Airfix Model World

Issue 177, August 2025

The original Airfix magazine was the first mass market British scale modeling magazine, starting in 1960, and was associated with the Airfix model company. This magazine ceased publication in 1993. In 2010, Key Publications launched Airfix Model Magazine, similar in style and substance to the original Airfix magazine. The subjects covered by this magazine are not limited to Airfix models, and a wide range of model genres are typically represented. The issue being reviewed here is #177, so they are evidently doing something right.

Full disclosure- for one reason or another, this is actually the first issue of this magazine that I have ever examined in detail.

Above - the Table of contents will give you an idea of the range of article subjects and various standard features or “departments” in this magazine. This issue is a generous 114 pages long, printed on glossy paper.

Each build article has a notation on the opening page that states what level the build is. In this issue, I see Basic Build, Intermediate Build, and Quick Build. I wonder why no Advanced Builds? Perhaps in other issues…

The articles are well written, with clearly written text describing the build, accompanied by well taken photographs.

The ratio of articles on model subjects seems weighted toward aircraft which is logical and fair, considering that in terms of overall popularity, aircraft modeling leads all other genres. 

This issue is split between quite a few aircraft build articles, and two armor builds, one of which is seen in the above image. The article shows a nice build up of Italeri’s venerable 1/35 scale DUKW, with some nice upgrades added.

Above - for some reason, the “egg” models of ships, airplanes, tanks, etc. have become quite popular. I must confess to getting amusement out of them too, and have built an egg Tiger I. This article is described as a Quick Build.

Because this is an AMPS review, I’m largely focusing on the armor content of this magazine. I can assure you aircraft modelers that there are plenty of high quality aircraft build articles in this issue, from biplanes to jets.

Above - the issue’s second armor article builds Academy’s new tool Sd. Kfz. 251 Ausf C. The author does a nice bit of work depicting this build as a sort of pack-horse winter warrior on the Eastern Front.

Above - Towards the end of the issue, new model related products are featured in thumbnail reviews. Seen above are reference works.

Above - new armor is also showcased in this section, along with other subjects of interest to modelers.

Seen above is the inside of the rear cover of the magazine, featured a full page ad for Italeri. There are quite a few advertisements scattered throughout the magazine, but not particularly excessive. After all, the publishers have to pay their bills too…

The left side of the above two page spread shows a calendar style show guide, giving the reader information on upcoming model shows. As Airfix Model World is a British publication, the show information presented is entirely for shows held in the UK. Still, useful if one is planning travel to the UK.

Conclusions

I must confess, I very largely had the wrong impression of this magazine. I’d thought it to be very much an Airfix - centric magazine, with little else in it. I was totally wrong about that. This magazine features a wide range of model subjects from a wide variety of manufacturers, and varied subject matter scales and genres, and moreover, this wide range of subject matter is all covered to similar high standards.

The articles are well written and the photography throughout is first rate. The subject matter will appeal to a wide variety of modelers.

This monthly publication is more than worthy of a look, and while I don’t usually factor in pricing on references reviews, it is priced quite fairly.

Highly Recommended! 

Thanks to David Doyle books for the review copy

Reviewed by Chuck Aleshire, AMPS Chicagoland

AMPS 2nd Vice President, Midwest Region

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