Antoine Posted October 22, 2011 Share Posted October 22, 2011 Hello, Since a few month, I'm a subscriber to Scale aviation modeller, but the magasine is not really up to my expectations, so I'm trying to look for something else. On the SAM publ. web page, I came upon Model Aircraft Magasine, which is looking quite interesting, but I'm wondering about the differences between two mags from the same editor about scale aviation modelling. This is really not clear on the website, so can anyone here point those difference to me, if only there are some? Thanks. My MP is open if needed, as I understant this could be a touchy subject. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard M Posted October 22, 2011 Share Posted October 22, 2011 (edited) Model Aircraft Monthly - excellent model magazine with reference features and historical articles alongside model builds - I subscribed for many years renamed Military Aircraft Monthly - dropped the editor and modelling completely and became a "real aviation" magazine (halfway through my subscription which wee weed me off no end - needless to say I didn't renew ) renamed Model Aircraft - ressurrected the modelling content, hhmmmmm wonder why......(didn't bother re-subscribing as I'd subscribed to Airfix Model World in the meantime which meets all my modelling requirements) Edited October 22, 2011 by Richard M Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Batt Posted October 22, 2011 Share Posted October 22, 2011 SAMI seems to me to be a modelling magazine (focussed on aircraft model kits) which tries to keep track of the commercially driven hobby, while MAM seems to cater for the plastic scale model aircraft enthusiast who also has an interest in the 'real thing'. The question of why and/or how our hobby has developed to the point where we as consumers could support two separate titles might be informative. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Kunac-Tabinor Posted October 22, 2011 Share Posted October 22, 2011 Hi Antoine - think of SAMi as build based and MA as build with history and more indepth. For my money MA is back on track as a great mag now. cheers Jonners Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Test Graham Posted October 22, 2011 Share Posted October 22, 2011 Agreed. It is the only current English magazine where anything exotic and unusual can be found, and where the history of the original is treated in any depth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Antoine Posted October 22, 2011 Author Share Posted October 22, 2011 Thanks everyone, Your comments are very useful to me. In fact, I found SAMI to be excellent for the news, but I don't really like to see so much sponsored kit reviews, and also a few other things. If MA is more history-oriented, it might suits me very well, so I think I'll have at it with the next issue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Millman Posted October 22, 2011 Share Posted October 22, 2011 SAMI seems to me to be a modelling magazine (focussed on aircraft model kits) which tries to keep track of the commercially driven hobby, while MAM seems to cater for the plastic scale model aircraft enthusiast who also has an interest in the 'real thing'. The question of why and/or how our hobby has developed to the point where we as consumers could support two separate titles might be informative. In W H Smith on Thursday I was struck by the number of aircraft modelling magazines available and wondered how they each manage to sustain a viable market. When it comes to sponsorship and new product reviews there must be significant duplication. And all the more surprising in light of the steady growth of internet based information. One can pretty much get information about any new product with a click of the mouse and very often (in forum threads) the amount of information is "interactive" with much greater pictorial content whereas magazine reviews are by their very nature limited (you can't ask!). Surprising then that the number of magazines has increased rather than decreased. I wonder what proportion of subscribers take all magazines and what proportion is tribal, with loyalty to one magazine? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avro683 Posted October 22, 2011 Share Posted October 22, 2011 There is also the excellent (in my opinion) Scale Modelling Now which is an internet based magazine. The articles are in greater depth than in a paper publication and there is also access to an extensive photo gallery of real subjects and a number other useful topics. Have a look at the web site here http://www.scalemodellingnow.com/ Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moofles Posted October 22, 2011 Share Posted October 22, 2011 Personally im a fan of SAM and SAMI, but being a product review i really enjoying seeing other peoples work and comparing it to my own. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giorgio N Posted October 24, 2011 Share Posted October 24, 2011 As others have said, Model Aircraft Magazine has a mix of history and modelling. It's not the kind of magazine where you'll find deep build reviews or discussion of techniques as the subjects modelled are treated more from a historical perspective. This makes it fine for me, as I generally don't buy magazines to know about techniques (there's more stuff on the web IMHO) and I'm not interested in an article that tells me that a certain kit needs filler (if it happens on a kit, I know how to fill...). On the other hand I'm always interested in the info on history, camouflage and markings and I've always found a lot of inspiration for models on MAM. I must however say that IMHO the magazine has not got back to its former glory yet. Disappointing for me as back in the days this was the magazine I enjoied most. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FalkeEins Posted October 24, 2011 Share Posted October 24, 2011 I must however say that IMHO the magazine has not got back to its former glory yet. Disappointing for me as back in the days this was the magazine I enjoyed most. agreed..having the same editor for both titles doesn't really help with the 'new' identity ...(or did have last time I looked ...?) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
little-cars Posted October 24, 2011 Share Posted October 24, 2011 There is also Model Airplane International. Personally I think it has a good balance of editorial, reviews and build articles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony C Posted October 24, 2011 Share Posted October 24, 2011 I subscribe to the following... Scale Aviation Monthly International for News, Reviews and builds Model Aircraft (Monthly) for Historical detail and builds Model Airplane International as a back up to SAMI Military in Scale for diorama ideas, excellent builds and build tips I agreed with the last two comments regarding Model Aircraft Monthly, on it's way back but not quite back where it was and both MAM and SAMI are let down by the quality (or rather the lack off) of the paper used! Possibly a money saving solution but it sure tears easy! Hope this is of interest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
little-cars Posted October 25, 2011 Share Posted October 25, 2011 I here paper prices are high at the moment. And as modelling magazines aren't big money spinners, I guess a number of publishers are saving money by using slightly cheaper stock. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pte1643 Posted October 25, 2011 Share Posted October 25, 2011 In W H Smith on Thursday I was struck by the number of aircraft modelling magazines available and wondered how they each manage to sustain a viable market. When it comes to sponsorship and new product reviews there must be significant duplication. This can be said of most magazines from any genre. When you flick through (or read) multiple magazines of the same subject they all contain the same information (or thereabouts) just usually presented in a slightly different format, you get your Technical (or Geeky) format, historical format, usually there's one that's aimed at the "Younger" audience, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arnobiz Posted October 25, 2011 Share Posted October 25, 2011 My favorite, by far, is AIR Modeller. Although it is quite expensive the quality of the models presented is unmatched IMHO. Arnaud Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mick b Posted October 25, 2011 Share Posted October 25, 2011 There is also Model Airplane International. Personally I think it has a good balance of editorial, reviews and build articles. Of course that would have nothing to do with the editor being a mate of yours? Mick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FalkeEins Posted October 25, 2011 Share Posted October 25, 2011 don't see anything wrong with recommending publications produced by mates ...you'd soon lose credibility if you gave the thumbs up to a sub-standard product..which MAI isn't of course, although its not really what I go for.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Antoine Posted October 25, 2011 Author Share Posted October 25, 2011 And anyway, this is going out of topic, as I didn't asked about MAI. I got the answers needed up to post #10. Thanks everyone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul A H Posted October 25, 2011 Share Posted October 25, 2011 I tend to buy MAI (and the editor isn't a mate of mine if that matters) and MIS (likewise) as the subject matter, build articles, quality of modelling and readability all appeal to me the most. I buy magazines to help me become a better modeller and these titles both do that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted October 25, 2011 Share Posted October 25, 2011 At Antoine's suggestion, I think I'll close this one before the axe-grinders start dragging it into a rant about their least favourite magazine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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