Read n' Reviewed: Damaged Magazine Issue 07 from AK Interactive

"Damaged" magazine from AK Interactive is already seven issues in, and this magazine seems to have six new builds of completely different models that look to show the modeller how to make their own kits better and maybe a little different- Chucky certainly looks damaged! Let's see how this issue fared in our review...

Read n' reviewed: Damaged Magazine Issue 07
Published by AK Interactive
Editor: George Mefsut
Available in both English & Spanish Languages
Softcover, A4 Portrait Format
68 pages 
Price: 4,95€
Product Link on the AK Interactive website

Seven-issues old, the "Damaged" series by AK Interactive and edited by George Mefsut offers model not often seen in the typical air/land/sea publication specialities, but all types of models in many genres and scale, but mostly these are highly worn, weathered and thoroughly "lived-in" creations.

The Magazine in Physical Form:
Damaged #07 is available in both English & Spanish languages and is packed with step-by-step articles with text and very nice images blened into the sixty-eight pages. The magazine is presented with a glossy soft-cover in an A4 format. 

Contents of Damaged #07
- 1/12th scale Chucky doll figure by Eduardo Fernandez
- 1/35th scratch-built propeller-driven land vehicle by Hakan Guney
- 1/35th scale ‘bird-watching trip’ diorama by George Mefsut
- 1/32nd scale WWII aircraft drop tank car by Daniel Zamarbide 
- 1/24th scale Tamiya Sauber Mercedes C9 converted into a hover car by Kristof Pulinckx
- 1/93rd scale Kylo Ren shuttle from the Star Wars universe by Daniel Zamarbide

The first build of this issue is the "Cover-boy" of a 1/12th scale Chucky doll figure, made by Eduardo Fernandez. Now - I have an issue with Chucky - as I always felt he was ripped off from the kid in "Pet Cemetary" who "wanted to play?" also - but when we talk about Eduardo's model that is something that pleases me much better. 

Over a nice amount of nine pages, the modeller undercoats, layers and paints this interesting looking figure, he shows us step by step how he makes him look so detailed, but also so cut-up and nasty looking in the finished product. He sure does look like a nasty little bugger and the modeller should be proud of the result in the figure and the story he made from the process also.

I had seen this before - but only a picture online - and until I had read this article I had no idea what this kit-bash in 35th and 32nd scales of a scratch-built propeller-driven land vehicle by Hakan Guney was, which is a credit to the modeller.  The melding of an Fw-190 in 32nd and the Revell Lynx in 35th scale along with other scratch built and gathered elements is explained in his step-by-step article showing how the plastic was cut and joined, to make the shape of this post-apocalyptic vehicle.

The article shows us over a span of nine pages how he details the stowage of the vehicle, and how he paints, weathers and adds the realistic flourishes that make this contraption so lived-in. The painting process is laid out sensibly and logically for any modeller to follow and perhaps emulate in their own model in the future.

I don't like to play favourites - but this is my favourite build of the magazine. The 1/32nd scale WWII aircraft drop tank car by Daniel Zamarbide called "Louise" is a simple diorama carried out economically in scope but impressive in impact in this article.

The simple but revealing way that Daniel has made a few spare parts and key ingredients into such an impessive base is expalined in step-by-step form here over six pages. We also see the work to make the base and figure of the diorama to add to the belly car to bring it to life with a touch fo human pathos. This is a nice sceene, and the modeller really reveals his magic tricks to the reader here in this article.

The largest work in this magazine issue is the 1/35th scale ‘bird-watching trip’ diorama by the editor George Mefsut. This piece, shown over eleven pages, is a real start to finish expose of scratchbuilding a completely original diorama that can turn heads at any show. From scratch-built materials, George shows us his methods very clearly. The result of the making of concrete, brickwork, roofing, wooden doors and framework and the flora and fauna in the scene is a revealing read. 

Cracks, wear, rust, creeping vines, crumbling mortar and bricks with debris falling from the house in the old town are displayed in a step-by-step article that almost takes the excuses of NOT making your own similar diorama away from us - the humble readers. Topped off by the birds, the next, the photographer and his bikes - it's a great diorama well described.

"...And now for something completely different" this 1/24th scale Tamiya Sauber Mercedes C9 converted into a hover car by Kristof Pulinckx makes for a "how did he think of that" story which is again a credit to the model builder. The process of how he made the kit from so many different parts from kits of opposing genres is an eye-opener an worth the price of admission.

To complete the illusion, the modeller paints, weathers and creates a life-like look to this space age hovver car in again, another step-by-step article that shows behind the curtin on hhow to think about maybe making your own version - or something completly different but just as off the wall as this model.

OK, last up is the 1/93rd scale Revell kit of the Kylo Ren shuttle from the Star Wars universe by Daniel Zamarbide. Daniel uses the new MIG productions folded wing conversion for this kit to transform it into an in-flight model for the hobbyist to show in a more dynamic way. 

Not only do we see the wing folds added, but the paints and materials that are layered on to the model in a simple fashion by the modeller. His work on such a simplified kit by Revell brings this kit into a much higher standard than most could expect from such a basic level of kit. It proves to us that ahem - "space is the limit".

Well that is all there is for Issue #07 of "Damaged"

This magazine was actually very good, the depth of subjects - none alike to each other in scale or in subject and genre, this issue was more for me about real modelling rather than selling materials from a companies brand which all too often the case. 

The contributors, editor and publishers should be proud of their efforts, and modellers could do worse than to pick up this issue if what they see in this review looks interesting to them.

Adam Norenberg

Thanks to AK Interactive for sending this magazine to read and review...