Finescale Modeler
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersWaukesha, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
Finescale Modeler firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Finescale Modeler
- Legal name
- Firecrown
- Website
- https://finescale.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Finescale Modeler industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Hobby Magazine
- NAICS
- Periodical Publishers (513120)
- SIC
- Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Hobby & Model Kits Distribution (RC, Scale Models, Miniatures) (CRAOAMAD)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Scale Model Kits (Aircraft, Armor, Ships, Cars) (CRALAKAA)
Keywords
Where Finescale Modeler is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Waukesha
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Finescale Modeler business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Magazine Subscriptions: Print and digital magazine subscriptions sold to hobbyist modelers. Subscriptions are available in various tiers including US, Canada, and International. Annual subscriptions with automatic renewal.
- Product Sales: Sales of special issues, books, DVDs, back issues, modeling tools, binders, digital downloads, and model kits through the Kalmbach Hobby Store and shop.trains.com.
- Advertising: The magazine features advertising sections and advertiser links, generating revenue from advertisers targeting the scale modeling hobbyist market.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | FSM Basic US - Print + Digital |
| Subscription | Annual | FSM Basic US - Digital Only |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels8 records
Finescale Modeler product offering
Product offeringCore offering
FineScale Modeler is a print and digital magazine published six times per year, providing scale model builders with how-to articles, kit reviews, product coverage, and community features. The publication sells annual subscriptions in Print + Digital and Digital Only formats and supports a community platform including forums, galleries, and events.
Product overview
FineScale Modeler is a traditional hobby magazine published 6 times per year, offering both print and digital editions. The product portfolio centers on the core FineScale Modeler Magazine, supplemented by digital content including How-To Articles, Kit Reviews, Book Reviews, and Decal Reviews. Video content is delivered through FineScale Modeler Weekly and How-To Videos. The community platform includes the FineScale Modeler Forums, Reader Gallery, and Show Galleries. A complementary e-commerce offering through the FineScale Modeler Store provides books, special issues, DVDs, modeling tools, and back issues. Special Issues cover themed topics like Ship Modeler's Handbook and Contest Cars. The overall offering is a unified content and community platform for scale model builders.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- FineScale Modeler Magazine
Companies that use Finescale Modeler
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Finescale Modeler technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Finescale Modeler partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators1 record
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Finescale Modeler competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Airfix: A historic UK-based scale model kit brand (Hornby Hobbies). Comparable as a large incumbent in the scale modeling space whose product launches are core editorial content for FineScale Modeler.
- Tamiya: A leading global scale model kit manufacturer (Tamiya kits are frequently reviewed on FSM). Comparable as a major participant in the scale modeling ecosystem whose new releases drive FSM's editorial and advertising pipeline.
Direct peers
- HobbyWorld / Kalmbach Hobby Store: The e-commerce storefront operated by Firecrown/Kalmbach selling scale modeling tools, kits, special issues, and books. Effectively FSM's sister commerce operation, comparable as a hobby-product D2C channel targeting the same persona.
- Model Military International: A long-running hobbyist magazine dedicated to military scale modeling — directly overlapping FineScale Modeler's core vertical of military armor and figure modeling. Comparable as a bi-monthly print+digital subscription publication with kit reviews and how-to content.
- Military Modelcraft International: A UK-based scale modeling magazine covering military armor, aircraft, and figures. Closely comparable to FSM in subject matter, subscription-driven publishing model, and enthusiast community, with the main difference being primary UK/European distribution.
- Model Railroader: A flagship hobbyist magazine published by Firecrown Media (the same parent as FineScale Modeler) covering model railroading. Directly comparable as a niche hobby publication with subscription, advertising, e-commerce, and community-forum model serving a dedicated enthusiast base.
- Classic Toy Trains: Another Firecrown Media hobbyist magazine, focused on toy/model trains. Sister title under the same parent, with nearly identical business model: print+digital subscriptions, advertising, e-commerce, and forum-driven community engagement.
- Scale Auto: A niche scale modeling magazine focused on automotive scale models — one of FineScale Modeler's explicit content verticals (Contest Cars series). Directly comparable print publication covering kit reviews and how-to content for automotive modelers.
Regional players
- Astrophotography / Astronomy Magazine (Firecrown): A Firecrown Media sister hobbyist title serving the astronomy enthusiast community. Comparable as a vertically specialized hobbyist publication with subscription, advertising, and community layers, though in a different hobby vertical.
Emerging players
- Britmodeller.com: An independent online scale modeling news, reviews, and community site. Comparable as a digital-first hobby media outlet in the same vertical serving kit reviews, builds, and forum-driven community — emerging as a digital alternative to traditional print hobby magazines.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Finescale Modeler social profiles
Digital presenceFinescale Modeler financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Finescale Modeler leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Finescale Modeler funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Finescale Modeler M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Finescale Modeler
What does Finescale Modeler do?
FineScale Modeler is a print and digital magazine published six times per year, providing scale model builders with how-to articles, kit reviews, product coverage, and community features. The publication sells annual subscriptions in Print + Digital and Digital Only formats and supports a community platform including forums, galleries, and events.
Is Finescale Modeler a public or private company?
Finescale Modeler is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Finescale Modeler founded?
Finescale Modeler was founded in 2010. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Finescale Modeler based?
Finescale Modeler is headquartered in Waukesha, United States, in the North America region.
How does Finescale Modeler make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Magazine Subscriptions are the primary driver. The others are product Sales and advertising.
Who are Finescale Modeler's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Airfix and Tamiya. Direct peers are HobbyWorld / Kalmbach Hobby Store, Model Military International, Military Modelcraft International, Model Railroader, Classic Toy Trains and Scale Auto. Astrophotography / Astronomy Magazine (Firecrown) is listed as a regional player. Britmodeller.com is listed as an emerging player.
Does Finescale Modeler have an API?
No public API is recorded for Finescale Modeler.
What industry is Finescale Modeler in?
Finescale Modeler's product category is Hobby Magazine. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAOAMAD, Hobby & Model Kits Distribution (RC, Scale Models, Miniatures), with a secondary code of CRALAKAA, Scale Model Kits (Aircraft, Armor, Ships, Cars). Its NAICS code is 513120 and its SIC code is 2721.