You know, one of the biggest problems I have is finding stuff. It doesn't matter if it is a specific tool, a bottle of paint or a reference. There comes a time when one has so much 'stuff' that remembering where you saw something becomes a real problem. This is especially so when it comes to references.

I can recall a few years back when I was looking for info on the TBD Devastator and just couldn't locate what I was seeking. I put a plea on the various web sites and a kind response came back that it was in an old Aero book and he'd be willing to send scans. Well it so happens that I have that book and just didn't remember than I'd had it!

This is especially true of magazines. I've got tons of them and though they are all easy to find, what's in them isn't. Now I have two choices; thumb through them to where I hope the info is, or sit down and laboriously make up an index to the zillions of articles.

Well, for Fine Scale Modeler, I don't have to do that. RMW Enterprises has produced an Indy (for index, I guess) on FSM and it is up to date to March of 2003, with updates available. What they have done is to scan the page on which a specific article or image is located. In this way, when you load in the disc and do your search, it will first list all the pages by issue and such where that is to be found. For instance, I plugged in S-3A and got a number of hits. By going to each hit, Indy showed the page as well as the page number, issue and so on. A great idea as it helps you to see if the article in question is what you are really looking for.

Now I do need to say that they haven't scanned every page of every issue; nor are the pages legible so that you can read what's on them. Indy is a guide. If you are like me and have (nearly) every issue of FSM ever done, then this is a truly helpful guide. If you don't have all the issues, then this will tell you where to start hunting for a particular article.

In addition, it is stated that you can use the disc as a template for your own Indy. All you have to do is scan the appropriate pages and provide the information. It apparently isn't intuitive as I've been trying to play with that capability with little luck. There are instructions on how to do this, but one cannot print them out as a guide (or at least I've not been able to figure how to do so).

Bottom line is that this is an extremely helpful tool and the fact that RMW will be providing updates to it makes it even more useful. When you consider the time that went into preparing this CD and the time it can save you hunting around for a particular article, it is well worth the purchase price. I'd have to give this one two thumbs up!

April 2007 Update: In addition to the new lower price, updates are now free from the website.

Review CD courtesy of RMW Enterprises where you can purchase your own copy.

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