The Messenger was designed for the U.S. Army in 1920. It was meant to serve as a courier between Army ground units. As such it was made small in order to be able to take off and land on dirt roads and unimproved fields. That requirement led to the wide chord clipped wings. Our full size free plan is a 30” span, 1/8 scale model designed by Peter Rake with the prototype model built and described by Steve Perry.

Authentic surface detail is what makes a really good scale model stand out. Much of that, particularly on scale subjects that feature metal skin covering, is the panelling and rivet detail. In this issue, Andy Ward reveals his techniques

For most scale modellers, the basic balsa bashing is an inherently ingrained technique, but far fewer of us take plastic mouldings for surface detail and cockpit canopies in our stride. John Carpenter offers techniques that make these details easily achievable.

Focke Wulf 190 – the famed Luftwaffe ‘Butcher Bird’ was one of the most successful of Germany’s WW2 fighter aircraft. This month’s issue provides a full study of then type with scale three view drawings by Arthur Bentley, plus Type History, close-up detail and colour schemes.