Writing for Aerospace Modeler Magazine

AMM is building a “virtual” staff of researchers, photographers, graphic artists, etc., who can help you build your articles better and faster than you could working all by yourself. This team approach lets each contributor focus on what they do and enjoy best, without being slowed down by things that others may do better. If you’re interested in being on the team, please contact the Managing Editor.

These pamphlets answer the most frequently asked questions from new or prospective authors. Please read these guides before engaging us in speculation about projects you have in mind for AMM. We simply don’t have time to repeat all of this information over the phone or by e-mail to everyone who inquires. You can view them online or download them for printing by clicking on the links below.

Download Adobe Reader for those files which are available as PDF (Portable Document Format) files.

The Feature Article Authors' Guide (PDF) applies to writing just about anything for AMM. Major sections cover:

• An Overview of AMM goals and the AMM concept
• Data formats and file transfer
• Mailing and shipping
• Doing business with AMM (see also the Letter Contract / Invoice)

The Digital Photography Guide (PDF) describes simple, non-technical, low-cost techniques, tools, and processes for taking photos to support model airplane articles. The same technical requirements apply to photos for readers' galleries, reviews, show reports, and feature articles. It covers things like:

• File formats
• Image resolution and size
• Focus, depth of field, and composition
• Lighting, backgrounds, and equipment
• Writing photo captions

Writing Feature Articles 101 (PDF) rehashes your high school composition courses and applies it to writing modeling articles.

The Reviewer's Guide (PDF) provides specific editorial policy guidance for writing reviews.

The Kit Reviewers' Template (MS Word file) is a checklist of questions for gathering and organizing information for kit reviews. Once you have this information, writing the review is simple. This template is intended to be used as a notepad, so it’s available as an MS Word file (.doc).

Re-sizing Your Scale Drawings for Kit Reviews (PDF) is a step-by-step tutorial for enlarging or shrinking scale drawings in your personal references to help you analyze and assess kit shapes and dimensions.

The Guide for Reporting on Model Shows (PDF) is a simple checklist of technical and content requirements for reporting on model shows and contests. Use the AMM Show Support Request Form (MS Word file) to get the AMM staff involved in planning your show and your report.

FTP Instructions (PDF) tell you how to upload large image and text files directly to our server. You can bypass your e-mail server and its file size limits and still send files over the internet.

The Letter Contract / Invoice (PDF) is some generic boilerplate that provides a starting point for negotiating how we'll pay you and how you'll assign the rights to your work to AMM. For the time being, we have no fixed rates or scales. Each article's price and rights will be negotiated individually. Although we offer to pay for feature articles and reviews, we don’t pay for readers' gallery photos or show reports.