a novel concept. Actually a US mag that may have something to compete with against the European and Japanese mags. Don’t get me wrong, I love this forum and would pay to stay here. But I don’t think I will spend $40 for the resubscription this year. Although the article on the T-28 was pretty good. Almost makes up for the cover story last month.
BTW, I don’t mean anything I build and show here. I never really finish anything. but people like SASD, Maffen, Moses, Wbill76, Tigerman, Ausf, Dwight and on and on, these guys would have a thing or two to share with the world in their mag for sure.
I found this issue, not one of the best. [:(] t 28 was only semi interesting to me. I did like the review of the Dragon pz I kleine bla bla bla wagon[:I] other than that, pretty boring. They even had a repeat of a model. The M8 in the readers work section. was in another issue before.
My mom said that the magazines she gets usually aren’t very good either. She think they rush them and try to finish them for vacation. I have no Idea though.
[:I] I don’t think my builds are FSM worthy, but many of the forum members fantastic builds certainally are. I agree with you on that point. it would be nice if our members got the recognition that they deserve. I swear some members know more than the people that do the articles! Still, I like tha mag alot and will continue to support it until the day I head to the styrene fields in the sky.
I do enjoy reading FSM, but find it very hard to get a copy in good old blighty, I have to agree with Ted the scope and subject matter and quality, of the models produced on the forum is superb and you can find out all you need to know at the push of a button,it does make me wonder if I will try so hard to find a copy this month.
I was really disappointed not to see the forum section. After I finished reading it I went back to the table of contents to see if I had missed something. It’s a shame because there are so many good builds,and a massive treasure trove of tips.
Tigerman stop being modest, and i have to agree some of the models in this forum put the ones in fsm to shame badly. I dont subscribe to fsm just pick it up evry so oftem from the stand, their articles aren’t always junk to me but the really do need to recognize this forum alot more. Lately I’ve noticed the say look at this detailed so and so kit. LOL you might see like one ping mark and a wash, thats it. Come on this forum and the detail to most of the jobs is amazing. Maybe we need to write them and ask for a forum section where the post a hand full of forum members jobs.
The “From the Forums” column was Lawrence Hansen’s baby and fortunately for him - unfortunately for us - he was promoted to a new position at Kalmbach. In another thread it was mentioned that the column is “on hiatus”, but not necessarily dead.
As far as posting member’s builds, it’s a great idea. It’s also a logistical nightmare for Kalmbach to try and track down a member to get a picture of their build. They cannot just take a picture from the forum and publish it for a myriad of reasons. Any member is free to send in a picture of their build to the “Reader Gallery” for publication. However, if accepted, the builder will be paid and relinquishes all rights to that particular photo.
I don’t want to get into this mess, but I have to give my 2 cents.
#1 I will always stay a member of FSM, I enjoy looking at the pictures (sound like a 5 year old), and reading some of the new kit reviews, But when I really want to Better myself as a modeler, I don’t go to the magazine, but to the forums. I think most of us here can agree to that.
#2 Although I can understand all Legal, ethical, and political reasons for not just “taking” pictures of what people have posted, I do think that because of the vast knowledge, and skill from some of the modelers on this forum, it really wouldn’t be too hard to track down some of the people who are very regular, and perhaps have them provide some of their insite, or write articles for the magazine.
Not that I don’t enjoy the articles in FSM, I just think the meat and potatos is on the forum. The fluff is in the magazine.
Example. I learned how to weather my models (still learning) with Watercolors and Chalk dust from a couple posts from the forums 9 months ago. Low and behold 4/5 months later, theres an FSM article talking about weathering using these techniques, that covered the same information in half the detail. My dad started reading the magazine article, and I told him it was rubbish, and showed him to the forum for the good info.
I hope this isn’t insulting any of the authors at FSM, just hoping to point out that perhaps some of the info for the Magazine could come from the fine modelers on the forums.
Sorry, don’t mean to waste anybodys time, I just think tedium brought up a good point.
A valid point, but one that you must remember comes from your perspective only. FSM magazine must direct it’s information at the entire modeling community…from the individual with only one month of experience to the modeler with 20 years of experience. If it doesn’t, it will soon loose a very large percentage of it’s readership.
As modeler’s, we sometimes forget that this is a fluid hobby. Everyone didn’t start out at the same time or even with the same skill sets. Although in the example above, the information didn’t appear until 4 to 5 months after you learned it, for many other modelers, the information could very well have been the first time they had seen it.
Full article writing, for any publication, is often a difficult and convoluted process…whether it be FSM, People, Time, or Newsweek. As FSM staff have mentioned many times on these forums, they are constantly looking for new writers to provide articles. The best advice for anyone who desires to see their articles in FSM is to start small. Write articles for Hyperscale, Armorama, WWII Model Maker, Track Links, or any of the other web sites that are out there. Another option is to write for the IPMS Journal (for members), the AMPS Boresight, or any of the other smaller modeling magazines that are out there. If your work is good enough, sooner or later FSM just might be giving you a call.
I know that there will be a bunch of modelers who think, “That’s not right! I want to be published now!” Well, I’ve wanted to get a novel published for over twenty-five years now…
Well I have to say, I was disappointed not to see the forum page in the latest issue of FSM. I have benifited more from this forum then all the “this is how you do it articles”, not just in FSM but other perodicals. I’ve been a subscriber for 5or 6yrs. now and will remain one, but what a let down. We have some extrodinary folks who regularly contribute to this forum, some of them have been mentioned, and there are also others, Swanny, Pixalator, lets not forget that we have some very talented ladies in our forum, now that says something. FSM should take a good look at the wealth of questions, tips, comments on kits, and after market items, and on and on. This forum is a treasure trove. OK I’ve shot my mouth off enough, but it does seem like a slap in the face when one minute you feel like you’re giving something to the hobby, and the next, you’re chopped liver!!! Semper Fi, mike
Lord knows I wasn’t talking about myself. I don’t that have kind of talent, NOR would I even think of downing any of the talent the writers for FSM have. I think Mike said it much better than what I was trying to get across. Thanks Mike. You hit the nail on the head.
There are many online based publications these days that allow you to submit your articles and post pics of your builds and are in need of stuff from your average modeler(Hint, Hint). [;)]
Having done a few articles and build reviews I must say that they are tougher than they appear and your build takes longer than if you didn’t review it.
FSM of course has to uphold a certain quality standard in their articles and photographs that they print.
So for the guys that are yearning to get their stuff out there, submit it to one of the fanzines or online sites out there. Or even start your own Fanzine like I did.
Fender fan, I like halftracks. I think they are great. I just think the quality was substandard for a cover of a MAg. This isn’t the days of the Old military Modeler. I will probabbly be banned for saying this, but to put a model of this quality on the cover of your magazine says alot. Look closely at at it. I am just saying what you guys re thinking and won’t say. I am not saying I can do any better. But there are guys on here that can and do and post here on a daily basis.
I have had an article published in the FSM. And please don’t get me wrong, I like the Mag, and I don’t want to be published. I couldn’t care less. It’s just the vast pool of talent that exists here that I draw on on a daily basis that is being ignored for some pretty sorry stuff that sometimes graces their pages.
As was mentioned once a lot of submissions are rejected not because the build or article is abd but because the photography is not up to a certain standard needed in order to get a good print in the Magazine.
Now my guess would be that many if not most guys here are better modelers than photographers.
Happened to me twice when I entered a kit into a competition, they had professional photographers take pics of all the entries for for future putblication in a magazine.
Couldn’t believe the difference that it made on my builds, looked like they were done/build by someone else.
And please take notice that I post in the armor forum. This place is without a doubt the most sane of the entire forum. I wouldn’t dare post in the general discussion or the other sub forums. That would cause a huge poop storm[:D]
Well I guess if there’s any consolation in it the cover at least points out to some how far some have come in their modelling skills. I’m not cover material, but I love trying to measure up to the front page. Thats always kind of the goal in the back of my brain housing group! just try to be a little better. I don’t understand the business of running a magazine and certainly would not pass judgement on FSM’s Staff. It’s just that we kind of got our pride hurt, and nobody likes that when you can clearly see it was a plus in the magizine. Semper Fi, mike