Global Scale Modeller

With the demise of Scale Auto Magazine being axed by Kalmbach it looks as though there are only 2 dedicated car modelling magazines, Model Car Builder and Model Car Magazine, both being American publications. Model Car Builder I believe is a subscription only magazine. Model Cars Magazine is sold in outlets in the USA and also by subscription. MCM has seen a resurgence over this last year after going through a very rough patch for two or three years where it was feared that it was going under.
Truck modellers are served by two magazines, one UK based and the other in the USA. The UK Truck Model World has been going for a number of years, but I think it has been taken over and revamped with a different title. I know of an American one, but not it's name.

Apart from these, Airfix Scale Modelworld, Tamiya Magazine and Find Scale Modeler are general interest modelling magazines that carry occasional car and truck articles.

Since my last post I have learnt that Roy Sorenson who edits and produces Model Car Builder has decided to retire and the magazine is ceasing production.

It's not surprising. Another of Kalmbach's magazines, Model Railroader, is one I've picked up again after reading just about every issue from the 80s.
A lot of advertisers found their money was better spent on website development and maintenance over paper advertising, and the brick and mortar stores that also offered mail order have been beaten by the internet craze (MR used to have 3 advertisers that between them had 12 full pages of specials and inventory listed, all have closed).
So they have lost HUGE advertising revenue, at the same time I suspect the number of subscriptions has also nose-dived as it's far easier, and cheaper to find information on products and techniques on youtube and forums.
The result is that current Model Railroader issues are 1/3 the size of what they were pre-internet, as the lost revenue has resulted in less articles too.
Kalmbach is trying to grow it's digital footprint, offering cheaper digital subscriptions for monthly magazines, and digital access to past issues, along with a whole lot of videos. I had a look on a trial basis, and I found that with their videos others already had reviews of new products up before them, and how-to videos for almost everything were already on youtube.
I suspect it's the same for Kalmbach's whole line and the magazine industry as well. While the internet is a blessing for consumers, it's created a very Darwin-ish situation for businesses, evolve or die.

I find when reading digital magazines that all they do is scan the paper copy and upload it resulting in a publication that makes you the reader always having to reorient the article. This takes away much of the good experience gained with a paper copy. Those that make the effort to maximize and tailor a publication to suit the digital reader are a much better reading experience.
Having said that I still prefer a paper copy, it is miles ahead of the digital except where extra content is available and one can expand the size of the high quality pic's.

Moving on a few years from the last posts, to bring this thread up to date, there is a UK magazine named Model Car, Truck and Motorcycle World that is now the successor to Truck Model World.
Stateside a new magazine named Auto Modeler has been in print for a short while now.
Model Cars Magazine still keeps going despite its ups and downs.

I keep seeing frustrated subscribers to Model Cars Magazine complaining about extremely long delays and asking when the next issue will come out on another forum.
That magazine looks to be really struggling to survive now, and I would guess that to add to the problem, subscribers are not bothering to renew unfortunately.
It was a very good, regular magazine with really good article writers a few years back and it would be a pity to see it go the way of Scale Auto and Model Car Builder.

NoelSmith wrote: Fri May 15, 2026 8:29 pm I keep seeing frustrated subscribers to Model Cars Magazine complaining about extremely long delays and asking when the next issue will come out on another forum.
That magazine looks to be really struggling to survive now, and I would guess that to add to the problem, subscribers are not bothering to renew unfortunately.
It was a very good, regular magazine with really good article writers a few years back and it would be a pity to see it go the way of Scale Auto and Model Car Builder.

Indeed hear the same issue.
I think the original guy has been having serious health troubles and they lost Harry P who was an amazing modeller and admin there
The website isn't all that fun to be on lots of times either, but it is much busier than here
Noticed many complain about the magazine. I would grab the odd one when saw them in old hobby shop that is now closed.
Another guy goes through a newer car magazine on youtube...I will find it and post the link

Here we go. This is Tim super guy from Oklahoma or Kentucky can't recall