SLOPING OFF...
...the Newsletter of Christchurch and District Model Flying Club for March 2021
THE RETURN OF AN OLD FAVOURITE?
The Ed looks at a new version of a much-loved magazine
Back in the 80s and 90s I subscribed to “Flying Scale Models”, conceived and edited by David Boddington. It was by far and away the best magazine for the scale modeller, packed full of articles, features on particular aircraft, often linked to the free plan in every issue. It started out as a quarterly, after a couple of years became a bi-monthly and finally a monthly magazine and still kept the very high standards it set in the first few issues. The covers were invariably paintings of the free plan model. I still have very nearly all of those magazines, and the free plans, and often trawl back through them for inspiration.
After a while, Boddo transferred his attention and skills to Aircraft Modeller International (AMI) and FSM continued until it morphed into “Flying Scale Models International”, with photo covers and a different approach. After a few years I cancelled my subs but again, still have the magazines.
From left to right, one of the Boddington issues, superb cover art by Alec Gee, free plan for the Ian Peacock Spitfire (the basis for my three depron versions), Stuka “subject for scale”, Spitfire on floats, WWII fighters at Duxford and much more. Second is one of Simon Delaney’s RSC “International” issues, a bit shinier, a free plan for the Ansoldo A-1, canopy detailing, Balsa USA Bristol M review, Quarter Scale Fly Baby feature, European scale champs and the month’s plan feature, Philip Kent’s quarter scale “Little Toot”. So a heck of a lot of varied interest, and a big pair of boots to fill
In the middle of January I saw an advert for a new version of FSMI and could not resist taking out a year’s subscription for six issues. The first arrived in the letterbox a day or two later. What’s it like?
It is very glossy, not just the cover but the whole magazine is printed on high quality paper, so the initial impression is good. As you can see from the cover, it is rather pompously described as “The World’s premier RC Scale magazine” – does the content back up the claim? And it is solely concerned with prop driven or glider scale – jets have their own magazine.
A very quick skim though “looking at the pictures” and it’s clear that this is aimed at the very top end of the market, modellers who think nothing of spending the thick end of four figures on a large built model (a Hangar 9 Fokker DVIII) with suitable engine and gear, then taking all the covering off to make it different from the rest. Another modeller with deep pockets did the same thing to a Top Flite A3M6 Zero (£1000 in the UK). The TX review is of the Futaba T32 MZ, costing a stunning 3000 euros. The featured model, a 2m span Ryan SC-W is the result of 3500 hours of work! The last model to be featured is a Phoenix Models Stuka, a 100” span monster. The price with 60cc engine – it must be beyond me. There are a couple of articles on wider issues, the Florida Top Gun and the TJD Display Team from the UK. Oh, and a page on Al Machinchy and his large OV10 Bronco.
So apart from the general interest in looking at the (very high quality) pictures of unattainable models (sounds like Playboy Magazine in the 80s!) is there anything to interest the rude mechanicals amongst us? Well yes, there is a very nice set of drawings on the centre pages for the Curtiss Robin, just the sort of thing to inspire a modeller to get out the building board and make a replica. But for me, that’s it. The old FSM and FSMI were approachable, full of stuff for all types of scale modeller and not obsessed with high end products or inaccessible skill levels.
I do sound like an old fart looking back on the golden age, don’t I? Well, I would put any issue of FSM against this newcomer, so if that’s what I am, that’s what I am. Only five issues to go!
The next issue arrived a day or two before Sloping Off was due to be published. Frankly, it’s more of the same, BIG models, mostly IC engines and loads of photos. Disappointingly there was no 3-view this time.